This year has been such a year of learning, revelation and of more understanding. I basically soak in what I am taught like a five year old. I grasp it and I chew on it. I ponder it and figure out how to implement it in my life. I just know that there is so much more than this world has to offer…

Pops is my spiritual dad. He also goes by PT, Pastor Timothy and all that jazz. He has been mentoring me for about the past year and a half. Its been quite an uphill climb, as I certainly don’t want the pastor to see all my junk! But, alas, he has seen it himself and gladly points in out. He does it with gladness so he can help me discover how to be free!

So…I am here to share some really cool stuff found in Colossians 1:9-10. In these verses you will find:

Four Benefits of Spiritual Knowledge & Understanding: (Are you ready?!?…They are SUPER good!)

1. When you grasp spiritual understanding, your life will ALWAYS honor and please Father God. How cool is that? Because I learn to understanding His word + revelation, I can live a life of holiness and be set apart because I UNDERSTAND how and why!
2. As you grasp more spiritual understanding, there WILL be production of fruit in your ministry and life. Although your ministry IS your life…so it all works hand in hand.
3. The more spiritual understanding you gain, you will continue to grow as you learn…it will not stop! You will keep gaining and gaining….WOW!
4. Through spiritual understanding you will know God so intimately that He will be the driving force behind your persistence, determination and endurance!

That’s all for now…nothing too deep…just re-establishing my blog writing…

Make it a great day!

Two posts in one day after not blogging since January? Yeah, I have been a little busy…with my job, packing, moving, getting married, etc., etc.

So I am just sharing a few downloads I have been receiving lately…but good night! The Lord is really trying to tell me something…

Galatians 1:13-14: “You know what I was like when I followed the Jewish religion-how I violently persecuted God’s church. I did my BEST to destroy it. I was far ahead of my fellow Jews in my zeal for the traditions of my ancestors.”

After I read this verse I sat and I pondered. I asked the Lord what I was to receive from reading this. Here is what He told me (some of you won’t like this…):

“Lisa, the world has more zeal to destroy my people, the church, than the church has to love the world”. OUCH.

Does this happen to put a fire under your butt like it did mine?!? Just wondering…

The other day I was sitting at home waiting for my new husband to arrive home and I realized that there were so many vital things that I loved about him. So I wrote it down and decided to share it with you:

Why I Love You…

I love you because you love me unconditionally

You seek to find the best in me (even when it is hidden)

You desire nothing more than an extraordinary life

And that life you want to live out with me

You desired me as your lover

You hand selected me as your best friend

You vowed to love me despite circumstances and obstacles

I vowed to follow you wherever He sends you

You hear His voice (more than you realize)

You follow His word, you aspire to be obedient

You are becoming a voice in this generation, strong & confident

You are aggressive in your faith & grow more daily in understanding

Pushing past mundane & mediocre life

You soar above others with your diligence & devotion

You are steadfast & loyal until things are done right & complete

You see details from all perspectives

Especially how Father God sees things

You are determined to learn how to love like He loves

You are able to hear the sounds of heaven

You are able to uproot the gates of hell

You uplift, engage & encourage others to step beyond their reality vision

You speak with wisdom well beyond your years

You work hard, whether for nothing or for all

You seek direction & spiritual fatherhood

You are on a quest to find something not many have found

You want to know the secrets of the Kingdom of heaven

You want to be a Kingdom man

You want to be a legitimate Father, natural & spiritual

You want to be an influencer, its not what you say, but what you do

You long to be a part of the change

You strive to be different and set apart

You know we belong here, a peculiar people

You inspire, encourage, edify & challenge me.

I admire, honor, uplift, submit, bless, & love you.

You are the priest of our home.

You are the man of God that He designed you to be! And you continue to quest after your full inheritance…

I love you…

I printed this out and put it next to his sweet tea glass (he is greeted with one every afternoon when he arrives home). I love him because of the man God has made him and continues to mature him into.

The first thing that I have to get off my chest is this… 2009 is actually my 10 year reunion from high school. YUCK.  But I do admit I look really great for my age! And now I will move on….

