What’s Your Baby’s Spirit Doing AWAKE at 4 a.m.?

Posted on October 16, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Do you know how old your spirit is? What about your child? Grandchildren?

What is your baby’s spirit doing when he/she awakens, inconsolable at 4 a.m.?

Drumroll. . .please.

Age of Spirit

It’s ageless!

The amazing detail about this is that our children are not age-limited in their ability to grow in relationship with the Father or in wisdom.

So, that’s the quest we’ve been on–learning how to develop the spirit because we are all children of the Father, even if we are parents or grandparents. From there, learning and implementing how to best nurture and develop the spirits of our children.

There’s a whole section of Perfect Peace devoted to unique details of recognizing and parenting spirit reactions in our children.

When we first had our sons, I began searching for material on how to recognize and handle spirit reactions. I couldn’t find the book I was looking for. In our journey, we met Arthur Burk who trailblazed understanding of the human spirit and nurturing the spirits of babies in the womb. From this point, I understood the Father had been teaching me about the very subject I was searching for!

Pure Joy was co-authored with Arthur Burk and is an entry level book into nurturing the spirits of babies in the womb, although the subjects that are addressed are not age-specific. So, adults use this book as well. It makes a great shower gift for new mothers as it is an easily digestible book on the concept of nurturing the spirit.

Awake at 4 a.m.?

“Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.” (Psalm 8:2, KJV) The NIV states “ordained praise.”

child hand pop art.jpg

Almost two year old Victoria* awoke inconsolable at 4 a.m. For parents with demanding work and school schedules, an interrupted sleep schedule makes a long day almost unbearable.

Thankfully, they had nurtured Victoria’s spirit, and so they figured something was going on besides her strong will to be up and at the day, or a tantrum to see her parents ahead of her brothers.

They soldiered through. Come to find out, Victoria’s grandmother, and several perceptive believers were all awakened at 4 a.m. that same day which turned out to be a day attacks occurred in Jerusalem in 2015.

Even little Victoria, young though she is, could perceive in the realm of the spirit, and awoke crying for Jerusalem. The Father “ordained strength” through her spirit’s cries.

As adults, we often cope with sleeplessness or early awakenings. So many of those are calls to prayer. Sometimes we know what we’re called to pray for, and sometimes not (we can always pray YOUR KINGDOM come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven), but the Father is calling the children and infants to prayer as well.

Parents who embrace the learning curve to nurture their children’s spirits will address these situations in a different—and more effective way.

*name changed.

copyright, Crystal Wade, 2016

Posted in Connected Parenting, Parenting and Our Children's Spirits | 4 Comments

Peace of Protection

Posted on September 9, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Beloved, I speak to your spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Listen to the Word of God.  John 10:28-30:  “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.”

Jesus said that “no one can snatch them out of my hand.”  In other words, you are secure and safe from danger.  He holds you with strong, eternal hands.  I bless you to trust in His love for you, good plans for you, and protection.  Thus, when a situation arises that evokes the emotions of fear or panic; I bless your spirit to use those emotions as a signal to lean back into His protection.  I bless your spirit to reconnect to Christ Jesus’ peace-flow, instead of fighting against Him, as panic attempts to seize rulership. No, don’t agree with panic and toss about, rather lean back into His eternal hands.  There, wait to hear any instructions He may give.  Sometimes, He gives instructions; other times, He allows you to see your enemies, and then destroys them in your presence.  Just wait for Him to make the move.  I bless your spirit with peace as you trust your Father in whose hands you are secure and safe.  In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bless you.  Amen.

excerpt from “Peace of Protection” in Perfect Peace by Crystal Wade, copyright 2010

cd-front-outside-cover-resize_edited-2

Hopestreams Website Button Shop Now

Posted in Connected Parenting, Peace for the Spirit | Leave a comment

Super Model

Posted on July 7, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

It seems like all the rules for what matters, and what makes one acceptable, change in the teen years.

Beautiful hand-drawn artwork is exchanged for beauty derived from makeup and magazines. The fast and strong boys vie for top position in sports, cars, girls as the new version of fast and strong emerges.

Thank God for the super models.

Not the beauties and brawns on the magazine covers and movies. Those who are the real deal.

Resourcefulness and Joy

My grandmother, Belle Sparger, was a super [role] model to me. The youngest daughter of a large family farming the hot, dry dirt of Texas before and during the Depression years, she learned early how to work hard, doing her best at all her hand found to do (including milking, cleaning the henhouse, baseball, and schoolwork).

