A season for pruning

Dear Friends,

I believe the Lord has a word for you to encourage you and I wanted to share that with you today :) 

I had a dream recently where I was driving through different places, and all around me I saw trees being bulldozed and uprooted. Some of the places were familiar places from my past and I remember thinking “look what’s happening! It’s all changing!” And I was a little bit upset about it, almost distressed, because I wondered why that was going on. I LIKED those trees! I even felt like I needed some of those trees! At least I thought I did.

After I woke up I asked the Lord about it and I was brought to two scriptures: 

"An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire." Matthew 3:10 CEV

"Jesus told them this parable: There was a man who planted a fig tree in his orchard. But when he came to gather fruit from his tree he found none, for it was barren and had no fruit. So he said to his gardener, For the last 3 years I've come to gather figs from my tree but it remains fruitless. What a waste! Go ahead and cut it down!" Luke 13:6-7 TPT

After pondering it for a little bit I felt like the Lord was showing me that the trees represented everything unfruitful (good and bad) in my life that was being brought down to make room for fruitful things, and also to allow the things that are already producing good fruit to thrive and grow even more (think pruning in a garden). It was a GOOD thing, and even though it made me uncomfortable, it was necessary. Yes things were changing, but it was a good change! Another thing to note is these trees were being brought down in familiar places. 

Sometimes we see commercials of all the trees being cut down all over the world and it’s being shone in a negative light. But the Lord showed me that this was a clearing out of unnecessary things, so it was contrary to where our thoughts would go to and instead was a good thing! The word tells us in Psalm 45:10b TPT to "let go of our attachment to the familiar." That can include habits, patterns, lies, fear & hurts; but can also include good things that you're growing out of, things that no longer fit you. And this makes room for all the amazing things God has for us and allows us to BLOSSOM!

But remember this was God doing the removal, not by my power but His. It wasn't according to my understanding, but His. In that dream, I wasn’t cutting down the trees. You see, 
we can’t do this on our own. Not successfully anyway. We have to allow Him access to do the heavy lifting, and our job is to obey Him and rest and trust and move forward with fixed purpose. It really works if we obey :)  (I'm reminding myself of this as well, lol!)

"Watch Where You’re Going. Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions" Proverbs 4:25

I encourage you with this, if you feel like you've been going through a pruning or an uprooting of things, TRUST GOD! You will be more than ok! He is such a loving Father who cares for us and loves us and like any good parent, He consistently works with us to make us the best we can be. Get ready to be stronger, more free and flourishing more than ever! There is change in the air! 

"Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.

Come away with me!

I have come as you have asked

to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

11 

The season has changed,

the bondage of your barren winter has ended,

and the season of hiding is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth

12 

and left it bright with blossoming flowers.

The season for singing and pruning the vines has arrived.

I hear the cooing of doves in our land,

filling the air with songs to awaken you

and guide you forth.

13 

Can you not discern this new day of destiny

breaking forth around you?

The early signs of my purposes and plans

are bursting forth.

The budding vines of new life

are now blooming everywhere.

The fragrance of their flowers whispers,

“There is change in the air.”

Song of Songs 2:10-13 tpt

Love, 
Kristin J

The Season of Motherhood

"She was called into the ministry, but her ministry also consisted of her being a mother. She realized there was a timing to all things.  Motherhood and a stable home were never meant to be sacrificed for the other half of her ministry call, because those days would come again for her, and then she would have fulfillment knowing that every facet of her calling had been completed." 

-God's Generals

I was so encouraged when I read this quote on a friend's Instagram recently.  I love being a mom, it's one of the greatest gifts that's ever been given to me. But as a wife and mother who feels inside that she has a calling that's bigger than herself, that goes beyond the walls of my home, who feels like something so BIG and BEAUTIFUL is brewing inside by the hand of the Lord, it's hard sometimes to see the beauty, importance and power of the simple normalcy of everyday life: being an available wife, raising children, managing the home, etc.  But more and more lately the Lord has been showing me just how important the ministry of home is.  That it's the very foundation and highest priority of any family, whether both parents have careers, or one works and one stays home. Either way, it's the foundation.

foundation

[ foun-dey-shuhn ] 

the basis or groundwork of anything.

