Enlarge Your Tent

Recently, I was reminiscing about when my husband and I were looking for a new home. We had looked at so many homes; new construction, old construction, newly renovated, and even the fixer upper. Exhausting. It is an emotionally tedious task to buy a home.  I was totally resistant to purchasing a home that was a fixer upper or was under construction.   Nothing about being “under” construction appeals to me.  The thought of being “under” construction is just that being “under” everything that it entails: drywall, dust, nails, screws, and metal framing.  I am the sort of girl who likes things organized and ordered. I could not see myself living in middle of a renovation or re-construction.  It is against my nature. It would have been misery. Needless to say, we did not buy a house that needed renovation. My remembrance of all this makes what I about to share even more revealing.

About two weeks ago I was ministering to a dear friend about increasing her capacity for God.   I sensed the LORD telling me that our spirits ‘as spirit’ have an unlimited capacity for God.  We cannot contain all of Him but we have the capacity to flow in more of him than we know.  Our spirits expand, transform and conform to the image of Christ from the inside out. We must speak to our spirit, spirit words, that will cause it to respond to the incorruptible seed of the Word of God. (An excellent resource is Blessing Your Spirit by Sylvia Gunter and Arthur Burk).

https://www.amazon.com/Blessing-Your-Spirit-Arthur-Burk-ebook/dp/B0030ZRZAK/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1494942263&sr=8-4&keywords=blessing+your+spirit+sylvia+gunter+and+arthur+burk

After some reflection on the importance of increasing the capacity of my spirit, I heard the Lord say, “enlarge your tent”. I knew the phrase was from Isaiah 54:2. At first I was not sure what the Lord was saying to me. Interestingly, I do have a present situation that it is speaking to and trust me it was not what I wanted to hear. Just keeping it real. Therefore, I continued to meditate on the word and just kept asking the LORD what He was saying because I didn’t want the surface, religious traditional interpretation.  Usually that is what surfaces first in my consciousness when I hear something from the Lord, but I have learned to listen more intently. It is important to keep knocking, keep asking, keep seeking for the deeper revelation. He will reveal what He desires when we do. Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. Kings seek the glory out. Kings seek out the revelation.  

Father is doing something supernatural in His daughters; those daughters that are looking to be transformed into the image of Christ.  What no one really wants to talk about is the fact that to be transformed and conformed there must be a death.  Isaiah is prophesying to barren Israel and telling her to prepare for children.

Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes

The prophet is speaking to the nation at the time, but the Word of God speaks to our lives personally and corporately when we have ears to hear. This word spoke to me both personally and corporately. I am going to share the meaning He revealed corporately for His daughters.

A barren woman preparing for children seems like an oxymoron.  Commentaries state that the prophet was speaking to the entrance of the Gentiles into the Kingdom of God. I am not commenting on that…I believe that is true. However, I believe this word is a corporate word for His daughters. Barrenness in biblical times was indicative of the absence of God’s blessing upon a life. A barren woman lived under a “societal” curse. Most of us are familiar with one or more biblical accounts of barren women. Father is speaking to something else -there is barrenness that is not simply physical but also spiritual.

We are in a season when Father wants His daughters to get rid of their spiritual barrenness. Spiritual barrenness comes from the inability to bring forth spiritual seed.  An Inability to birth spiritual seed means, in the most general terms, that you are not willing to count the cost.  Jesus said, “except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.  He that loveth his life shall lost it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto eternal life.” (John 12:24) In order to give birth to fruitfulness a death must occur, fruitfulness comes from a dying to self.

Most of us daughters have missed fruitfulness in our lives because we were unwilling to die to something for the fruit to come forth. We stay in barrenness because our own wounds keep us from giving birth. When you give birth,  your energy all of it, is focused on the seed coming forth.  Not yourself. Not your own needs.  Fruitfulness comes from self-LESS-ness.  Father wants his daughters to prepare for spiritual births, fruitfulness. He is going to get rid of the barren areas of our lives as we are willing to give birth to His will in the earth. Giving birth to His will requires radical obedience. Our wills are relinquished to His will, so that fruit in the Kingdom can come forth.