As a little girl, I loved to listen to her stories about her growing up years. She and her sisters had the best time—with no air conditioning, lots of hard work, no media, and very few material possessions. Yet, being young women, they did want to look their best when finished with their chores. So, they sewed their own dresses, rolled their hair, and together, sang as their own little choir at church, in addition to holding their own, playing the boys in baseball.

Belle demonstrated doing her best no matter what the job—and resourcefulness and joy all throughout her life.

Service and Respect

She married my grandfather Marvin Sparger, and served alongside him. A service it was too—hoeing the tomato field in the heat of Texas’ summer for their truck farming business when pregnant with their first child (my Aunt Joan pictured here with parents Belle and Marvin).

Grandmother Belle

The astounding part, to me, was that Grandmother worked as hard as a man well into her 70s, and then cooked the best homemade meals you could eat—and looked pretty while she was doing it. The men respected her because she was respectful—and she carried her own weight. The women respected her because she was kind and deferential in her treatment of others—until it came to defend a cause she fully believed in.

Physical and Spiritual Knowledge

I thought the encyclopedia was my Grandmother! Any question I had—she knew the answer to and what to do about it. The kinds of trees. The insects that disturbed that kind of tree. And, what to do to the insect to keep them from disturbing that kind of tree, etc.

She loved God and the Bible which she studied thoroughly. I remember her and me disagreeing on a point–so I used Scripture to back up my viewpoint—to which she replied, “well then, that settles it.” Scripture—the Word of God—was the final word on a matter for her.

Love and Kindness

At her funeral, we heard from so many family members that Belle was “my favorite aunt.” I knew what they meant. She genuinely cared about others—moving beyond herself and her manifold duties–to let them know it by her words and actions.

True Beauty

In my teens, I, too, felt that the rules that defined what true beauty and strength changed. As a young mother, however, I found myself coming full circle to the picture of beauty and strength I saw in my Grandmother.

It’s a beauty that doesn’t fade—because it goes so much further than skin deep. It’s a beauty that is strong and dependable. I always felt if anything went wrong, there was nothing to be concerned about because Grandmother would know what to do. I wanted to be like that, too.

“[Physical] Beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

Show YOUR Picture

My grandmother was not perfect. No one is.

The Lord Jesus Christ alone is the perfect super model. But we need to see “pictures” of what His beauty and strength look like through others.

After all her years of doing, Grandmother’s years of being (after my granddaddy’s passing) are the ones in which I had the blessing of seeing her beautiful inner qualities.

Mothers and fathers—grandmothers and grandfathers—the little ones are absorbing from you much more than you realize.

Look away from what you can’t do, and what you don’t have.

Look at your children, grandchildren, and the young of this generation.

Investing in them—be that listening, valuing, sharing, cooking, cleaning, teaching, gardening, mowing, and praying—is the greatest thing you can do.

And it will last. Beyond the current trends in hairdos and tattoos.

Students are bombarded with “false pictures” of beauty and strength in the culture, at school, on social media.

They need to see “true pictures” that only you can give. It’s the simplest, but most influential gift you can give—that of your true beauty and strength shared with the younger generation in prayer and in person.

It is from the older generation that the younger learns how to “be.”

You are the real deal in a world of smoke and mirrors.

We need you—not to work hard to “be relevant” to them, but to value who they are, and let them be with you, let them be heard, let them see your true picture.

Prayer Response

Father, thank You so much for the gift of super models that You have given within our families and the family of believers. Where there needs to be healing in hearts so nurture can flow, please do so, Father. We invite You in to do Your restorative work in hearts and draw families back together.

Father, renew the energy and strength, renew the hope, renew the vision, renew purpose in the mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers. Strengthen them. Grace them.

Encourage them to know that the best they have to give is doable. And that their greatest return on investment is sowing love and truth into the next generation.

Connect them in prayer and in person with the little ones and students who You know will love to learn from and listen to them. Help it to flow naturally. Set up divine connections. Restore the tri-generational connection that You ordained, restore and do much more, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Posted in How to "Be" | Leave a comment

Mighty Marriages, A Portrait in Honor

Posted on June 9, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Mighty Force

Marriage is a mighty force from Heaven in the earth.

Consider that the first human institution the Father started was marriage.

