As I was reflecting on 2011 and what I would write regarding it, it seemed there were no words to truly describe it. 2011 was such an array of things.
How do I describe the depths of the hurt I felt, the offense I encountered, the love and support I received? How do I describe the moments shared or the loss of those so dear to me? How do I describe the chaos, disarray and confusion, the pains of growth and the process of moving from who I was to who I am to be? How do I describe the fear of letting go and really choosing to trust not in man, but in God? How do I describe the grieving I felt in my Spirit as it pertains to this system called ‘church’? How do I describe the battlefield in my mind? How do I describe believing in Words given that seem impossible to manifest? How do I describe the revelation received, that sometimes, even I didn’t fully understand? How do I describe being so close to the land but not yet able to occupy? How do I describe giving of myself over and over again only to come up short?
As I asked these questions, the only response that came out, the only way I can describe this year is…
I’M STILL STANDING!
What the enemy and some people did. Heck, maybe even some of my choices, which were intended to take me out, put me in a facility, get me out of position, cause me to quit and go against the One who has been forever faithful, didn’t work. It didn’t produce what was wanted or desired. Yes, I may have felt everything described but I didn’t become it and it didn’t take me out because…
I’M STILL STANDING!
Things on the surface, in some areas, may appear the same but they are not because I am not. 2011 was proclaimed the year the Lord would make the, a, and up the difference. Well, He did all of that…IN and WITH me. He stripped me of me and everything I thought I knew and rebuilt me. As HMTQ stated…HE’S KEPT ME! I’m stronger, confident, and wiser. I'm setting the foundation and the order for 2012 and whatever and whoever doesn't fit. Adios. It is possible to love from a distance. I'm choosing not to react to others, obstacles or challenges but to respond in and with love, compassion, patience and without judgment. I’ve settled what needed to be settled as it pertains to me and the calling on my life and I'm ready to explore this NEW year and all it has to offer. And I'm excited about what I see on the horizon.
If you are reading this, whether you believe in the One who created you or not, the fact that you are reading this means YOUR STILL STANDING and HE KEPT YOU! Be thankful for that. YOU MADE IT! You may be bruised but your not broken. So, pat yourself on the back, congratulate yourself and get prepared for what IS going to be YOUR YEAR, your year to reap what you’ve sown in tears, to reap your harvest, to occupy. This year will be about YOU so remember to not forget YOU!
I believe in 2012, we are no longer going to see the God that people have portrayed but we are going to see God’s portrayal of Himself. People will not only see the God of those in the Bible BUT the God of Rebekah and the God of YOU! Believe you receive and let’s do this. Let’s end 2012 with a different type of memorial of who He is.
XOXO
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Friday, December 16, 2011
Phases, Cycles & Seasons... Do you know where you are at?
If you read my blog regarding the eight phases of purpose, assignment and/or vision it is important for you to know where you are within them as it pertains to your own purpose, assignment and/or vision so you can have understanding as to how to function in them. Just because someone's purpose, assignment and/or vision is in the fruiting phase doesn’t mean yours is, even if you are connected to them. And to attempt to function in your own purpose, assignment and/or vision in a phase you have not entered into yet is an attempt to fail.
Now, if you are connected to someone’s purpose, assignment and/or vision and serve or assist with their purpose, assignment and/or vision it can become tricky because you will then have to know which phase the individual you are serving or assisting is in so you can function where he/she is at all while knowing which phase your personal purpose, assignment and/or vision is and functioning there. Truth is, although it may seem tricky it is necessary, because serving and assisting a purpose, assignment and/or vision other than your own can only thrust you into your own. It’s a part of sowing and reaping.