Many daughters will birth things in the spirit; things they have never even imagined. Much of which they will not even know on this side of heaven.  Some of it will be revealed in the ages to come. Daughters, our tents must be enlarged. The stakes will be strengthened and there will be an increase in the Kingdom because of our obedience. Our willingness is created in the spirit in “secret place” intimacy with the Father.  Barrenness and unfruitfulness will be a thing of the pass because the time of birthing has arrived-there is a pull of the Spirit that compels us to endure whatever is necessary to bring His seed to birth.  This is what we are being groomed and fashioned for.  We are “under” construction. Not only warriors but also warriors with a womb. Those who fear the LORD, like the Hebrew midwives, will bring to birth regardless of the cost. In the natural, there isn’t much appeal to a house that is “under” construction unless you have vision to see what will come forth if there is a completion of the work.

Daughters of God, enlarge your spirit and capacity for His will for you. Enlarge your tent and prepare for a death and a birth.  It seems counterproductive, but unless the corn of wheat die it abide alone. 

ENLARGE YOUR TENT

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.  Excerpts may be used provided full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Your Book Is Written

Several weeks ago, the Lord started to speak to me about His books. In a relatively short time, I had two different conversations where two familiar scriptures were discussed. I don’t think this is just happenstance. Nothing just happens. So, I knew I needed to take some time to meditate on the scriptures Psalm 139:15-18 and Malachi 3:15-18.  King David the psalmist says,

Your eyes saw my substance, being yet informed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me.  When as yet there were none of them.  How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.

 The prophet Malachi reveals another aspect of God’s authorship in this passage:

Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, and the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the LORD and who meditate on His name. ‘They shall be Mine’, says the LORD of hosts, ‘On the day that I make them My jewels.  And I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.  Then you shall discern between the righteous and the wicked between on who serves God and the one who does not serve him.’

           

These scriptures speak about books written in heaven. There is a book already written for every human that has ever been on the earth. The books don’t stop there, the Father continues to record the words that we speak concerning Him.  As we gather and speak of His goodness a book of remembrance is written.  Think about it, each of us is important enough to God that he wrote about us before we were even born and then continues to record things about our lives. This means not one of us is insignificant.

My ponderings about books written did not stop there.  This past weekend I watched a live web stream of a writers’ conference (#writeit2017 w/ Apostle John Eckhardt)that was so inspiring. For this aspiring author, it was much needed encouragement. One of the speakers, really spoke “my language” when she taught about her method of journaling.  That sister is serious about journaling. (You can check her out on her FB fan page MaShani Allen) I thought I was a pretty serious journaler (Is this a word? LOL). I use various types and styles of journals for various things. In the past, I would use one or two journals at a time, but then I realized it was too difficult to track different topics. For example, if I need to look for a dream in a journal with various other notes and prophetic words it is tedious. However, separating the journals topically keeps it all in order.

(This is my excuse for having so many journals! Smile.) This sister had journals for everything. This is where my sister took it to another level. She taught on her method of categorizing her journals. I just loved it! Those of us who journal love paper, pens, pencils and think that recording or chronicling important events is not crazy, it’s necessary.  As I have argued before, I think God is serious about recording events as well. He is not just the Author of the Bible. He is the author of many heavenly books including our personal books.  He is the author of our testimony scrolls. (Psalm 40:7, Psalm 56:8, Exodus 24:4,7-12)

In her book, Unveiling Ancient Paths: Testimony Scrolls, Jennifer Newton states, “a testimony scroll, by definition, is man’s written will and purpose for existence, the mandate spoken by the Lord before the foundations of the earth as part of the restoration of creation and relationship with God.” ( pg. 52) She continues to clarify its meaning by stating, “the scroll of testimony, described often as a book in the bible, carries the key to man’s existential dilemma.  It is within this holy and sacred scroll that our purpose and blueprints of God’s divine and perfect will for our lives is stored.  Every person, creature and geographic space has its own testimony scroll to be carried out…” (pg.40)

This may seem surprisingly strange.  That is a lot of books! Thankfully, there is scripture to support this. God had plans for us before he released us into our mother’s womb.  Ephesians 2:10 in the Amplified Bibles says,

           

            For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship) recreated in Christ Jesus,

[born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking pather which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

We say it often, don’t we…God has a plan. YES HE HAS A PLAN. Father has pre-planned some things for us. Good things. Good paths. Are we walking according to his plan? Are we on the same PAGE with HIM? It is said this way in Romans 8:29-30;

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

We were known beforehand, predestined to be conformed to Christ, called, justified and glorified! That is good news! Christ died for ALL! But all have not received.     

