Florida, lately.....

It's been awhile since I have shared an update...here it goes....

Had a great Thanksgiving weekend; we were invited to spend Thanksgiving dinner with my friends Jill and Jeff Aubin. Their family of six and my two made for an interesting and fun time. It included Steve jumping into their pool! In Florida that isn't such a big deal, but it has been barely over 70 degrees over the past several weeks and the pool isn't heated....I am so surprised that the police didn't show up after Steve screamed....just like a little girl! It was SO funny!

They live in a gated, golf course community - right on the thirteenth hole and there is a pond in the back. It is complete with fish, numerous water fowl, fish and an alligator. Oh, and can't forget the otter! I pray every time we go there that Steve will not end up in that pond! He and their kids end up around it and in the woods everytime we go. Fun times :)

Steve and I had a gift card to Chipotle (thank you, Ticknor family!) and since there are no Chipotle's around the Riverview/Brandon area, we took a day trip to Clearwater for dinner and to see the sun set over the Gulf of Mexico. I took a bunch of pictures, and will post them soon. It was absolutely beautiful! The sand was pure white, and the waves were two feet or so...we kicked off the flip-flops and ran to the water....boy was it chilly! We had such a good time, and I am thankful that the Lord allowed us to move so close to such beautiful places!

Yesterday, on our way home from church, we saw another of our animal friends down here in Florida..........

Yep...an armadillo! It scurried across the road in front of us...we had seen several as road-kill, so it was a welcome site to see one...alive!

Steve is going to Minneapolis for Christmas and New Year's to visit with his Dad and Julie. He is really excited! I know, I will be here alone...but it's okay! Angie is coming to visit after Christmas and my friends will keep me busy! OK, OK....if you are having pity on me and you want to donate to my Bahama's fund, that's great! HAHA! I know, I'm dreaming...the Bahama's over Christmas, alone, suffering on the beach...sounds like torture..haha Lord???

You

Are You there?
Do You hear?
Can You feel what's going on inside?

Unanswered questions rage inside
Trying to defy an illogical foundation of faith
Doubt tiptoes around what I thought was a fortress
Checking for cracks

While shaken by winds of uncertainty
From my hands come the one thing
The only thing that can hold everything together
To bring peace in the middle of this place
A place of Your choosing
Caulking to bind up the weak places
A sword

The truth remains
While the tempter illuminates the weaknesses
The light radiates places in need of healing
While I am shaken, I am pruned

This place is best
This is where I become more like You

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith---the salvation of your soul. 1 Peter 1:6-9

On the heels of this great country's election.....

Romans 13:1-4

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

AND....

1 Peter 2:11-17

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

"Submission to Government"

Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

Here's another song, my declaration of late.......

Shadowfeet
by Brooke Fraser

Walking,stumbling on these shadowfeet
toward home,a land that i've never seen
I am changing: less and less asleep
made of different stuff than when i began
and i have sensed it all along
fast approaching is the day

when the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
when the sky rolls up and mountains fall on their knees
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Theres distraction buzzing in my head
saying in the shadows it's easier to stay
but I've heard rumours of true reality
whispers of a well-lit way

You make all things new

When the world has fallen out from under me
I'll be found in you, still standing
Every fear and accusation under my feet
when time and space are through
I'll be found in you

Albertine

Albertine
by Brooke Fraser

I am sitting still
I think of Angeline
Her mother's voice over me
And the bullets and the war
Where it fell silent

And on a thousandth hill [?]
I think of Albertine
There in her eyes
What i don't see
with my eye oh

Rwanda
Now that I have seen
I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you
In my own arms
I cannot let go till you are...

And I am on a plane
Across a distant sea
But I carry you in me
In the dust on... the dust on... the dust on... the dust on.... ???
My feet

Rwanda
Now that I have seen
I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you
In my own arms
I cannot let go till you are...

