(day sixty-three) Visions of a new temple and birthday extravaganza's!

Just wrapped up the most fabulous birthday thanksgiving extravaganza ever!
Since I'll be out of town for my birthday next week and then out of the country for Thanksgiving; my mom had the brilliant idea of combining the two. Since I'm a turkey myself, the Birth-giving celebration is only fitting. Well, and I'm thankful for being born of course. Family, fun, food... and boy am I stuffed. Now here I am sitting at my computer with my full belly and all; and wouldn't you know God would so comically incline me to discuss our body as the temple tonight. Oh the irony.

Just today as dad and I were driving down the road and I was having one of my rants about how the food we eat is killing us.. bla bla bla... we passed a red lobster and no lie, i was like "oh, garlic cheese bisquits". My dad just laughed and mumbled something about me talking out both sides of my mouth. Dad sure knows how to put me in my place in the kindest of ways... haha. This is something I have been learning- the hard way- the last couple of years... when you talk the talk you best be ready to walk it.

I find that the reason people don't want to talk about God to people is because maybe they don't feel like they are doing a good job walking. First of all... If we are in a living/breathing relationship with the God of all the universe then He WILL be moving in our lives. If we really believe what God says about Himself and us in the word, then we DO have a testimony. Every day is more opportunity for Jesus adventures, divine appointments, and Holy Spirit interactions. But we must make room for God to move. If we are so busy we can not sit, read, or meditate on Him.... then there is no room in our little inn for Him to rest His head and to birth something beautiful in and through you. Secondly, I think it's a religious misconception that we have to do a good job walking out our faith in order to talk about how good God is. He's good regardless... and if we are truly surrendered to Him He will be glorified in every situation... especially when we fall hard and He picks us right back up again. Our journey is NOT perfect and doesn't have to look it either... it's just got to be real.

Part of this journey is our honoring Him through our lifestyle choices. For example: I eat well because I've researched what foods actually feed and cleanse my body. If I eat processed crap my body will dislike me and eventually turn on me with illnesses. If I eat whole foods, like mentioned in the word for health, my body will respond to those foods in a positive way allowing me to feel great! It's easy for me now because I've trained my body to like what is good for it... but occasionally I'll still have a brownie, ben & jerry's, or some sort of snacky thing. I had the revelation a few months back that if we torture our self doing the "right thing" we end up doing it for legalistic reasons which can be based in fear and pride. So, actually I think it's good to "treat" yourself from time to time as long as you are making healthy lifestyle choices.

As I'm sure you know by now; I'm convinced that the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional are all connected and all support each other. It seems that we focus on the spiritual mostly in the church and occasionally deal with the emotional... but hardly ever do we speak of mental or physical issues. If we could just see the relevance as a church that what we are actually putting in our bodies is effecting all other areas, we might just be a positive influence in this world through our example of "wholeness". I thought that maybe this was just my own crazy theory until I actually LIVED it. Not to mention how much it's mentioned in the word!! Don't we preach that our body IS the temple?? "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." 1 Cor. 6:19

I don't say all this to condemn anyone or make them feel guilty. Heck no!!! I'm walking out my own journey and have failed plenty of times! I'm just asking that you look deeper into all this. I pray that it becomes a revelation for the church body. The more research I do on this the more I see how almost everything can be traced back to our diet. I'm also not suggesting that everyone go on a "diet". It is NOT about what you look like or how much weight you want to lose or even counting calories. It IS about our inside.... and God cares so much about it that He made it a temple for His Holy Spirit to rest. God doesn't want food to control us, or negative emotions, or psychological problems, or even spiritual anxieties.... He wants FREEDOM in ALL areas of our lives!!!!

God wants complete freedom in His temple to MOVE in a powerful way... in each and every one of us!!! If God is the center of our WHOLE self... instead of just one aspect... I promise that we will begin to see some pretty crazy awesome things happen. We now have a choice before us. The choice to take authority back from those things that have controlled us for way too long and receive more freedom, OR we can continue to be controlled by the elements of the poor decisions we make; ultimately stripping away God's full authority in our lives.

B90: (Ezekiel 45:13- Daniel 7:14) Although I am pretty excited at moving into Daniel, no offense Ezekiel... I must sit with Him for a moment this evening. Yesterday I felt like God was revealing more and more to me about the temple... and us as the temple. While I was reading I stumbled upon Chapter 40 titled "Visions of the new temple". I quickly breezed through, then froze when I realized what God had just revealed to Ezekiel AND what God was revealing to me at almost the exact same time. Go ahead and take a look at Chapter 40: 1-4 if you will. This WAS a big deal! I imagine good ole Ez might have thought people would think he was crazy. But I love verse 4 when God says, "look with your eyes, and hear with your ears, and set your heart upon all that i shall show you, for you were brought here in order that i might show it to you. Declare all that you see to the house of Israel."

Just like Ez, I feel like God has been revealing to me visions of the new temple- IN US. Only it's not new... we've had it all along, but I believe He wants to bring new revelation to us about our body as the temple! And God's not just speaking it to me... but thousands of people right now are coming to this revelation! I have conversations daily with people who are starting to make the connection and have found so much freedom and live and joy because of it! Continue to pray and ask God what He wants to reveal to you and your family. Ask that He make it personal to you on your journey.


P.s. Tomorrow will be considered a "travel day" since I'm driving to Nashville and it is unsafe for me to read or blog during this time, I hope you understand. Haha. I should be posting up something small for you tomorrow :)