I get so excited when God sends me on an adventure!!! It usually is through the written word!  His word!!  And the words of some very anointed writers who have been a part of my spiritual growth and transformation since I was a teenager!

My treasure hunting happens in seasons as the Holy Spirit leads! 

I stepped into my loft/office this afternoon with the anticipation of writing.  As I perused my plethora of books that often distract me from my work (because I love to read), a gift from my mom caught my eye.  It usually makes me cry.  This time was no  different! This treasure touches me so deeply every time I open up this little booklet that is inscribed with a sweet, inspiring, love note from her.  It breaths life into the longing I have to feel next to her and for her to spiritually spur me to never forget my first love, Jesus!

She writes, "Congratulations Darling on your many achievements, your growth, and your understanding your spiritual growth , and your acceptance of life.  May God keep you in the palm of His hands until the day He says 'Well done Patty' .  Love, Momie"

Wow!  I choke every time!!!!  I was turning 18 and graduating from high school when she wrote this in a booklet with this title..."Climb Til Your Dream Comes True; A Collection of Inspirational Verses to put Joy in the Journey of Life, by Helen Steiner Rice".  I love poetry, I love spiritually deep books. I have always viewed my life as a journey, and my mom was my spiritual mentor that taught me about having a real relationship with Jesus, and I loved her!!! I came from spiritually rich beginnings!!!

My mom is with Jesus now!  I miss her terribly!  She was my mom!!  So significant to me is that she signed her note "Love Momie".  We never called her momie.  Her heart was transparent in this note that she loved me as her child and that not only did she give me life, but she knew that she had given me what she could to grow me spiritually.  I am rich because of her! The bond between a mother and her child are strong!!!  She was launching me to life!

When I am longing to feel loved, accepted, believed in and in need of confirmation, I read her love note to me!!!  She speaks to me even when I can no longer hear her voice!

I began to praise my Lord and be thankful for my spiritual heritage.  But, that wasn't the end of an outpouring from God.  The Holy Spirit prompted me to further search my bookshelves.  More treasures starting jumping off the shelves.  The collection of books in my arms began to grow.  My treasures included the significant books I read as a teenager that directed my path and deepened the roots of my relationship with my Lord Jesus early in life!  It would be the spiritual place that continues to testify to me this day!

I took my treasured booklet and my collection of books with all their powerful words and went out into the sunshine and spread them out.  I was gazing upon a tapestry of wisdom, life, joy, words that seeped into the depths of my soul and pointed me to my first love....Jesus!

I broke out in full worship and praise to my Lord, and thanked Him for my mom and the journey He has given me thus far!  I thanked Him for His faithfulness and that He never let's go of me!

And then, another prompting!  The Holy Spirit prompted me to text a phenomenal woman of God!  She is one of the few people you meet that you can feel the anointing of the Lord in her life.  She is also famous and it was intimidating to think God wanted me to continue a communication that started last week.  I trusted His prompting and it resulted in a phone call that was so confirming of my mom's words and the message from the Holy Spirit as he reminded me of my amazing journey thus far!  He whispered "Trust Me".

After that conversation, I was just having a grand time worshiping my Lord and singing as I was walking in my woods with sunshine everywhere and feeling God's Holy presence!!!!   I have so longed to be in God's presence like that as I have many times before!!  I have longed to feel loved....unconditionally!!  I have longed to just BE with Papa Father!!!  My pursuit of Him always brings me to Him...especially when I can get out of the way!

I share this with you because, just like you, I have strongholds in my life.  I have shortcomings and faults, and I, too, am a sinner saved by God's amazing grace! As such, I am called to bring all that to my Papa Father!  But, things get in the way...I get in the way!

The Holy Spirit has been working in me on my journey of demolishing my strongholds  through confession and prayer.  God has plans for me!  When my strongholds take up residency, that leaves no room for God.  I can go to church, pay my tithes, read the bible, go to a great bible study, volunteer in a ministry, etc., all of which is good, but for naught if I am not willing to give up territory and allow God to break down the walls of the fortress that keeps me in bondage.  Grief and much loss has shadowed my life for a while and God has done much healing in my life.  I needed to know that God is plotting my course and that I'm not just aimlessly wandering around!

Strongholds aren't necessarily sins, but they can lead to sinful behaviors.  Ex.: Having low self esteem or having experienced rejection can cause someone to become a people pleaser, which often times means you are too busy pleasing others and not growing in your relationship with God. This is just one example. Books have been written on the subject it is so prevalent.

If you have joined us at The Well and  the study of strongholds, well, then you understand that strongholds can be anything from dysfunctional belief systems from our youth, family, church family, false teachings, legalistic teachings...all that can lead to paralyzing fear, insecurities, doubt in our Heavenly Father, piety, narcissism, etc.  The list could go on, and does!  Books have been written about these issues, both in the secular and Christian world.  You can find a self help book anywhere that says "if you just do these 3 things, 5 things, 9 things then you will be set free!"

