Wordplay: tight lipped- as in reticent to divulge information, secretive (positive or negative)

Idioms:

• “My lips are sealed” (your secret is safe with me)
• Giving “lip” as in sassing ,talking back, etc
• Giving “lip service” (saying one is in agreement or supportive when they are really not)
• Keeping a “stiff upper lip”  ( displaying fortitude in times of adversity, not becoming emotionally undone)

look at the condition of the lips:

• Lip piercing– covenant/agreement/associations which deeply impact or completely encompass one’s speech. Can also be a cultural reference.
• Puffy lips- exaggerated, grandiose, “puffed up” speech — is it intentional? (lip balm, or injections) to look like they are something they’re not? Or is it a reaction to something they have been exposed to (reaction/irritation)
• Dry lips– need refreshment of the spirit! Speaking from a place of spiritual dryness or perhaps a “dry” sense of humor!

Lipstick- reveals the nature of the things “coloring” their speech/testimony

Have some fun with this!

• Jade lipstick— what they say is “jaded”
• Blood- red lipstick– pos or negative— out for blood or covered by the blood!
• Is the color natural or unnatural looking?
• Does the lipstick have a name? Find the wordplay! (i.e. maroon lipstick= stuck/marooned/can’t get past talking about something!)
• Black lipstick– dark speech, occult, words of death

Kissing– verbal interactions, intimate conversations, stimulating conversation (positive or negative)

idioms: “kissing up”

Ultimate betrayal (with a kiss)

Kiss- words of favor, approval, delight in someone, demonstrating an attraction

Idioms:

• Kiss of death
• Sealed with a kiss (covenant)

Idioms:
A “wall” of protection
A “wall” of silence
“Off the wall” –something extremely unconventional, ridiculous or without foundation/merit
“Up the wall” (“she’s driving me up the wall!”) a reference to extreme frustration/anger or emotional distress
“The handwriting is on the wall”– an ominous reference of doom for the future
“Walling off”– to confine or seal off
“Walling in”– confining someone or something to a particular area
“Hitting a wall” an obstacle preventing one from moving forward”
The wall– a reference to the vertical  surface of a wave in surfing.
“Go to the wall”  taking a great risk, holding out or doing as much as possible “going to the wall for someone”
“Go to the wall”– in business can be a reference to failure or defeat
“The walls have ears” a warning to be careful of what you are saying out loud– people are listening

Inevitably this response  makes people angry. They want answers and they want them now! They suspect that I know the interpretation and are frustrated that I won’t tell them what they need to know.

Now don’t get me wrong–I want to help– but you see, even more than that, I want to honor God. And while it is fun to interpret for others– and even a rush to “nail” a difficult interpretation, I don’t want to lead people into or be party to divination. I am a firm believer that:

God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life and for godliness. This power was given to us through knowledge of the One who called us by His own glory and integrity

I have learned thru experience that there is a fine line between pursuing God’s Divine Power and divination. When one is desperate, it is easy to cross that line without even knowing it!

It is my desire to prevent people from crossing that line. And thus this post! So lets examine the kind of actions that lead an otherwise godly Christian down the slippery path to dream readings and divination.

Lack of faith that God will show up

Desperation often leads to divination– when fear or anxiety clamors louder than the still small voice of Faith telling us to wait on the Lord.
Case in point: Saul.

While most of us will not actively seek out a medium when we need a word from the Lord, we will seek out a friend “gifted” in dream interpretation or prophecy. Certainly seeking out wise counsel from a friend couldn’t be wrong could it?….Well, even this rationale can get dicey.

First of all, honestly evaluate– how much time have you actually invested in seeking God for the interpretation for a dream? How long did you spend– a couple of minutes? An hour? A week pondering it and bringing it to God? The difference between dream interpretation and divination starts with relationship and faith that God will answer when you seek Him. The problem is that many times we lack faith in our ability to hear, which freely translated, means we lack faith in God’s ability to speak to us!
Our own fear and doubt override the truth that

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me!

