The fourth and final signpost is “time.” It was the hardest to accept and I have struggled with it from the beginning. One of my earliest journal entries I recorded while walking the Roadmap, when I was very young in my walk, shows how God revealed this to me in a very personal way:
As I get
comfortable for the night, my thoughts speaking to the Lord aren’t exactly
respectful: “What's up with this? All day today your presence has been
surrounding me and now that I'm here, ready to meditate, You don't even call
me? I thought we were practicing for Heaven?”
Silence surrounds me. The Big Guy offers no guidance.
“What's different
from right now and earlier today?” I ask myself. “Well, I was worshiping and
His presence surrounded me. But right now I don't FEEL like worshiping. I am so
tired of waiting to go to Heaven! It's been over a year...”
In a flash of
insight, a supernatural gift of wisdom from the Holy Spirit, I see myself, my
actions, in a whole new light: It is like a kid who knows that you have bought
them an Xbox for Christmas, yet they throw a tantrum when you walk by the video
game aisle in the store because they want the game NOW!
My heart crumbles
and my attitude changes. “Lord, I am so sorry. This is your gift, I will try to
be more patient. You know, I always thought that the reason You were often
frustrated with your disciples was because they had not yet been given the Holy
Spirit; of course, they were a little slow to comprehend the revelations You
brought. But I have been actively working on listening to the Spirit for
fourteen years and still I throw a tantrum, acting like a spoiled child.” The
presence of God tingles across my body, letting me know I’m on the right path.
Thinking about this
a bit more, I add, “I just don't understand what You are waiting for. I know
that when I visit Heaven it will be the beginning of something that will help
so many!” Tears cascade down my cheeks as my heart cries out for those who are
lost and need to see how much God loves them.
Into my mind flashes the dream I had many
years ago: in part of it, I saw tent cities across the nation as thousands upon
thousands were homeless. This is connected to the trip to Heaven? Is this all
tied together with the financial blessing?
I have been waiting
over a decade for God’s financial blessing to show up. Now I find out it is
linked to visiting Heaven. And now it is also linked to a “Great Depression.”
Unable to deal with the information I’ve just been given, I whisper, “Tony, are
you sleeping?”
“Huh?” He rolls
over. “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been talking
to God. I really don’t like what I think I’ve heard…” Tears are coming faster
now, a steady stream, “Can I talk to you about it?”
My husband nods. In
short, quick terms, I explain what I understand about events being connected to
His greater plan. “So let me get this straight…you’re upset about something
that might happen when the first thing you think might happen, going to Heaven,
hasn’t even happened yet?”
“That’s just it,
Honey. I really believe God is answering my questions about why it’s taking so
long to go to Heaven. Do you think I should still go even if it means that
there will be a link to another Great Depression?”
Tony applies logic
to my emotional response, “You said that you are just trying to do what God
wants, right?” I nod. “And it is Jesus who is bringing you to Heaven?”
“Yes,” I reply,
knowing I can’t get there without Him.
My husband
concludes, “Then what happens is on Him, not you. He’s the one in charge, not
you. If it is tied to a world-wide event, then it is His will and His choice.”
Giving him a hug, I
whisper, “Thank you, Honey. That really helps.”
Tony rolls over,
going back to sleep. The fierce tingling that I’ve taken to mean He is calling
me to practice meditating descends upon my body. Laying on my back, I attempt
to relax into meditation. Thanking the Lord for granting me wisdom and
worshiping Him, power flows from my head to my shoulders.
Again, the scene of
tent cities flashes through my mind. Tears spill over my cheeks as I think once
again about the kids who will be without a warm bed. “Lord, the night before
You went to the cross, You prayed so fiercely trying to avoid it that You sweat
blood. Give me this night to morn for what is coming: for those who will
suffer.”
The tears ease and
I begin to hear Him speak once again, “This is why I helped you create Agape
(uh-ga pei) Assistance Association. It is to provide for people during this
time.” Our church is linked with Agape Assistance Association, a 501(c)3
charity that is putting in place relief for a world-wide disaster.
This helps me get
more control over my emotions. “So You are providing for Your people like You
did with Joseph in Egypt. Your financial blessing for me isn’t really only for
my secular family, but my spiritual one: the family of God.” The basic details
flow through my mind:
God sent Joseph two
dreams in which he saw, in essence, his brothers bowing down before him
(represented by sheaves of wheat). Joseph’s brothers already resented him
because their father favored him, so when Joseph told them about these dreams,
they sold him as a slave.
For the next
fifteen years Joseph went through many trials, but eventually he came to the
attention of Pharaoh. Joseph became the second in command of all of Egypt. God
guided him to store food during seven years of abundance for the seven years of
famine that would follow. (Genesis 37)
“You sent Joseph dreams just like You spoke to
me when you sent a vision. Why didn’t you tell him about the famine when you
sent the dreams?” I ask.
The answer comes in
a soft thought, “He was still a teenager – still a child. Today you decided to
stop being a child. Joseph found out about the famine when he needed to do
something: save the surplus food for the famine.”