Freedom comes from God!  Knowing God in a true relationship brings freedom from that which entangles us!  A relationship of any kind requires effort, time spent together, commitment, genuine interest in each other, a desire to want to be with the other person!  Without knowing God, how can anyone expect to be set free!  Knowing God also means you know He is Sovereign.  Knowledge of scripture is vital to our spiritual development and growth. Knowledge OF someone does not make for a relationship. You must spend time with God---purposeful, meaningful time with Him!

Here is the scripture I live by and I share with my sisters often:
Hebrews 12: (1)"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, (2)fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, (3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."  NIV

I encourage you to continue on your journey of demolishing the strongholds that keep you in bondage and to be persistent in your pursuit of deepening your relationship with God.  IT IS WORTH IT!!!  

Today my joy is full!!!!  I am encouraged and I am loved!!!

Grace and Peace, 
​Patty

Discovery comes with so many unknowns.  Rubble surrounds what we sometimes seek, the treasure...the relationship, the job, peace, joy, friendship, etc.  Rubble can be massive, unnecessary, deep, silly or just plain cumbersome, especially when you are on a mission to find treasures.  Rubble can be a stronghold!!

Let's review the definition of a stronghold. I use the definition from Mike and Sue Dowgiewicz, Demolishing Strongholds.

"A stronghold is a demonic fortress of thoughts housing evil spirits that:

1. control, dictate, and influence your attitudes and behavior;
2. oppress and discourage you;
3. filter and color how you view or react to situations, circumstances, or people."

Many people struggle with "why" they can't seem to change themselves or their circumstances.  Friends give advice.  Family tries to take over and direct your path.  Ministers give the best scripture for your circumstance.  You read all the Christian self-help books out there.  If you will just do a,b,c or 1,2,3, you will have victory.  Even God's word seems to work for others but not for you.  You have worked on this thing that has followed you a life time.  What is a person to do?

Consider that you may be dealing with a stronghold! 

When you laid out your lifeline and then started connecting the dots, what was your discovery?  Did you connect that one of the most humiliating experiences in your life continues to be a place of reference for you as you make relationship decisions in life?  How did that experience develop your view of the world--relationships, including the one with your Heavenly Father?  What about the amazing experience when you won an award for achieving a goal you had?  Does that inspire you to this day?  How do you incorporate your life experiences into living life in the present or making decisions about your future?  Where do the strongholds win over your soul, body, mind and spirit?  Where the stronghold resides, God is not Lord over that area of your life.

From the day we were born, we were born with needs.  When those needs are not met, we develop behaviors, thoughts and belief systems that keep us prisoner to the lies of Satan.  It is in the work of digging into the strongholds that we discover where God has been waiting for us...to deliver and to heal us from what keeps us captive!!!

Consider 2 Cor. 10:3-6  "For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.  The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

Assignment #1 What strongholds have you begun to discover are controlling your life?  What needs in your life have not and are not being met?

Assignment #2 What weapons has God gifted you with to demolish those strongholds? (Search the scripture.)

Assignment #3 Dig a little deeper!  Ask God, "What else might be a stronghold in my life?"  Then, listen.  What has God been trying to tell you?  What is His instruction at this point of your discovery?

When we come together at the next Well meeting, we will continue to connect the dots.  We will define our needs and take a deeper look at how strongholds have set up residency in your life based on those unmet needs.  

I will leave you with the same scripture, 2 Cor. 10:3-6, from The Message by Eugene Peterson.
"The world is unprincipled.  It's dog-eat-dog out there!  The world doesn't fight fair.  But we don't live or fight our battles that way--never have and never will.  The tools of our trade aren't for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture.  We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ.  Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every and building lives of obedience into maturity."

Grace and Peace,
Patty

"This is the way.  Walk in it."  Isaiah 30:21

Wow!  What a great turn out on Thursday of last week!  It was so exciting to so many women at The Well, ready for what God has in store for them!  I'm thrilled to be with you all on this journey!

Some of you were not able to finish the assignment before we met Thursday.  No worries!  Keep working on that!  It brings an amazing find - (treasure), and God wants to speak to you about what you find!!  He's waiting for you!! Go spend some time with Him!

Awareness begins the journey to change and turning the tide!  

Discovery, digging, observing and looking begins awareness!!!  Use your timeline and questions from last week to continue the discovery.  Here are some questions to dig a little deeper. 

• What else might you find?
• What did you discover about your self, your life, as a daughter of the King? (can be more than one discovery)
• How did that discovery impact you? 
• What do you want to do with that discovery?
• What are you willing to do with that discovery?
• Do you see the discovery as a treasure?  If so, how? Or do you need to unearth the treasure still hidden in what may be painful, embarrassing or uneasy?  You know that will require some more digging!  Go for it!  What do you have to lose? Or I might say, what do you have to find?  Ask God to reveal the truth to you.
• Of the 7 basic needs we are discussing, where does your discovery land?  For example:  does it land where you lack security--is this the place from where you operate in your life?  We will be defining in more detail those basic needs next Thursday, and you will be able to more closely identify where your unmet needs are.  For now, see what seems to fit most with your discoveries.

