Friday, August 21, 2009

A Blessing In The Now

Hey bloggers...while I'm still finishing up MkITN, here's a blessing I wrote that was posted a couple of years ago on the "One On One" section of the original CITN blog...seems like the words are appropriate for today...






















…I want to command a blessing on you today because I am thinking about how appreciative I am for Church In The Now, both the actual community and the cyber-community…for all that it is NOW…for all that it is becoming…as each one of you “comes out of the tent” and “looks up and counts the stars”, I believe that you are moving beyond old limitations today…and by the Christ that is being revealed in you as individuals and as a congregation, I say that you are allowing yourself to express His nature freely and creatively in the earth…

…I speak a blessing of grace over those of you who are currently in transition…life is about change, and so I say in faith that you are able to adapt easily to the new...

…I prophecy over you that you are able to choose to allow all your experiences to be joyous and loving today…that you are really able to embrace, once and for all, that all things are working together for your good…

…Walk in the Spirit today, and as you manifest the peace that passes understanding, relax into the flow of life and let it provide all that you need easily and comfortably...to those who have, more will be given, and I say that you “have”…

…I bless you to forgive yourself and others…you are Church IN THE NOW, so release the past and move forward with love in your heart...go fearlessly into the next “glory” with a VISION for a brighter future…

…God loves you, so you have permission to love and approve of yourself, and to be at peace with His plan for your life, and with your own feelings…stand tall and free today because you are not just a member of a church…you are part of a MOVEMENT…

…Church In The Now, you are strong…great in number…capable…a loving and lovable Body of Christ…free…giving…united…active…powerful...

…the services this weekend are going to be awesome…there will be a free expression of love and worship in the house…and you will receive a word from the Lord that will enable you to enjoy your life as you allow the Holy Spirit to flow through every part of it…

…I am enthusiastic about Church In the Now…every part of it…I love seeing this vision unfold every day of my life…each service gets better and filled with more energy, vitality and passion week after week…

…I extend my love to the citizens of this “city set on a hill”…as Pastor Jimmie’s song says, “those who will, those who won’t…ALL COME!”…

…You are being led by the Spirit today, so accept Divine guidance, trust the process of life, and believe that you are always safe, secure and protected in the Secret Place of the Most High...rest securely knowing that my God shall supply all of your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus…only right action is taking place in your life today, and all details take care of themselves…

…Be blessed today and every day…I love you all very, very much…Bishop Jim…


16 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe.
I receive.
Thanx Bishop.
Reign!

Son of Zadok said...

Was having a day today. That was a very sweet word. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Amy Cantwell Carter said...

Just what I needed.

Anonymous said...

Sammy Blue said...

Works for me. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Sharon Shepherd said...

I read it and I whole-heartly agree... it is appropriate for today. I wasn't a member two years ago but these words ring true for me in the NOW. Thank you Bishop.

Unknown said...

Funny. I read the blessing on transition as "life is about 'to' change". I guess I'm prophesying to myself. Cool.

Thank you, Bishop, blessings received...and a thousand blessings you, also!

Anonymous said...

Cliff Hancock said...

Man I love you

Anonymous said...

Pamela L. Thompson said...

WOW, I needed that. Thanks Bishop!

karl cobos said...

Receiving the blessings, love you too. This weekend is going to be awesome in the house!..can hardly wait to worship!

karl cobos said...

Bishop,
You mentioned Wed about how revelation can sever and the example of Paul saying "it pleased the Lord to separate him from his mother's womb (meaning Israel and all the traditions, etc.)"

In a way, I'm understanding a bit of the pain and I see how I have been in a severing process you could say, from many things that I grew up with surrounded in the Seventh-day Adventist church. You could say it was my mother since I could ever remember. Books, Sabbath school, high school, college, church potlucks, conferences, revelation seminars, the works.

Paul's upbringing was very strict about the Sabbath and foods and the like...so was mine.
While after calling on the Lord I generally looked forward to the Sabbath (day off, rest, worship,usually hiked in parks with friends-those "countrymen/tradition things"), great times...but there was still this fearful works element of "IS THIS OK ON THE SABBATH?", or "MAYBE I SHOULDN'T BE TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY"...go out to eat? (nah, because you're making the waiter work on the Sabbath for you, and stuff like that...you get the picture?)

I'm back in touch now with many of my Adventist friends via Facebook, and like Paul, yearning for them to rest in Christ's grace and be free from the fears that righteousness by works brings, even though most talk of/discuss righteousness by faith, it's really hard to see. I pray for wisdom/insight how to respond when these things are brought up(wise as serpent/harmless as a dove), I've mentioned on Facebook that I go to Church in the Now, but many haven't seen it or even know that it's NOT an Adventist church.