We get nervous when we don’t immediately hear back from God. We aren’t comfortable waiting on the Lord and our anxiety overrides His peace. We focus on the product rather than the process-- and this is the first step down that slippery slope.

Ouch

This is why on our forum we ask that people not to post entire dreams for interpretations– and we discourage eager interpreters from serving up full interpretations on a platter! We want to avoid the dream becoming the focus instead of our relationship with God!

Consequently, we ask  the dreamer to seek God first and foremost. If you notice, I shy away from giving definitive interpretations, preferring to present possibilities for the dreamer to further ponder with God.

If a friend calls me with a dream they want help with I will inevitably ask them “So, what has God shown you so far?”  Then after we discuss what God has highlighted to them, I pause to see what He highlights to me! then I’ll send them back to Him for the full interpretation and application–I want people to rely on God not on me! Honestly, many times it would be easier to give them the interpretation– but as I learned a long time ago from John Paul Jackson– “Just because you see it, doesn’t mean you have permission to speak it!”

In our zeal to help others and use our gift, we need to use wisdom and discretion– that “helpful” interpretation we give may actually weaken the dreamer’s relationship with God and empower an inclination toward divination!

Ouch!

Dream readings and divination- a word of warning to “gifted” interpreters

For those gifted in revelation — interpretations are often obvious– just as reading someone’s spirit can be easy for the spiritually discerning. Many times I have seen those with a strong revelatory gift do nothing more than give a cheap spiritual reading during “ministry time” causing more harm than good. Just because you see it doesn’t mean you have permission to say it….

Dream interpreters can easily slip into cheap “dream readings” in the same way. We see it, we say it, we get a nice pat on the back for being so “revelatory”– yet, we didn’t seek God’s revelation, we didn’t seek His wisdom or timing on how to release it, we didn’t lead the person into God’s presence, we may have even reverted to our personal formula for interpretation (mom= Holy Spirit/Church, car= ministry etc) totally missing God’s unique fingerprint on an otherwise “typical” element in the dream— we simply relied on the strength of our knowledge or gift– perhaps causing more damage than good. We may even leave the situation feeling exhilarated not even realizing that we have in essence divined the interpretation of the dream….Deception is deceptive by nature!

A word about formulas and equations

This is why dream dictionaries are so dangerous. Any time we revert to tree=leader we have taken God out of the equation! How is this any different than reading tarrot cards or tea leaves where one attributes a meaning to a symbol? Yikes!

Dream dictionaries are meant to be a tool to get you thinking metaphorically. Not a formula for interpreting. Here’s one equation we don’t ever want to forget:  formula= divination.

Other times,  we get so caught up in the meaning of our dreams that we run the risk of looking to our dreams the same way that  astrologists look to the stars to tell the future! We seek God for dreams– its a slippery slope!

I think that when we first pursue understanding our dreams, there is a lot of grace for us– we are in the process of positioning ourselves so that God can renew our minds– enlarging our capacity to receive from the Holy Spirit.  Yet often our faith wavers and we default to the formula. We want things now and forget that:

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings.

 

So, I bless you to seek God first and foremost
I bless you to always keep God in the equation!
I bless you with faith to believe that He will answer, that He holds the keys to revelation and that He will release them to you in His timing.
I bless you to focus on the process, rather than the product
I bless your default position- may seeking the presence and wisdom of God always be your default!
I bless you with joy in the process, peace in the waiting and wisdom in your pursuit of revelation.
I bless you to empower faith in others’ ability to receive from God

I bless you, in Jesus’ name!

image courtesy of sbpoet.com- use of image does not endorse content on artists website

One dream I recently heard seems to exemplify some insights we can glean about the spiritual culture with which we contend:

I was in a town (not mine) that was under a Zombie attack. Sirens were going off and all the police/fireman etc were patrolling.  I was kneeling on a wet patch of ground. I looked up I saw two things: 1. This was a cemetery, and 2. Directly in front of me was a little girl (with her back to me.) In front of her was her mom, who was holding her hand.