I will tell the world
I will tell them where I've been
I will keep my word
I will tell them, Albertine

Rwanda
Now that I have seen
I am responsible
Faith without deeds is dead
Now that I have held you
In my own arms
I cannot let go till you are...

And I am on a stage
A thousand eyes on me
I will tell them, Albertine
I will tell them, Albertine

Give me Your eyes......

This song has messed me up completely....This is what I want.....



"Give me Your eyes"
Brandon Heath

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black tile
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide whats underneath
Theres a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
Hes out of work
Hes buying time
all those people going somewhere?
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Ive Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
just move and pass me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all alone

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me your heart for the once forgotten

Give me your eyes, Lord....please give me a second chance and a second glance...please

Faith like a little child.......

Faith like a little child releases creativity
by Janice VanCronkhite

God is so creative and He loves to create fresh daily. His desire is for us to create with Him and by doing this, He imparts the gifts of His spirit which enable us to thrive. In Matthew 18:3, Jesus answers the question of the disciples, "who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus responded, "I tell you the truth,unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." All children are artists and by the age of five, 90 percent of the population is operating in high creativity. They have great imaginations, no thoughts of inferiority or concerns of comparing themselves to others. They speak, write and draw what they want with no reservations. Unfortunately, by the age of seven, this has diminished to a mere 10 percent! Only about two percent of the adult population operates in high creativity.

The destruction of our creativity may be caused by criticism, negative thoughts caused by comparisons to others, and simply believing the lie that says, "I'd like to paint, dance, write.....but I can't do it." We forget that we are more than we know...that with Him all things are possible. We MUST become like a little child again...free to go for it regardless of the end result. Often, when I paint during worship conferences, all I have are my paints and a blank canvas. I am dependent on God to show me something, anything that expresses His heart for that moment of time. If only God is pleased then the experience was a success. But if one or more people are encouraged or activated in some way then it's icing on the cake. Often, at least one or more will let me know that they had the same vision or dream of what I just painted. Like the living word, the paintings become a living message. Art is a universal language and though words may be forgotten, a picture will forever capture the mind. We must unlearn alot of what the world has taught us to raise our level of creativity again. Creativity opens us to revelation and when that is lowered to two percent, we lose our ability to walk on water like Peter and to see angels.

For years I asked God to give me a passion for something that would not only please Him but be relevant in advancing His kingdom. My husband, David, and I had founded Blood n Fire, a ministry focused on rebuilding broken lives of the poor. Though this was God's heart, I knew there was something more the Lord had for me. I had no clue that it would be prophetic art until He did a "suddenly." I was flooded with dreams, visions, colors, and messages to portray on canvas which seemed incomplete unless they displayed a vortex or portal into the heavenlies . Revelation poured in that these paintings would bring healing, life, deliverance, and encouragement to those who gazed upon them. I began painting in my new studio, formerly the garage, which overlooks a beautiful lake. Artists normally like to do their thing alone with no spectators but He proceeded to extract me from a self imposed comfort zone to paint in our Creative Combustion gatherings. It proved to be a wonderful new experience to paint in the midst of fierce raging worship.

Early one morning while visiting in Florida, I was dancing and worshiping barefoot like a child along the shore. Suddenly , out of the depths an apple rolled to my feet and He said that I was the apple of His eye! I guess He knew that was exactly what I needed to hear. I grabbed the prize and took it to my first experience painting at a conference other than our own church. He continually uses Apple Of His Eye to encourage me as well as others with His unconditional love for us. By the way.....I still have that apple in my freezer with a note that reads Janice's supernatural apple...DO NOT EAT!!!!

The same freedom that we experience in dreams can take place during a creative act. We are not bound by time or space and this freedom can occur only, like in a dream, when we don't attempt to control or dictate it. When creating in this childlike state we operate out of the box and the possibilities are limitless. Colors are brighter, sounds are more clear, and somehow we feel His very presence all the more.

Michelle's notes: this is what will empower me to paint...I'm stepping into the faith of a little child....go Holy Spirit!