           

Newton suggests that “our testimony scroll is the predestination and the purpose that was given for us before the foundations of the earth.” (pg. 65).  However, we all have free will. The Father does not force us down the path He planned for us, the good path, we must choose to walk this path.  Most of us are not even aware of the thoughts that God has toward us but the best way to start finding out is to read His word. As we meditate upon His word and learn His ways and thoughts, the Spirit reveals to us the things that are freely given to us. The Spirit reveals His thoughts toward us personally.

Last month, this word was burning in my heart.  I was preparing for an online bible study when the Holy Spirit said, “change of plans”.  Instead of sharing the lesson I had originally prepared, I spoke about “destiny scrolls”. Here is the kicker, I had attempted to take this teaching live on FB. I had done everything I thought was necessary to get this “word” out through the ministry FB page. I sensed the anointing on the word. I perceived that the Lord was emphasizing this as an important Kingdom reality and not enough believers understood it. Long story short, I finished the teaching but when I went back to listen to it, the sound was altered by some annoying clicking sound. I still don’t know what the sound was. I was very frustrated at this turn of events. I knew that this assignment was part of my testimony or destiny scroll. It was like a fire inside me.  An appointed time comes for a purpose of the scroll, the calling arises then we must choose to walk in obedience as it is revealed. I had walked in partial obedience. I recorded the lesson and made prophetic declarations as I was instructed by the Lord but I eventually deleted the video because the sound was so annoyingly distorted.  In hindsight, I should not have deleted the video. That is why I say my obedience was partial. I was more self-aware than aware of what God wanted. He could have fixed the sound supernaturally.  I was more concerned with what others thought than my simple obedience.

We will be held accountable for what the Lord has given to us (i.e. the parable of the talents).  Our obedience cannot be dependent upon circumstances or the actions of others.  In the fullness of time, our excuses will not be sufficient.  My meditation on the above-mentioned scriptures paired with the recent writer’s conference, has confirmed what I already knew but wasn’t fully acknowledging and walking out in my own life. My book is already written. The book that God wrote concerning my life, my calling and my purpose for being released into the earth is already written. But not just that book, every book I am called to write is already written because the Father has already written it of me.  Just as He did with his beloved Son, he did for me, his beloved daughter.  There is a scroll that has my past present and future already written.  There is a volume that is already written of me. I have a choice to enter what my Father has prophesied over my life or to go my own way.  Many of us struggle to find our identity in this life. I know that my identity is fully known in Him; but today I have a determined resolution (word play- double emphasis) that His recorded thoughts of me are mine to walk out.  His thoughts toward me are innumerable. Selah. My days upon this earth were important enough to be recorded by His heavenly scribes.  Selah. So that when His Kairos moments for me are revealed, I can know what He has said and declared and I am assured in my heart that my book is already written.

Seek Him first because of who He is and then seek to hear what He has declared concerning your days, your calling and your purpose because your book is written!

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.  Excerpts may be used provided full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

From the Time of the Decree...

This past Sunday Robert Heidler, from Glory of Zion, taught from the book of Daniel exhorting believers to learn from the prophet’s example of how to open the door to revelation so that change can come to a nation.  It was a powerful teaching. There was much to meditate on and pray back to the Father for revelation. It is a sure word from the Spirit for believers. As I listened to the teaching, Holy Spirit impressed upon me a phrase from the foundation scripture of the Robert’s teaching- Daniel 9:25.

“So you are to know and discern that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with plaza and moat, even in times of distress.” NASB

“Know and understand this: from the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until Messiah the Prince will be seven weeks and 62 weeks. It will be rebuilt with a plaza and a moat, but in difficult times.” HCSB

From the issuing of the decree…from the time of the decree just kept resonating in my heart.

Decree: a formal and authoritative order, especially one having the force of law; a judicial decision or order
(http://www.dictionary.com/browse/decree?s=t)

It is interesting to note that Chuck Pierce has issued a prayer focus on decreeing over our land and boundaries for the first 10 days of March. Not a coincidence. There are no coincidences in the Spirit. However, what the Lord was impressing upon me as I listened to the teaching was the importance of the decree, the release of the decree and the revelation of what happens when the decree is made.