The mom said, “Don’t worry, the cemetery and the morgue are safe.”
In my mind I thought, “Are you stupid?” I thought about just letting it go –  this lady was deluded to the point of idiocy, so reasoning with her was pointless. But I saw that the Zombies were after the little girl. At her heels worms were beginning to sprout out of the ground like little plants – the worms that were feeding on the hands of the Zombies who were going to reach up and grab her.

I felt bad for the little girl, who was very sincere. But I had to address her mom – you can’t just take off with someone’s kid.  So I said, “Actually, no, this isn’t a safe place.” I pointed to the worms sprouting up. “You should at least stand on the sidewalk over there.” (Zombies couldn’t creep up through the cement, so they wouldn’t be taken by surprise.) I knew it would be hard to get the lady away from an area that she thought was safe – especially since compared to the town, there wasn’t a lot of chaos or fighting at the moment.

I had my best kitchen knife in my hand – a red handled Cuisineart Santoku knife. It’s really sharp.  And seven inches long. I thought, I’ll get the Zombies to back off, so I cut through the ground at their fingertips. Their decaying fingers just crumbled away. I realized they couldn’t feel it because their nerve endings had already decomposed. The only way to get rid of them would be to get them to come all the way out of the ground and then cut them to pieces. I didn’t really want to wait around for them, but I wasn’t sure if I should leave the lady and her daughter.

Yikes!

So what do we need to know about Zombie attacks so that we can effectively combat them should they “come up”  in your own dream life?

The first thing that this intercession dream so nicely highlights is that they attack entire spiritual communities. (And isn’t that how it is in all the Zombie movies? There is never just one, and they never attack just one person!)

The second thing to note, is that these issues are lacking the life and power of God—these are things which were never meant to be activated or brought up….. and the end result is that after they are brought to life, they end up haunting– chasing down…..and consuming entire spiritual communities!– Yet in this dream, nurturing authority just doesn’t see the danger!

Fortunately– for the spiritually perceptive–  the alarm has been sounded!– All one has to do is listen to what is being released in the spirit (for those who have ears to hear…..)

Now Zombies famously inhabit graveyards— a spiritually dead environment– perhaps not the best place to situate oneself and ponder! (A note to the wise—take heed!– When you hear the Zombie alarms– don’t hang out at graveyards!)

Which brings me to my next point–this intercession dream speaks volumes about the ignorance and spiritual dullness of some spiritual authorities—ouch! I just love the word plays— how these deadly influence try to worm themselves into the unsuspecting who have positioned themselves in a vulnerable place. How they are at our heels.. (think Achilles!)

And those in authority should know better!– not only do not see the danger (think Mesmerizing Spirit), but they position the young and spiritually immature in the faith in the most dangerous place possible and tell them the exact opposite of the truth! (think Egyptian Heresy– dishonoring God’s design) These leaders are ”deluded to the point of idiocy” as our dreamer so sadly points out!

Swimming:

Breast stroke– keeping abreast (aware) of things
Freestyle– moving forward in freedom– the strongest and fastest swimming stroke

Crawl– technically the same as the freestyle, but could be a wordplay on feeling like your “crawling” forward
Backs stroke– heavenly focus
Side stroke– outward focus towards others–(positive or negative) often used as a rescue stroke
Butterfly– a difficult stroke which displays strength and beauty– not a beginners stroke– need strong/developed shoulders (ability to “shoulder” responsibility etc.) utilizes the “dolphin kick”— propelling yourself forward “porpoise”/purposefully)

idiom: just keeping your head above water– feeling overwhelmed in a situation or particular set of surroundings.
idiom: treading water– not moving forward, just keeping yourself from “sinking” or becoming completely overwhelmed.
idiom: barely keeping yourself afloat (could be referencing feelings, finances, workplace etc.)

Note: look at the type and condition of the body of water for additional clues as to what arena or environment the dream is pertaining to.

Blanket: something that brings comfort and facilitates rest.