Assignment #1  Journal your discoveries and the questions above.  

One of the exercises from last week was to evaluate your motives.  (see last week's blog) Of the 7 basic needs, which of the needs impact your motives in life?  Where are you beginning to connect the dots?  Could you draw a map?  Get creative with this!  

Assignment #2  Draw a map of the connections you have discovered thus far!  No right or wrong way to do this.  Can be very simple.  Be creative.

I pray for you daily as you run this part of the race set before you!  We will come together at our appointed time to share, laugh, cry, clap or dance, however the Holy Spirit moves us!  We will rejoice in our Lord God! I look forward to our time of sharing and learning! Come with the expectation that God will more than show up...because He always does!

I leave you with this passage today.  Let it soak into your spirit and allow the longing to grow!
"As the dear pants (longingly) for the water brooks, so my soul pants (longingly) for You, O God.  My soul (my life, my inner self) thirsts for God, for the living God."  Psalm 42:1-2 (AMP)

Grace and Peace,
​Patty​

"This is the way. Walk in it."  Isaiah 30:21

"What a great start to our new series "The Longing In You" at The Well.  I had several women tell me they were sure they were in the right place for the right time in their life.  There is hope that change can come, and when we take the first steps in the right direction we begin to feel empowered and our hope increases!

I love it when God starts stirring the waters!  It's time to let God "Turn The Tide".  

To quote Henri Nouwen from "Way of the Heart", "Many of us have adapted ourselves too well to the general mood of lethargy. Others among us have become tired, exhausted, disappointed, bitter, resentful, or simply bored.  Demands of this life are increasing and the satisfactions diminishing.  Some are still active and involved...but in their own name."

So how do we "turn the tide".  First things first.  Here are 4 activities we will be utilizing to "turn the tide".
1. Discovery
2. Treasure hunting
3. Great detective work
4. Solve the mystery

Here is your assignment for this week.  
Set an appointment with yourself, put it on the calendar, and protect it as though this was a paid appointment that you are going to get your money's worth.  Set it for several hours.  Invite your Heavenly Father into this time. Then do the following prescriptions:
1. Listen carefully.  For a long time!!!  Not just 10 minutes, but for at least 30 minutes or longer!  This is part of a practice of solitude. 
2. Examine your life (do a lifeline--directions at the end of this post, examine your early dreams as a child, examine your life with Christ since you received Him as Lord, describe the present) This step make take some time.
3. Evaluate your motives in life.  What motives drive you in life? What motives do you live life by?
4. Write down your concerns, what worries you, what seems to be elusive desires?
If you are unable to do this in one appointment, set another.  Make it through the process!

Come to class ready to discuss what you discovered!  Do not worry if you feel you cannot share openly, but if there are excerpts that you can, great!  We will discover together!

I can't wait to hear your stories!  It will be wonderful and inspiring!  And, yes, we will spur one another on!  Until next Thursday!

Grace and Peace,
Patty

(Instructions for lifeline:  On paper, draw a line across the page.  Begin by placing a mark on the line and write the significance of that mark with a date. Example: date of birth, 5th birthday because you got a pony, etc. until you come to the present.  Be sure to mark everything of significance in your life, good and bad.  Use two pages if you need to.)

"This is the way. Walk in it."  Isaiah 30:21

While traveling my journey, life has delivered many experiences, emotions and learning opportunities. I am reminded as I read scripture--Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you plans to give you hope and a future'".  (NIV)
 
It is in the study of scripture and the practice of solitude that my searching has always brought me back to the days when I was young and the things that God taught me at such an early age.
 
As I ventured into my past, memory lane became the catalyst for realizing how, now in my adulthood, strongholds mask truths and joy and dreams and vision and calling and breath!  Strongholds that should never have taken up residency in my spirit and my soul--even captivating my body (ex. stress symptoms).  But strongholds do that!  We give them permission consciously and unconsciously.  How so?
 
In life, we gather experiences and filling up our spiritual and soulful storehouse with everything from joy and love to bitterness and fear!  We blame others for our pain, seek justice, and we look for the quick fix--the thing or person who will make it all go away, or at least feel better.  Masking begins and the strongholds gain real estate at our very core. God is no longer Lord over our lives, the strongholds are.  We even begin to believe that this is normal!  It’s just part of life.  It’s the tribulations that bible talks about.  Then we can’t understand how we are to be victorious in Jesus while we experience such defeat.
 
The pursuit of demolishing strongholds is not for the faint of heart, but definitely for those who are ready for relief, healing and change that can be permanent.  Trusting God in the process of self-examination and assessment will be key to being set free.  

If you are ready to move forward in your journey, stay tuned for a series on demolishing strongholds here on my blog.  Until the next posting, read and contemplate Hebrews 12:1-3.  
 
Grace and Peace!
Patty