It’s hard to miss the
similarities to my journey:
- 2001 – God speaks, saying, “I
bless you…Miraculously…Financially,” and
gives me a vision
- I’ve been struggling for 14 years trying to figure out when God’s
promise will come to pass
- 2009 – God helps me create Agape Assistance Association to provide disaster relief
- 2014 – God tells me that He wants me to visit Jesus in Heaven through meditation.
- 2015 – God tells me that a Great Depression will fall upon America and Europe around the time I am visiting Heaven.
“Lord, when did you
know your journey would lead to the cross?” I ask. The answer comes, “When I
was no longer a child. This is why my mother needed to prod me to begin my
ministry at the wedding (His first miracle where He turned water into wine). I
knew where it would lead and wanted to wait as long as possible.”
“Man, I totally
understand that,” I think, “Suddenly I’m in no hurry to get to Heaven. Not that
I don’t look forward to seeing You, but it means the time is approaching where
so many will lose everything! I will be ready whenever you call, but there’s no
hurry. I now have all the patience in the world.
“I’m glad you
warned me about what is to come, but I can’t write about this in my blog” I
tell Him, “People will think I’ve got delusions of grandeur or that I’m just
one of those crazy end-of-the-world doomsayers.”
“Some will read it
and believe. For some it will be too late, but for others this will sound an
alarm and they will prepare: getting their finances in order and saving every
penny to pay off all their bills or make a nest egg. When it hits, they will
not be on the streets.”
I sigh, knowing
that if it will help one family I have to write it. They thought Noah was crazy
for building the ark…I suppose I will be in good company.
The next day, I am
still struggling. It’s hard to find joy in anything when you know that so much
suffering is not far off. A good friend of mine who has enthusiastically
supported me through this crazy journey tells me, “God uses everything for the
good of His people.”
As soon as I heard
those words things clicked into place. God isn’t causing the Great Depression.
Even though my trip to Heaven and the financial blessing are connected to it,
they are not the cause either. The world has grown greedy. People are abusing
their power. The collapse of the economy is going to happen anyways. God knows
what is going to happen and He is setting up something to help His people!
First, God will
show his grace and mercy by bringing people to Heaven to see the glory Christ
has for us. Their stories will bring hope to those in need. In the Secret
Place, they will be prepared for what is to come. Jesus fed 5000 with a couple
of fish and a loaf of bread. Then, when the economy collapses, Agape Assistance
will be there so His financial blessing can be used to help provide for His people.
This is the God I know. He is filled with kindness and compassion. He is our provider. He has the perfect time picked out for your visit with Him.
This is how I learned to be patient and wait
for three years for my first trip to the Secret Place. Your trip may be
connected to much more than you know! It has never been more clear that the
most precious thing we have while on this planet is time. It is a nonrenewable
resource. Rich or poor, you cannot obtain more. There are layers of meaning in
this little four-letter word: time.
Communion or cultivating a relationship takes
time and effort. We must set aside minutes each day to talk with Jesus and
build a relationship, as well as time to read the Bible to find out more about
Him. Focusing on the Trinity takes time, it requires setting aside other
activities in our life and choosing to set our mind and heart on God. To
cultivate desire we must spend time filling our heart and mind with good things
and with thoughts of Him.
How can we make time for all these things?
Suggestions follow in the Driving Directions section.
I was going over each of the four Signposts when the full meaning of “time” was revealed. It is a little frustrating to realize that your visit will happen when He chooses and in His time. I was following this very same Roadmap for three years before I finally had my first visit with Jesus. The map was in my pocket all along! It was just a matter of time before He opened the door to the Secret Place. My journey unfolded like this:
- Communion: I have been walking with God, talking with Him and sharing my life with Him for many years.
- Focus: When I learned of His desire for us to visit Him in Heaven, I began meditating and drawing close to Him. I blogged about the major developments in posts since 2014.
- Desire: Year by year my longing to meet with Him increased as I read everything I could find about visits to Heaven finally realizing that I needed to focus solely on Him and NOT a desire to visit Heaven.
- Time: The visits to the Secret Place of the Most High came after I resolved in my heart that my visit would be at the time He would choose, not when I wanted it to occur. There was nothing I could do to make it happen sooner. I was happy for Jesus to interact with me in whatever way He chose.
Not only does the Lord require that we
dedicate time out of our daily schedule to get to the Secret Place, but there
is no way of knowing when that will be. All we can do is focus on Him and wait.
It sounds easy, but the path is so much harder to walk. The Bible puts it this
way:
So I say to
you, ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking
and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to
you. (Luke 11:9 AMPC)
Quoted from the Classic Amplified Version of
the Bible, this gives the fullest definition making the meaning clear. The
parable Jesus gave before this statement shows us that a widow who pestered an
unjust King got what she wanted. How much more would our Just Father do?
Persistence is the key: it may take time!