No matter what’s happened in history, or current events, each of us is here because of Father’s advent of marriage, generationally speaking. It’s the core foundation of family, society, and nations.

True Gold

As a little girl, I attended the Golden Anniversary of my grandmother’s brother and wife. The honor rightly afforded them deeply impacted me. I’d spent time at my great uncle and aunt’s house, and they possessed little material goods. At their beautifully decorated and attended 50th wedding celebration, however, they were (rightly) treated as royalty. Many were their children and grandchildren, family and friends, who gathered and honored them joyously in a variety of ways. I didn’t have language for it at the time, but I understood that they had true wealth, and had accomplished something worthy.

Their marriage impacted me, as a child.

Acres of Diamonds

Today, we’re celebrating marriage by remembering my husband’s grandparents’ anniversary. Our whole family experienced the blessing of celebrating the Diamond Jubilee (60 years!) of Coolidge and Valma Wade in 2011. Neither of them felt physically well at the time, but they were pleased that their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, family and friends wanted to celebrate their worthy accomplishment.

Coolidge and Valma both grew up in a time where material possessions were minimal and hard work abounded. In fact, well into his adult years, Coolidge, the youngest in his family, carried the responsibility of financially and physically caring for his aging parents in addition to his own young family. A soft-spoken, highly intelligent woman, Valma in any other time could have soared in a career due to her abilities, yet she chose to serve side-by-side with Coolidge, raising their family and working jobs to help financially as well.

We often drive by the church much of whose interior was built by Coolidge. As a man in his late 70s and early 80s, and in spite of health conditions, his physical strength astounded many. He literally picked up a riding lawnmower with one hand to check its undercarriage! So, when he felt his physical strength begin to wane, he started making arrangements. He’d become the sole overseer of that little church, but he didn’t want it to end with him. So, he worked with the local Spanish pastor and another local English pastor to share the facility and its management at mutually beneficial times. He purchased Shop Smiths, an amazing innovative multi-purpose shop on wheels (the machine he’d used to build the church’s interior), for his grandsons to “remember him by.” We told him we’d remember him for a lot more than a machine.

And then, cancer started its countdown. Coolidge moved to a nursing facility where Valma spent most of each day at his side, as she’d always done. It wasn’t fun for either of them. Yet, she knew her presence strengthened him. What a living legacy it was for them to experience their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit them faithfully! (Consider this–how many children leave home and never want to return?) The nursing staff loved Coolidge and Valma and remarked about their family. Coolidge focused his “bragging rights” on counting how many children and grandchildren served in ministry in some capacity.

Their marriage impacted me, as an adult.

Both Coolidge and Valma graduated to Heaven with faithfulness in 2012, having celebrated their Diamond Jubilee on earth. It wasn’t an easy life—but theirs was a life lived well. And because of their faithfulness to their Savior and each other, their family reaps generational blessings.

Love that Works

When all is said and done, this is what matters. A love that does things it doesn’t necessarily like for the good of the other—without complaining, with thankfulness.

Many reasons and troubles have caused many marriages to dissolve in spite of their best efforts. On top of that, the Father’s ancient enemy works to assault the first human institution due to its great place of worth and generational impact.

There’s no condemnation for failed or struggling marriages. Even strong marriages go through hard times. Father, heal! Restore!

What there is—is a holy honor for what’s worth honoring.

The faithfulness it requires to stay true to the Father and to each other in a day that our culture is screaming that marriage is not sacred any more—and that personal rights transcend all. And here’s honor to love that does the real work, in the heat of the day, when it’s hard, for the good of the other. That’s what is real. That’s what endures. That’s what matters when this life fades and eternity opens.

That’s what our children and our culture need to see from marriage.

Let’s honor marriage.

Let’s ask the Father for great help so our generations now and to come can be impacted by faithful marriages which are mighty—no matter what courts or culture says.

Coolidge&Valma's 60th Invite

Prayer Response

Father, thank You for the sacred and holy gift of marriage. Grace, honor, strengthen, and bless all those who have stayed faithful to You and each other through the years. Bring them closer to You and each other, and cause them to know in unique ways how You honor them, and how they are blessing their generations. Father, raise these marriages up to be showcased to our children (the generations) so that they will have the joy of knowing a love that holds true. Children and teens need to see these pictures on earth, Father. Honor the marriages of the faithful. Strengthen those who are struggling. Pour out grace and love on them.

