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	<title>The Prophetic Life</title>
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	<link>http://thepropheticlife.com</link>
	<description>prophecy blog - my life and my personal prophetic blog</description>
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		<title>Learn From Moments of Regret</title>
		<link>http://thepropheticlife.com/learn-from-moments-of-regret/</link>
		<comments>http://thepropheticlife.com/learn-from-moments-of-regret/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:45:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Daniel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[bill johnson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[calling]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[comparing with others]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[john paul jackson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[regret]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[shame]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TBN]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thepropheticlife.com/?p=1246</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As I hinted in my post on my own personal reality crisis, I have lots of regret. I share that not to dwell on despair or shame, but to speak a word in due season to younger readers. If I had known at 21 what I know now, I would have set aside my obsession [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/right-wrong-decision.jpg"><img class="size-thumbnail wp-image-1254 alignleft" title="right-wrong-decision" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/right-wrong-decision-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>As I hinted in my post on my own <a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/reality-crisis-ive-wasted-so-much-time/">personal reality crisis</a>, I have lots of regret. I share that not to dwell on despair or shame, but to speak a word in due season to younger readers.</p>
<p>If I had known at 21 what I know now, I would have set aside my obsession with women and focused on DOING what God called me to do.</p>
<p>This stung me today when I stumbled upon a YouTube video of a beloved friend speaking on TBN. Regardless of your opinion of the network, his appearance there some years ago was a signpost to me that he had made different decisions in his life than I had. He&#8217;d had his own troubles, for sure, but he didn&#8217;t let those troubles define for him what kind of man he would choose to be.</p>
<p>This friend of mine, we were never very close, but I respect him immensely. His prayers stirred me up. He was real like I wanted to be real. He had stepped into a state of being that I had dreamed about but never walked in.</p>
<p>I look back at myself, and despite all the advice to NEVER compare ourselves with one another, I felt the sting of wasted years hanging heavily over me like a shameful banner. What I could have become had I only taken action instead of thinking and waiting.</p>
<h2>More Concept than Action</h2>
<!-- tweet id : 195709600375377920 --><style type='text/css'>#bbpBox_195709600375377920 a { text-decoration:none; color:#009999; }#bbpBox_195709600375377920 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; }</style><div id='bbpBox_195709600375377920' class='bbpBox' style='padding:20px; margin:5px 0; background-color:#131516; background-image:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme14/bg.gif);'><div style='background:#fff; padding:10px; margin:0; min-height:48px; color:#333333; -moz-border-radius:5px; -webkit-border-radius:5px;'><span style='width:100%; font-size:18px; line-height:22px;'>Religion idolizes concepts and avoids personal experience.</span><div class='bbp-actions' style='font-size:12px; width:100%; padding:5px 0; margin:0 0 10px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #e6e6e6;'><img align='middle' src='http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/plugins/twitter-blackbird-pie//images/bird.png' /><a title='tweeted on April 26, 2012 10:02 pm' href='http://twitter.com/#!/billjohnsonBJM/status/195709600375377920' target='_blank'>April 26, 2012 10:02 pm</a> via <a href="http://www.facebook.com/twitter" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Facebook</a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=195709600375377920&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-reply-action' title='Reply'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Reply</strong></span></a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=195709600375377920&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-retweet-action' title='Retweet'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Retweet</strong></span></a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=195709600375377920&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-favorite-action' title='Favorite'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Favorite</strong></span></a></div><div style='float:left; padding:0; margin:0'><a href='http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=billjohnsonBJM'><img style='width:48px; height:48px; padding-right:7px; border:none; background:none; margin:0' src='http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/604982598/PastorBill_88tex_2_normal.jpg' /></a></div><div style='float:left; padding:0; margin:0'><a style='font-weight:bold' href='http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=billjohnsonBJM'>@billjohnsonBJM</a><div style='margin:0; padding-top:2px'>Bill Johnson</div></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div></div><!-- end of tweet -->
<p>That was me. Head full of ideas and so busy with those ideas that taking action was impossible.</p>
<p>What was I doing? I was sitting around, waiting for God to step down from heaven in a vision, and summon me forth into the ministry. I was trying to fit into so many other social arenas because I was disconnected from the one thing I knew God had called me to. And I did this for SEVEN years.</p>
<h3>Seriously&#8230; Don&#8217;t Wait</h3>
<p>Whether you&#8217;re young or old, please take a lesson from the book of my life. Don&#8217;t wait. If God has spoken a destiny or a calling over you or placed a dream within your heart, don&#8217;t let another week go by without stepping into it. Make a tiny first step of obedience and agreement with His calling. Then another little step. Make one little step every day. Develop a pattern of faithful response to Him, even if they&#8217;re little bitty actions. Make them obvious but small.</p>
<p>Be faithful today. I don&#8217;t care if you don&#8217;t see how it will end up. Or even if you have the full picture of what you are supposed to do. As you go, remember what John Paul Jackson said,</p>
