Stretch your arms wide and freely embrace this brand new day! No matter what the backdrop (yesterday) may have been, as long as there's breath, there's fresh opportunity for moving forward. No looking back allowed for DESTINY is surely ahead and not behind you. Get it together and move towards the mark. 3 Things to keep in mind as you reposition: 1) Hear the voice of God, 2) Listen to His strategic instructions, and by all means 3) Trust & obey what He says when He speaks. You're built for this so the only thing left to say is, "Onward!"

Have you ever felt like you were literally swirling and twirling in a whirlwind of change? Well I have sure have and I'm certain that I'm not the only one because change is an integral part of LIVING this life! The good news is that whirlwinds are preordained agents of change that have an attached promise that cannot be broken by our God who is constantly making all things new.

If you don't believe it just take a look at an expectant mother's sonogram at eight weeks and then again at twenty-six weeks. What can be seen is undeniable growth and development necessary for healthy life. Next, check out the lowly, underestimated caterpillar that crawls on the ground in the beginning. Now, fast forward to the end of the metamorphosis cycle and marvel at the beautiful creature that has evolved and emerged. Wow, talk about an example for change. This reminds me that I actually have a poster of a beautiful butterfly who has come into its own after a process of time. The quote by Trina Paulus says: “How does one become a butterfly?" she asked.  "You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar.”

The revelatory thing about the butterfly however that is often overlooked is that the only possible way it can become its finished product is that it first has to die. Oh my. It is impossible for me to comprehend this, to write this without recalling the precious words our Saviour, Jesus Christ spoke so long ago in John 10 that still live today: Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

A little further on John 12 reads: Most Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.  If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.

No matter where we are on our chosen routes we always have the prerogative to CHANGE our minds. As a matter of fact God has been waiting on many to do just that so He can show up and show out in our lives. We must not be insistent on staying a course, remaining in a relationship or continuing to mourn what God has rejected. The moment that we are willing to relinquish our wills... will be the moment that long awaited manifestation appears. Selah.

1) God Is My CEO, Larry Julian
2) This Far by Faith, Linnie Frank & Andria Hall
3) Having What Matters, Monique Greenwood                  4) The Seven Laws of Success, Herbert W. Armstrong 
5) 100 Ways to Simplify Your life, Joyce Meyer

(Prov 4:5-9) tells us: Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.  Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; Love her, and she will keep you.  Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom.  And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.  She will place on your head an ornament of grace; A crown of glory she will deliver to you.”

I submit to you that this year is a year for DREAMS coming true like never before. As a matter of fact it has already started for those who have 1) allowed yourself to dare to believe again and, 2) have put movement to your reaffirmed belief.
 
Many years ago  I was blessed to "star" as Harriet Tubman in an awesome production by Pastor Jacqueline Shaw. It was a dream come true because I had always admired this great woman, this female Moses, of uncommon faith & favor. A few of her most memorable quotes are:

• “I never ran my train off the track, and I never lost a passenger.”
  
• "Before I let you turn back, I'll shoot you dead!"
  
• “I freed a thousand slaves I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves.”
• “Never wound a snake; kill it.”
  

As a child Harriet was beaten by masters to whom she was hired out. Early in her life, she suffered a severe head wound when hit by a heavy metal weight. The injury caused disabling seizures, narcoleptic attacks, headaches, and powerful visionary and dream experiences throughout her life, but guess what? She REFUSED to allow any of these things to deter her from her assignment to fulfill the visions/dreams implanted and entrusted within her by God. She realized it was not about her anyway, but about the souls assigned to her and as a result, God made it all work for her good!

Had she spoken to the slaves in our modern day language, I imagine she would have said:  "HONEY, GET LIFTED!" She understood that the dream of freedom could become reality if the slaves would only put it into action under the protective covering of darkness. Long before R. Kelly made "I Believe I Can Fly" a national motivational anthem, Harriet Tubman had literally walked it out. 

The same God that led her successfully through so many dangers, toils and snares is yet leading you today so in closing I simply admonish you to think bigger, wider and wilder (outside the box). Dust that dream off, get the mind of God concerning what safe route to take & "GET LIFTED!"

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. - (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails (Prov 19:21). Just yesterday I determined NOT to create any TO-DO-LISTS of goals or resolutions. This was highly unusual for me but I felt SURE that I was not to do it as I always have. After the new year came in I understood why because the Lord spoke the need for me to rather create "VOWS." What a revelation for there is incredible difference between goals, plans or even resolutions and a VOW! God has encouraged me to GO ANOTHER LEVEL... DEEPER this year than ever before and this requires my placing a demand of the super upon the natural like never before.  I make goals, plans and resolutions with the intention to succeed, but the truth is I might succeed; I might not. But when I make my VOW to the Lord I have the wind of the Spirit backing me; propelling my sails FORWARD knowing that this is not casual for me, but covenant. 

(Deut 23:21) says: “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it; for the Lord your God will surely require it of you, and it would be sin to you."  Obedience is better than sacrifice and I CANNOT, I REFUSE to sacrifice my destiny due to sinning by not keeping my vow(s). 

I serve a covenant-keeping God and when I cut covenant with Him, that's a covenant to covenant connection and a MUCH MORE COMPELLING position to be in. Not only to begin or end a thing, but to check it off as utterly "COMPLETED!" Selah.

Most are pretty familiar with how cowardly the lion from the Wizard of Oz was. The lion for reasons unknown was afraid of just about everything he faced in his life, blindly thinking the Wizard had the power to give him COURAGE. Not so. What I conclude is that he was so distracted by looking OUTWARD that he neglected to look INWARD and... trust what was already built in.

 Here we have this lion that was not a turtle with a shell in which to hide but THE KING OF THE JUNGLE! He was called not only to roar the loudest, but to rule and conquer, yet he is afraid to take his rightful place. He got tired of existing off purpose; tired of being afraid so he set off on a long and tedious journey in hopes of receiving what he already possessed. Arriving in the Land of Oz he opened his mouth and asked for courage, but he asked the wrong source. How disappointed he was to discover that the power he had believed in was no power at all but a farce, a fake, a phony. Thankfully the little man, who was not a Wizard at all, shared a basic truth with the lion: "You are under the unfortunate delusion that simply because you run away from danger you have no courage. You're confusing courage with wisdom." Can I share some basic truths with you today?

(Matthew 7:7) gives us BASIC INSTRUCTION for using the courage within: "ASKKKKKK, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 

(I Cor 2: 9) gives us SPECIFICITY on having the courage to not just ask, but daring to ask BIG: But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Find your faith, trust in the right source and work your courage while it is day!

... for "While they were saying among themselves it cannot be done, it was done (H. Keller)." No handicap, limitation, lack of education or resource, witch or warlock can stop the Spirit of God from hovering over your life and commanding the divine exchange of FORM for void and LIGHT rather than darkness. 

Balak wanted Balaam to curse the people and had the utter audacity to get angry when he heard blessing instead: “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? Behold, I have received a command to bless; He has blessed, and I cannot reverse it (Num 23)." Balak failed to realize that the GOD we serve has a way of steamrolling right over so-called "problems" and will use anything and anybody in order to bring about His sovereign will concerning you. Our response is to believe that His strength really is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor 12:9) and then marvel, giving Him the glory, when He confounds both the enemy within AND the enemy without.