It takes discipline to pull yourself into the present and see the importance and power in the sometimes mundane, while at the same time keeping your hearts desires and dreams alive, looking forward to the amazing things you'd like to accomplish with God to advance His Kingdom.  Especially when, in the secret place, He's been growing and changing you in ways people have NO idea, preparing you for another facet of your calling and destiny and you want to shout it from the rooftops! Sometimes you might feel antsy or bored in the repetition or overwhelmed with present tasks. But when we can learn to be present and engaged with the calling that's right under our noses, keeping our priorities in order to the best of our ability, we'll reap a harvest of fruit beyond our wildest dreams.  AND I truly believe that even in the midst of raising a family, God will surely make room for you to pour out to others beyond your 4 walls, without sacrificing the most important things...you just have to trust Him and yield to His rhythm for you.  He always surprises me with how he works those things out.  

I don't know about you, but I want every facet of my calling to be completed in full.  So when the lie of the enemy comes to tell you that you're losing yourself or giving up on dreams that you have to focus on family first, you can immediately cast down those thoughts and shift them to the truth that through this important and powerful season in your life, God is actually using all of it to prepare you for your future!  And the cool thing is, right now in this very precious and powerful season, you're advancing the Kingdom of God just by growing and nurturing the human beings He gave you. I mean eventually they'll be adults in society and the way they enter into adulthood is part of our responsibility in partnering with God to raise our kids in His ways. So don't be discouraged!  He knows the longings of your heart and He faithfully fulfills the longings of His children and makes room for your gifts to be used for His glory in amazing ways! 

Lately I've been asking the Lord to help me to see the beauty, importance and power in the present. I think it's crucial to ask Him for this because it's so easy to sit there while folding laundry, daydreaming about the future, and miss the important "Now" moments that fly by. There's nothing wrong with daydreaming, but sometimes we can wish so much that we were doing something different, or that we were in a different season, that we miss the significance of the present. I'm speaking from experience!  I wrote in my journal back in January, as the Lord impressed upon my heart, that "you must refuse to allow the enemy to downplay or degrade the profound effects of managing your home and home-life well. Changing sheets so your husband and children sleep on a soft and clean bed, is no small thing. God's satisfaction will flood your soul as you realize even something so seemingly insignificant actually brings GLORY to our Heavenly Father." 

Beloved daughters of God, I pray that whatever season of motherhood you're in, God would open your eyes to see the beauty and importance in right now while at the same time stirring up inside your heart desires for the things He has waiting for you in His perfect timing. I pray that He would give you opportunities to use the gifts He's given you even while you're raising your children, in ways that make you come alive!  

He knows exactly what He's doing in the wonderful plans He has for you :) 

Love, 

Kristin 

 "Whatever you do, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God." 

1 Corinthians 10:31

Just Come with Me!

Dear Friends,

A little over 10 months ago, in November of 2018, I was spending some time with the Lord and this word rose up in my heart so I wrote it in my journal.  I believe it is a prophetic word for this present time for many of you and reading it again actually encouraged my heart too! 

The Lord Says:

"I'm moving forward quickly at a pace you can keep up with, but also at a pace that doesn't leave room to look back.  Come with Me, Quickly!  Don't turn around. Come with Me! Come on! Grab My hand, don't turn around.  Leave behind the old baggage; there isn't room for it in this next season.  I'm helping you to let go. Come with Me! Quickly. Don't turn around.  Don't try to do things the way you used to. That old life doesn't fit you anymore.  It's like trying to wear shoes from your childhood, it just won't work.  Do exactly as I say! Come with Me!  The season has changed dear one. Things have shifted. I'm doing a NEW thing in my children, in the Kingdom here on earth. Hold on tight to me! What a ride! What a wonderful ride! Just praise, just get excited! I'm breaking through for you now! It cannot be stopped! Amen!"