<!-- tweet id : 195512579731361793 --><style type='text/css'>#bbpBox_195512579731361793 a { text-decoration:none; color:#213C4F; }#bbpBox_195512579731361793 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; }</style><div id='bbpBox_195512579731361793' class='bbpBox' style='padding:20px; margin:5px 0; background-color:#335269; background-image:url(http://a0.twimg.com/profile_background_images/57557312/twitterbackground.jpg); background-repeat:no-repeat'><div style='background:#fff; padding:10px; margin:0; min-height:48px; color:#333333; -moz-border-radius:5px; -webkit-border-radius:5px;'><span style='width:100%; font-size:18px; line-height:22px;'>Go as far as your vision takes you and by the time you get there you will have more vision.</span><div class='bbp-actions' style='font-size:12px; width:100%; padding:5px 0; margin:0 0 10px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #e6e6e6;'><img align='middle' src='http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/plugins/twitter-blackbird-pie//images/bird.png' /><a title='tweeted on April 26, 2012 9:00 am' href='http://twitter.com/#!/JohnPaulJackson/status/195512579731361793' target='_blank'>April 26, 2012 9:00 am</a> via <a href="http://sproutsocial.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Sprout Social</a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=195512579731361793&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-reply-action' title='Reply'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Reply</strong></span></a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=195512579731361793&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-retweet-action' title='Retweet'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Retweet</strong></span></a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=195512579731361793&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-favorite-action' title='Favorite'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Favorite</strong></span></a></div><div style='float:left; padding:0; margin:0'><a href='http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=JohnPaulJackson'><img style='width:48px; height:48px; padding-right:7px; border:none; background:none; margin:0' src='http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/557057834/JPJDSC_normal.jpg' /></a></div><div style='float:left; padding:0; margin:0'><a style='font-weight:bold' href='http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=JohnPaulJackson'>@JohnPaulJackson</a><div style='margin:0; padding-top:2px'>John Paul Jackson</div></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div></div><!-- end of tweet -->
<h2  class="related_post_title">Similar Posts</h2><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/seated-in-heavenly-places/" title="Seated in Heavenly Places">Seated in Heavenly Places</a></li><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/critical-thinking-or-unbelief/" title="Critical Thinking or Unbelief?">Critical Thinking or Unbelief?</a></li><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/who-are-your-prophetic-influences/" title="Who Are Your Prophetic Influences?">Who Are Your Prophetic Influences?</a></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The Purposes Behind Our Move</title>
		<link>http://thepropheticlife.com/the-purposes-behind-our-move/</link>
		<comments>http://thepropheticlife.com/the-purposes-behind-our-move/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 12:18:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Daniel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[city of refuge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community gardens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infrastructure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Madrid Fault]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainability]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sustainable agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tennessee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TN]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thepropheticlife.com/?p=1109</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As you can read in my earlier post detailing why we moved from Texas to Tennessee, God prepared our hearts over several years to relocate and then spoke it into being in 2011. God has moved us toward Franklin, Tennessee for a purpose. It&#8217;s not just to join up with a local church body, though [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As you can read in my earlier post detailing <a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/history-behind-our-move/">why we moved from Texas to Tennessee</a>, God prepared our hearts over several years to relocate and then spoke it into being in 2011.</p>
<p>God has moved us toward <strong>Franklin, Tennessee</strong> for a purpose. It&#8217;s not just to join up with a local church body, though these connections are important. It&#8217;s about the larger region. <strong>I believe Franklin will be a city of refuge for the New Madrid Fault Region</strong>. The infrastructure being put into place will be both a sign of preparation and a standard of best practices for the nation as well as the surrounding region.</p>
<p><strong>Infrastructure</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>Energy</li>
<li>Agriculture</li>
<li>Water</li>
<li>House Churches</li>
<li>Disaster Relief</li>
</ul>
<p>Certain cities or regions will function as disaster relief shelters or safe zones. And even before a problem hits the area, Franklin, TN has the opportunity to make advanced preparations to even better position itself to be ready to help and to maintain a sustainable economy should any global economic issues worsen.</p>
<p>This may not be an easy sell. It takes a leadership that understands the setting of the Present and the potential of the Future. To divert any resources or attention to &#8220;possible&#8221; scenarios when everyday life presents more than a fair share of challenges takes supernatural favor and wisdom.</p>
<h3>Developing Local Food Networks</h3>
<p>It is my prayer that God would grant us favor with leaders in the city and enable us to serve in some capacity that would help to prepare them for the future; perhaps including, but not limited to, establishing a network of community suburban gardens from which the members of the community begin to share the responsibility for producing their own food.</p>
<p>In times of crisis, people tend to look out for their own. I have run the scenarios in my mind for the past four years&#8230; There&#8217;s simply no way to prepare your own family and guarantee their provision without incorporating your community. The haves quickly become the enemy of the have nots. Those who have wisely prepared for darker economic times will suddenly be the targets of those who failed to prepare.</p>