2009 is gearing up to be an exciting, excellent, elevating, eventful and encouraging year! I also know that with these things are going to come testings ,obstacles, struggles and maybe a little chastisement (for when I choose to not do the right thing, maybe…hoping this will NOT happen!). I am shifting my mindset for these things and for what is to come. I am preparing my spirit to handle these things and to tell my soul (mind, heart, emotions, personality) to quit trying to control everything. I must learn to fully rely on my spirit and Father God rather than what I think is best.

This year is so different than any other year. Despite getting married in under six months (Holy Cow!), I have a lot of training and equipping that is going on in my life. In addition, I also have been put into activation.

The first goal I hope and pray to accomplish in 2009 is my fast. Fasting is very difficult for me. I LOVE FOOD! I love Olive Garden, Elizabeths Pizza and Atlantic Bread Company, but I am praying for God to lead me and show me new things as I fast fin order to receieve clarification, revelation and spiritual adrenaline. My ultimate goal would be 40 days. I start today. I am viewing this fast one day at a time not as a whole group of days.  I am continually preparing my mind and spirit. This is a test for me.

Some other new things I am tackling are:

• Teaching, delegating and facilitating the ICIT course at UFC
• Undergoing leadership training in the “In Search of Timothy” yearlong intense sessions
• Teaching “Ultimate Kidz” at UFC
• Worship leading on Ultimate Praise
• Life Mentoring with Pastor Timothy
• Marriage counseling with Pastors Timothy & Diane

The list can continue. But these things above are high priority on my list. As I look at them I remember the wonderful triangle of “Rights and Responsibilties” and the verse which says, “To whom much is given, much is required”.

Can I remind you that we don’t “earn”, “desereve” or “prove” in order to receive gifts from Father God? He simply gives as he sees fit. So if you have a lot of gifts with a lot of things to do…the one thing you should not do is complain or say, “It’s not fair”. I can already tell you you are correct:  its not fair. So…Deal. Take your gifts and move onto the new year ready to tackle the things the Lord has laid out for you!

What are you new goals, purposes and plans for 2009?!?

I know people usually do them Mondays, but I really need to do one now:

• I weigh in at 137.9 with an extraordinary amount of belly fat and cellulite. So today I start journaling what I eat, what exercise I do and I make covenant with myself to make better and healthier choices. I will not go to sleep without doing some sort of exercise to make a healthier me! I am using my planner to keep up with all this stuff. Hold me to it blog reading people!
• My goal is to lose at least that 7.9 pounds, fit into my size 4 Banana Republic jeans, lose the extra weight in my face and just feel good again. The belly has got to go…I have a beer belly and don’t really drink beer!
• I have been attempting to read “Sense and Sensibility” since I purchased it on Monday [so that Janie and I can read some Jane Austen this summer]. I am on page 4. Way to go me! This old English is obviously killing me!
• I am finally realizing that I don’t have to look like every other girl. And what fun would it be to look like every other skinny girl in the world? None. So I think I will just continue to be….me.
• I ate at Five Guys last night, so I suppose that will be my last sinful meal. It was SO good.
• I just watched “The Princess Bride” for the first time last night. I got it at Best Buy for only $10.66!
• I need to clean out my closet and add some new things…when that time comes. Maybe I will start SLOWLY.
• My big seester is here and I just love, love, love her! I am going there [the house of my parentals] tonight to basically spend the weekend there. I really love my family!
• God continues to speak to me regarding hearing…also about the separation in the last days. Read in Matthew 13-15 and check out all those parable Jesus was spewing out. Read it slowly. Let it penetrate. Meditate on them. I love red letter edition!
• I still have to go back to school to work on my classroom. Maybe next week.
• Zack is home and I have seen him almost daily. I love being with him. He makes me so incredibly happy even when I don’t always tell him.
• I bought sunglasses that were already broken on Saturday, but I have worn them anyway. Anyone have superglue I can borrow?!?
• We went to Southport Saturday and it was so nice to have a little change of pace. [sigh]. It was beautiful on the water, the shops were so cute and we ate soft serve ice cream. Its always nice to escape your own reality every now and then.
• Still house hunting and looking. The recession was made for people like me. I know God will point me in the right direction…He always does.
• My 12-year-old nephew Miykayah is 6′ tall. He wears a size 13 shoe. He looks my little brother, Matthew, in the face. WHOA.
• My niece, Azryah, is a mini-me of my sister Christine in every way. It is almost scary to experience.
• I love my summers. Having a 3 day weekend is what I am talking about!

