I created this photo with the idea of a certain type of warrior who is very strategic in the Body of Christ. I call them "Defenders," because they have a deep sense of intuition, compassion, and will fight tooth and nail for what they believe in. They carry an innate sense of justice and are highly sensitive to right and wrong issues. Often they see past a person's disguise and pretense and discern the motives of the heart, both good or bad. In the past, they have been overlooked or even downplayed as “oversensitive,” but I really sense that the Lord is wanting to raise up these type of people because of their special and crucial place in the Body of Christ.

The weakness of this gifting is their tendency to be Rescuers-- they rescue people who are not ready to embrace freedom when they are led by human compassion instead the Spirit of God. Not everyone is ready to walk in freedom, and sometimes these warriors invest their time and energy into people and situations that aren't really going to help. (If we're honest with ourselves, most of us have done this in the past!  I certainly have!) However, God brings balance and proper perspective when we ask Him, even to those of us who have been led by our own understanding. We learn from our mistakes, as long as we keep going.


The key to being a Defender instead of a Rescuer is this: it's crucial to ask God for wisdom when we see something that stirs us up. God has the full picture, and we don't, so if we spend time in prayer before running to the aid of a situation, we'll be led by His spirit rather than our own. The scripture I kept sensing with this photo is:


“If you return,
Then I will bring you back;
You shall stand before Me;
If you take out the precious from the vile,
You shall be as My mouth.”
Jeremiah 15:19ab


In Hebrew, the word for “precious” means valuable, costly, excellent.
“Vile” is interpreted: to shake as the wind, worthless, prodigal, blow down.
The phrase “stand before Me” is from two Hebrew words: stand and face.

All of us have access to “FaceTime” with God through prayer. When we seek His face, our discernment becomes clear and sharp because we've received His revelation and direction. When we have accurate discernment on situations and relationships, He will be empower us with fresh anointing to defend the precious things and people that are on His heart. I feel like God is about to release more “precious” things into the earth, and we need watchmen to guard the things that are close to His heart. It's time for the Defenders to arise!

Behind the Scenes: The sword in this photo is a Scottish claymore given to me from a ministry in Scotland. You'll be seeing this sword in more photos!  The bird is an immature bald eagle- it takes 3 years for the white feathers to appear on the head.  The eagle photo was taken by my friend Debbie Douglass in Juneau, AK and used with permission. 

"Borderlines." I created this photo yesterday/today with the idea of prayers that wrestle with heaven. Sometimes we need an answer from God so badly about something that we "grab hold of heaven" and pray radical prayers. The prophet Isaiah lamented to God,
"...there is no one who calls on Your name,
Who stirs himself up to take hold of You;" Isaiah 64:7
The phrase "stirs himself up" is the Hebrew word meaning, "open the eyes, wake, lift up yourself, raise, stir up."
When we long for encounter with heaven, we can know that it is very close and not difficult to reach. It was said of Jesus, "...they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole." Mark 6:56

For myself and many people I know, "transition" seems to be the recent life trend. In the middle of releasing old things and determining what the future holds, God has been slowing me down from my usual pace and asking me to dream with Him. Then, instead of immediately running with those dreams, He's been speaking to me about the importance of laying foundations, which is the subject of this week's photo.

Ugg, I love to build, but don't relish the idea of spending too much time on preparation. For someone who enjoys action, it's difficult for me to slow down and truly think about how to invest in the big picture... but recently the Holy Spirit shifted my perspective with a passage in Revelation.

"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.... and the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones." Revelation 21:14, 19a

In His city, foundations are made of precious stones and people, and they are built to carry the Presence and glory of God.  (Read Revelation 21 for context-- you'll be amazed at this city!) All of a sudden it struck me that God wants to build the next season of my life with these things as well: people, and precious jewels of revelation that come from my time with Him. In God's city, even the foundations are beautiful. 

How do you lay a good foundation? I did some internet research and discovered five crucial DIY steps for building well that also apply to our life journey. Some of these "jewels" are a bit uncomfortable, but they are so applicable!

1. Investigate the soil. Poor soil that shifts easily or carries too much moisture is the most common problem in defective foundations. Question: what “soil” am I sowing into? Will it have the strength to hold up under pressure?  Am I sowing my time and energy into something that will last?  Matthew 13:19-23 
2. Survey the lot and establish your boundaries. Question: am I respecting the boundaries of others and myself? Or am I compromising here and there to “make something happen?” Scripture says our boundaries are attached to our inheritance! (Deuteronomy 19:14) There was also a curse released upon tampering with the boundaries of others, so I think God is pretty serious about this!  Deut. 27:17.
3. Start digging and go deep. A good foundation is laid underground, which means that “staying on the surface” is not enough. What questions should I be asking myself as I prepare for the next season? Jesus said the wise builder “digs deep” before building. Luke 6:47
4. Install footings. The Word of God has so much to say about Jesus being the cornerstone, and He makes everything square and straight when we build around Him. Question: do my goals have the character of Christ attached to them, or are they ego-driven or full of self-initiative? Am I building my goals around the character of Christ?
5. Pour and seal the cement: the seal makes it waterproof and able to stand the test of time. Our “seal” is the Holy Spirit who has sealed our hearts with His grace. Are my goals something that the Holy Spirit will rest upon? Am I asking Him to make the work “built to last,” weatherproofing it against the storms to come?
   
   
   Some of these things can be messy and uncomfortable topics to deal with, but it sure does pay off when we take the time to do it!  If our goal is perfection, we won't achieve it.  But if our goal is to lay a healthy foundation, we can ALL make choices toward  that end!  It's part of embracing the call to be Christ's Bride, the city that carries His glory well. 
   
   Blessings,
   Rebecca

What an amazing year it has been: many open doors and some that slammed shut.  Can you relate? Every story has a purpose, and even when old things come to an end, God is faithful to bring fresh growth. One of my "new things" is to start a weekly blog with a fine art photo of mine and some insights from Scripture.   I can't wait to share the new creative juice and revelations that are being birthed.

Sign up for the weekly email and join the tribe of seekers!   It starts on October 15th, 2018.   More to come!