<p>The best way to proactively combat that antagonistic scenario is to build a network of community gardens and projects wherein the people in each neighborhood or surrounding group of neighborhoods pitch in to contribute something. If the majority of citizens have a vested interest in the protection and fair distribution of goods, you can eliminate some of the looting and violence that takes place whenever crisis comes.</p>
<h3>Developing Local, Home-Based Churches</h3>
<p>As I mentioned briefly in my last post about <a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/prophets-start-movements/">prophets starting movements</a>, I&#8217;ve had a burden on my heart for a radical shift in local Church structure for several years now. Church as we know it in the United States is unsustainable. <strong>The future of the Church is in smaller, localized, communal groups who then meet up with believers of many denominations and backgrounds for regular city-wide prayer.</strong></p>
<p>As long as the Church depends on the charisma and teaching ability of the few, the vast majority are underdeveloped in their spiritual giftings and have little to no confidence using them in real world secular settings. In the small group setting Paul described in 1 Corinthians 14, each believer is expected to contribute:</p>
<blockquote><p>When you come together, <strong>each of you</strong> has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the Church may be built up. <sup id="en-NIV-28706">27</sup> If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. <sup id="en-NIV-28707">28</sup> If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the Church and speak to himself and to God.</p></blockquote>
<p>It&#8217;s most commonly assumed that Paul is referring to the benefit the body will receive from each hymn, word of instruction, revelation, etc. Those gifts in operation will bless and build up the Church.</p>
<p>But there&#8217;s another emphasis you can gather here as well. As each of you participate, bringing your particular gift for the group, your taking part and activating your gift MUST BE DONE so that the Church may be built up. <strong>We the Church are not just built up by receiving gifts. We&#8217;re built up by giving them. </strong></p>
<blockquote><p><sup id="en-NIV-28708">29</sup> Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. <sup id="en-NIV-28709">30</sup> And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. <sup id="en-NIV-28710">31</sup> For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. <sup id="en-NIV-28711">32</sup> The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. <sup id="en-NIV-28712">33</sup> For God is not a God of disorder but of peace—as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.</p></blockquote>
<h3>The Vision, the Interpretation, and the Execution are the Lord&#8217;s</h3>
<p>Whether we arrive and develop these two primary segments ourselves or are positioned as mouthpieces remains to be seen. It&#8217;s all according to how God wants us to be involved. We see in part and we hear in part. We take what the Lord gives us and we operate with a clear conscience as stewards, and the outcomes are up to Him.</p>
<p>For now, I am in prayer over the city of Franklin and asking God to give us clarity, to help us prepare all areas that need our focus, and to grant us favor with leaders so that we may serve them and bless them beyond their expectations.</p>
<h3>It All Begins with Prayer</h3>
<p>Our personal level of involvement with these matters is in God&#8217;s hands. At the moment, I am burdened enough to pray. As God permits, we will discuss the vision and concerns with local city and church leadership and simply make ourselves available to help in whatever capacity they need. If it&#8217;s volunteering to pick up trash in city parks or teaching a class on sustainable community gardens, we&#8217;ll do it.</p>
<p>But all movements begin in the place of prayer. We agree with God as He reveals His plans and purposes and we pray on behalf of the city and surrounding region. Ours may be a very hidden ministry in the region, and that is just fine. <strong>The goal is for God&#8217;s purposes to be fulfilled throughout the earth. </strong></p>
<p>Please pray with us that God would grant us favor and empower us to be a blessing to our new city. The goal is to create an atmosphere within city limits of God&#8217;s favor, focus, and intimate connection.</p>
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<h2  class="related_post_title">Similar Posts</h2><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/history-behind-our-move/" title="The History Behind Our Move">The History Behind Our Move</a></li><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/overwhelmed-by-the-thought-of-change/" title="Overwhelmed By the Thought of Change">Overwhelmed By the Thought of Change</a></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Prophets Start Movements</title>
		<link>http://thepropheticlife.com/prophets-start-movements/</link>
		<comments>http://thepropheticlife.com/prophets-start-movements/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Apr 2012 12:11:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Daniel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[book of Amos]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[lou engle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[movements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prophets]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teachers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thepropheticlife.com/?p=1143</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A burden for a revolution of church structure has been swelling in my heart for the past two years. Today, I saw a tweet that prompted this post. It stirred my heart when I read this two year old quote from The Call&#8230; via @twitter&#8230; Why would that be the case? &#8220;For the Lord GOD [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A burden for a revolution of church structure has been swelling in my heart for the past two years. Today, I saw a tweet that prompted this post. It stirred my heart when I read this two year old quote from The Call&#8230;</p>
<h3>via @twitter&#8230;</h3>