Father, raise up marriage in our day and time to the level of honor, strength and grace that You desired and designed. For in the family, we understand and know You so much better. Father, grant greater grace in our day for restoration of marriages and families for the sake of Your Son. Heal, redeem, restore and renew them radically for sin does much abound. Make Your grace in marriages GREATER than sin’s effects. Make our marriages now and those of the generations to come MIGHTY. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Copyright by Crystal Wade, 2016

 

 

 

Posted in Marriage | Leave a comment

No Fluff, Fillers or Veneer!

Posted on June 1, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Veneer vs. Real Wood

Originally, this article released on God’s Pen Pals. However, I’ve just encountered another situation at work with another set of veneer cabinets. Then, I discovered this 100+ year old table in my grandparents’ home and refinished it. It’s the real deal! Wood–beauty and strength–all the way to the core.

So. . .it seemed time to take a look again. . .

This is not a deeply spiritual article, but an attempt to sort, learn, and move forward.

My light-hearted rant begins like this:

Why do we choose the fluff and veneers over the REAL DEAL?

How it started. . .

Let me explain. My current line of work brings me across many different people and situations. I’ve observed that while everyone has their own individuality, we all share common, and core, needs. Some would call this our humanity, or the core desires of the human heart: to love and be loved, to have purpose, and to be accepted, etc.

Recently, I was asked to look at some damage in an upscale home still under construction. Normally, I like seeing things being constructed. I like the process of movement from idea to reality. This time I was frustrated.

Why? I asked myself. I trouble shot it–it wasn’t jealousy, selfishness, or feeling excluded. The frustration and aggravation remained.

When I stopped to investigate, my spirit spoke. An aha moment.

It was. . .

Veneer. Particleboard.

The house was touted to have the finest imported cabinetry and flooring. When I moved to inspect the house in person, the facts did not line up with the report I heard on the phone. I saw first-hand that the “finest imported” cabinetry was actually particleboard covered with veneer.

I guess I always associated the finer things in life with quality. You know, its ability to stand the test of time. One definition of the word quality is “the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something; a defining line.”

Here is my angst–particleboard with veneer is not the same as real wood!

It can’t stand the test of time. In fact, when it gets wet, it disintegrates! Calling particleboard cabinets the “finest imported cabinetry” does not magically change what it is.

Spirit language

Once I gave my spirit a chance to give language to why this struck such an off-key chord with me, I felt better.

I’m not on a mission to rid the world of particleboard. In fact, I confess I have some particleboard items in the house. But, I won’t bill it to you as the “latest and greatest.”

Having done various woodworking projects, there’s really something to be said about the process. I like seeing the blank piece of wood become an item of purpose, the grain adding to its beauty. Much could be said about those processes and how they parallel God’s processes of shaping us for purpose and destiny.

Returning to the veneer, I’d like to stop for a moment and make the point that, as a culture, we have removed the reliable measuring stick of what determines quality, strength, and longevity. Therein lies the frustration in my spirit.

Wood by any other name. . .

We have blurred the lines. We have labeled what is fake as real. We call imitations genuine. Even with butter—we call margarine butter. We have called what is wrong right. And sin? That has been re-termed “personal expression.” So many seem to believe that the name change is accurate, but it is not.

In the culture, there is a loss of the understanding of what is real, true and solid. There is time spent on pursuing fake, fluff-filled veneers, and living for the moment. I am afraid that this thinking has moved out of the marketplace and infiltrated our homes, churches and hearts.

What furniture says. . .

A quick overview of church history shows the progression well. Pre-Reformation, the central piece of furniture in the church was the Communion Table, leading focus to identify with Christ. Post-Reformation, the central furniture was the pulpit, leading focus to the preaching of the Word. Now, it is, in general, a stage, leading focus to entertainment. Just as a side note: The first two items of furniture were solid wood; the last, particleboard (sorry, I just couldn’t resist).

My point is this–we are seeking the veneer, the mere appearance of quality, and thus allowing our lives to be filled with fluff and fillers. We have put pretty facades on church buildings, and in our lives, we have neglected the internal work of righteousness–that consists of the 1,000 choices we have to make each day and week and month and year to believe and to do what is right according to what God says is right–which produces core strength. We are losing who we are as individuals and a nation. Moreover, we are losing who God has called us and created us to be. To be real, not perfect. To be solid, not flimsy.

