Heed the Lord’s Invitation – Karen Austin

“My Spirit that is upon you and within you shall be your constant companion – revealing hidden truths that shall be as stepping stones to guide you in this season. Heed His voice in even the smallest of matters because, unbeknownst to you, it could mean life or death. As you well know, the enemy of your soul comes to steal, kill and destroy. But remember, I came to give you life! These are crucial times but you need not fear.

I knew of these days and have prepared for these days long ago. I have been and am even now preparing for you to be victorious in this hour. I see you as an overcomer! There shall rise from your very midst giants of faith who shall lead and gather My troops.

The invitation is given to all, but not all will chose to take up this last day’s mantle. Remember David as he could not wear Saul’s armor? I have a mantle prepared just for you – not another man’s mantle. Upon the breastplate of your mantle shall be tokens of your previous victories. These tokens are not only to cause you to remember My faithfulness, but also will serve as tokens to remind the enemy of his defeat!

I say that victory is Mine! I have procured this as I led captivity captive and made a show of the enemy openly. Your victory is in the Blood! Your assurance is in the resurrection!”

Destiny – Karen Austin

Time marks the realm of man. Eternity marks the realm of God. We are always in a state of transition, ever changing, ever growing. Your destiny is not far away in your future. You are living in the present, which includes your past, as you are entering your future. You see glimpses of your future, even as you live in the present, and have stones of remembrance from your past. Can you look back and see where your past has thrust you to where you are now? Are there places in your life that seemed impassable, but you overcame which placed you in an area where you may never have dared otherwise?

Our lives may look like a patchwork. But as we trust Him, the Father will take every part of our lives and sow them together to make something beautiful. He desires to redeem every pain and every failure and turn them into our greatest testimonies. His design for our lives are originals and are so very precious to Him.

His timetable is not like ours. Forty years is not a long time to Him. We are the ones with a microwave mentality. We call it delay. He calls it perfect timing. We call it slow. He calls it just right. Your journey will last your lifetime. There is always something going on in the spiritual realm. We do not always see this in the natural. This is a faith journey. If we try to make it happen in our own strength and in our timing, our dreams may suffer.

When we allow others to squelch our dreams or determine what we can do, it is like a slow poisoning, We are not being who we are created to be. No one benefits from this. We are not being who we were created to be. The measuring rod for our life is God’s Word and His intent for our lives…not anyone else. If we really knew how much our Father loves us, our lives would be dramatically different. We would know who we are and what our purpose is. This is why He desires for us to spend time with Him, so He may tell us who we really are.

God once told Jill Austin, “Your dreams are like a cup of water, but My dreams for you are like the vastness of an ocean.”

These are the days of dreams and destinies coming to pass. God wants to partner with you in your dream. He gives you the ability to imagine, to create, and then He speaks with gentle whispers in His still small voice – all the while teaching you to trust His perfect timing.

Jesus is calling you to come forth, to take off the grave clothes as He did Lazarus. He is saying to put on your running shoes. It is time for the adventure to begin. This is the hour for the adventurous and not the faint of heart. Come and run with your Heavenly Daddy.

Psalm 20:4 “May He grant you according to your heart’s desire, and fulfill all your purpose.”

The Quest – Karen Austin

From the moment of our birth upon this earth, the quest for acceptance, true unconditional love was already beating in our very being. We came from a place of unconditional love, as we were created and formed by our Father’s loving hands. “You formed my innermost being, shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside,
and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.” Psalm 139:13.
But how could we be searching for something that we never knew existed?

My belief is that we knew the pure love of our Heavenly Father in the realm of eternity. Then when we were born flesh and blood, we instinctively knew we were missing something that made us whole. We quickly learned though how to make our parents jump and give us what we wanted.

As we grew into a toddler, the closest thing to fulfilling the empty place in our hearts was our family. Some of us were blessed to live in a family that affirmed us, many did not. Still, even the best of families could not fill that which we sought.

We then became of age to leave our secure home, our dependence on our parents and off to school we went. We believed everyone would love and dote on us as our parents. We believed everyone was just like us. We had not been harshly judged, told we looked funny, or didn’t wear the latest fashion. For the most part, we had been happy.