<!-- tweet id : 18933083447 --><style type='text/css'>#bbpBox_18933083447 a { text-decoration:none; color:#ED2121; }#bbpBox_18933083447 a:hover { text-decoration:underline; }</style><div id='bbpBox_18933083447' class='bbpBox' style='padding:20px; margin:5px 0; background-color:#1A1B1F; background-image:url(http://a0.twimg.com/images/themes/theme9/bg.gif); background-repeat:no-repeat'><div style='background:#fff; padding:10px; margin:0; min-height:48px; color:#8F8F8F; -moz-border-radius:5px; -webkit-border-radius:5px;'><span style='width:100%; font-size:18px; line-height:22px;'>"We need prophets to start movements and teachers to sustain them..."</span><div class='bbp-actions' style='font-size:12px; width:100%; padding:5px 0; margin:0 0 10px 0; border-bottom:1px solid #e6e6e6;'><img align='middle' src='http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/plugins/twitter-blackbird-pie//images/bird.png' /><a title='tweeted on July 19, 2010 12:49 pm' href='http://twitter.com/#!/TheCall/status/18933083447' target='_blank'>July 19, 2010 12:49 pm</a> via <a href="http://ping.fm/" rel="nofollow" target="blank">Ping.fm</a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?in_reply_to=18933083447&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-reply-action' title='Reply'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Reply</strong></span></a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/retweet?tweet_id=18933083447&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-retweet-action' title='Retweet'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Retweet</strong></span></a><a href='https://twitter.com/intent/favorite?tweet_id=18933083447&related=danielthepoet' class='bbp-action bbp-favorite-action' title='Favorite'><span><em style='margin-left: 1em;'></em><strong>Favorite</strong></span></a></div><div style='float:left; padding:0; margin:0'><a href='http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=TheCall'><img style='width:48px; height:48px; padding-right:7px; border:none; background:none; margin:0' src='http://a0.twimg.com/profile_images/1251478400/TheCall-Arrow-_Twitter__normal.gif' /></a></div><div style='float:left; padding:0; margin:0'><a style='font-weight:bold' href='http://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=TheCall'>@TheCall</a><div style='margin:0; padding-top:2px'>TheCall</div></div><div style='clear:both'></div></div></div><!-- end of tweet -->
<h4>Why would that be the case?</h4>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.&#8221; Amos 3:7</p></blockquote>
<p>Prophets hear and convey the plans and strategies of heaven. They are visionaries. They are mouthpieces. They are watchmen. Prophets are bridges from what is to what will be. They speak formations and structure and identity into being. Prophets call that which is not as thought it was. And the movement begins. Then the teachers are required to equip the Body of Christ with knowledge and understanding of how to sustain those new movements.</p>
<h6>How this applies to me</h6>
<p>I have a strong desire to see the Church restructured, but my piece, at least for now, starts off very small. I feel no responsibility to make it happen on a grand scale. If God allows, we will establish a house church in Franklin, TN with the DNA that I believe God has called into being.</p>
<p>That single house church may multiply into many, or our single group may merely influence other church groups into modifying how they approach their regular gatherings. Or it may simply serve as a prophetic sign of one particular thing God wants to do in the earth. Ours is to take one step at a time and obey the vision on our hearts.</p>
<p>Our vision is to see each member of the Church restored to active function:</p>
<blockquote><p>When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up. 1 Corinthians 14:26</p></blockquote>
<p>Stay tuned this week for Part Two: The Purpose Behind Our Move. Feel free to subscribe to our RSS Feed in so you don&#8217;t miss it!</p>
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<h2  class="related_post_title">Other Posts You Might Like:</h2><ul class="related_post"><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/are-prophetic-physical-sensations-legit/" title="Are Prophetic Physical Sensations Legit?">Are Prophetic Physical Sensations Legit?</a></li><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/should-prophetic-believers-be-prophesying-more-or-less/" title="Should Prophetic Believers Be Prophesying More or Less?">Should Prophetic Believers Be Prophesying More or Less?</a></li><li><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/who-are-your-prophetic-influences/" title="Who Are Your Prophetic Influences?">Who Are Your Prophetic Influences?</a></li></ul>]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>The History Behind Our Move</title>
		<link>http://thepropheticlife.com/history-behind-our-move/</link>
		<comments>http://thepropheticlife.com/history-behind-our-move/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 12:31:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Daniel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Costa Rica]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Franklin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NRH]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sparta]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tennessee]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thepropheticlife.com/?p=869</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of you know by now that after living our whole lives in DFW, we relocated this Spring to Tennessee. You probably know that it&#8217;s beautiful country. You also probably know that we&#8217;re temporarily staying with Heather&#8217;s mom, Barbara (aka &#8220;Gigi&#8221;). But you don&#8217;t know the whole story. Our story began when our firstborn child [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/uhaul.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1137" title="uhaul" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/uhaul.jpg" alt="" width="500" height="266" /></a></p>
<p>Most of you know by now that after living our whole lives in DFW, we relocated this Spring to Tennessee. You probably know that it&#8217;s beautiful country. You also probably know that we&#8217;re temporarily staying with Heather&#8217;s mom, Barbara (aka &#8220;Gigi&#8221;). But you don&#8217;t know the whole story.</p>
<p>Our story began when our firstborn child was only a few months old. A growing disconnect in my heart became the fertile breeding ground for the possibility of change. Here&#8217;s our story&#8230;</p>
<h3>2008: Costa Rica</h3>