Furthermore, we must understand that within these phases are cycles and seasons both as it pertains to our purpose, assignment and/or vision and as it pertains to our personal lives. And, just as one phase ends and there is transition into the next phase it is the same with cycles and seasons. I personally believe that the cycles and seasons become more relevant during the transition from one phase to another. Seasons and cycles are temporary and at some point either come to a defined end or transition into something else. Cycles and seasons must also be discerned, whether ministerial, relational, financial and/or as it pertains to business and career. This is important because the principles or operation that caused something to produce in one season/cycle will not cause production in another. It is important because the people that were an asset in one season/cycle may be a hindrance in another. And most importantly, as a believer, the weapons that brought victory in one season/cycle may bring defeat in another.
Once you discern you must commit to cooperating with what is to occur within these cycles/seasons so that what must be produced during these times can be and can move you to the next phase. Not cooperating can allow certain cycles/seasons to be prolonged or can cause you to move to the next phase without knowledge and without what is needed to function in it. You must also commit, as hard as it may be at times, to move when the cycle/season is completed. To prolong a cycle/season, to stay in a cycle/season once that cycle/season is completed will lead to the individual operating in what will now become foreign territory, even though at one point it was familiar. And, it will lead the individual to operate in that territory without the grace that covered them while they were purposed to be in that cycle/season. Without the grace it can cause the individual to deal with certain situations they should have never had to deal with, as well as engage in certain battles they should have never had to war in on their own. It can cause the individual to not just prolong self but to also prolong others and even their purpose, assignment and/or vision. It can cause one to spend so much time warring that they have little time to strengthen, refresh and even believe.
Some of your challenges and attacks this past year have been because of what you are carrying, but some of your challenges and attacks this past year have been because of what you have let remain and/or because of where you have remained either intentionally or unintentionally. Meaning some cycles ended and you attempted to stay in them, or did not move when the window opened and thereby caused that cycle to repeat itself. Others it is because the season changed and you were still trying to function in winter when you had actually transitioned to spring. Whether relationally, spiritually, emotionally, mentally or financially it is time to discern, move and function with understanding. Before this year is up, give space, quiet yourself and be still. Discern which phase you are in or transitioning to and where you are as it pertains to cycles/seasons. It isn’t always comfortable but it is a part of the phase and transition process.
I truly believe, in this next move, it will matter, for believers, how we handle the things of God, including the Anointing, His Anointed, and even the unbeliever. I also believe, in this next move, that we will have to move from doing many things without understanding to doing purposed things with understanding. So, discern, get acquainted, function and watch what produces!
Now, if you are connected to someone’s purpose, assignment and/or vision and serve or assist with their purpose, assignment and/or vision it can become tricky because you will then have to know which phase the individual you are serving or assisting is in so you can function where he/she is at all while knowing which phase your personal purpose, assignment and/or vision is and functioning there. Truth is, although it may seem tricky it is necessary, because serving and assisting a purpose, assignment and/or vision other than your own can only thrust you into your own. It’s a part of sowing and reaping.
Furthermore, we must understand that within these phases are cycles and seasons both as it pertains to our purpose, assignment and/or vision and as it pertains to our personal lives. And, just as one phase ends and there is transition into the next phase it is the same with cycles and seasons. I personally believe that the cycles and seasons become more relevant during the transition from one phase to another. Seasons and cycles are temporary and at some point either come to a defined end or transition into something else. Cycles and seasons must also be discerned, whether ministerial, relational, financial and/or as it pertains to business and career. This is important because the principles or operation that caused something to produce in one season/cycle will not cause production in another. It is important because the people that were an asset in one season/cycle may be a hindrance in another. And most importantly, as a believer, the weapons that brought victory in one season/cycle may bring defeat in another.