We are part of a Kingdom that is established by the word that is proceeding from the mouth of the Father.  His word and His decree is what established all that exists in the seen and the unseen. Even evil does not exist unless He allows it. The enemy is still here because God has appointed a time for his destruction.  The decree of a King establishes what is and what shall be.  It not only affects the present but also the future.  There are many examples in scripture, but it is interesting that Holy Spirit is instructing us in this at this specific season, namely Purim.  Purim is a Jewish celebration of the reversal of the enemy’s decree against the people of God. Purim is celebrated in the month of Adar;  this month is all about celebrating the joy of deliverance by the hand of God and the annihilation of your enemy! There are seasons in life when deliverance seems like an impossibility, like that of the Jews and Esther, but Purim reminds us that with God nothing is impossible.  The deliverance of the Hebrew people came by the reversal of a decree.  In a kairos moment in time, Esther was able to approach the King and receive a decree that superseded the decree of the enemy of the Jews, Haman.

From the issuing of the decree…

Everything changed from the issuing of the decree of Esther’s husband, the King. What the enemy, Haman, thought he had accomplished was reversed, overturned and then made right because of the decree. Deliverance came because of the issuing of the decree!

Know and understand…

From the issuing of the decree….

A kingdom operates from the issuing of the word of a king. Our Lord, the Christ, is King of kings and Lord of lords.  He has made US kings and priest to His God and Father. (Rev. 1:6) We can operate in this realm of delegated authority and issue God’s decree that reverses the curse of the enemy!

Now the question is…what are you decreeing in this set time? Scripture states there is a set time for judgment to be released in our favor. (Dan. 7:22) There is a set time for the issuing of the God’s decree…a set time to agree with God! A set time to release the word of the Lord! NOW faith is!

Know and understand…

Decree: a formal and authoritative order, especially one having the force of law; a judicial decision or order; one of the eternal purposes of God, by which events are foreordained. To command, ordain, or decide by decree.
(http://www.dictionary.com/browse/decree?s=t)

From the issuing of the decree…

Kings and priest of God Most High let's exercise our legal authority in the kingdom and agree with God of All creation and issue His decree. Proclaim His Word, the logos and the rhema, that will bring a reversal of what the enemy has attempted to bring about in our life.

The set time is NOW!

P.S. Here is an example of a decree I wrote and prayed for day three of the 10 day prayer focus with Glory of Zion.

Day Three: Ezra 9, Psalm 81: I decree revival in my family and over my inheritance in Jesus name. Father let your Spirit be poured out upon all flesh in my family.  Thank you for restoration and for change, for the suddenly and for an open heaven over my life, my family, my inheritance and my ministry.  Thank you Father that the spirit of revival will flow from generation to generation in Jesus name.  The River is flowing and bursting its banks. As I open my mouth wide Father you have promised to fill it. As I speak as the oracle of God, Holy Spirit you confirm the word with signs and wonders following.  I thank you Jesus for all that you are doing and all that you will do not only today but tomorrow and in the days to come. Thank you for the newness, the new thing springing forth in my family in Jesus name. Thank you Father for giving us a measure of revival even in the midst of our bondage, but I ask you for the abundance of rain upon your people your remnant oh God. May your people experience the fullness of your Spirit and the supernatural workings of your Kingdom in Jesus name.

© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.  Excerpts may be used provided full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

A Host of Hidden Figures

This past Christmas, Twentieth Century Fox, released a powerful story that revealed the genius of a “hidden” group of African American women and their impact on NASA and U.S.  aeronautical program.  This movie is based on the book/brain child of author/entrepreneur Margot Lee Shetterly.  Ms. Shetterly did the hard work of researching this important story of African American History.  The reviews have been remarkable! This story depicts the power of intelligent women willing to be passionate about who they are regardless of the societal norms that constrict freedom.  There are far too many meaningful themes within the film to attempt to  expound them here.  There isn’t enough time, and I probably wouldn’t do it justice. But who knew that this story was out there…a host of hidden figures (voices) that had changed the course of American History.

I watched the movie and have been encouraging others to see it because it is such an uplifting film. Any good film, if it’s worth its salt, will provoke thoughts and reflection.  This film made me think of how so many people do remarkable things, yet go unnoticed living in obscurity.  Recently, our political scene has caused another group of women to come out from behind the scenes.  Without focusing on the political issues, the fact remains, passionate women came out so that their voices could be heard. It made me think of a host of hidden figures coming out from behind the scenes.