<p>It was May 2008. I had just started a new job as Senior Search Specialist at <a href="http://www.marketnet.com">MarketNet</a> in North Dallas (and later, Plano), TX. My wife <a href="http://www.mommypotamus.com">Heather</a> was still working part-time for a private oil and gas investment company. She wasn&#8217;t looking for trouble. She&#8217;s just a thorough researcher. Regardless, she came across some alarming information regarding the coming oil and gas shortages that will eventually result in dramatic global economic change. Without a massive overhaul of global energy infrastructure, resources will eventually dwindle and scarcity would drive up price, and the world as we know it would change. And it could all happen far sooner that you might think.</p>
<p>Well, I freaked out. I wasn&#8217;t terrified, but I switched into survivalist mode. From &#8220;peak oil&#8221; to signs of severe water shortages, I was convinced that we needed to get the heck out of Dodge and find ourselves a climate ideally suited for farming independent of imports. A sustainable agricultural climate, so to speak. I&#8217;d already been to Costa Rica twice in my life and was well aware of how lush and beautiful it was &#8211; not to mention how much rainfall it receives each year.</p>
<p><strong>Rainfall and warmth were HUGE.</strong> The biggest factors, I would say. We were going to start an organic farm, with a garden and grass fed goats, cows, free-range chickens, etc. <strong>If the global economy truly gets so bad that many imports/exports grind to a halt, we don&#8217;t want to fight against the land or climate to produce enough food to feed ourselves. And that simply isn&#8217;t an option in Texas. </strong></p>
<p>We got serious and began talking daily about our move. We put Katie in a stroller and would walk several miles around our surrounding neighborhoods, dreaming of lush, fruitful land that would sustain our family and future families that would relocate and depend on us.</p>
<p>We saw ourselves as pioneers&#8230; ahead of the curve. If only we could find 40+ acres, we&#8217;d have plenty of room to house our DFW friends and family should they need a place to be in a time of economic crisis. We didn&#8217;t have the full picture, but we felt a strong and growing sense that economic turbulence was ahead.</p>
<p>So we started to dream big. We spent our vacation in September 2008 driving across Costa Rica, from Arenal to Grecia to Turrialba, in search of properties we could afford. Heather, baby Katie, Gigi, and I rented a car and toured the country.<strong> By the time Obama began the process of bailouts, we were already touring a foreign country in search of a safe haven. </strong></p>
<p>On Craigslist, I read about coffee farms up in the mountains overlooking mist covered valleys far below. I envisioned myself in a rocking chair on my covered front porch, steaming cup of local coffee in hand, journal and pen at my side, looking out over valleys and distant peaks, watching the mists roll in and dissipate each morning.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/OUR-VALLEY.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-597" title="OUR VALLEY" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/OUR-VALLEY.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="384" /></a></p>
<p>It could work. The challenge was internet connectivity and whether an expensive satellite array would deliver sufficient bandwidth and unbroken connectivity in such a rainy climate.</p>
<p>We also found an expat building a community for English-speaking Americans and Canadians in Turrialba. Even though this city was the least beautiful of all we saw, it came with the opportunity to live among English speakers without having to settle into a typical neighborhood in Heredia, closer to the malls and English-speaking technology sector.</p>
<p>Needless to say, there was no shortage of beauty and opportunity there. The climate and rainfall are IDEAL for sustainable agriculture. You&#8217;d be hard pressed to find a more suitable place on earth.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/THIS-HOUSE-READY.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-598" title="THIS HOUSE READY" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/THIS-HOUSE-READY.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="384" /></a></p>
<p>We saw amazing and beautiful places, but in the end, the language barrier and the lack of like-minded community were extremely offsetting to Heather.</p>
<p>I still would have moved, but not for a host of healthy reasons. I was disconnected from my local church community, and feeling that since I had no close friends to keep tabs on, we might as well live somewhere remote but beautiful. Maybe we&#8217;d even become our friends&#8217; favorite vacation destination until economic depression hit.</p>
<p>My wife and mother-in-law were agents of God to prevent me from making a move for the wrong reasons.</p>
<p>Our appetites were whet but unsatisfied.</p>
<h3>The Fallout</h3>
<p>We&#8217;d taken Gigi (Heather&#8217;s mom) with us to Costa Rica and she also played a vital role in our deciding to stay. Initially, we planned to pool our financial resources together to buy a farm and jointly care for the property. But after visiting Costa Rica, Gigi had a change of heart. She felt called to connect with and mentor some of the teenagers in our church&#8217;s youth group.</p>
<p>Heather had been building a <a href="http://family-wellness.com">community</a> with other Christian organic eating/extended breastfeeding mom types, and was hesitant to leave this amazing group of people for a people we couldn&#8217;t even communicate easily with. She also was disgusted by the overwhelming diesel fuel smells we had encountered every time we ate outdoors in a beautiful downtown cafe.</p>
<p>I was devastated. My dreams were falling apart and no one was on board with me. To make matters worse, a local church leader tried his best to talk me out of leaving, stating that he would rather die in an economic crisis with his community than to leave them. And then less than a year later he changed communities. I was bitter and resentful that the world was conspiring to keep me from this adventure.</p>
<h3>2009 : Colleyville</h3>
<p>After a month or two of feeling letdown, we regrouped and considered our situation and the resources more available to us. I knew Costa Rica was off the table, but I periodically searched online for climates in the United States that were temperate with enough rainfall to make farming and ranching fairly sustainable. <strong>Tennessee</strong> caught my eye because it had the right climate and seemed relatively inexpensive. It was an interesting idea to think over. But even that concept appeared to require a similar abandonment of urban civilization in exchange for a remote, agricultural existence.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, a new plan took form. Gigi once again agreed to pool resources with us and we began to look for 2-5 acres in the North Richland Hills, Keller, Southlake, Colleyville area where chickens were allowed and water wells could be dug. The climate was a compromise, hence the water well was non-negotiable. We must have a sustainable and dependable water source. This would prove easier said than done.</p>