The beauty of natural building materials, such as wood and stone, lies in the imperfections and the individuality of the grain. This represents our humanity. I am reminded that the Temple was made with these same items–and that it represents you and me–because we are the living stones which are being built together to be the portable meeting place where God lives.

(100+ year old real wood table from my grandparents Wade.)

No Fluff Table in Woods

Prayer Response

Father, I thank You that Your creation is good–and that I, Your creation, am wonderfully and beautifully made. Help me to see the real me through Your eyes, the person who You have created and called me to be. Help me to stay in peace and understanding that Your processes take longer, but they create a quality product (me) with strength to the core which is able to stand the test of time. Give me grace to stay in process with You, choosing to stay in Your processes which require time and patience, rather than jumping off Your woodworking table for a quick-fix which will leave me without a solid core. Help me to not settle for a shiny finish, but to trust You when the process is long, and I am tired. Thank You, Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

copyright by Stephen Wade, 2015

Posted in Body of Christ, Personal Growth | Leave a comment

Be Trusted. Be Royal.

Posted on June 1, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Trusted. Royal.

Princess dresses. Tiaras. Light sabers. Cool armor.

Little girls and boys have dreamed of being the princess, or showcasing save-the-day strength like Jedi knights, for generations.

To be born into a fairy-tale style story sounds so wonderful. Or to be recognized that we were supposed to be in the story, and then to be actively invited in like Luke from Star Wars would be a great, too.

We honor those born in royalty because of their position, but we respect those in business who have earned the right to do what they’re doing.

In the business world, we value when we detect that the owners have earned the right to our trust. For instance, there’s Jordan Rubin. He built a company that produces top-notch food, vitamin and health products. He earned the right to clients’ trust by what he personally suffered in his own health and life. This goes beyond giving the perfunctory nod because of a position.

(For Jordan’s story, click here and scroll to bottom of webpage.)

King Jesus’ Track Record

Driving that day, I was surprised by King Jesus.

I’d been thinking about the unbelievable feat He signed up for. He held the right to THE kingship due to His royal existence. His existence as Son of God gave him that right. However, He refused to stand on that right alone. He chose to walk in responsibility and earn the right to kingship by suffering as a man. And that endeavor earned Him the title, Son of Man. Therefore, He is King as Son of God and as Son of Man. He is King in Heaven and on earth.

There is no model on earth–except King Jesus–of any natural born king or queen choosing to refuse their royalty by right of existence, and instead choosing to earn it by serving in the fields of the peasantry. It’s just unheard of. Why work to earn what you already have?

It was on two playing fields–Heaven and earth. He wanted to earn our respect and trust. And we needed Him to save us from the enemy who had stolen the earth’s rule from Adam. Kings on earth would have sub-contracted that job. Unbelievable that King Jesus did this! But, it’s true!

The fact that He chose to not rest on His laurels as Son of God and to instead earn the right to rule by “walking in our shoes” as a man speaks of His character. He is worthy of our trust and due greatest respect. He fully deserves to rule as King over all.

Surprise!

So, I was surprised when He spoke to my spirit, “The same applies to you (plural).”

“What?!” I exclaimed.

Then, He unfolded the following understanding to my spirit. Our spirits are created in His image, and are made of light. The Father created us in Him and sent us to the earth on our respective missions, as His royal sons and daughters. We have rights before Him as sons and daughter by fact of our existence.

However, we earn the right (to be trusted) to rule by choosing to “take up our cross” and walk in responsibility. The responsibility is to be faithful in our respective sufferings (painful difficulties and experiences). The sufferings are our cross. Their purpose is to create compassion like Jesus had. Compassion goes beyond the mind. It has experienced pain and is moved in the heart (emotional center where spirit and soul meet) to go the Father and get help. So the sufferings create compassion and maturity in us, if we let them. That, then, forms the royal character of King Jesus in us. This process then brings us to point of breakthrough in the Father’s timing-which is speeded by our cooperation.

Be Trusted, Be Royal

That’s what Romans 5:3-5 speaks of, “. . .we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint.”

Jesus earned the right to rule as King on earth because He endured the suffering, taking justice for us to the Father and releasing mercy to us from the Father.

He surprised me when He said that we do the same.

We cannot do enough good things to make us right with the Father, but when we go through suffering that we didn’t create, we are being formed into Royal Sons and Daughters who the Father can trust to administer His Kingdom on earth. And this process will bring us to a place where our deep hopes are fulfilled.

