The Spirit of Wisdom & Might-Part 2

As I mentioned in my Monday blog, I believe we are entering a season in which we will be dumbfounded at the events going on around us. People will begin to fail you, counsel once considered solid won't be because it will be mixed with earthly wisdom and not the wisdom of God. Earthly wisdom won't work anymore because it isn't wisdom sent from the Holy Spirit. The days are coming in which you will need to know what to do, even in the smallest areas of your life.

Luke 24:13 tells the story of two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. As they were discussing the events of Jesus' resurrection, he came up and started walking with them. He ate with the disciples and verse 31 says "then there eyes were opened and they recognized him.." What was secret before, they learned just by walking with Jesus.

I want to know what God is doing and where God is going. John 14:26 says the Holy Spirit "will teach you all things.." There are days when the Holy Spirit may tell me something I need to know for tomorrow!

I don't know about you, but I need a fresh word from God every single day. Wisdom will make you more invigorated as you grasp it and it brings you joy as it is confirmed you are a child of God. When you receive wisdom, it means you are in tune with God and we need wisdom for the day. It's almost like God is sharing undisclosed information with you when you get wisdom. You will need it today; even more tomorrow and even more than that the day after.

Are you asking for God the spirit of wisdom and might today?

(Barbie will be the guest speaker at Leaf River Baptist Church in Pineville this Sunday.)

The Spirit of Wisdom & Might

I believe we are entering into the last days if we had not crossed the threshold already. We've all see the world events happening more rapidly over the last year, but I believe the natural disasters and such will begin to happen with more frequency and with a greater intensity like we've never seen before.

Last week, I completed a 4 day fast. I felt convicted to pray for the peace of Jerusalem (if you've seen the national news in the last 24 hours, you know why) and I felt the urgency to pray for the spirit of wisdom and might--both of which I'm learning more about.

When Jesus spoke the parables and preached in his hometown synagogues, the people were amazed in Matthew 13:54 asking, "Where did this man get this wisdom..?" Wisdom comes from God.

Might is supernatural power that only God can give. Daniel praised God in Daniel 2:20 saying, "Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his."

Isaiah 40:28-31 says, "Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Wisdom is knowing what God wants to you do next; might is the God-given power to do it! I believe these are two of the greatest gifts you and I can ask for right now.

I'll be sharing more of what the Lord is teaching me regarding these two in the coming days.

(Barbie is doing a business launch with Rodan & Fields this Saturday, May 21 in Ridgeland. If you are looking for a career change or to supplement your income, send her an email for an invitation, barbie@wlbt.net)

What Happened to the Rain?

We had a 70% chance for thunderstorms today, some which were expected to be strong. As you've been watching the cold front moving in from the west, no doubt you've heard about the heavy rain and severe weather that has plagued the Midwest over the last 2 days. With the Mississippi River bulging due to flooding, we were all heavy with concern for today's coming rain. We knew more rain would exacerbate the swollen creeks, rivers and the Mississippi delta all the way down to Natchez.

As the rain moved closer towards the Mississippi River, the humidity dropped, the atmosphere stabilized and a few sprinkles fell; not the heavy rain that was expected. Now you can blame me and say "your forecast was wrong" or you can see it for what it was--God's protective hand of mercy!

(Barbie will be speaking at Shady Grove Church of God's Ladies Night Out in Magee on Saturday.)

Satan's Beatitudes

I ran across this the other day and thought I'd share it with my blog readers.

We all know Satan cannot create anything of his own, but he tries to copy God's works. The following is a list of Satan's beatitudes:

1) Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend a few hours a week with their fellow Christians--they are my best workers.
2) Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked--I can use them.
3) Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church--they are my missionaries.
4) Blessed are the trouble makers--they shall be called my children.
5) Blessed are the complainers--I'm all ears to them.
6) Blessed are those who are bored with the minister's mannerisms and mistakes--for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7) Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church--for he is part of the problem instead of the solution.
8) Blessed are those who gossip--for they shall cause strife and divisions that please me.
9) Blessed are those who are easily offended--for they will soon get angry and quit.
10) Blessed are those who did not give their offering to carry on God's work--for they are my helpers.
11) Blessed is he who professes to love God and have a relationship with God but hates those who have done him wrong--for he shall be with me forever!
12) Blessed are you who, when you read this, think it is about other people and not yourself--I've got you, too!

Follow Instructions!

Seeing the flood waters rise this week in our state and keeping a close eye on the situation with my parents in my hometown of Marks has many of us on the edge.

In seeing many of the pictures and video on WLBT, I can't help but think about Noah and what he experienced. It was termed the Great Flood for a reason. Genesis 7:21 says, "Every living thing that moved on the earth perished--birds, livestock, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all mankind."

The ark was a huge vessel--300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. The word "cubit" comes from the a Hebrew word meaning "forearm," because the Hebrews used their forearm in determining the length of a cubit. It was generally the distance from the elbow to the middle finger. That means the ark was approximately 450 long (one and a half football fields!), 75 feet wide, and 45 feet tall. The ark would've had a total area of 100,000 square feet--that's slightly more than 20 standard basketball courts. Some estimate the ark would've been able to hold 520 modern day railroad boxcars.