<div id="attachment_594" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 562px"><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/screen-capture-12.png"><img class=" wp-image-594" title="Bandit House" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/screen-capture-12.png" alt="" width="552" height="312" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">The Bandit house we identified and idealized.</p></div>
<p>On our list of criteria were:</p>
<ul>
<li>mother-in-law suite type setup for Gigi (to give her privacy from the kids)</li>
<li>a water well or likelihood of hitting water if drilled</li>
<li>chickens allowed</li>
<li>goats allowed</li>
<li>room for homeschooling</li>
<li>tall trees to provide cool shade in Texas summers</li>
<li>distance from busy traffic noises</li>
<li>15 minute drive from <a href="http://www.family-wellness.com">Lifetime Family Wellness Center</a></li>
</ul>
<p>This list proved too difficult to meet within our available budget. Suburban acreages were just too expensive, and most either would not allow for water wells or for chickens. To make matters worse, we discovered that our dreams and Gigi&#8217;s didn&#8217;t meet in enough places. She had more than earned the right to pursue the dream on her heart&#8230; to live out in the country. She simply couldn&#8217;t bear the thought of living the rest of her life on a plot of land with the sound of traffic buzzing in her ear.</p>
<p>Gigi&#8217;s close friend had purchased a cute little home out in Paris, Texas, and spoke eagerly of affordable possibilities in her booming retirement-age community. This got her thinking about what rural settings might be a more suitable fit.</p>
<h3>2010: Regroup!</h3>
<p>The year of 2010&#8230; I can barely bring myself to talk about it. We lived in a perpetual state of frustration. Our house was for sale by owner for the majority of the year, and <strong>two contracts on our house fell through. </strong>After much prayer, I heard God speaking to me that we&#8217;d made a mistake by not using the realtor who helped us look for a property for a year with no compensation. This is important because we are called by God to be a blessing to others on this earth, not to always live by the cheapest possible scenario.</p>
<p>To make matters worse, I passed on an opportunity to work from home as a Search Marketing sub-contractor. It was my dream to work from home, but decided not to risk having less than a year of provable contractor income when buying our next house. Turns out, we never sold our house and I missed out on a God opportunity because my priorities were out of sync. This decision has turned out to be one of my greatest professional regrets.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/7505Terry.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-608" title="7505Terry" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/7505Terry-1024x682.jpg" alt="" width="491" height="327" /></a></p>
<p>Gigi, meanwhile, was on the prowl. She combed the outskirts of DFW in search of a community suitable for her dream. She considered Paris to the East and everything to the West, but ultimately, nothing really met to her satisfaction.</p>
<p>Our second child, Micah, was born in September. I had no idea what having two children would mean. I was a bit nervous that my history of loving on Katie as an only child would somehow prevent me from having enough love to go around. This was, obviously, an unnecessary concern.</p>
<p>By the end of the year, we closed the book on selling our house and I went after contract work that would allow me the flexibility to consider a more dramatic shift in our family&#8217;s lifestyle. Before the year&#8217;s end, I accepted a contract position at Enilon in Fort Worth, as a contract SEO/SEM Manager.</p>
<h5>One eye on Tennessee</h5>
<p>I had been eyeballing this growing sustainable community in <a href="http://www.sewaneecreek.com/">Sewanee Creek</a>, Tennessee, about an hour west of Chattanooga. Grant had started an amazing setup down there, selling off 3-10 acre plots for the purpose of creating a sustainable eco-friendly community. I was all in. Heather was&#8230; decidedly not. There are too many variations of eco-minded people, it turns out. It was so secluded that finding a group of like minded believers would&#8217;ve been more than improbable.</p>
<p>Regardless of how hippie some of our neighbors might have been, the photos, descriptions, and actions of this one man inspired me and really put Tennessee on my radar.</p>
<h3>2011: God Speaks</h3>
<p>I remember the very day that Heather told me she had a change of heart about our future location. She didn&#8217;t want to live in a hippie commune, but she was really excited by the idea of Tennessee. She walked out back to talk to Gigi about her frustrations, and within an hour, Gigi was glowing with expectation and excitement. And the idea that her child and grandchildren might move to a gorgeous part of the country invigorated her, and she began making plans of her own.</p>
<p>Within a few short months, Gigi was off to Tennessee to &#8220;couch surf&#8221; her way across the state. She lived on strangers&#8217; couches and worked on an organic farm for several months while getting to know the differences in parts of Tennessee, from Knoxville to Chattanooga to Nashville and surrounding areas.</p>
<h5> Daddypotamus puts on the brakes</h5>
<p>I was not comfortable with the frenzy. Yes, Tennessee was MY idea. Yes, I had wanted Heather to want to go with me. But we had no direction from the Lord and our ideas were completely scattered. When everyone was suddenly on board with relocating, I wanted to be more intentional. I had no sense of where we should live. Chattanooga was the most appealing city to me, but the job market was so small I would never have found a job in my industry that paid enough.</p>
<p><strong>As a visionary, it&#8217;s easy to dream big when there&#8217;s no way to get where you want to go. It&#8217;s just a pleasant exercise in futility. But when you remove the major obstacles, suddenly there has to be a plan.</strong> There has to be some sort of purpose larger than just &#8220;we want to go somewhere beautiful.&#8221; At least, there has to be for me.</p>
<p>Then, unexpectedly, God spoke.</p>
<p>I was asleep one night in May 2011 when I woke up from being jabbed in the ribs. I jerked up suddenly, expecting my wife to be there trying desperately to get my attention without waking the kids. But when I rubbed my eyes, no one was there. I&#8217;d been poked so strongly it was uncomfortable, but I saw no one.</p>
