Fasting is quite often the proverbial elephant in the room. Wanting to be sure that we don't make the mistake of the Pharisees, we don't talk about it very much, especially when we're actually participating in a fast. Could it be that we actually miss out on a lot by not sharing with each other the lessons that we learn during these times? Perhaps more of this invaluable practice would take place if we were more aware of its benefits?
We have been fasting in different ways, allowing the Father to lead us through a 40 day process where all 40 days don't look the same. It has been an amazing time (which isn't quite over yet! what else does He have in store?!?)
This year has been a year of healing - a year of strongholds being revealed and conquered. Fasting has revealed deeper layers of these strongholds, leading us to more complete victory over them. One by one, over the course of weeks, the Father continues His patient work.
One area (for Timbrel) has been dealing with EXPECTATIONS. Early in the fast, I attended a COP that brought a break-through for me. I am SAFE in my identity in Him. His other children are also SAFE in their identities in Him. Because of this, I don't have to live in awareness of what others think about me; neither do I have to waste time criticizing others - they're SAFE.
This area of EXPECTATIONS led straight to a battle with FRUSTRATION (this area was highlighted by my stint as a single parent for 3 1/2 weeks). The lesson here: Frustration comes when my Expectations for others aren't met. The solution: let go of my expectations. My Abba has no expectations for me - who am I to have them for others? Slowly, slowly, I am learning to be in CHARGE of my kids without being in CONTROL of my kids, releasing them from expectations, and disciplining them in love.
Jimbo, meanwhile, has experienced deeper levels of freedom from ANXIETY. He had a lot of time to read on his 3 1/2 week tour, and Steve Farrar's book Battle Ready was a great encouragement in this area. Giants come, battles have to happen, but, as John Wayne once said, "Courage is being scared to death, and saddling up anyway" (a quote Jimbo saw a lot during his time out west).
Perhaps your Father is leading you to fast - from what? He'll let you know. For how long? He'll tell you. Why? to bring a sense of desperation for Him, a broken and contrite spirit. Because where there is brokenness, He is there. And when we give Him our brokenness, He will heal.
Montevideo
La Rambla, Pocitos
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Rebuilding Painful Places - Visually
I (Timbrel) have always had a very vivid imagination. I grew up reading constantly; when I read, I am often so engaged that I truly cannot hear someone talking to me in a normal voice. I live in the book I'm reading, or the movie I'm watching. It's almost like it becomes part of me.
This gift has long been used against me. Our Enemy's desire is to suppress the good gifts in our lives, to make us passive instead of active. My vivid imagination has left me trapped in fear many, many times; an intense book or movie could give me nightmares for weeks - even months.
As the work of Redemption continues in my life, my vivid imagination is producing entirely different fruit. Jimbo helped me see it this past week. I have noticed for months that my Father is beginning to bless me with vivid visual pictures. As I encounter situations, often difficult ones, whether in my own life or others, Dad sends me an image that gives beautiful meaning to the situation.
One example of this was on the anniversary of my brother's death, which also happens to be my sister's birthday. This is obviously a difficult day. I have been asking my Father to redeem this day, and this year He gave me a redeeming picture. He showed me that, just as there is great anticipation on earth when a baby is about to be born, there is great anticipation in heaven when a son or daughter of the King is about to leave this world for that one. In reality, my brother's "real birthday" is now the same day as my sister's earthly birthday. What a redeeming picture!
I am learning that my Strength and my Song - my Refuge - wants to bring healing into every painful memory, in part by washing the old, painful memories with new, refreshing pictures of what was happening at that time from His perspective. Ask Him; see how He answers you.
This gift has long been used against me. Our Enemy's desire is to suppress the good gifts in our lives, to make us passive instead of active. My vivid imagination has left me trapped in fear many, many times; an intense book or movie could give me nightmares for weeks - even months.
As the work of Redemption continues in my life, my vivid imagination is producing entirely different fruit. Jimbo helped me see it this past week. I have noticed for months that my Father is beginning to bless me with vivid visual pictures. As I encounter situations, often difficult ones, whether in my own life or others, Dad sends me an image that gives beautiful meaning to the situation.
One example of this was on the anniversary of my brother's death, which also happens to be my sister's birthday. This is obviously a difficult day. I have been asking my Father to redeem this day, and this year He gave me a redeeming picture. He showed me that, just as there is great anticipation on earth when a baby is about to be born, there is great anticipation in heaven when a son or daughter of the King is about to leave this world for that one. In reality, my brother's "real birthday" is now the same day as my sister's earthly birthday. What a redeeming picture!
I am learning that my Strength and my Song - my Refuge - wants to bring healing into every painful memory, in part by washing the old, painful memories with new, refreshing pictures of what was happening at that time from His perspective. Ask Him; see how He answers you.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Faith, Passion and Peace
Have you ever been disappointed? Have you ever looked forward to something with great anticipation, only to watch it vanish away before coming to fruition?
We have.
Have you ever tried again, nerves and emotions on pins and needles, "Surely it won't happen again..." But it might. And sometimes it does.
It did.
"Are you guys excited about going to Uruguay?" We've heard it many times, and of course we say "Yes." But deep down, we've held out the full measure of excitement, holding our internal breath so that, just in case something else happens to prevent us from going, we won't reel quite as deeply.
Last week our "yes" changed to "yes!" Constant disappointment had dampened the freshness of our calling, but last week changed that. "Just because your calling is attacked does not mean that your calling is invalid. In fact, it's usually quite the opposite" (from a conference we attended in Atlanta last week). We believe again - Dad's got everything under control. In His timing, we'll leave on December 29.
Interesting how faith, passion, and peace are intermingled. Because our faith was restored, our passion increased. True passion is accompanied by deep peace.
Thanks, Father, for the adjustment in perspective.