A couple of days ago I saw this verse in Psalm 32 and I had never really paid attention to it much before, but it caught my attention this time because it very specifically confirmed the above word that the Lord had given me last year:

"I hear the Lord saying, 'I will stay close to you, instructing you and guiding you along the pathway for your life. I will advise you along the way and lead you forth with my eyes as your guide. So don't make it difficult; don't be stubborn when I take you where you've not been before. Don't make me tug you and pull you along. Just come with Me!'" 

Psalms 32:8-9 tpt

"Behold I Am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."  Isaiah 43:19 AMPC

"Put behind you every attachment to the familiar..." Psalm 45:10b tpt

"A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how He breaks through for me!" Psalm 40:3 tpt

"Arise, my dearest. Hurry, my darling.

Come away with me!

I have come as you have asked

to draw you to my heart and lead you out.

For now is the time, my beautiful one.

 

The season has changed,

the bondage of your barren winter has ended,

and the season of hiding is over and gone.

The rains have soaked the earth

 

and left it bright with blossoming flowers.

I hear the cooing of doves in our land

filling the air with songs to awaken you

and guide you forth.

Can you not discern this new day of destiny

breaking forth around you?

The early signs of my purposes and plans

are bursting forth.

The budding vines of new life

are now blooming everywhere.

The fragrance of their flowers whispers,

“There is change in the air.” 

Song of Songs 2:10-13 tpt

I hope this encourages you forward my friends! 

Love, Kristin J

Daughters of God Awaken!

Recently I had a dream that was very quick but vivid. In the dream I was sitting in front of a woman whom I recognized and I noticed something about her. Her face was radiant and glowing when normally it was very blemished! It was totally clear.

When I asked the Lord about it, this is what I felt He showed me:

The Lord is awakening His daughters to their beauty, to the way He sees them.  No longer clouded by the enemy's lies, suddenly they'll begin to see themselves, not as they were, but who they are NOW in Christ.  Their faces will be radiant with the glory of the Lord, infused with courageous strength to move outward imparting this healing to everyone they encounter. This will be an obvious change, one where people in the world notice, but can't put their finger on what is so different about the beautiful daughters of God they encounter, and these daughters will say "It's Jesus! It's the love and power of God within me that has changed everything!"  And these encounters will bring many into the Kingdom and into relationship with Jesus.  
A great awakening is taking place, revival in the home, restoration of family life, a realigning of God's priorities, and it will cause a great shift in the spirit and natural realms. 
As I was sitting with the Lord, I saw a picture of a hand touching the ground and flowers and greenery suddenly appearing over what looked barren. I knew there was a movie like this and when I asked the Lord about it, a movie I watched as a kid called "Ferngully" rose up in my memory.  The main character Crysta is a fairy who has the power of life in her and is given the ability to make things grow. So in a couple of scenes of the movie she is either touching a seed and it sprouts or she's flying over something and flowers grow (I know it’s an unusual illustration but the Lord can use anything to paint a picture for you, lol)! The point of this is, I believe that this is what He was showing me that the daughters of God will do -- life and healing will spring forth for those they touch. The presence of God within them will release healing, restoration, revelation etc! 

"Let me see your radiant face and hear your sweet voice." Song of Songs 2:14 tpt

"Listen my dearest darling, you are so beautiful, you are beauty itself to me! Every part of you is so beautiful my darling, perfect is your beauty without flaw within." Song of Songs 4:1, 7 tpt

"Your inward life if now sprouting, bringing forth fruit.  What a beautiful paradise unfolds within you. When I'm near you, I smell the aromas of the finest spice...A well of living water springs up from within you." Song of Songs 4:13-14, 15 tpt


God has not forgotten you! He is greatly pleased with you ALREADY and it's because of His great pleasure in you that He wants to unveil who you are in Him.  He sees a radiant, unblemished woman when He looks at you, and Now you'll see it too! This is the time to draw close, press in and allow the Lord to do what He needs to do.  He wants to bring revival in you, so you can bring revival out there! 

