We Came. We Saw. GOD Conquered.

I Raise a Hallelujah! Oh, yes, I do! Oh, yes, we do! Veni, vidi, vici – the Latin for “I came; I saw; I conquered” – attributed to Julius Caesar who used the phrase in a letter to the Roman Senate in 47 BC after he had won a quick victory in his short war against Pharnaces II at the Battle of Zela. The phrase is used to refer to a swift, conclusive victor. And, it was also used after the 17th-century Battle of Vienna, saying “Venimus, Vidimus, Deus vici”t ("We came, We saw, God conquered"). Our victory was also a swift, conclusive victory! Hallelujah!

I like that last one the best: “God conquered”! All praise and honor and glory be to Him for the incredibly powerful, and truly God-orchestrated, last couple of weeks. As a team who came, who saw and put full-on gusto of prayer, intercession AND really hard work into the sale of my children’s home, getting the move and closing in before the end-of-the-year – was a WIN of mammoth proportions. “Through our God, we shall do valiantly. It is He Who will tread down our enemies.” (Psalm 60:12)

I won’t go into the ups and downs of accomplishing this task, but I will give credit to where credit is due – and that is our little team of just a few who wouldn’t think negatively or yield to the temptation of speaking negatively either. We just dove in with relentless ambition and audacious faith in the power of the Holy Spirit Who gives us the power we need at times like this. “Praise God! Hallelujah!” That’s what I said Thursday night when I shut the door to the thoroughly cleaned out, beautiful home that looked so different years ago when my kids moved in. It was dated, was in disrepair in many areas – and they did a makeover -- that would entice women and men to come and open up their hearts to the love of this family and to the love of God. Oh, the lives that were changed in this home. Oh the blessings of inspired faith and relentless hope and great expectations for tomorrow. Halleluljah!

Over 50 million people have now watched a YouTube clip of unsuspecting shoppers who get a surprise while eating lunch. A young woman, seemingly enjoying her lunch in a food court, stands up. She appears to be on her mobile phone. She begins singing the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. All around her, over 100 (clearly prearranged) opera singers stand one by one and join in. I got holy goosebumps when I watched it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

“Messiah” is George Frederick Handel’s most famous work. It tells the story of Jesus – the Messiah. Part Two is about His death on the cross, His resurrection and His ascension into heaven. It ends with the ‘Hallelujah’ chorus. In the spring of 1742, King George II rose to his feet as the first notes of the triumphant ‘Hallelujah’ chorus rang out. Royal protocol has always demanded that, whenever the monarch stands, so too does everyone in the monarch’s presence. Thus, the entire audience and orchestra stood. King George II had accepted that he, too, was subject to the Lord of lords and King of kings.

The word ‘Hallelujah’ is an invitation to worship – it literally means ‘Praise (Hallal) the Lord’ (Yahweh). It occurs twenty-four times in the Old Testament (mainly in the Psalms) and it occurs four times in the New Testament.

And it occurred for us when we had plowed through the obstacles, the season, the traditions, AND, this move at Christmas that will take my family into 2020 with freedom, gusto, and many others being touched by He Who conquers – and many times – conquers by using the frailties of human beings to prove His strength is made perfect in our weakness. So, today,
I raise a hallelujah in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me
I'm gonna’ sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you're gonna’ hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!
(From Bethel Music, I Raise a Hallelujah) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2XtRuPfaAU

Does PASSION Drive You?

My Word of the Day – PASSION: more than just enthusiasm or excitement, PASSION is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind, body and soul into something as is possible.

What is it that drives you, motivates you and causes you to jump out of bed each morning with exuberance? Is it your family, your spouse, your hobby, or your job that you really don’t even consider it a J.O.B., because you love it so much? Based on the definition of PASSION and the questions I just asked, maybe you can’t think of anything that you are PASSIONATE about.

My youngest grandson, though he knows little about having to make ends meet or being responsible for a spouse or family, I’ve seen such PASSION in him for what he is responsible for – his animals. I’ve shared it before that he provides daily care of his 3 donkeys, 5 goats, a longhorn, his cat and dog. His PASSION for his responsibility doesn’t even seem like a chore to him. These recent photos (I’m here caring for these two boys for the week.) show a little boy that adores his animals. He bounces out of bed and heads to the barn and calls out “Where’s my girls? Where’s my boys?” What a PASSIONATE dad he will be one day.

Thank you for driving my PASSION. I wake up with PASSION to provide yet another blog and FB post. I am relentless to seek God’s wisdom and words that might encourage someone each day. My PASSION for God tops everything else. There is nothing that takes the place of time with Him, knowing He was my FIRST love and will be my LAST love – pleasing Him drives my decisions and everything within my being.

Sometimes we can get so caught up in the act of living that we forget why we’re living. While it’s important to do what’s necessary; it’s also important to take time to reflect on the life we’re creating. When our last day arrives, don’t we want to look back and know our life mattered -- that it counted for something?

At the start of this new year, I want to close my eyes and feel my spirit excitingly begin its next journey without fear or regret. I want to live with a PASSIONATE heart. Here’s a few ways that remind me how to live with PASSION:

1. Take responsibility for my life and live every moment, every and every day like it could be my last.

2. Live every day with the expectancy, something good is going to happen in this day.

3. Turn negative thoughts and situations into gratitude by choosing to see what’s good in my life.

4. Love what I do. If I'm not PASSIONATE about what I'm doing, consider what I love to do and then start moving in that direction.

5. Take a honest look in the mirror. Michael Jackson’s lyrics to “Man in the Mirror” are a good way to start making changes that bring about PASSION for something other than myself: "I’m starting with the man in the mirror; I’m asking him to change his ways; And no message could have been any clearer; If you wanna make the world a better place; Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.” If what we see within our heart and attitude needs changing, then we start changing it right now.

6. Make time to follow my heart’s desire. Psalm 37:4 “Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

7. Share my love and what is burning inside my heart with others who can encourage and inspire me.

8. Seek God for my PASSION: Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make direct your paths.”

Let's start today to live our lives with PASSION and when we do, then every day of 2018 will start out with overflowing joy for what each new day holds!