• Something that enables you to stay comfortable in a cold spiritual environment
• Reference to a  generalization that covers a large group of people etc.
• Referencing a belief system that covers a variety of situations and conditions (positive or negative– true or untrue)
• A reference to an extended spiritual covering (positive or negative)
• To toss someone a blanket– to cover them in their vulnerabilty
• To toss someone IN a blanket– a reference to hazing
• A reference to obscuring, obstructin or interfering with someone’s spiritual journing– the preverbial ” taking the wind out of someones sails”– To blanket is a nautical term when one vessel  blocks the wind from someone elses sails–by passing too closely winward
• Wearing a blanket can be a sign or mantle of authority (in some native cultures the chief wears a blanket.
• Idiom: born on the wrong side of the blanket– born out of wedlock

Can be a reference to someone who is a “quack”

• Those who move  or “migrate” with the seasons
• A reference to avoiding something (ducking out on it)
• A warning or  command to “Duck!”– lay low for your own safety!
• A game bird– can be a reference to someone or something that  is “gamey”

Sayings:

•  Birds of a feather flock together- a reference to those who follow the same beliefs or to one who is a member of  a particular spiritual group
• A sitting duck (one who is vulnerable to predators)
• If it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck (a reference to common sense in identifying things)

Idioms:

•  He’s a dead duck” (already finished)
• A lame duck (end term of one in leadership– no longer has the influence with others to get things done
• Easy as duck soup (something that is very easy)

Research the attributes of the specific type of duck in the dream for more insight

• Tennis Racquet:

  Can be a reference to one’s ability to “serve” 

•  (Tennis is considered the game of  ”love” — played in a court – think temple of God- inner and outer courts- tennis can reference God courting you or you courting something else)
• Referencing one’s job or occupation
  Referencing an easy or profitable source of livelihood
• Referencing social gaiety or excitement
• Word plays:
•  a racket as in a noisy clamour or disruption
• A racket as in organized illegal activity that extorts resources from people or a dishonest scheme to rob people

Because it really affects how we live.

I promise, it’s a good read.

Where does it come from?

Ok, to save myself some time I’m going to quote my friend Steve Rives. Steve is a bible scholar, a pastor, and a biblical archeologist (he digs up stuff in Jerusalem). He can read Greek, Hebrew, Phoenician, and I think, Chaldean. He’s also just really cool.

The Old Covenant was a national charter given to Moses on Mt. Sinai for Israel – Israel being the nation that once was. Each member of that nation paid taxes in tithes (10% increments) as follows:

A. The annual 10 percent to support the priest-class / Levites (Lev 27:30-33;Num 18:21-28)
B. A second 10 percent was brought to Jerusalem for festival purposes (Deut 12:5-6,11,18; 14:22-27)
C. A third 10 percent was required to assist the poor (Deut 26:12-15; Deut 14:28-29)

Adding up A B and C, one can see that these three tithes turned out to be a single hefty national tax – a tax for the citizens of the nation of Israel. The third one, C, may have been given less often than annually.

We base our tithing on tithe “A.” The Levites are often equated to modern day Pastors and Church Staff.  But Levites aren’t the same as pastors at all – they were an entire tribe of people who could ONLY work at the temple, because they’d been consecrated to God. They couldn’t own land, or farm it. And Israel HAD to support them. Why? There HAD to be consecrated people in the temple 24/7, ministering to God and making atonement on their behalf. If they didn’t, God would have to start killing them off as a nation because He was holy, and they were not. Literally. (Numbers 8:19)

Sounds a lot like what Jesus completely accomplished on the cross, doesn’t it? So… moot point. We are absolutely not under that law. (We’re not under the law at all!)

Let’s look at the rest for kicks. If we tithe based on option “B,” it’s a lot more fun. God instructs the people to save up 10% of their income and essentially throw a huge party once a year, and feast in his presence. This was acted out in feasts and festivals like Passover. So if you’re going to pick a part of the tithe to follow, choose this one.

Part “C” – remembering the poor as a nation. That was basically the Medicaid/Social Security/Welfare of Bible times.

