Are you feeling overwhelmed? Tired? Burned out? Defeated? Depressed? Are you having a hard time staying motivated? Feel like you are stuck in the mud? You are not alone.
Join me on the JOURNEY course: Journey – ONLINE CLASS – Let the Children Fly
God wants you walking in wholeness because you will naturally parent out of that place of hurt or freedom. God is not mad at your anger. God understands why you need to use control to feel safe. He understands the frustration you feel. Jesus has not left you in your mess. You have not ruined your children. You are a on JOURNEY! Your triggers are your road signs revealing what is going on inside of you.
Having a hard time believing that? Read Hebrews 12:2 and position yourself on His truth that it is HIS job to write your story and finish it.
We had a Let the Children Fly team meeting and I could sense many people were dealing with spiritual resistance (the refusal to accept or comply with something, the attempt to prevent something by action or argument). As I was sharing my experience, I saw this picture of workout resistance bands wrapped around one’s legs. They can still walk, but every step requires more effort because resistance is set up to oppose their steps. I got the idea to grab rubber bands and put them between our fingers to feel the resistance. I put on some worship music, and we just spent time aligning our hearts with His.
During worship, God reminded me of a story where a man came up against great resistance, but God put up the block for his training and development. When the challenging season was over, he knew his anointing had doubled. I began to process that some resistance is good and from the Father’s hand to develop us more like Jesus. But then I saw this picture of the enemy using resistance and disguising it as being from Him. And that is when God showed me the strategy. Many people are experiencing resistance and simply accepting it, going low, and submitting to the Father when in reality, it needs to be dealt with in the spiritual realm. The more they partnered with the resistance saying, “Well, it is just for my development,” or “It comes with the territory of breakthrough,” they were actually partnering with the enemy who was bringing the wrong kind of resistance against them, their minds, calling, assignments and relationships. What’s the difference? Your level of peace! God’s training, character development, increasing our capacity, and seasons of refinement are not always pleasant, but they come with a layer of peace. Only God can discipline you in a way that still somehow feels loving and protective. If the resistance you are experiencing makes you feel uneasy, unsettled, full of lack, discouragement, or hopelessness, then perhaps it is not more patience that you need but a revelation of your authority to resist the resistance and watch it flee. I gave each team member scissors, and we stretched the rubber bands between our fingers to feel the resistance and then cut it. The bands went flying everywhere, and joy broke out. We all felt lighter and restored to hope and confidence that He will complete the work in us and fulfill the promises over us in His way and in His timing.
Do you have a child who is finding their way? Read this glorious testimony from my friend and be encouraged that God wants to and IS working in your child’s life too.
“One of my daughters made messes in her life, and the Lord said she needed her own room. Five other siblings were extremely unhappy with this decision which was to be handled by privately sharing with me their feelings followed by prayer for their sister. I watched my daughter do everything you don’t want your teen child to do. I felt helpless and didn’t see God move. Then one day, when I cried and gave up, He said, ‘Why do you think you failed? Why do you think this has to do with you? Have you forgotten her calling? How will she learn to walk in her calling unless she develops the tools she needs by being in a home with the unconditional love of her mom, dad, and siblings, who will tolerate this season of her life?’ My prayer focus changed, and the way I would see her changed. Within a couple of months, my daughter broke ties with all she was doing after having a major encounter with Jesus. She needed that room so He could visit her and her walls could come down.”
“Lisa, I found you on YouTube and have been watching a lot!! I have felt for some time we need help in parenting. I have looked into a lot of classes and/or teachings, but NOTHING talks about Holy Spirit and being LED by Him like I have heard Lisa talk about HIM and partnering with HIM. God knew I was looking for Lisa before I knew I was looking for her.”
How many of you can relate to this mom in the area of PLAYING with your children?
“The first word that came to mind that He wants me to do differently is PLAY! I am not good at playing. It’s not natural for me, but I see my kids come to life when we lighten things up and PLAY. So, Holy Spirit, come and give me a spirit of playfulness! Let me have FUN with my kids!!”