I still want to honor, as you say, the foundation of God and Christ that was there...it was in my dorm room after a worship meeting that I called on the Lord.

Being at Church in the Now is a miracle!, not to mention being baptized there (which I gratefully thank you again)..because we were told not to go to Sunday churches thinking that a spirit of lying/deception is there and you could be led astray.

...and foods?...oh my God! Praise God I've been set free from that!!!
I thought I was sinning at every turn over things like that, which of course gave you the thoughts that you might end up in hell, and so after awhile I gave up on church, prayer for a couple of years, but thank God He helped me back...TO HIM!!!

I'm not afraid of my meals anymore, and do I dare say that tonight I had PORK RIBS(by Erik), and a glass of merlot? Get back!!!???
Most would think that I've fallen way off the wagon...I think I've fallen into His net of grace.

I guess there will still always be certain ties with your "mother", but I don't want to shrink back from anything that needs to be separated. May we all have revelation...and walk in it...painful or not.

-Karl

Izumi/JOY said...

Sanctuary much Bish. I receive your blessing, and extend the same to you, all your family, this manna fest station, and beloved Universe!

Let it be.

Izumi/JOY said...

Thank you, Karl! I sooo get that! Your mention of conversations, and activities on the Sabbath made me wince and chuckle at the same time.

While I didn't grow up in a Seventh Day Adventist household, the restaurant/food subject struck a nerve with me.

Several years ago, while living in another part of the state, I was involved with a prayer group. Man, were they intense. (in retrospect, a little misguided, but, they meant well)

The meetings would go on for hours; lunch, sometimes, afterwards. The last time I attended, seemed we'd been through every Scripture verse in the New Testament.

So, it was surprising when our hostess suggested, when we gathered in front of an ethnic restaurant, that we anoint ourselves, and, "cover" one another before we stepped foot in the establishment.

Since some of my ancestors are Oriental, they found the restaurant a nice opportunity to address the subject of revelation. The prophetic realm... a gift I prayed for, and hoped was from God. (one stroked my arm, another anointed me with oil and knowingly told me that "it" (the prophetic word in me) was nothing more than a generational curse - a familiar spirit from my ancestors.) "Better cast that divination thing down!" was what she advised; then, began the process right there at the table.

When I asked about the previous hours of prayer, supplication, intercession, warfaring, etc., ("Uh... wasn't His blood enough?") she explained that we needed constant protection from the world, those around us, generations before, etc. (the fear aspect of her perspective was such a turn-off. But, still resonated with everything I'd been taught at home, and in every church I'd visited before that experience.)

Today, I rejoice, "Holy Spirit, thank You for liberty!"

Thanks for sharing, Karl. And, thank you, Bish, P. Deb, and CITN buds/cyber buds for revelatin'.

Donald said...

I don't usually have to work on Saturdays, which is perfectly fine with me because I love to sleep in on that day then get up and just do whatever.
But, I had to be at work today because we have got a barge that we are loading out to ship to New Orleans.
That sort of irked me because it messed up my normal routine and I don't get paid any extra for being there. Then when I got to work, things weren't going as well as I thought they should be going, so I got some folks upset with me which made things seem even worse than what they really were.
Other things happened which I didn't care for and on and on until I caught myself wanting to just cuss everybody out and send them home and tell the customer they could get their barge shipped out on Monday.
I am actually sitting in the office right now because I got so aggravated with the situation down on the dock that I just walked away.
I decided to read today's blog topic about all this blessing stuff when it dawned on me that we have been laying off people left and right because our company is in a slow cycle and I actually just got another promotion a couple of weeks ago in spite of the downturn.
Then I realized that many people would have been tickled pink to have had the opportunity to get up this morning and come to work. I had to back up and ask the Lord to forgive me for complaining because I was essentially complaining about one of His many blessings.

THANK YOU LORD THAT I HAVE AN EXCELLENT JOB TO BE AT TODAY!

Now I'm going to go back dockside and look out across the beautiful Gulf of Mexico as the gantry cranes continue to load the barge.

Son of Zadok said...

Catching up on posts here and Karl, that is such a great story. I so feel the spirit of what you said in my own way.

And IJ,

"Wasn't the blood of Jesus enough?"

I'll never forget those words.

The sentiment in that statement conveyed in your response to Karl's story, carry so much simple beauty and truth in them. Those are stronghold breaking words.

Donald,
That's what that "It Is Well" attitude plugs you into isn't it? It's helped me a lot this week. Good for you.

Going to catch up on MKITN before bed.

The love and the peace that prepare all possibilities you all.

Izumi/JOY said...

Thank you, SOZ.

Northern Light said...

I read this and I cried.

Nothing else to say than that !

Peace,
Northern Light


oh, word ver allin
Yes, Lord, we're ALL IN