Once again, we looked to be accepted. The games we played with our parents to get what we wanted didn’t work with our teachers. We were just one of many who were a little “princess” or “prince”. We began playing sports or joined clubs – or wished that we did, but maybe we didn’t have the money or talent to be included. We wanted to belong to something so much and be like everyone else, so we would fit in and be affirmed. By this time, we were willing to try anything to be loved and accepted. Some of us studied hard to make perfect grades. Others joined every extracurricular activity they could to be “in the crowd”. Though some of our attempts we stumbled on to some things we were good at. Little did we realize that these were a gift that our Heavenly Father deposited into us for His glory.

All the while, our Father was watching over us…seeing the wrong choices we made, seeing the hurt and rejection we endured. He saw some of us ended up hiding from others, even ourselves. Still, in His love, He was always lovingly reaching out to us…longing for us to turn to Him.

We went on to search for the exact career that would fill that still aching need to be loved as we had experienced by our Heavenly Father. We thought being fulfilled was being successful – making it in the world so we would have the acceptance of our peers and our neighbors. We met Mr. or Miss Perfect, got married and had children. All this is wonderful but still….the longing remained.

Somewhere along the way, we finally heard the call of our Father. We accepted Jesus as our Savior. His Presence enveloped us and the pure love. That which we have been seeking our whole life was now not only revealed. Unfortunately, many of us learned more laws than unconditional love. We then began again looking for acceptance from our Pastors and those we deemed “spiritual”. We volunteered for everything there was to do. We worked in the nursery, parked cars, cleaned and did lawn work. We fed the poor, joined the choir and went to nursing homes. Still…we knew there was more. We accepted Him as Savior, but had yet to allow Him to be Lord. Still, all of this is just the Outer Court.

Life Flow (Part 1) – Karen Austin

How many of you have come into a church service tired, discouraged and just beat down by life? Then as you worshiped, the heaviness began to lift. You connected with heaven and were revived.

Once the Lord asked me, “Why do you think that you feel so good, so strengthened, after being in My Presence?” I know the Word says in His Presence is fullness of joy, but what I was feeling went beyond joy. He then answered His question. “There is a life flow in My Presence.” “For whoever finds Me, finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” Proverbs 8:35. We may read this scripture and think it means whoever finds Him finds salvation, eternal life. While this is true, the word “life” here means alive, live prosperously, be quickened, and revived from sickness, discouragement or even death! It means refreshment. Life to the Hebrews was associated with health, prosperity and vitality. They view man as a whole being – spirit, soul and body. So whoever finds Him, finds healing, hope and prosperity.

Psalm 36:9 says “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”God is the source of life. The book of Genesis tells us that God took the dust of the earth and formed a man and then He breathed into man’s nostrils and man became a living being. Intimacy with man began in one breath – when His breath became ours.

One thing I believe Holy Spirit is doing right now is inviting us to allow His Kingdom rule to grow, mature and consume us. It is then His Kingdom will reach beyond us to touch other people. The Presence of God should radiate from within us to touch those in whom we come in contact with. We are to release the fragrance of Heaven where ever we go. Remember Moses who spent much time with the Father, and when he left that place, his appearance was changed…His face shone, reflecting the glory of God.

David is one of my favorite Bible characters. He was a man of one thing. Even though he became king, had political authority and power, met with important people from other nations, his heart was still to worship God. It was during the time that he spent out on a hillside in worship, he found his life source.

“They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house. and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures. For with You is the fountain of life, in your light we see light.” PSALMS 36:8, 9.

I invite you to drink from the river of His pleasures where I have discovered peace and rest…where I have found answers when I didn’t know where to turn. Drink from His river of life, for in His Presence is light and His light brings revelation which we need so desperately in these days and the days that lie ahead.

~~to be continued

The Crowd and the Crown (Conclusion) – Karen Austin

In conclusion to the messages regarding the “crowds” that come against us in life, I submit this word to you. We are to not only bring words of encouragement, but at times, we are to sound the alarm, which is released as protection and to bring an awareness. As we are coming out of this time of quarantine, know it is a time of passing over and we do not want to take any of the baggage of the latter day with us. It’s a new day, it’s to be a new way…a coming out of the wilderness and entering into our promised land. My prayer is that this will encourage you, while awaken you.