The Secret Place is for everyone who has taken
Jesus as Lord and wants to be trained in His ways. Begin walking in what you
know of His ways now. If you are not willing to do that, why would He give you
more to do?
Keep on knocking and the door will be opened. Let
your heart cry out for Abba, Jesus and
the Holy Spirit and ask for entrance into the Secret Place to prepare more
quickly, for the destiny for which you have been created by God.
Driving Directions
How much would you pay for a meeting with an
esteemed head of state or the ruler of your country? What would you give for
continued access to a world leader or the smartest person alive? Would you wait
patiently until they called you for a meeting? We have a promise to visit with
someone who is so much more than any of these. We have the extraordinary
opportunity to have a meeting with God who created it all, who knows all, who
can do all things!
The cost is high. It will require time. How
much of your most precious resources are you willing to give to prepare for a
visit with God? He will never ask more of us than what we have. That being
said, we may have much more than we realize.
The majority of the time I used for meditation
was during the evening before bed. The longest visit only took twenty minutes.
However, during the day I took time to read the Bible, listen to messages about
God, and for pleasure reading I chose testimonies about heavenly visits.
Take inventory of your day. You always have time for what is most important. Here are a few things to consider:
- How much time do you spend watching TV or online?
- What are you doing during your commute to work?
- Is it possible to listen to music or podcasts while you shower or get ready in the morning?
It is up to you to make this a priority in
your life. No one can make this decision for you, but there is one who can
help. Your friend the Holy Spirit, will always be there no matter how much it
seems like you have messed up in your life. Ask Him to help you find time to
walk the Roadmap to Heaven.
Don’t give up. God loves you. He will open up
the Secret Place when you are ready and when it fits into His plan for your
life.
More Articles on the Courts of Heaven can be found in the:
Courts of Heaventab in the menu at the top.
FREE Books
Believers' Boot Camp series
Many people think of boot camp as a place you train for combat. Any veteran will tell you that basic training is about three things:
- Knowing what weapons are available
- Learning how to use those weapons
- Receiving orders and following them
The series uses the Word of God to reveal all that He has given us through Jesus. The Bible is our instruction manual and the Holy Spirit is our guide to understanding it.
Why Doesn't God Speak to Me?
Eager hearts cry out, hoping for a single word to confirm that He hears us. Yet, many times the only sound is silence. Over the years I have heard several reasons why God speaks to some and not to others. One night, as I tossed and turned, I brought each of these reasons before the Lord, stating why each of them did not line up with who I thought He was.
Words rose from my soul, pleading for Him to reveal why He has remained silent when a single word from Him would mean so much to so many. For the next few hours, God used things I learned about years ago and things I had just discovered to show why He talks to some and why He doesn’t, and in demonstrative ways.
In His grace, He also showed me how people could hear more from Him. Basic instructions on how to hear more from God and how to be led by Him are included in this book. Thank you for taking time to consider the answers I received and share with you now.
Keys to Authority for Every Believer
There is untapped power that is easy for every Christian to access in the form of authority. The keys to this authority will unlock weapons we can use to free ourselves from the attacks of the enemy. We must be intimately aware of the bounds and limitations of our weapon if they are to be used effectively.
Find out about your authority:- Why you need it.
- Where it comes from.
- What you can do with it.
- How to get more.
- Why you need it.
- Where it comes from.
- What you can do with it.
- How to get more.
Destroying Curses in the Courts of Heaven
Our rights to appear in the Courts of Heaven have been greatly undervalued. The missing key to our authority is here. Jesus has provided the access and the Bible shows us the court procedures. When we learn to operate in our rightful place as children of the Most High, the enemy will be defeated and we will see the victory we have prayed for.
The death of Jesus freed us from the curse of the law. However, we must declare this freedom just as we must make a declaration for our salvation.
Our rights to appear in the Courts of Heaven have been greatly undervalued. The missing key to our authority is here. Jesus has provided the access and the Bible shows us the court procedures. When we learn to operate in our rightful place as children of the Most High, the enemy will be defeated and we will see the victory we have prayed for.
The death of Jesus freed us from the curse of the law. However, we must declare this freedom just as we must make a declaration for our salvation.
- Can curses be passed to our children?
- What are signs of a curse?
- How do you get rid of one?
Every answer is backed by scripture. Come and find out how easy it is to be free!
Roadmap to Heaven
As I meditated and sought the Lord, a vision overcame me. A “Roadmap to Heaven” was deposited into my soul. We are entering a season of unparalleled access to Heaven. Jesus is calling all who are His to visit with Him in the Secret Place of the Most High.- What is the Secret Place?
- How do we enter?
- What will we find there?
The Bible holds the answers, the mystery has been revealed. As you use the map given in this book to journey to the Secret Place, discover your destiny and find the gifts the Holy Spirit will bring along the way.
Freely given at:Amazon Kindle – iBooksPaperbacks at: Agape-CF.org
- What is the Secret Place?
- How do we enter?
- What will we find there?
No comments:
Post a Comment