Life giving light streams from the presence of a King, and His favor is showered upon those who please Him." 
Proverbs 16:15 tpt

Daughters, your hearts may have been wounded in the past, but He wants you to go to Him, give Him permission to bind up the wounds and heal your heart to unveil the real YOU! Trust Him, let Him do the work -- You'll see what He sees! Amen!

"Who is this one? Look at her now! She rises out of her desert, clinging to her Beloved." Song of Songs 8:5 tpt

Love, Kristin 

P.S. The Lord gave me a simple song that sounded to me like a shofar blowing. Listen to it and then sing it over yourself :) 

"Awake, Awake, Awake to who you are...
"Awake, Awake, Awake to who you are..."

"I the Lord am breaking through with a new way for a new day!"

I had a dream recently where I was visiting an old church of mine and when I went inside, I noticed a woman sitting in the front row of the sanctuary dressed in fancy clothing, more than the rest of the congregation; she really stood out. Before she could see me, I ducked away to avoid being  seen by her. And when I went into another room of the church, I ran into a really nice man that I recognized. And then I woke up shortly after that.

Immediately upon waking I knew that the dream meant something significant so I went to the Lord and asked Him what it could mean. After spending some time looking into it with the Lord, I came to the conclusion that the woman in the dream represented a religious spirit. For sake of privacy and to not name names, I’ll just say that the meaning of the names of the two people in the dream meant “old, ancient, long lived” and “God is judge”. Those meanings were significant to the interpretation as a whole. 

After praying about it some more, the Lord spoke this to my heart:

“There's a religious spirit sent to dismantle the freedom My people are discovering in Jesus, a new level of freedom that is different from what people have been used to. Once stuck in a legalistic pattern, many are now discovering their TRUE FREEDOM and LIBERTY in ME, says the Lord. To many, this religious spirit is obvious, exposed and they refuse to go back into the bondage of the religious system. But to others who are more vulnerable and not yet discerning, the religious spirit is attempting to confuse and distort the wonderful freedom in Jesus, causing them to see it as wrong, unholy, impure. This religious spirit is perverting what freedom in Jesus looks like, either making it look dirty on one extreme, or causing people to abuse it on the other extreme.  

You must stand guard against this religious spirit—for it presents itself as shiny and pure, dressed in fine linens; but is, below the surface, a deceptive force bent on destruction. 

It might not be able to steal their souls, but it seeks to steal their experience of heaven on earth. 

You MUST pray. Pray for the judgement of God to come down on the religious spirit and systems of this world. Pray for eyes to be opened so My freedom can flood in for my precious ones.  This is a whole new level of freedom that changes everything; that upgrades and heals and delivers and sets free.  Many are feeling stuck, but My WILL is to pull all these precious ones out from a place of “being stuck” and onto solid ground—the solid foundation found only in me. Where they can run with wild freedom, doing the things I planned for them long ago. 

This religious spirit is old, ancient and has no new tactics. But, I the Lord, am breaking through with a “new way for a new day” to dismantle this power and set My people free once and for all, for them to carry out My purposes and plans and to enjoy a fruitful and abundant life while doing so!  Amen!”

Afterwards, I asked the Holy Spirit for some scriptures to back up what He said, and there were several!

The religious spirit IS indeed ancient and has no new tactics:

 Paul said in Galatians 2:4: 

“False brothers had been secretly smuggled into the church meetings. They were sent to spy on the wonderful liberty and freedom that we have in Jesus the Anointed One. Their agenda was to bring us back into the legalistic bondage of religion.”

“the enemy (or thief) comes to steal, kill and destroy, but that Jesus comes to give us life abundantly!” John 10:10

"…for even Satan transforms himself to appear as an angel of light! So it’s no wonder his servants also go about pretending to be ministers of righteousness. But in the end they will be exposed…” 2 Corinthians 11:14-15 tpt

“Be FREE from the bondage of religion!” Galatians 4:12

He has promised, “once and for all, I will not only shake the systems of the world, but also the unseen powers in the heavenly realm!” Hebrews 12:26 tpt

A couple of days later I came across this verse which confirmed what the Lord had spoken to my heart:

“He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now He’s lifted me up into a firm secure place and steadied me while I walk on His ascending path. A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how He breaks through for me.” Psalm 40:2-3 tpt

Friends I encourage you, press into the Father. Pray for those in the Body of Christ who are stuck in the bondages of religion to be set free once and for all! Pray for eyes to be opened so the TRUE freedom in Jesus can flood in. Pray for God’s judgement to come down on the religious spirit and systems of this world. Pray with the authority given to you through Jesus! 