“A stampede of a variety of crowds are coming against My people in this hour to cause them to lose faith, to lose courage to stand up against the battle that is being waged against them. But I release this alarm to cause My people to awaken to the reality of the pressure of these crowds and to understand the significance of this hour.

The purpose of the crowds of the enemy is to lead My people down paths that I did not intend them to follow. The enemy desires to bring condemnation upon My people at the place where they have stopped and compromised, saying “Look at where you are! Look where you have failed.” But know this, the enemy is a liar! I will always have a plan of redemption for you, a plan to bring you back to My plan of life for you.

There has been a distinct attack of compromise and lethargy that has come against My Body. Be wise My people. Do not conform back to this world, but be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Follow the leading of My Spirit in all matters of your life. The price is too costly to submit to compromise… to remain complacent…to not recognize the lateness of the hour. For the enemy will attempt to bring one thing and then another to slowly move you from your place of abiding in Me. Just as a pioneer who would wander away from the camp would be open game for the enemy’s attack, so also will you be if you move from the place I have called you to stand.

Hear what I say to you this day. Know that the enemy is very subtle. His suggestions always sound good. They always have, but know he is a deceiver and a liar. There is not truth in him for he comes to steal, kill and to destroy. But I have come to bring you life and life abundantly!

Press on My children for I have the victor’s crown waiting for you. Know that I am for you and not against you. I have given you all that you need for the battle. I have overcome the world and you are more than a conqueror because of the victory that I have won for you. Walk in it. I have given you the power and authority to walk away from the crowds that seek to draw you from My best for your life.

I have a place of peace for you and in this place, you will see clearly – where you are to go and what you are to do. Receive My strength today. Receive My grace today. I love you and I call you an overcomer! You can do all things through Me, the OVERCOMER who strengthens you!”

He is RISEN – Bill Chilcote

HE IS RISEN!

He is the Resurrection and life eternal.

His Blood is the power of the Eternal Covenant.

The incorruptible blood of Jesus Christ is on the mercy seat,

it is there as a witness that you and God have a covenant.

When we understand the blood covenant, we will never be the same. We will be as fearless as David facing the Giants in our life. The giants don’t have covenant with God. So when you face uncircumcised problems, remember they are defenseless and defeated… and you have a covenant with a God who will fight your battles for you. If God is for you, we are more than conquerors through Christ. The Blood is the evidence.

He rose triumphantly from the grave on the 3rd day… for you!

He gave us authority in our world to exercise dominion over every giant in our life… because the blood speaks a better word.

It is an honor and a covenant right to use His Name, Jesus Christ!

So in Jesus Name… circumstances, fear, sickness, poverty, devil, this is the day the Lord will give you into my hands. We don’t ever have to be defeated in life, because we have a covenant with God our Father. We sit with Christ Jesus on His Throne in the completed victory on the Cross.

Thank you Jesus for what you did for me. Thank you that you love me deeply. Thank you for Resurrection Sunday!Galatians 4:7 (TPT) Now we’re no longer living like slaves under the law, but we enjoy being God’s very own sons and daughters and because we are His, We can access everything our Father has– for we are heirs of God through Jesus, the Messiah!

Ekklesia: The Called out Ones – Karen Austin

As I was reading the story in Exodus 9-12 regarding the first Passover, the words the Lord spoke to Moses stood out to me, “Let My people go.” The sins of God’s people were many, still, the Father’s heart was pursuing His people. After 400 years of hearing the cries of His people. He sent a deliverer named Moses.

Moses had many experiences with God. The first being when he saw the bush burning, but not being consumed by the fire. Most of you have had an experience(s) with God. They may not have been as dramatic as Moses’, but God revealed Himself to you. It could have been when you were saved or filled with the Spirit; or maybe through answered prayer. Somewhere along your life, He has made Himself real to you.

I am sure you are like me… like the Israelites, we rebelled against God, but in His faithfulness, He drew you out just as Moses was drawn out of the water. The Father drew you out and took you to Himself to nurture you in His ways. The Israelites knew his actions, but Moses knew His ways. The Father is searching for those who like Moses, those who will turn aside and look…not just pass by when He reveals Himself. He is looking for those who desire to know His heart, to seek His face and not just His hand – just what He can do for them.