Shortly after watching Hidden Figures, I watched another film about another woman, Dinah, a daughter of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob distinguished by name in the biblical text.  The film is called The Red Tent and it is based on a book by Anita Diamant.  It chronicles the story of Dinah-in her own words.  It follows the biblical account, but emphasizes it as told in the voice of Dinah.  Imagine that?  What I thought was so amazing was the fact that I had never thought about what her thoughts may have been through those chapters of Genesis.  The fact remains, she had some!  Here again, the phrase ‘hidden figure’ came to mind.  Dinah experienced a life that could be considered a modern-day soap opera, yet most of us have little to no interest in how she was processing the events of her life.   Unfortunately, this is the fate of far too many intelligent, beautiful, daughters of God-living lives as hidden figures with voices that are silenced by a society entrenched in its own prejudices.

God is always speaking. Unfortunately, all too often we limit the ways in which He can speak. He can speak to anyone in any way that He chooses because He is God. The real issue is whether we are listening.  Are we seeking to perceive what He is saying without our own preconceived ideas altering the reception?  I don’t think so. I find it challenging to move my own pressing thoughts out of the way to hear Him clearly.  (It is a discipline of willful intent.)  Not because His voice is undiscernible but because of the discipline necessary to shut down the other voices competing with His preeminence. Yet, this is what He has called every child of God to do, to be in such communion with Him that the thought at the forefront of all we do is based on what He is saying to us.  This blog is most often about just that…listening to hear what He is saying and simply sharing what is heard.

Recent events keep confirming to me that the Lord is mobilizing His people in a new way.  He is bringing forth what was ordained from the beginning of time and it won’t look like what we think.  At the center of this mobilization, He is calling forth a host of hidden figures.  Yes, I am borrowing the title of this important movie because I heard the LORD speaking through it. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit saying that there are hidden figures that are being positioned to change the course of history- His Story.  It is about His Kingdom being manifested in the earth. A huge portion of this host are daughters of God.

Last year I had a dream in May after Mother’s Day that was a corporate word for women.

This morning I saw two pictures of maybe visions because of there was movement. The first picture was of a group of women on a theatre moving like a marching band.  The group was dressed in suits of crimson. (The blood of Jesus Christ). The styles of the suits looked different but as the women moved into different formations the suits looked the same.  I could not hear anything but from the picture I perceived that they were hearing a sound of a cadence that mad them move into formation.  The next picture was of the same group but then the scene had changed.  I am not sure how to describe it.  It was not a theatre.  I was an open space but the group looked like they were superimposed over it in different places.  The clothes had changed to ordinary clothes and the movement was of praise.  Again, I didn’t hear anything so I am perceiving it as praise based on how the women were moving.  Some were dancing, some clapping, some stomping, jumping. Each was doing something different but there was still a rhythm and a synchrony.

This is the interpretation I received.

Many women have experienced many transitions.  This has been the Spirit of the Lord brining us into a proper formation for what He has for each of us to accomplish for the Kingdom.  We are not all the same.  We have different expressions but as the Spirit moves us we are moving in synchronicity with Him and the differences are not apparent.  We are hearing sounds that are apparent by our obedience to move as directed by the Spirit.  There is a sound of the Spirit, a sound of praise that the Spirit is bringing forth in the body of Christ that is not only a weapon but also a sound that is causing formation and unity to those hearing it and that are willing to move into greater freedom in praise in worship.


I believe the vision that I had speaks to the mobilizing of hidden figures.  Everyday daughters of God that love a King named Jesus Christ and are willing to simply obey the voice of their
Father. In the movie, those women for the most part, stayed in obscurity.  It is only now that we are learning of the tremendous impact their lives played in American History among some of the most honored events of the twentieth century.  I propose that the same will be true of some hidden figures in the Kingdom of God.  There is a host of hidden figures that have discovered who they are and whose they are.  Hidden figures that have a voice and a weapon in the Spirit.  This discovery has compelled them to no longer be silent, not a voice clamoring in the streets, but a herald heard in the spirit and the Kingdom- preparing the way for the coming of the King.  This host is empowered by its Creator and His Spirit and it will be a force to be “reckoned” with (to count, to compute, to calculate, to esteem, to depend on or rely on as in expectation).  While most may remain in obscurity here in this earthly realm, they will be known in His Kingdom and in the ages to come.

Girls get your swords!


© Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles 2013-2018. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without the express and written permission of this blog's author and/or owner is strictly prohibited.  Excerpts may be used provided full and clear credit is given to Ronda Wagner and Kelbey Chronicles with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.