So that’s how it breaks down. Preachers have extracted ONE part of the three part national tax. And that tax was part of a covenant that has been completely fulfilled in Jesus. If you read Romans 7, it’s really clear that we are in no way under ANY PART of old covenant law. It was a covenant made with a nation, so that they could come before God without him being obligated to judge them.  Why are we trying to re-institute the law when we’re under grace?

There’s no going back to the Old Way

So Paul says, in verse 19-21, “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God.  I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

First of all, Paul affirms that we’ve died to the law. It has no binding power over us. Secondly, Paul says that if following any part of the law could make us more pleasing to God than simply being in Jesus, then his death was for nothing. Harsh.

In Galatians 2, Paul really gets into it with Peter about doing the exactly that – putting people back under the law. Essentially, the Jewish Christians were saying, “Yeah, you’re saved from hell by Jesus, but now to live righteously, to really be pleasing to God, you should use these rules (OT law) to govern your life. ”

But my favorite part is in the middle, when he says, ‘The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Essentially Paul is saying “If Jesus loved me enough to die for me, surely he loves me enough to live out his righteous life through me.” Therefore we don’t need guidelines to tell us how to live, because we are empowered by God in us. Our struggle isn’t to follow the rules, but to live by his Spirit within us, and not by our flesh. Seriously, read Galatians 2-4. It’s mind blowing.

Even further,  Paul says if we DO use the law, we’re actually rebuilding everything that Jesus worked to tear down! And then Paul says that relying on any ONE part of the law for righteousness  puts you under the ENTIRE LAW, which, since you can’t possibly fulfill it, puts you under a curse. (Galatians 3:10). Well, crap. That makes relying on the tithe instead of Jesus to tell me how to give really, really suck.

Bottom line: God will never again impose a tax on us. Why? Because in Jesus we’re adopted sons now, not slaves. We are able to be like our Father. We are co-heirs of his kingdom. As Jesus says, regarding the temple tax, “The sons are exempt.”(Matt 17:22-27)

Throw out the Baby?

So what now? Do we throw out the whole thing? Does that whole passage of OT scripture hold no value now? No! The important part was the principles. And they are:

1. Use your resources to help build God’s kingdom! Support people while they minister! More on that below.

2. God wants you to enjoy abundance in his presence! Celebrate! COME ON! The NT church actually did communion this way – a huge lavish community celebration of Jesus. No lame wafers, and really good wine.  Makes church now days seem boring, huh?

3. Remember the poor!

Well, now what do I do?

Ever notice that Jesus never says HOW to walk it out? That’s because, again, there is no magical “rule” that makes it righteous, loving, or holy. The law was meant to be a harsh tutor, like when we discipline our kids and restrict how much candy they eat and force them to make their beds. (Galatians 3:24-26) The bed making didn’t make them a more righteous kid! We were communicating a principle (right?). And the law was even worse than that, because the point was, “See? You’re going to be failure without the help of Jesus!”

There’s no formula for righteous living. We rely on Jesus (who lives IN US!) to instruct us on the “how,” so that like him, we’re doing what our Father is doing.

So who pays the Preacher?

Well, we still do. Paul talks about this in 1 Corinthians 9:14, saying “…In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” But he doesn’t give a percentage. Rather, he just says that the amount should be “in keeping with your income.”  (1 Corinthians 16:2)

He says:

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

- 2 Corinthians 9:6-9

We haven’t been given a compulsory percentage, we have been given a promise that God will provide for us in abundance for “every good work.” And there’s a blessing: by the measure that we give, we will receive. And we know from Jesus remarks on the widow’s mite, that God measures our giving by what we have to begin with, not by the dollar amount. Paul affirms that this is the New Testament model for giving:

“For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.  Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.  At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: “He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little.” (2 Corinthians 8:12-15)

Why does this matter?

A lot of our friends have said to us, “What does it matter if a Church teaches tithing? It’s an easy round number and a good place to start. And God blesses us when we are giving.”