When God told Noah how to build the ark in Genesis 6:15, He knew how large the ark needed to be in order to house all of the land-living animals because He created it all! There was no room for fudging. Noah could've skimped a bit on the calculations and thought, "It doesn't REALLY matter if I don't follow God's instructions to the 't', does it? I'm sure I can still fit the family and the animals in it. After all, if I build it too big, it will be too heavy to float. Or, maybe it WON'T float. So, I'll just do it my way and no one will know the difference."

Obedience non-negotiable in God's eyes. Luke 6:46 says, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?"

But Noah didn't second guess God. Instead of relying on his own experience and knowledge, Genesis 6:22 says, "So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him."

Imagine how the story would've ended if Noah would not have obeyed God in the specifics of building the ark?

What instruction is God giving you today? He knows what's ahead for you and He knows exactly what you need to float on the high seas and not be consumed by the stormy waters.

This & That

More thunderstorms are possible this afternoon, tonight and Tuesday as another strong cold front moves closer to the state. Although the tornado potential looks small, please keep your weather radio on as warnings could still be issued for severe thunderstorms, flash flooding and tornadoes.

I spoke in Memphis over the weekend and stayed at my parents in Marks. I could not get over the rising flood waters. They've been through this before, but all accounts point to the waters getting higher and worse than it has ever been. I took a few pictures of the waters along Highway 6 between Marks and Batesville, which normally shows dry ground. The water is coming from Arkabutla Lake, which has over-flowed and moved into the smaller rivers like the Coldwater, Tallahatchie, Bobo and others. Imagine what could happen should the Mississippi River levee break!

Everyone needs your prayers as this flooding could be the worst in the state's history. With tornadoes last week and enormous flooding this week, we are all weather weary. Mark 4:37, 39 says, "And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full..And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, 'Peace, be still'.." Do you need Jesus to say that for your personal storm? Tell him now.

Meantime, our country is celebrating the death of a terrorist. There is one worse than he. Make sure you and your family are watching out for Satan's deception in every area of your life. More importantly, make sure you are sharing the Gospel. You are a missionary by default and times are about to get much tougher than what we've experienced thus far.

Finally, I'm thrilled to announce that I have joined the American Family Radio Network (AFR) as their national meteorologist for their 190 stations across the country. Just to be a part of the "family" of Dr.James Dobson, Dennis Rainey, Tony Perkins and many others will give me an opportunity to share my faith and offer encouragement to a hurting world is a responsibility I don't take lightly. I'll be able to do this from Jackson and will be a guest on many of the AFR shows. Pray for me as I take the next step in following where the Lord is leading.

(This is the LAST WEEK to get Barbie's book shipped for Mothers Day. If you know someone who is going through a personal storm or perhaps you need encouragement and inspiration, order now by clicking on the link to the left. It can be personalized when you order. Her book is no longer available in stores as they have sold out!)

A Reflection on the Storms

Whether you know someone who is picking up the pieces or if you've looked at the incredible footage on television, the storms this week have certainly left a mark on everyone's heart.

Tracking storms for hours on air without a break during a 36 hour time period wears heavily on me physically, mentally and emotionally. There is nothing like reliving the memories of November 2001 for me and my neighbors, seeing what's headed in a town's direction and knowing how their lives will forever change because of one weather event.

Several people have asked why April has been such an active tornado month for Mississippi. The most active months for tornadoes occur from April to June. So, we've only just begun. However, there are several reasons why this April has been so stormy.

The jet stream has been blowing at 150 miles per hour! Combine that fast moving stream of wind with the breezy conditions we've had at the ground level, and you have plenty of shear to work with. The second factor is we are currently in a La Nina weather pattern. The air in the Pacific Ocean is a bit cooler and this has off set the jet stream causing it to dip into the southeastern states. Next, the warm air blowing over the Gulf of Mexico continues to bring in plenty of humid, unstable air. And lastly, the southwestern states have been dealing with a drought. The dry air at the mid levels of the atmosphere (roughly 9,000 feet up) acts as a "lid" or a cap and contains thunderstorms at a certain point. When that cap finally breaks, the storms explode into the violent ones we've seen, similiar to lifting the lid off a steamy pot of boiling water. All of these together over the southeastern states have equaled an April of historic proportions.

From a spiritual standpoint, I still see God's hand reaching down to comfort everyone affected. Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Those who are picking up the pieces and burying their loved ones have broken hearts today; they have a crushed spirit. They are at their lowest of low.

I don't understand why storms come and the world is often turned upside down. But I do know God is still in control and He is bigger than any storm that we've ever faced.

Pray for those who have been affected by the storms. If it's within your power to help, then act in a way God would have you whether it's donating time, money, items or taking a day to gather with some friends and help the victims pick up the pieces of their lives. This is our chance to be God's hands and feet and minister to the broken hearted and spread some "Son"shine.

(Barbie will be the guest speaker Saturday at the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries convention in Memphis, TN.)