I have heard it said that this is the first Passover that Israel has been shut in since that very first Passover. I sense there is something very significant about Passover this year and Resurrection Sunday. There are things that God is rearranging and putting in order that we may not be aware of right at this moment in time, but we will soon see.

The first commandment that God gave to His chosen people dealt with worship. “I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery, You shall have no other Gods before Me.” Deuteronomy 5:6-7.

Just as worship was the first commandment to God’s people when they were set free, worship should be our first response to being set free! The idols we have laid down during this time of being shut in; we must be mindful not to pick them up again. He must remain first and foremost in our lives. Once again He is saying to that which has had us bound…be it schedules, anxieties, fear or whatever has kept you from being near His heart, “Let My people go, so they may worship Me.”

Moses’ name means “Drawn Out”. We, His Bride are called the Ekklesia, the called out ones. He is calling those who have sought His face, those who have carried the burden of His heart….He is calling you out of this season of being hidden. He has delivered you to be a deliverer!

I pray that you and your family receive the fullness of what the Lord wants to do for you and in you during this holy season. May you be set free from all that binds and hinders you. May you walk into the freedom that Christ gave His life to set you free from. Be released! Be healed! Rejoice for the Lord your God has redeemed you with the precious blood of the Lamb….there is power in the Blood…the Blood of Jesus!

A Wedding of a Bride – Frank Work

Many years ago I performed my first wedding since being ordained more than a year and half. This isn’t earth shattering in the grand scheme of things, pastors, ministers of the gospel, keepers of the 4th flower, twice removed to the east honeysuckle humming bird church of the passionate No. 2 pencil, marry people everyday. So why does this particular wedding hold so dear to my heart? Glad you asked.

The young lady who asked me to do this most honorable occasion is someone who I have literally known since she was born. She was born in the same year as my son, in the same state, on the same island of Oahu. Her and her future husband are both teachers who I believe are striving to make a true difference in the heart and minds of those they teach. I only know a few teachers personally. All of whom are passionate about the children they have taught or will continue to teach. So I am very blessed to have been asked to be the one who will marry this young couple, especially as my first wedding.

There is something else that God has spoken to me about concerning this wedding. There is a movie called “Four weddings and a Funeral“, and I honestly have never seen this movie, but it caused me to reflect on my own time as a minster of the gospel. My first 3 duties after being ordained was to preside over 3 funerals. The first funeral was for my daughter -inlaws grandfather. My second funeral was for a 10 month old child. My third funeral was for the babies mother who committed suicide. First let me say that I was very honored to be asked to do these services and be a part of honoring them. It’s no small thing I believe when you are asked to oversee a funeral, especially from family and friends. I bless those families who have lost loved one, yet can be assured that their loved ones are seated securely with the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

So I was doing my first wedding, watching the bride who will be dressed in all her regal attire, preparing herself for the moment when she will say “I do” to her bridegroom. I have only seen a small part of the preparation period of this bride to this point. It is now a frantic time period as the wedding draws closer, that the “details” of the wedding are starting to stack up. “Did we do this? Do you want this and that? What’s your thoughts on this part of the wedding?” And the questions continue to stack up as the moment draws closer.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus was crucified, buried and rose on the third day committing himself to be sin on that cross, so that we as God’s children would be able to come to the Father in Heaven through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus. It’s only because of that blood, that life giving blood, are we saved from the fires of hell that we honestly deserve. So get to your point Frank. Alright I will. I believe that God was showing me through this time,  that death has to occur so that life, the life of Jesus can come fully through you and I. That we must have a mindset that Jesus wants to kill the carnal nature of who we are so that our spirit man can rise up and take hold of the destiny that has been placed within each one of us, since the time of our conception.

Side note: I believe that the Holy Spirit is implanting and speaking destiny to us as we are conceived in our mother’s womb. That we as infants in the womb are truly fellow shipping with our Lord and Savior so closely that our spirit man remembers that, and yearns to be in that state of relationship again. Hence the reason our flesh is never satisfied.

Seeing the process of the bride’s preparations helps me to understand in a small way, the way the bride of Christ should be preparing for the bridegrooms return, who is Jesus. Details. Matthew 25: 1-13 gives us a great picture of those who were concerned about the details those who were not. Preparation is essential and required of the bride to prepare for the coming of the bridegroom, whether down the isle or Jesus coming, both to me require preparation and effort in order that the bride is presented without spot or wrinkle. “He will love me regardless of what I look like.” This is true, the bridegroom will love the bride, but the bride must honor the bridegroom by preparing herself for his coming, and not take advantage selfishly, of His love for her.