Once you discern you must commit to cooperating with what is to occur within these cycles/seasons so that what must be produced during these times can be and can move you to the next phase. Not cooperating can allow certain cycles/seasons to be prolonged or can cause you to move to the next phase without knowledge and without what is needed to function in it. You must also commit, as hard as it may be at times, to move when the cycle/season is completed. To prolong a cycle/season, to stay in a cycle/season once that cycle/season is completed will lead to the individual operating in what will now become foreign territory, even though at one point it was familiar. And, it will lead the individual to operate in that territory without the grace that covered them while they were purposed to be in that cycle/season. Without the grace it can cause the individual to deal with certain situations they should have never had to deal with, as well as engage in certain battles they should have never had to war in on their own. It can cause the individual to not just prolong self but to also prolong others and even their purpose, assignment and/or vision. It can cause one to spend so much time warring that they have little time to strengthen, refresh and even believe.
Some of your challenges and attacks this past year have been because of what you are carrying, but some of your challenges and attacks this past year have been because of what you have let remain and/or because of where you have remained either intentionally or unintentionally. Meaning some cycles ended and you attempted to stay in them, or did not move when the window opened and thereby caused that cycle to repeat itself. Others it is because the season changed and you were still trying to function in winter when you had actually transitioned to spring. Whether relationally, spiritually, emotionally, mentally or financially it is time to discern, move and function with understanding. Before this year is up, give space, quiet yourself and be still. Discern which phase you are in or transitioning to and where you are as it pertains to cycles/seasons. It isn’t always comfortable but it is a part of the phase and transition process.
I truly believe, in this next move, it will matter, for believers, how we handle the things of God, including the Anointing, His Anointed, and even the unbeliever. I also believe, in this next move, that we will have to move from doing many things without understanding to doing purposed things with understanding. So, discern, get acquainted, function and watch what produces!
The Eight Phases of Purpose, Assignment and/or Vision
In researching cycles I came across an article that stated that a human goes through eight phases of life… Conception, Birthing, Sprouting, Growth, Flowering, Fruiting, Renewal and Transcendence. As I read it I applied the eight changes of life spoken about to one’s purpose, vision and/or assignment.
Phase One – Conceiving
The phase of conception where the idea of your purpose, vision and/or assignment becomes a possibility of matter, of taking form in this physical reality
Phase Two – Birthing
The phase of birthing is where the purpose, vision and/or assignment gain strength, nutrition and love from the individual carrying it. And we know this happens through our faith, our belief. Through us seeing it and speaking it, which at some point gives the purpose, vision/assignment the viability to be born. The seed in us becomes alive and takes a tangible form.
This is why it is so vitally important to connect, especially in marriage, with someone and/or those (if single or in a place of leadership) who have the capacity for what you carry, especially if what you are carrying is great. For just as the man sows natural seed in woman to create the same happens with purpose, vision and/or assignment. The one with the purpose, vision/assignment makes a deposit of it to those connected to them, and it is a responsibility of those connected to them to assist in strengthening, nurturing and loving what they carry to its birth. Therefore, if the individual we connect ourselves to does not have the capacity for what we carry it can hinder, prolong and possibly lead to a miscarriage or a still birth. It matters who assists in the birthing process.
Phase Three – Sprouting
In the phase of sprouting the purpose, assignment and/or vision is at its most vulnerable stage. It has been birthed but it hasn’t been brought to full maturity. It is fragile, innocent, and at the mercy of those handling it. This phase must be handled with care. And because the purpose, assignment and/or vision is making its first appearance we must understand that it may not look exactly how we saw it when carrying it.
Phase Four – Growing
The growth phase consists of both rooting and leafing. It is here that the foundational principles are set and practiced. Strong roots (foundations) are put down into the soil, the environment, or the community in order to draw the nutrients and resources needed for the purpose, assignment and/or purpose to grow and live. It is here that doors of opportunity open and connections are made.
Phase Five - Flowering
The phase of flowering is the signal that the purpose, assignment and/or vision are prepared to bring forth fruit and that production is done. Growth has given way to maturity and now it is clear what is possible, as well as what is likely to come. It is in this phase you begin to see the budding of Harvest.
Phase Six - Fruiting
The phase of fruiting is the phase of Harvest. It is here that your purpose, assignment and/or vision is now able to create offspring, feed others and conceive new purpose, assignment and/or vision. It is here that you will see your purpose, assignment and/or vision producing what it was set to accomplish in the Earth.