Be Trusted. (2).jpg

Prayer Response

Father, thank You so much for Your Son, Jesus, King of Heaven and earth. Thank You so much for Your character which You revealed to us through King Jesus. I yield to You as Healer and King over the pain and suffering I’ve carried in my spirit, mind, emotions and body, please clean it out and fill me with Your Holy Spirit. Please help me to see what You’ve been doing in my life. Please grant grace to yield to Your Spirit and cooperate with Your processes so there is no waste of pain. Thank You that by cooperating with You through these times of suffering that You are creating in me an inner royal nature that can be trusted to administer the Kingdom in a real way on the physical earth with King Jesus. In His Name, Amen.

copyright by Crystal Wade, 2015

Posted in How to "Be", Prayer Strategy (Personal) | Leave a comment

Be a Friend of God

Posted on June 1, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Presentation vs. Perspective

We have had a pretty challenging last couple years.

It doesn’t seem like it should be so difficult, living in the United States, loving God, trying to do the right thing.

Yet, when I don’t look at the “presentation” of others–in person or through media–and I do look at the Word, life comes into “perspective.” Everyone who wants to live a godly life will encounter challenges. Whether they are talking about the facts of their hardship or not, apart from their social media presentation, the challenges are happening.

In the last couple years, every time there was a day that flowed better, I discovered that it was not my own breaking through the clouds, but someone had been praying for me and my family.

Prayer works. We all need it. We all can GIVE it!

What the Father Wants

That brings me to a concept of the Father’s heart I find in Scripture. When He came to the moment of discipline, He looked for a person on earth who would speak up for His beloved Israel.

As a parent, we have to drop the gavel at times. Since we are human, we don’t always catch every drop of the action, so the gavel is not always dropped with complete justice. We love our sons and do not want to spend our time with them in that kind of discipline.

So I hear the heartbreak in the Father’s voice as He speaks:

“There is no one to plead your cause.” Jeremiah 30:13

“The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, and he was appalled that there was no one to intervene.” Isaiah 59:15-16

I have had the absolute joy–and surprise–of one son speaking up for his brother in that moment, right before the gavel drops. I had such joy that one son would care enough about his brother to boldly speak to me at the moment everyone would prefer to “flee the wrath of the mama” and head to safer ground.

EVERY time one son has spoken for a brother, the “sentence” has been reduced. EVERY. Time.

Friends

I believe one reason Abraham is called God’s friend is because he had the boldness to have a two-way conversation with God over the destiny of two cities at the moment of the gavel dropping–and all the people they represented.

Let’s then look away from the news. Look away from the leaders’ decisions. Look away from worrying over (more) attacks.

Let’s look here, so together, we can respond in a way that will please the Father, be heard, and change events in our nations, and for our “brothers”:

“I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:1-5

Be a.jpg

Let’s BE Friends of God,
praying for our brothers, Israel, and our nations:

“Father, thank You for our Lead Intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ, who chose to take the full measure of justice in order to release Your mercy. Thank You for the opportunity to be alive at this critical juncture of history and to be chosen by You for partnership in changing the world. Thank You for the opportunity to be Your friend.

Father, I’m thanking You for all believers everywhere, and asking You to strengthen their hearts and minds with Your love through Your Holy Spirit. Sustain them so that their faith does not fail. Give them grace to be who You have created them to be, and who they want to be.
Father, grant greater grace to all those who have stood on the frontlines for You, holding the line of righteousness. Strengthen them, grant them hope, and the sure reward that they are contending for.

Father, grant wisdom to our presidents, our prime ministers, our cabinets, our parliaments, our houses and senates, our judicial systems, our kings, and to all of Israel from the top to the bottom. Grant them grace to access the will of God through Your seven-fold Spirit and courage to implement Your will. Give them grace to be who You have created them to be, and who they want to be.

Strengthen and position Your governing leaders, in Your Body. Prepare them to be ready to speak the wisdom of God, and spark the peace of God that is in their hearts to the leaders, in a seasoned, humble way. Grant them all they need to be ready to speak to national leaders. Renew the holy life flow of cooperation between the kingship, priesthood, and prophetic ministry as You designed it, and modeled to us through King David.