Lisa’s response: Can you sit with it and ask Him to show you what about play makes your heart so uncomfortable? This is where God uses the next generation to align and restore the current generation and what was lost. Allow Him to reveal, heal and restore the art of joyful play.
I love this testimony from my friend: “Last week one of my kiddos came home from an after-school class very distraught. He had experienced some relational pain with his peers and did not ever want to go back to this class. While I know I didn’t handle the situation perfectly; I tried to ask questions, listen and empathize. Then I shared some stories where I had had similar experiences as a kid, and I chose to quit almost every time. I told him I always wished I had the emotional capacity and support I needed to stick those hard situations out and see them through. He seemed responsive and willing to keep trying. But when that class came again this week, the panic alarm sounded, and he told me he would not go. I ended up getting him to class, honestly not knowing if I was making the right call. I got into my car to drive away with a plan to reach out to his class teachers, and then I also fervently prayed for him with two of my other kids. We asked God to intervene and show up in class today miraculously. When I went to pick him up, I saw that the teachers had called him after class, so I walked up to see what was going on. They had been seeing that he was struggling and were able to recognize and validate the issue he was having with one of his peers. Then they shared how much they valued him and how sad they would be if he left the class. They gave him a place of belonging and showed him how wanted he was. I almost burst into tears on the spot. God had heard my prayers and cared for my boy as only He could. My son left encouraged, seen, and more committed than ever to his class. Thank you, Jesus, that you hear when we cry out to you. You are our provider! And thank you for providing a beautiful school with a loving staff. My heart is full and oh so grateful.”
Our city was once attacked by a raging wildfire that in the end destroyed over 1,200 homes and killed eight people. I was at a friend’s house when the message came that we were being evacuated. I raced back home to grab our animals and papers and from my back window, I could see the fire tornado coming our way. My knees began to give way as the magnitude of the stress was more than my body could carry. I remember thinking there was no way I could go out because then my four kids would be left alone in the house with the fire coming. I heard in my spirit so loud and clear, “You will always know what to do,” and at that moment my knees strengthened, and I was able to get the children out and to safety.
If Christ lives inside of you, then you will always know what to do.
I found declaring this over me has been a lifeline during many very challenging decisions.
Write out, put it on a sticky note, set a reminder on your phone, but declare with faith that Christ in you will always lead you.
I WILL KNOW WHAT TO DO!
Jesus, You are so good and I have THE best job in the whole wide world. I received this message from a mom taking our online Kingdom parenting class: “Thank you for your help with how to address the spirit of fear! Our daughter slept soundly last night.” Thank You, Jesus.
I have a message specifically for YOU. I love history and ponder what it would be like to be in other people’s shoes. I think about Pearl Harbor and what that must have been like to wake up to the instant chaos of the bombings. Or the pioneer families who braved the west fighting the wilderness. Or the women who knew their husbands were on the ground during 911. We learn the facts of history but do not often hear the stories.
Pioneer – a person who is among the first to explore or settle in a new country or area.
Precious pioneer moms, you have just walked through our future’s history. The year 2020 will be recorded in our children’s children’s history books, and you were the woman who endured, fought fear, and cared for her family in the midst. I see the sweat on your brow, matted hair, and dusty clothes, but you DID IT! You pioneered in new territory. As a spiritual mom, mentor, and leader, I bless you in the name of Jesus for the grace and call on your life for such a time as this. God knew the day you were knit together in your mother’s womb that you would be alive today for this hour. Everything you have endured and walked through was part of your training ground for this season. You have walked through something no other person in history has EVER endured – not ever. You have plowed new ground and are still standing.
I want you to stop for a moment today and ponder how challenging this past season has been for you, specifically as a mother. It has required something of you that demanded you to dig deep and find your footing in the midst of gale-force winds and turbulent waters. Yet, you did it. You are still in the game. The favor of God is upon you, and many of you can say your family is stronger, more solid, and more deeply connected than ever before. Put your hand on your heart and repeat these words “(NAME), I bless you. I see how hard it has been for you as a mother in this season, but you did it, and I am so proud of you.” Ask, “Jesus, will You please show me what You see when You look at me?”