Make your day and weekend amazing! LJ

I met a young man about seven years ago at youth group. He was the drummer in the youth band, Crave and I was on staff serving under the youth pastor. We had chatted a few times, I had been rude to him on occasion and I eventually helped him with some Calculus that he asked me about…but never would I have thought that seven years later I would be writing how incredible he is…

Let me introduce you to my mate, Zackery Taylor Bullard.

On August 4, 2006 he showed up at my house after his night shift at the hospital and blew me away with his words. I have never had anyone look me in the eye, while holding my face, and tell me how beautiful I was…and that is exactly what he did. As the time crept on and it turned into another day, he proceeded to continue on about how much he truly liked me. He kept going on and on….and then he did it…he took my face in his hands, gently kissed my forehead and then gently kissed me on the lips. [sigh]~(I love this story, it never gets old to me!).

From August 5, 2006 I have been attached to him and I have not let go!

So why do I love him so much? What truly sets him apart from other men, or should I say boys that have been in and out of my life? Let me tell you:

1. He is completely selfless.
2. He is Christlike in every manner, even with me.
3. He makes me laugh.
4. He makes me laugh even when I don’t want to.
5. He cuddles with me.
6. He suffers through shopping for me.
7. He watches “chick flicks” with me.
8. He converted to the Michigan way…[we are re-building].
9. He is prophetic.
10. He is full of wisdom.
11. He is a prayer warrior.
12. He hears the sounds of heaven.
13. He hears the voice of God.
14. He can cast out demons.
15. He prays.
16. He plays the drums.
17. He plays the cadences of heaven.
18. He is respectful.
19. He gives the best hugs.
20. He does not drive like a maniac!
21. He is intelligent beyond what I can comprehend.
22. He is oh, so very good looking [wink, wink].
23. He makes sure that I know I am the apple of his eye.
24. He sacrifices for me.
25. He has my trust.
26. He has never betrayed my trust.
27. He communicates with me.
28. He didn’t get mad at me when I chipped his tooth.
29. He asks me to help him study.
30. He holds my face when he kisses me.
31. He kisses my forehead.
32. He watches “The Dog Whisperer” with me.
33. He text messages me just to tell me I am beautiful…even when he is two hours away.
34. He has great hair.
35. He is FABULOUS with children!
36. He is so incredibly laid-back.
37. He gets along with my Dad!
38. He is friends with my brother!
39. He loves my mom like his own mom!
40. He is the best uncle to our little Elizabeth Michelle.
41. He takes great pictures.
42. He eats everything on his plate, even his greens!
43. He is humble.
44. He likes the same worship music I do!
45. He tolerates Rascal Flatts for me!
46. He rolls up the windows for me when I actually do my hair.
47. He thinks seriously hard about the gifts that he gets me.
48. He is terrific at pulling off surprises.
49. He always, always, always offers to take me to the outlet stores when I visit him @ Campbell.
50. He has learned the art of shopping on clearance racks.
51. He has mastered the art of shopping around.
52. He helped me get pumped about Carolina Basketball (& Tyler Hansbrough).
53. He kisses me a lot.
54. He holds me hand.
55. He likes to put his arms around me.
56. He is taller than me, even when I have stilettos on.
57. He takes me to eat, usually wherever I want.
58. He is not ashamed that I don’t eat like a bird and that I want a burger & fries like him.
59. He still loves me and thinks I am beautiful ten pounds later.
60. He tucks me in after long days.
61. He stops to see me first when he gets back into town from school.
62. He tells people about me so when I meet them, they say, “Hey Lisa, I’m _____”.
63. He comes to hang out with me and the McGee boys.
64. He is a great son and brother.
65. He is so amazingly adaptable.
66. He likes puppies! WOOHOO!
67. He wants kids.
68. He is charming.
69. He is irresistible.
70. He is snuggly to cuddle with.
71. He sings with me in the car!
72. He wants to make me happy.
73. He keeps his toenails clipped…thank you Jesus!
74. He has hands that I know will protect me.
75. He is younger than me
76. He will be a pharmacy doctor by the age of 25. Seriously.
77. He keeps pictures of me on his phone and iPod.
78. He is so photogenic.
79. He posed as my groom when we were only together 6 months for millieholloman.com
80. He color coordinates with me without even trying.
81. He winks at me randomly during worship services from his drum box.
82. He carries my Bible bag to and from church and sometimes even my purse.
83. He always gets me a bottle of water when I need one.
84. He always has a positive attitude.
85. He is always a good sport.
86. He has a breathtaking back. And I am not afraid to tell you.
87. He has remarkable eyes. And I love looking into them.
88. He is strong…and getting stronger.
89. He is financially smart.
90. He is more than kind.
91. He always gets the umbrella out of the trunk when its raining and then comes to get me.
92. He always carries my suitcase, no matter where I am going.
93. He sings songs to me.
94. He makes up songs for me.
95. He takes walks with me.
96. He has never worn a ring so his first one will be the wedding band I give him.
97. He doesn’t like to take naps.
98. He twitches when he does take naps.
99. He has great hands.
100. He was created completely to be mine. He isn’t my other half, but rather my partner. And I love him more and more each day. [sigh].