We call for mercy, grace, revival on this earth as it is in Heaven. Father, we are asking for Your holy intervention to Your Body to enthrone You as King, preparing our hearts to give You room. We want to work with Your plans and not against them–because Your plans are good, for our hope and our future. This is what we want. We thank You in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

copyright by Crystal Wade, 2015

Posted in How to "Be", Prayer Strategy (Nations), What Father Wants | Leave a comment

Whatever is Praiseworthy

Posted on June 1, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Bee Sweet

Unlike babies, community bees, immediately start work upon birth. They are born with knowledge of how to build. Amazing!

And they immediately start production, working together in harmony, to build a structure that will house their labor of love–sweet honey. Together, they build hives formed in a most intricate manner-hexagonal shapes.

Bees work together to collect pollen. In so doing, bees release LIFE to plants and flowers which release life to people and animals.

They carry the pollen back to the hive, which they built, and start production on honey. They work hard their whole lives to produce something so sweet to the taste–which is also their sole energy and heat source.

Praiseworthy!

Whatever is praiseworthy. . .think about it (Phil. 4:8).

The community effort, the harmony, the blueprints for building, the travel required, the full circle of receiving pollen and releasing life, the creation of a sweet product that feeds bees for life and yields sweetness to people is praiseworthy.

And the praise goes to our Heavenly Father, wise Creator.

His wisdom to attend to the details of such a small creature as the bee whose life is such an integral part of Creation as a whole is praiseworthy.

Bees’ work to harvest pollen which helps them produce honey and assists the life cycle of plants and flowers which nourish the stomach and eyes of His most precious Creation (children, women and men) is so good.

It is all good, with no bad.

(Excluding any potential sting, of course! Yet, that sting is praiseworthy, too. Our Heavenly Father dignifies and endows even the lowliest creature with the ability to defend itself.)

Healing Honeycombs

Consider this verse:

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24

The Bible is not symbolic when it comes to its poetry.

Like bees who create the hexagonal shapes to house honey, our words create.

Bones are not solid; they are like a matrix–and they respond to the frequency of word vibrations, as does all of Creation.

Positive word frequencies (I’m referring to words backed by faith, hope and love, not meaningless “positive” words) build the infrastructure inside the bones which strengthen them. Bones are the source of blood production.

Life, Scripture says, is in the blood which is formed in the bones which respond to sound frequencies (positive builds healing and strength).

Pleasant words, those truly backed by faith, hope and love (the positive force) build and heal bones. Bones build and heal blood–which release a healthy life-flow in the whole body.

Whatever is praiseworthy. . .think about it.

Be like the bees. Be sweet with words. Be healing.

Start by thinking about what is praiseworthy.

Breathe. Think. Repeat.

Ornamenetal Pear with Bee

Prayer Response

“Father, thank You for the life that the Lord Jesus Christ released to me through His blood. Thank You that grace and truth together were (and are) the words that You spoke to us through Him. I give You permission to remove the death structures that formed in my bones by words wrongly spoken to me. I ask that You would do this for others where I wrongly spoke to them. Please rebuild the life structures in my bones so that healing and life can flow in and through them, as I come today to yield to You. I want to speak words of grace and truth together, like the Lord Jesus Christ, that bring healing and life. Please, Holy Spirit, direct my thoughts to what is praiseworthy–and when I lose track, please redirect my thoughts again, so that new, healthy patterns form in my brain. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.”

copyright by Crystal Wade, 2016

Posted in Connected Parenting, Whatever Is. . . | Leave a comment

Whatever is Lovely

Posted on June 1, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Creating Positive Flow

Isn’t it refreshing to be around a person who maintains a positive outlook?

Consider, on the other hand, how draining it is to be around a person who’s constantly speaking negatives.

Our brains are created with neuropaths of electrical charges that are connected in patterns, paths, if you will. Clusters in the brain are devoted to memories which have associations to emotion and facts.

Pixar did a great job of illustrating the way this works in their movie last summer–Inside Out.

The flow of negatives (anger, frustration, fear, etc.) is so constant in our culture–often our jobs–and many times inside ourselves.

It is difficult to respond in the positives (love, joy, kindness, etc.) when the constant in-flow is negative.  On top of that, constant negative in-flow reinforces those neuropaths in the brain where memories from the past linked emotions and “facts” of “This won’t work,” “There’s no way out,” etc.

FLIP that Switch

There is a way to “flip that switch.”

“Whatever is lovely. . .THINK about it.” Philippians 4:8

Taking the time to think–reflective, intentional, purposeful thinking–about what is lovely helps to build (or rebuild) neuropaths in our brains so that we can be the positive person that we want to be.