<p>Too tired to explain it, I started closing my eyes again; and then I had the thought: <em>What if that was God trying to get my attention to tell me something? </em></p>
<p>Ugh.</p>
<p>The chances of that seemed so small that I was annoyed by the thought. But, I couldn&#8217;t dismiss it. Being an idealist, I couldn&#8217;t accept the possibility that I&#8217;d ignored a direct attempt by God to get my attention.</p>
<p>So I listened. Inside my mind, the thought rolled out: <em>Get up. I have some things to share with you. </em></p>
<p>So I grudgingly got out of bed, grabbed my phone, and sat in bed ready to type&#8230; something.</p>
<p>&#8220;<em>You are going to move to Franklin, Tennessee</em>,&#8221; He began. And so I typed everything I heard into an email, emailed myself, and went back to bed. The next morning, I woke up and read through it again. I knew I couldn&#8217;t doubt it. I also knew I had no idea where Franklin was, so I hopped online and did a search. <span style="text-align: center;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/historic-franklin-tennessee.jpg"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-611" title="historic-franklin-tennessee" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/historic-franklin-tennessee.jpg" alt="" width="512" height="340" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">I was pleasantly surprised to see that God was calling us to a place with a rich heritage and culture. I was disappointed to find that He was sending us to the most expensive city in the state of Tennessee.</p>
<h3>2012: Moving to Tennessee</h3>
<p>After months of waiting and nothing happening, we decided to set a deadline. The first week of April became our deadline for moving. I had some side work lined up and was planning to pursue an additional client or two. But we were going to move forward regardless and take the next step, which would mean moving in with Gigi two hours away from Franklin. We wouldn&#8217;t have arrived at our destination yet, but the ball would be in motion.</p>
<p>As soon as we set the deadline, things began to happen. Enilon finally found my replacement and made her an offer. Once she accepted, I knew I had three weeks left at my job. I was pursuing every freelance, contract, and full-time opportunity I came across, but nothing materialized.</p>
<p>The Friday before my last week on the job, I received a request to interview the following Monday. On Monday, I had a phone interview and was invited to a second interview the following day. After my second interview, I was invited to a third round interview on Thursday. And by Thursday evening, I had a job offer on the table. <strong>24 hours before my last day, I had a job offer.</strong> I had two weeks to transition to Tennessee before starting.</p>
<p>From that moment on, everything became a blur. Moving preparations were set in high gear. We had two weeks to move out, and with my new position, we knew I&#8217;d need a private home office to handle my phone calls. Moving directly into Gigi&#8217;s house in Sparta (two hours east of Franklin) became the backup plan, and we began looking at whether we could move into a home directly.</p>
<p>Gigi volunteered to investigate all the homes that fit our criteria, and based on her feedback, we fixed our eyes on a particular house in the western hills of Franklin, about 20 minutes from downtown. Due to my own ignorance, we did not submit an application and deposit immediately. I waited too long to figure out the details and our ideal house was taken by someone else.</p>
<p>Disappointed and uncertain how to make it all happen, we launched out with our massive Uhaul truck and drove the 12 hrs to Franklin. We put most of our belongings in storage, and then drove to Gigi&#8217;s house in Sparta the next day. I started my new position working from home a day later.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve been in Sparta for three weeks now and we&#8217;re loving it. Gigi lives in a gorgeous valley surrounded by farmers, rolling hills, and the sounds of cows and horses. We drive each weekend to Franklin to look at properties for rent, shop at Whole Foods, and get a feel for our new and future home.</p>
<p>It feels like a God-ordained detour, where our transition to Tennessee has been eased tremendously by the comfort and assistance of Heather&#8217;s mom as well as the scenic views and clean air.</p>
<p>Because we are not yet in Franklin, we are still mid-transition, but we are prayerfully considering property options each week. The housing market is something fierce, and only a small handful of homes are available for rent within our price range at any given time. Thank God for wisdom in timing and provision!</p>
<p>Stay tuned this week for &#8220;Part Two: The Purpose Behind Our Move&#8221;. Feel free to subscribe to our RSS Feed so you don&#8217;t miss it!</p>
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		<title>Seated in Heavenly Places</title>
		<link>http://thepropheticlife.com/seated-in-heavenly-places/</link>
		<comments>http://thepropheticlife.com/seated-in-heavenly-places/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:51:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Daniel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[body of christ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[heavenly places]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[john paul jackson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mystery of movement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thepropheticlife.com/?p=1090</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I saw a picture in my mind this evening as I listened to John Paul Jackson&#8217;s teaching, The Mystery of Movement, that tickled my imagination. Suddenly, the Word made a lot more sense. I saw a picture of Jesus, seated on a massive throne, surrounded by glory. And Jesus&#8217; body was made up of all [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/across-the-universe.jpg"><br />
<img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1101" title="across-the-universe" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/across-the-universe-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>I saw a picture in my mind this evening as I listened to <a href="http://johnpaul.streamsministries.com/">John Paul Jackson&#8217;s</a> teaching, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032H6D1I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cultur-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0032H6D1I">The Mystery of Movement</a>, that tickled my imagination. Suddenly, the Word made a lot more sense.</p>