Let's Go!
We have.
Have you ever tried again, nerves and emotions on pins and needles, "Surely it won't happen again..." But it might. And sometimes it does.
It did.
"Are you guys excited about going to Uruguay?" We've heard it many times, and of course we say "Yes." But deep down, we've held out the full measure of excitement, holding our internal breath so that, just in case something else happens to prevent us from going, we won't reel quite as deeply.
Last week our "yes" changed to "yes!" Constant disappointment had dampened the freshness of our calling, but last week changed that. "Just because your calling is attacked does not mean that your calling is invalid. In fact, it's usually quite the opposite" (from a conference we attended in Atlanta last week). We believe again - Dad's got everything under control. In His timing, we'll leave on December 29.
Interesting how faith, passion, and peace are intermingled. Because our faith was restored, our passion increased. True passion is accompanied by deep peace.
Thanks, Father, for the adjustment in perspective.
Let's Go!
Friday, September 9, 2011
One year ago today. . .
One year ago today my (Jimbo) world changed. Something happened to me that was very unfamiliar and uncomfortable. I lost sight of living in joy. I couldn't relax. I felt a deep inward pressure, as if I was having a heart attack. It was as if I was about to experience another trauma, and I was already living in it. The world, life in general, became very unsafe, even though nothing was really that different. This was my first anxiety attack, opening up a chapter of life that lasted several months. I had attacks every day for several weeks, before they spread out to a couple a week, then to happening sporadically every once in a while. I didn't know why, or what was happening. All I knew is that I hated what was happening. Life was no fun anymore.
Then, beginning last fall, God began a journey of understanding and healing in my life. God began to bring people in my life whom He gifted with insight, exhortation, prophecy, and wisdom. From then until now, these people, who are in many different walks of life, spoke life. As I began to open up and process my innermost thoughts and pains, God began to deal with the roots of my disfunction and began to bring life; not just any life, but life abundant. The journey has been humbling, but very gracious. The body of Christ is an amazing thing. I am so privileged to be a son of the King, part of His family.
My world today, compared to a year ago, is completely different. I am working out of overflow instead of undertow. Living as I truly am, in my true identity, is so freeing. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Then, beginning last fall, God began a journey of understanding and healing in my life. God began to bring people in my life whom He gifted with insight, exhortation, prophecy, and wisdom. From then until now, these people, who are in many different walks of life, spoke life. As I began to open up and process my innermost thoughts and pains, God began to deal with the roots of my disfunction and began to bring life; not just any life, but life abundant. The journey has been humbling, but very gracious. The body of Christ is an amazing thing. I am so privileged to be a son of the King, part of His family.
My world today, compared to a year ago, is completely different. I am working out of overflow instead of undertow. Living as I truly am, in my true identity, is so freeing. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Another Step of Redemption
This time last year our lives were full of brokenness. We knew we had a Healer fully capable of bringing restoration, but we had no idea how or when He would bring that restoration to fruition. Step by step, through interactions with His Word and His people, through conferences and books done by those whose lives have been transformed, our Healer has brought restoration - new life, abundantly overflowing.
Today we experienced new life in a place that, like us, was previously "broken." For four years we had poured our lives into a ministry; watching that ministry come to an end was painful - a loss both for us and for others who had invested in it along with us.
To see the healthy model of ministry now thriving in a place that means so much to us - to see our dear friends adjusting and thriving as well as they catch the vision of kingdom work - this is another step of redemption. Today was a special day.
"He has rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate."
Today we experienced new life in a place that, like us, was previously "broken." For four years we had poured our lives into a ministry; watching that ministry come to an end was painful - a loss both for us and for others who had invested in it along with us.
To see the healthy model of ministry now thriving in a place that means so much to us - to see our dear friends adjusting and thriving as well as they catch the vision of kingdom work - this is another step of redemption. Today was a special day.
"He has rebuilt the ruined places and replanted that which was desolate."
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Pack. Travel. Unpack. Repeat.
As international workers preparing for long-term living in Uruguay, South America, our lives are full of transition - endings and beginnings.
Currently we are enjoying connecting with friends and family, and sharing with them much of the transformations of the past year. This has provided much opportunity for travel, causing our daughter to say, "Mom, we move like every day."
And so it goes....
We officially leave for language school in Costa Rica on December 29. We'll be there for 12 months. Upon arrival, our mental state will be like an out of range cell phone - constantly searching for a signal, and rapidly wearing out the battery. We trust that our Spanish will improve quickly as the year progresses.
Until departure, we'll continue to speak around the country, receive more training (in December), buy and pack what we'll need during the next four years (as well as get rid of the things we can't take with us).
Many have asked how to support us in Costa Rica and Uruguay,
To give toward our monthly support through the GCF, click here.
To support our outfit fund (which enables us to set up house), click here. You will need to enter our name (Jimmie Hull), and an account number (1-47300-35295).
To support our vehicle fund, click here.
Currently we are enjoying connecting with friends and family, and sharing with them much of the transformations of the past year. This has provided much opportunity for travel, causing our daughter to say, "Mom, we move like every day."
And so it goes....
We officially leave for language school in Costa Rica on December 29. We'll be there for 12 months. Upon arrival, our mental state will be like an out of range cell phone - constantly searching for a signal, and rapidly wearing out the battery. We trust that our Spanish will improve quickly as the year progresses.
Until departure, we'll continue to speak around the country, receive more training (in December), buy and pack what we'll need during the next four years (as well as get rid of the things we can't take with us).
Many have asked how to support us in Costa Rica and Uruguay,
To give toward our monthly support through the GCF, click here.
To support our outfit fund (which enables us to set up house), click here. You will need to enter our name (Jimmie Hull), and an account number (1-47300-35295).
To support our vehicle fund, click here.
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