My husband put it really well – it reduces God’s Kingdom and the work of the Cross to “Bullet Points.” Bullet Point Christianity is dangerous, because it keeps us from the fullness of the kingdom. It makes things that aren’t really true seem like they are. It’s almost like it matters because it’s the truth….and the truth sets us free.

The truth is, We have a Father that wants us to join with him in establishing the Kingdom. He leaves the “how” up to our discernment. Why? Because he trusts his sons, because sons are able to do what no slave can – they can know their Father’s heart. Jesus didn’t need the law to be righteous! He was righteous because he loved the Father, knew the father, and lived to work his Father’s will. That’s what caused God to burst out of the sky and thunder “THIS IS MY SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED!”

If our actions are governed by the law, we don’t mature. We stay children. God wants us to grow up “to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of  the fullness of Christ.” – to be every inch the man that Jesus was. And it is grace that empowers us to live like Jesus. From the inside. God leaves it up to us so that we can learn to walk by the Spirit and be mature as sons. God blesses SONS, not tithers. If we walk like sons, and think like sons, and give to the body the way our Father is directing to (and don’t just limit it to money!), he’ll  make sure we have abundance for every good work we need to accomplish. (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)

Obviously there are many things to consider when contending with various difficulties and challenges— but have you considered the land you live, work, and sleep on?

Maybe it isn’t a generational curse– Maybe it isn’t your physical make-up, maybe it isn’t a character flaw…..Maybe it’s the land!

There is a saying in real estate, “location, location, location!”
Today I am going to talk about how the land may be impacting you in ways you may have never imagined!

Our Deep Connection with the Land

Did you ever think about the intense connection we have with the land?  Our very essence was born of the land- God formed us from it first, then breathed His life into us. When we die, we will once again, return to it. In our non agrarian culture, we have somehow ignored this strong connection to land that “groans and waits for the sons of God to be revealed!”

A resource from which to Draw life

From man’s  inception, the land was designed by God to be a resource. Our physical bodies receive food and drink from the Land. Our souls receive refreshment from the beauty of the land. Our spirits receive the revelation of God’s design from the Land. Our first command from God was to walk in dominion over the land.

So lets just take a few moments to see what the Bible actually says about the land….

Attributes of the Land

The land has emotion (Ezekiel 19:7)

The land can cry out against you  (Job 31:38)

The land can drive (or vomit) you out! (Leviticus 18:28)

The land can work against you  (Leviticus 26:14-38)

The land needs a rest! (Leviticus 25:1-7)

The land reveals God’s handiwork. (Psalm 19:1)

The land was designed with pathways  or ley lines (hebrew word kavvam- means lines) to declare to the ends of the world the glory revealed from  the declarations of the stars (Psalm 19:1-4)

We are to possess the land (psalm 37:29)

We are “the heart of the land” (Isaiah 6:11)

The first instruction God gave to his children (Genesis 1:28) was to “go forth fill the earth and subdue it.” Or in other words, to take dominion over the earth— surprisingly, the Hebrew word for subdue is “kabash” (no kidding!) –which means to bring under control and governance –esp. by conquest!

The Land’s Impact on Dreams

So how can the land impact your dream life?
Well obviously if the land has been defiled, your spirit is going to pick up on it! You may have dreams which are tainted by the defilement on the land. If the defilement is strong, you may have defiling dreams.
If a spiritual being or group has dominion over the land you sleep on– they may enter or impact your dreams (the land could be the opening thru which they impact you or your family)

If the land has a curse on it— you may be reaping the fruit of it in your dream life.

Do a study on land in the bible and you will be surprised to see what experiences defile it– if you were involved in the defiling, then there is legal ground for you to be impacted negatively– and this of course includes your dream life! (FYI the 3 major categories of things that defile the land are: (1)idolatry, (2) breaking covenant (think divorce, pornography, breaking a contract– bankrupcy etc)  and (3) violence (domestic violence, rape, murder, etc)

How many times have you read Proverbs 30? Did you catch that it tells you about the land and what makes it tremble?– The actions or experiences that the land cannot stand up under?
The answer is stunning when you consider the implications:

(1) A slave who becomes king –wow that is profound- think of how many leaders have a slave mentality and how this impacts the land!