<p>I saw a picture of Jesus, seated on a massive throne, surrounded by glory. And Jesus&#8217; body was made up of all believers in human history who had believed on him and accepted him as Lord and Savior.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0032H6D1I/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=cultur-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0032H6D1I"><img class="size-full wp-image-1091 alignright" title="jpj-mystery-of-movement" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/jpj-mystery-of-movement.jpg" alt="" width="160" height="160" /></a></p>
<p>In some inexplicable way, Jesus was the head and we were his body, seated on the throne at the right hand of God. And this was the fulfillment of both being his body, with him as the head and of our being seated in heavenly places, which before had no real meaning to me.</p>
<p>To be &#8220;seated in heavenly places&#8221; had always been an amorphous saying that really came attached with no mental picture. Something about already having risen above sin and the curse and circumstance.</p>
<p>But this image opened up my thinking to possibilities. It felt so much more meaningful for us to somehow be Jesus&#8217; body sitting on his throne in heaven, simultaneously positioned above all Creation and embedded within Creation.</p>
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		<title>Prophetic: Choosing What, How, and When to Share</title>
		<link>http://thepropheticlife.com/prophetic-choosing-how-to-share/</link>
		<comments>http://thepropheticlife.com/prophetic-choosing-how-to-share/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Apr 2012 12:36:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Daniel</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Prophetic Topics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Application]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[discernment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Interpretation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[sharing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Timing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://thepropheticlife.com/?p=756</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A New Generation of Challenges Just because you can tweet it, doesn&#8217;t mean you SHOULD. There are challenges to today&#8217;s prophets that my parents&#8217; generation never faced. Ultimately, I suppose, they did face them in other forms, but technology continually transforms the landscape of how we make choices. With Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and blogging, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/evolution-communication.png"><img class="aligncenter  wp-image-1034" title="evolution-communication" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/evolution-communication.png" alt="" width="482" height="302" /></a></p>
<h3>A New Generation of Challenges</h3>
<p>Just because you can tweet it, doesn&#8217;t mean you SHOULD. There are challenges to today&#8217;s prophets that my parents&#8217; generation never faced. Ultimately, I suppose, they did face them in other forms, but technology continually transforms the landscape of how we make choices.</p>
<p>With Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Tumblr, and blogging, you and I have a ridiculous number of opportunities for both ministry and counterproductive engagement. Immediacy is tempting. Believe me, I know. But there are sizable rewards given for restraint and self control in the prophetic arena.</p>
<h6>Sharing everything is permissible, but sharing all is not beneficial.</h6>
<p>If we are to be trusted with His voice, we must become confidants. Confidants listen to understand and to relate first. This foundational truth is misunderstood in much of the Church today.</p>
<p>The challenge is stepping out and using your gift often enough to develop accuracy and potency while withholding enough to be found worthy of confidence. And how do you do that?</p>
<p>How do you handle the <a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/category/blog/prophetic-topics/">prophetic revelation</a> you are given, either big or small?</p>
<h3><a href="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bubblelevel2.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-1030" title="bubblelevel2" src="http://thepropheticlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/bubblelevel2-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>Step One: Interpretation</h3>
<p>First comes<strong> Interpretation</strong>. Being led by the Spirit means being extremely sensitive to His leading. Very slight sensations lead the person to locate what is proper to say and when. I liken it to a bubble level. When I receive an impression, image, phrase, or knowing, I test versions of interpretations internally.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s like holding the level and slightly tilting it this way, then that, looking to get the bubble perfectly centered between the lines. There&#8217;s less peace and alignment internally when the interpretation is off. The closer I get to the proper interpretation, the more centered and &#8220;good&#8221; it feels to compare the interpretation to the message.</p>
<h3>Step Two: Application</h3>
<p>Next comes the <strong>Application</strong>. The exact same process takes place. Sometimes I don&#8217;t get an application. Sometimes all I have is the message. But a message about a gifting could result in an application of encouraging a person to step out actively in that gifting, to pray for a release in that gifting, or to merely encourage them that yes, this thing they&#8217;ve suspected is a gift really did come from God. Knowing what to do with a word is crucial to yielding a harvest.</p>
<h3>Step Three: Timing</h3>
<p>Lastly comes the <strong>Timing</strong>. Is now the time to share? Or is it time to pray? Don&#8217;t lump this in with Application because the action you are supposed to take may be the same whether it&#8217;s supposed to happen immediately, tonight, tomorrow, next month, or next year. <strong>This is perhaps where we all need the most growth and improvement.</strong> Far too often, we assume God must want us to blurt it out immediately if He&#8217;s speaking. But this simply isn&#8217;t the case.</p>
<p>The more aware we are of the possibility of timing, the more sensitive we will be to what the proper timing is. And once we know what the proper timing is, we can step into a brand new realm of trustworthiness where God calls us confidants and friends.</p>
<p>* Obviously, I do not buy into the theory of evolution. The opening comic strip was intended for humor and to make a point.</p>
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