     So those are just a few things that I can think of quickly that I love about him. I don’t say it enough so I will do better.

     LJ.

This summer I have the amazing opportunity to hang out with three of the coolest kids on the planet…and they are not my own! (Because as we all know, my kids will be the rockin’-est kids EVER!)…Anyway, I do have to say that there is never a dull moment with them, whether there is a slight disagreement or just funny randomness I can always count on the McGee boys… Gabriel, Noah and Adam…

So little Adam here is just a little whiz and doesn’t even realize that he continually trips me out on a daily basis:

Monday Scenario: We pulled up to Food Lion and we saw a good friend from back in the day named Debbie Davis. She told us that when you purchased your groceries this day that you would receive a flower, which she was VERY excited about.  We turned around to go into the store and I yelled back at her:

Me: “Enjoy your flower!”
Debbie: “Oh, I will!”
Adam: “How can you enjoy a flower when its going to die in a hot car?”

On the ride home from Food Lion:
Adam: “If I had a million, trillion, billion dollars I could buy all the Starbuckseseseses!”

And today:
“You can’t tell adults what to do…[pause], cause they can just smack you in the face!”

Oh how I enjoy my life in the summer! LJ

In my quiet time Saturday evening, I was reading in Matthew. I always love to read what Jesus spoke to crowds and his disciples and get downloaded revelations from God…it really pumps me up! I love to have Him speak to me and my heart. But I ran across this verse:

Matthew 13:15: (NLT): For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes- so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me, and let me heal them.”…[red letter edition].

When I originally read this verse, my mind automatically went to the unsaved world. I thought, “Wow, Lord, I HAVE to REALLY pray for these people, I MUST pray for these people so that ears would be uncovered, eyes would be opened and hearts would be softened so that you can come in and touch their lives”. So I wrote out a prayer in my journal regarding this verse and then wrote a list of people that I associate with that do not truly know Christ. I told God, “Happy Father’s Day, I Love You” and then closed my Bible and journal and went to bed.

Sunday morning at church, we began prayer focusing on love. Becoming lovers of people, not only in our churches, but the ones outside of the church. We prayed about hearing the sounds of heaven and hearing the sounds of the hurting.

God decided to take me back to Matthew 13:15 and he spoke to me:
“Lisa, this verse is not only in regards to the world, but also to my church. My church has hard hearts, full of pride, rejection, fear, wounds and religion that my efforts do not affect them. Their hearts are stone and they do not allow me in. They have built walls up around their hearts that I cannot even infiltrate myself in. My church has plugged their ears so that I cannot speak to them, I cannot communicate with them, I cannot share my desires or my plans and I cannot lead them to those who are hurt. I cannot even reveal to my church where they, themselves, are hurt. My church has blinders they have placed over their eyes and they cannot see. They cannot see what needs to be fixed in their own lives, so they certainly cannot see my bigger picture. My church cannot hear me, therefore they do not understand what I say, what I reveal, what I need them to do. My church, with hard hearts, plugged ears and blinded eyes cannot turn to me so I can heal them. The church will not allow me to heal them. I MUST heal them so that the church can be free to heal others. My church, LISTEN! My church, remove the plugs from your ears! Get the wax out! Take off the blinders! I want to restore your hearing and your vision! I want to restore my church, my bride!”