But on the other hand, if you have felt like you’ve been in that place of being stuck, where you feel like there’s more to experience with Jesus, but you just don’t know how, I want to encourage you to go to Him. He loves you and wants to help you. I want you to know that God is faithful and will pull you out of that place of bondage, just like He says in His word. He will put you on a firm foundation, a place where you can run in wild freedom doing the things He planned for you long ago!

Love, Kristin 

The Lord says "I am tying up the loose ends!"

One morning back in July, I woke up and after lying in bed for a bit, I heard the Holy Spirit say "I am tying up the loose ends."

I asked Him, "Lord what do you mean by that?"

And this word rose up in my heart:

"All the areas in my children's lives that we've been working on together are being completed, enabling them to move forward in this next season. I am bringing to a conclusion the season they've been in.  As I've been doing this divine clean-up in their lives and hearts, little areas of trauma, fear, pain and habits that have run rampant and undisciplined for years, that have risen up, ARE BEING BROUGHT DOWN NOW IN THE TYING UP OF LOOSE ENDS."

I looked up the definition of the phrase "tying up of loose ends" and this is what I found:

"To complete the parts of something that have not been completed. to tidy up, finish or complete.

Other similar meanings: 
1. Close 2. complete 3. conclude 4. finish up 5. settle 6. wrap up 7. be through with 8. Bring to a close 9. Clean up 10. Close down 11. finalize 12. end 

I then asked the Lord for scripture to back up what I felt He was saying, and I was reminded of Philippians 1:6: "I pray with great faith for you because I'm fully convinced that the One who began this glorious work in you will faithfully continue the process of maturing you and will put His finishing touches to it until the unveiling of our Lord Jesus."

Each time the Lord brings us to a new level of maturity, of glory, of breakthrough, healing, restoration, etc. He will always put the finishing touches to it -- He will "tie up the loose ends" and complete it.

He won't leave those areas unfinished or sloppy! You'll enter into the new season fully intact!

(Intact: Not damaged or impaired in any way; COMPLETE)

"You've set me free from captivity and NOW I'm standing COMPLETE!" Psalm 18:36

Dear ones, I don't know what season you've been in and what you've personally been working on with the Lord, but be encouraged! He is TYING UP THE LOOSE ENDS! He is putting the finishing touches on it! You're stepping into a new season, a new level of glory! Trust Him!

Love, Kristin 

Becoming Unfamiliar with the Familiar

Psalm 45:10 tpt
“Now listen daughter, pay attention and forget about your past. 
 Put behind you every attachment to the familiar.”

When I read this verse, I felt led to focus on the word familiar. There are good things that are familiar like familiar sounds and smells that bring up good memories. But I believe in this case it’s talking about the things that tend to become familiar in our lives that aren’t good, like: 
-fear
-anxiety
-bad habits
-nagging thoughts/patterns of thinking 
-lies of the enemy etc.m

In this verse, God is giving us direct and clear permission to become unfamiliar with what has been familiar, put those things behind us and move forward and victory and freedom. The cool thing is he gives us his word and personal strategies on how to do this in our own lives because everybody’s story is different and unique. There are basic principles that will apply to any situation, but when you walk with the Lord in an intimate personal relationship he will give you a practical strategy to apply along with his supernatural word and how to move forward and detach from the familiar things. 

You can be free from the familiar things that have weighed you down by the faithful power and help of the Lord. You can then become familiar with God’s truth, joy, peace, well-being, good habits, help, tranquility of heart and mind, trust, healing and wholeness, etc. 

Isn’t that amazing??!! 

I hope this encouraged you today. 

Love and blessings to you,

Kristin Johnson