Light As Feathers

This morning Joel and I sat quietly after asking God to share with us something He wanted to tell each of us today.  Immediately I saw myself surrounded by white feathers.  They were swirling around me and I was standing waist deep in feathers.  I saw myself smiling as I reached out and put one in my hand.

As I pondered if these were angel feathers or God's sheltering feathers I heard these words:  "Your worries are as light as a feather...."  I was stunned by what God was saying.  I questioned, "All these white feathers are my worries?  Waist deep, surrounding and swirling around me.....worries?  God interrupted my thoughts with His words....."Your worries are as light as a feather when placed in MY hands." I saw God's enormous hand come down from the sky and then I saw myself putting a feather in the palm of His hand.   Of course!  What I had heard became clear to me when seeing His hand......

When we place our worries into God's hands, they become light as a feather in our lives.  They do not burden us or weigh us down.  God has often used feathers when He talks with me. Our oldest daughter reminds me of that with gifts focused on His sheltering feathers and a friend sends me text images of feathers periodically.  Feathers led us to Bethel Church nearly 3 years ago and scriptures on feathers helped me walk through cancer in 2015.  And today God used them to bring peace and assurance to an old worrier!   Psalm 91:4 has become such an important scripture for me over the past five years, that I want to share it with you today.

I would expect we all have a few worries weighing us down right now.  I know I do.  Being honest here, I struggle with worrying the cancer will come back.  I worry about Joel getting Covid-19...I worry I will get it, or our family members and what that could mean for them.  Do to childhood situations I experienced , being "safe" has always been at the top of my needs list.  Through Holy Spirit's guidance most of that has healed, but the last two years of cancer and surgeries and now the Covid-19 virus are whispering to me that the world is not safe, my world is not safe.  Yeah, I worry.......And many many times I am not even aware of how much those worries creep into my mind, body, and spirit.

But God is aware of how the enemy spends his time seeking to "kill, steal, and destroy", even in our worries.  In His deep love for us He wants us to know where our peace and courage lie.  It is in Him.  Today He opened the door for me to be aware that He is waiting for me to once again place all my worries in His more than capable hands.  All of us can place our worries in God's capable hands,  and by placing them in His hands, they become light as feathers!

ceramic feather given to me

by our oldest daughter

A Bowl Full Of Prayers

I received a beautiful "prayer bowl" this past week in the mail.  What a delightful surprise! (Thank you Janelle)  One of my favorite verses is written on the outside and inside is a colorful bird.  A packet of cards came with the bowl where you can write the names of who you are praying for.  You place them in the bowl as a reminder to pray.  There is a verse in scripture that says our tears are collected in God's bottle or a bowl?  ...........and our prayers are too, I expect.

Recently I heard Kris Vallotton say we need to remember to  P.U.S.H in our prayers.  Pray Until Something Happens!  You may have prayed the same prayer over and over....for healing, for restoration in relationships, for finances.  So what do we do when you pray and nothing seems to change?  We keep praying.  We pray and we give thanks believing something will happen.  In the Bible it is called "fervent prayer".

On the large sofa table in front of where I rest is a plaque that says "You Got This" that was given to me by our oldest daughter.  Now on the other side of this table is the prayer bowl with this scripture...

"He will cover you with His feathers,

 and under His wings you will find refuge."  

Psalm 91:4

Both are reminders from God.  Whether we speak to the mountain, rebuke the enemy, use a prayer language from Holy, ask and seek, or give thanks for what is coming, a close relationship with God is the gift given to us when we pray.  And certainly it is not just about us, as there are so many in need of our prayers.  I am sure, like you,  I can easily fill up the prayer bowl.  Lord hear our prayers this day, and let us never forget............

Feathers From God

We have been making plans for our trip out West to Bethel Church in Redding CA.  As we prepare to drive 28 hours toward's the # 1 place on our "Adventures In God" list, anxiety has risen up in little ol' me. All the preparation to go, plus the what ifs, the finances, the hotels, etc.  God is not surprised by the worry that rises up.  He has made it perfectly clear that He is leading the way.

We will be sitting under Bethel's ministry for 10 days, staying in a church member's guest home called "His Healing Wings"......renting a room and having access to the living and cooking space, etc.  A new adventure to share a house with others who desire to sit under this ministry that draws thousands from around the world.

I have been asking God for a verse to hold on to during this time of planning, traveling, encountering, and experiencing new places and new people, and more of God.   The verse God gave me comes from Psalm 91....... He sent me this verse when I was going through radiation and I wrote about it HERE.  I printed off a picture sent to me by a friend in 2015 that brought this verse to light.  It still is taped to our cupboard.

 He has once again sent me verse 4 of Psalm 91 several times.  First on Facebook and then through a Pinterest email that sent me several different Bible journaling pictures of the same verse all at once AND not at my request.  I just know they came from God.

One of the Pinterest pins sent to me

God also reminded me of His promise this week when Joel came into the house carrying a big feather.  "Look what was outside the door", he said!  It was a feather from an owl that has been taking up residence in our yard.  Today, yet another feather, this one small and dainty. Do you remember that the name of the home we are staying in is "Healing in His Wings"?   Those same wings that cover us and keep us safe.    Isn't God just amazing?

God's reminders

God knows me well, and being safe is a big issue for me.  Sozo ministry has broken the chains that bound me to a fear that controlled my life in ways only Joel knows about, but there are still moments in time when it resurfaces.  God in His infinite patience and love keeps reminding me of His promises....He is my place of safety........

He is your place of safety too.  Your refuge as you experience your own adventures with life.....and new adventures with God.  It is a promise for every one of us to hold on to.

When we do head out the door and climb into our comfy new-to-us SUV, we will be bringing along the feather He provided, as a reminder that He does cover us with His wings.  He is our place of refuge.

The Life She Had Imagined

Ever since God sent me the promise found in the Psalms that speaks of being covered by His feathers, I have held it close as my own.

"He will cover you with His feathers 

and under His wings you will find refuge."

Psalm 91:4

When I asked God for confirmation on going ahead with radiation after surgery for breast cancer, I asked Him to send me a feather as confirmation.  I looked everywhere we walked last fall, seeking that feather. Then one day when I went to Facebook, there it was.  A friend had posted a beautiful photo of a feather and written a powerful post to go with it.  It spoke to me.   I carried this promise and virtual feather close to my heart through six weeks of radiation and all that came with that.  I held the promise close through my slow recovery and even the two cataract surgeries. Even though I have not had a feather fall from the sky............yet......., I seem to have them show up in other ways.  Yesterday it was this quote that got my attention, at first because of the feather, but then the words drew me in.

And so, she decided to start living the life she'd imagined.  

How would I incorporate these powerful words into a my journey where I'm the "she"?  As I thought about it, my story formed quickly.

~~~~~~~~

Jesus whispered quietly to her, "I have come so that you may have life, and have it more abundantly." (John 10:10) I have healed you (Is. 53:4) and set you free from the life of isolation you existed in, because it is for freedom from cancer, Lyme, MCS, and more that I set you free. (Galatians 5:1) I love you, My child, with a deep abiding love. (Ephesians 3:18)  I want you with Me and My Father. (John 3:16) My Father created you with a unique purpose.  He has placed dreams upon your heart to help Him fulfill those plans. (Jeremiah 29:11)  Do not fear, I am with you always ( Matt. 28:20) ) and delight in you. (Zeph. 3:17).

And so, she decided to start living the life she'd imagined.

And what does this mean for you?  What promises stir you to live the life you had imagined?  What dreams has God laid on your heart?

AND SO, 

SHE DECIDED TO START LIVING

 THE LIFE SHE'D IMAGINED