This young lady, whom I had the most dubious honor in presiding over her wedding, is preparing to present herself as a bride whom her bridegroom will eagerly say the words, “I will”.

I am reminded that I the three funerals I was a part of is symbolic of the days of death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus and that we must die to ourselves in order that He may live fully in us. I pray the power of the Holy Spirit and the life giving love of the blood of Christ will bless this couple as they begin their journey.

I believe that prophetically the time of preparation is upon us. We are not to assume anything in our time on this earth. That we prepare for His coming as though it was going to happen tomorrow, today or within the next few seconds. That the time of morning who we were is past and the time of embracing who we are is upon us. I believe that we will start to see the remnant of the bride of Christ start to make herself manifest in power and understanding in the days to come. That no longer will the bride be satisfied with average, but that there will be a an excellence in spirit to prepare herself for the bridegrooms coming. Come to the wedding feast and adorn yourselves in the finery of the blood of Christ. The time of the light that will shine through His bride is upon us. In the coming days we will see the manifest presences of the Lord Jesus in our midst. We will see the power of the Holy Spirit releasing the captives from addiction, sickness and pain. We will see the love of the Father welling up in the hearts of the bride. I believe that we will see the power of God in such a way that it will change towns, cities, regions and countries. I know that God is looking upon His son’s bride and sending forth the angels of the Lord to carry out the missions that have been set before them in preparing the bride. Children of God will be crying out not in pain, but in victory as the angels are giving their marching orders concerning the bride. I believe that we will see a physical manifestation of the power and glory of our Lord Jesus in such a way, that there will be no way in denying it. That in the coming months we will be seeing and living

Matt 6:25-34

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

I know that I personally fall short in many area’s of my own life, but I also know that I have to keep trusting in Jesus and realize that He loves me and believes in me because of the blood that covers me. Blessings

Whats Eating at You??? (Part 1) – Gary Florence

Romans 8:1 says “That there is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ” yet so many of us find ourselves living under that very thing and more times than not you will find shame and guilt lurking around condemnation. In Heb 12:24 it says “and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood (Jesus’), which speaks better than the blood of Abel.” Why is it than we can easily find ourselves stuck under the old when we have before us something new?

For most of my Christian walk I was under this very thing. Every time I would sin this guilt, shame and condemnation would just eat at me and eat at me. Please do not get me wrong when we sin we should have a healthy conviction stir up within side of us but the key word is “healthy.” I would find myself days even weeks later confessing the same sin over and over knowing deep down in my heart that God had already forgiven me the first time I confessed it. The shame, guilt and condemnation was overwhelming. It would consume me at times. Then what would really confuse me is that even though I would feel unworthy to be used by God, He would still use me, sometimes it even felt like He would use me even more in people’s lives when guilt, shame and condemnation was screaming louder in my head.

I would be like “God how and why would you continue to use me to speak in other’s lives when it feels like my life is spinning out of control?” Many times I would just take myself out of the “game” and say to God “I am going to sideline myself until I get this “sin” under control” because the guilt, shame and condemnation would ramp up the intensity when I would step out in spite of it. Does this sound familiar to anyone reading this, do you find yourself shaking your head in agreement with what I am saying?

If this is you I want to let you know that there is hope for you to get out from under shame, guilt and condemnation. We will continue our discussion the next time we get together.

Our God is a Deep Well – Karen Austin

“..And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love];” Ephesians 3:17, 18 AMP

There is a depth of His love that He is inviting us to enter. It will be in this place that He will share the secrets of His heart. This deep place in His heart is not found by casual observer. It is a place that must be purposely sought. It is a place where we lose ourselves and are total immersed in His love…wave after wave. Oh, how I hunger to go deeper into this place of divine love!

Know this invitation is not for a select few. No, it’s for whosoever will come..whosoever will die to self….whosoever will lay aside the pull of the world and choose to say yes to His desire to be with you.

I have attached a song of hunger and longing for His love by Alberto and Kimberly Rivera. (I apologize in advance if an ad comes on first). Be blessed.

“Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you….” James 4:8 TPT