The more I listened the more God downloaded. As the body of Christ, we must have Christ’s heart, open and clear sight and open ears! We must be able to understand, comprehend and love. But before we go there…we must get ourselves straight!

Lord, penetrate into my very core and remove my stoney, arrogant, prideful heart. I pray that Your love would soften and mush my heart and help me to become vulnerable in order for Your kingdom to prosper! I pray that You continue to renew my mind as I seek and read Your Word, I pray that all walls built up around my heart would continue to be demolished with your love. I pray that you would open my ears, clear out the passageways so that I can hear You loud and clear. I want to know Your thoughts and plans and I need You to speak to me! I pray that my vision be clarified and strengthened in order to see what You want me to do. Lord help me to hear and see those who are hurt and need You! Help me to not be so selfish and to get my head out of this box I have put in it in order to pursue others for Your kingdom. Help me get my head out of my butt so I can see the needs around me. Lord You said two times that ears cannot hear…I want to hear You!

the Lord has been really dealing with me
regarding holy living and righteousness in my life.
it almost feels impossible at times, not even applicable to this modern life that i live.
until i read matthew 11 when Jesus talks about jtb.
john the baptist.
a man of great stature, not of his own will or power or influence,
but a righteous man made by intimacy with the creator of the universe.
jtb, not dressed in armani or blingin in his escalade spoke truth.
delibrate truth that was “forcefully advancing the kindgom of God”.
WHOA.
thats right my friends, jtb, without millionaire or best selling author to his facade
brought more people to the kingdom than anyone in history.
did you hear me?
he, through an initmate relationship with God and through the supernatural wisdom he
gained while knowing and experiencing God, propelled the kingdom of God because of the fact that he was
OBEDIENT.
WILLING.
NOT PASSIVE.
NOT APATHETIC.
RIGHTEOUS.
A TRUTH SPEAKER.
A TRUTH SEEKER.
BOLD.
COURAGEOUS.
NOT CONCERNED WITH WORDLY PASSIONS. DESIRES. MATERIAL THINGS.
HUMBLE.
NOT RELEVANT.
UNIFIED WITH GOD.
TEACHABLE.
PERSECUTED.

he must of did something right.
his head was brought on a platter.

what a man, not one thing about him was perfection,
he was only after truth, an intimacy and LOVED PEOPLE.

he had no cheat sheet. no Message Bible in his Palm Pilot to reference to
@ anytime he needed it, no Holy Spirit (get that one, my friend), no Rick Pino to jam to.
he solely based his ministry off of incredible encounters with a Most High God and
downloads He spoke into JTB.

so, as we whiny disciples get back on our feet from realizing we have nothing to be whining about,
why dont’ we start thanking our Father for the gifts that he has given us so that we can have such
an initmate encounter and experience with Him. its almost like we have cheat sheets to get into the King’s
chambers and yet a few of us still cry, pout and self-pity ourselves because “we just cant do it”.

get over yourself. and move on.
what a great example of transperency, humility, and boldness that jtb was.
he was pimpslapping religion before we knew what pimpslap was.
thank you jtb.

what does starvation?
starve-to die or cause to die from hunger
             to suffer from severe deprivation
             to feel a strong desire…

starvation.
when we will get to a point when we become in
a mode of starvation for the Lord?

its amazing to me that we always say,
“Lord I hunger for you, Lord I thirst for you..”
but yet we still do the same thing day in and day out.

but until we go through the hunger pains
&& until we get to a point where we become
so desperate that nothing else will
satisfy…..

we will get the same results.

new results require new things.
new changes.
new adjustments.
new lifestyle…

are you in a mode of starvation?