(2) A fool stuffed with food. (enough said)

(3) An unloved wife –Are you kidding me????  Husbands did you know that when you  neglect your wife that the very earth you live on trembles???? YIKES!

(4) A female servant who dispossess her mistress (Hmmm, I see how this works within a household, but this may have  implications in work and ministry as well!)

What are you depositing into the land?

Simply put, we may be experiencing in our dream and spiritual life the economics of reaping and sowing– take a look at your life and see what you are regularly depositing into the land.

• Physical deposits– Is your land a  mess? Does it have a lot of garbage on it? Is it uncultivated? Is it overrun with mice or ants or other pests? When you cultivate it, plant it, take care of it, protect it from pests etc you not only grow in dominion over it, but you empower principles which it can now support: i.e. bringing order from chaos, bringing things into proper balance, bringing things into alignment with their original design. This physical deposit transfers into the soul and spirit realm!
• Soul deposits–  What music are you listening to? What TV shows are you watching?
  Do you swear regularly? Do you yell, scream and argue alot?  Do you regularly sin on the land? This impacts not only the spiritual environment but the physical land as well. You can use your soul to deposit positively into the land thru worship, proclaiming the truth, proclaiming God’s goodness, blessing the land, speaking to it, as well as cultivating peace etc. thru your actions.
• Spiritual deposits– cultivating an environment where the presence of the Lord dwells greatly impacts the land! Repentance and intentionally cleansing the defilement off the land may also be necessary. Abiding in God leaves a spiritual deposit in the land that others can tap into– even as defiling the land leaves a similar negative deposit.

The flavor of the land

One of the cool things about land, is that it has its own unique design and reflects not only the goodness of God, but also different facets of Him. Consider the impact of the 7 redemptive gifts as displayed in the land you live and work on!

I was born in Gary Indiana- the one time murder capitol of the U.S. — Today it has one of the most corrupt governments around— when you drive thru  the city the effects of lawlessness are profound! Yet did you know that years ago it was touted “The City of the Century?”– A model for “successful” capitalism! The city was actually designed to support the steel industry and planned accordingly. The flaws of its inception took years to unravel – and now, the exploitation and misappropriation of the lands original design taint the land in every arena. How can this devastation not impact ones dream life?? Many times after I have spent time in the city (praying for the land of the family business) My dreams have been filled with the grief and defilement of the land.

Intentionally tapping the resources of the land

Now when I vacation, I consider the redemptive gift of the land as a resource for me to tap into! I know what I need, and realize that certain things I can only receive on certain types of land!

One of the local Starbucks I frequent is on prophet land. I specifically come here to write my blogs– I can accomplish more here in 3 hours than on any other land!

When traveling I will often instruct my spirit to receive the specific deposit of God’s goodness on the land. I often ask God to give me dreams that carry the (positive) deposit on the land.  One of the most powerful prophetic dreams I ever had was when I was visiting a college my daughter wanted to attend and instructed the land to release what it carried to me!

Of course, I don’t want to be a taker! So I try to be intentional to leave something  in return– something in which I walk in authority. This can be anything really– I try to sense if the land is lacking anything that I carry— is the land grieved? I worship and declare the joy of the Lord! Is there lawlessness on the land? I obey every small traffic ordinance and bless the Lord’s authority structure–I proclaim the goodness and wisdom of God’s principles and laws.
Hotel rooms are my favorite– I tend to leave behind a residue for “sweet dreams” and heavenly encounters  for future visitors! And if my husband and I are there for a romantic interlude– well– then I give  the “marriage bed” blessing (hahaha- one of my favorites–a  blessings– of  joy and delight!)

Our body, minds and spirits are so susceptible to the flavor of goodness or defilement on the land! I bless your spiritual eyes to be opened to the ways in which the land is a resource or obstacle in your life– to ways in which it supports or fights you– not only in your dream life, but in every arena in which you live and move and breathe!