In today’s culture with the crises in the nations we face, this is so important that we take the time to grow TRUE positive, lovely thoughts so that we have TRUE lovely things to say to those who need to hear a REASON for the HOPE we have.

Whatever is lovely. . .

The colors and textures of flowers, which our kind Heavenly Father created, are lovely to the eyes.

The songs of birds in spring is lovely to the ears.

The smell of fresh, baked bread is lovely to the nose.

The man in a wheelchair who waited patiently for many self-absorbed shoppers to enter aisles at the grocery store rather than ram them with his chair. . .is lovely to behold.

The young boy who held the door for a flood of hurried people, most of whom did not say thank you, yet he still held it open. . .is lovely.

The woman who had endured so much rejection but still got out of bed every morning and let praise out of her mouth. . .is lovely.

Whatever is lovely. . .think about it.

Breathe. Think. Repeat.

Lilypad.jpg

Prayer Response

“Father, thank You for creating loveliness. Please micromanage my time and responsibilities so that time opens for me to spend purposeful, intentional time reflecting on lovely things. Please quiet my thoughts and slow my heart rhythms–and help me want to be still and know that You are God. Cause me to gain understanding of Your creation of lovely things which reflect Your loveliness. Help me realize how important this time and reflection is–because lovely words are what You want (and others need) to hear from my mouth, and which will shift the atmosphere around me. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.”

copyright by Crystal Wade, 2016

 

Posted in Connected Parenting, Whatever Is. . . | 1 Comment

Whatever is Pure

Posted on June 1, 2016 by thelivinghopeblog

Pure Love!

As babies, our brains are wired for love writes Dr. Caroline Leaf, a specialist in neuro science. As we move through life, we “learn” negatives (fear and the like). That’s rewiring against the positive flow that our Father created as He designed our brains.

Thankfully, this is possible to change.

We can work with the way our Father created our brains to heal and restore by taking some minutes a day to remove ourselves from negative settings, words, thoughts, and to focus some minutes on positive thoughts. We can restore the “rewiring.”

Whatever is pure, think about it.

Crystal clear water flowing from a mountain spring

A newborn baby, wrapped in soft blankets and fragrant with baby lotion, soft and sweet

Pure fun–children giggling, chasing, biking over pebbled roads and grassy lowlands

Wildly diverse colors and flavors of organic fruits and vegetables

Fresh homemade bread, with no yeast, no additives or preservatives, simple and pure, permeating the house with its aroma

Snow that blankets the ground, trees, flowers, homes, life with its purity and freshness

Rain that washes away weariness and the dreariness, leaving its fresh scent behind

Father Knows Best

What our Father creates is all good, with no bad. It’s reflective of His pure character.

We are so used to the harmful side effects warnings on medicines, to the additive and preservative lists on food, to the vulgarities in television and movies.

It’s, then, a NEW thought to consider purity being the base-line–not an anomaly or an unattainable virtue.

Our Father made us to enjoy a pure relationship with Him. To feel good. To enjoy the purity of the things He’s made that are all good, with no bad side effects.

So many things we “enjoy” like salty chips with salty salsa! sweets! shopping! media! leave us feeling some good, and some bad.

Here is good news!

Our Father created us to enjoy life–to enjoy a warm relationship with Him. We can enjoy warm relationship with Him and things He’s created in purity which leaves us feeling all good (all positive) with no bad (no negatives such as guilt, regret, weighed down feelings, etc.).

So, if we want the quality of life and relationship that He wants us to have, then. . .

Whatever is pure, think about it.

Breathe. Repeat.

Purity’s freshness begins to permeate us. And spill out of us onto others.

Simple. Pure. Beautiful. All good, no bad. And all starts with “whatever is pure. . .think about it.” Philippians 4:8.

Whatever is Pure

Prayer Response

“Father, thank You for the pure love You wove into me, and Your creation. Please assist my soul want to, and follow through, with focusing on Your positive, pure character and creation. From this source of Your pure stream flowing in me, cause me and my family to have strength, like Jesus did, to stand apart from tradition, culture, and “playing” to important people, so we will have the boldness to speak to problems when necessary. We want You to form “pure religion” in us that is simple and devoted to You, separate from the culture, and helping widows and orphans. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.”

copyright by Crystal Wade, 2016

Posted in Connected Parenting, Whatever Is. . . | Leave a comment