Phase Seven - Renewal
It is interesting that phase seven is seen as a phase of renewal. We all know that seven marks the number of completion. Something being completed, something coming to a defined end, and something else ready to begin. It is here that often times the purpose, assignment and/or vision, after it is functioning on its own, will begin to take on a new form. One aspect of the purpose, assignment and/or vision has been completed and now it is time for another aspect of that purpose, assignment and/or vision to function. And this will cause for re-evaluation and a possible change in operation and people.
Phase Eight - Transcendence
In this phase, the article, of course spoke about death. However, I choose to look at this phase as the phase of legacy. It is here that the purpose, assignment and/or vision should continue on even after your time has expired. It is here that the mantle gets passed to the next generation to pick up and continue on in.
Phase One – Conceiving
The phase of conception where the idea of your purpose, vision and/or assignment becomes a possibility of matter, of taking form in this physical reality
Phase Two – Birthing
The phase of birthing is where the purpose, vision and/or assignment gain strength, nutrition and love from the individual carrying it. And we know this happens through our faith, our belief. Through us seeing it and speaking it, which at some point gives the purpose, vision/assignment the viability to be born. The seed in us becomes alive and takes a tangible form.
This is why it is so vitally important to connect, especially in marriage, with someone and/or those (if single or in a place of leadership) who have the capacity for what you carry, especially if what you are carrying is great. For just as the man sows natural seed in woman to create the same happens with purpose, vision and/or assignment. The one with the purpose, vision/assignment makes a deposit of it to those connected to them, and it is a responsibility of those connected to them to assist in strengthening, nurturing and loving what they carry to its birth. Therefore, if the individual we connect ourselves to does not have the capacity for what we carry it can hinder, prolong and possibly lead to a miscarriage or a still birth. It matters who assists in the birthing process.
Phase Three – Sprouting
In the phase of sprouting the purpose, assignment and/or vision is at its most vulnerable stage. It has been birthed but it hasn’t been brought to full maturity. It is fragile, innocent, and at the mercy of those handling it. This phase must be handled with care. And because the purpose, assignment and/or vision is making its first appearance we must understand that it may not look exactly how we saw it when carrying it.
Phase Four – Growing
The growth phase consists of both rooting and leafing. It is here that the foundational principles are set and practiced. Strong roots (foundations) are put down into the soil, the environment, or the community in order to draw the nutrients and resources needed for the purpose, assignment and/or purpose to grow and live. It is here that doors of opportunity open and connections are made.
Phase Five - Flowering
The phase of flowering is the signal that the purpose, assignment and/or vision are prepared to bring forth fruit and that production is done. Growth has given way to maturity and now it is clear what is possible, as well as what is likely to come. It is in this phase you begin to see the budding of Harvest.
Phase Six - Fruiting
The phase of fruiting is the phase of Harvest. It is here that your purpose, assignment and/or vision is now able to create offspring, feed others and conceive new purpose, assignment and/or vision. It is here that you will see your purpose, assignment and/or vision producing what it was set to accomplish in the Earth.
Phase Seven - Renewal
It is interesting that phase seven is seen as a phase of renewal. We all know that seven marks the number of completion. Something being completed, something coming to a defined end, and something else ready to begin. It is here that often times the purpose, assignment and/or vision, after it is functioning on its own, will begin to take on a new form. One aspect of the purpose, assignment and/or vision has been completed and now it is time for another aspect of that purpose, assignment and/or vision to function. And this will cause for re-evaluation and a possible change in operation and people.
Phase Eight - Transcendence
In this phase, the article, of course spoke about death. However, I choose to look at this phase as the phase of legacy. It is here that the purpose, assignment and/or vision should continue on even after your time has expired. It is here that the mantle gets passed to the next generation to pick up and continue on in.
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