2012 - Bringing Forth Your Tree of Life

Pastor Rick and I are in Uganda dedicating a new building for a church and school in the remote village of Nabusozi; in the heart of a valley which birthed the evil empire we now call the HIV virus. We’re here in a valley where an occasional motor bike is the only motorized movement on pathways carved through the African farm and scrub land. It’s the end of the road, so to speak, for those living by the shore of Lake Kijanibalola; the end of the road for many with HIV, the end of the road for many who have little or no access to education or knowledge of Jesus or a hope for a way out of poverty. It’s a place where people usually gather under a tree rather than under a roof.

It’s from this venue that I bring you words of grace and hope. There are times in life when it seems we are at the end of our road; times when it seems the convergence of bad stuff happening makes even the spirit-filled believer grasp for hope. We know God’s grace, His favor theoretically; yet sometimes we do not walk in the experience at any significant measure. If there is hope for this remote village with few spirit-filled believers, there is hope for you in 2012. The Holy Spirit prophetically revealed aspects of the Father’s heart to us on New Year’s Day. He said that 2012 will be a ‘pivotal year’, a year upon which many crucial crossroads will be encountered. He also said that many people in 2011 had ‘hope deferred making their heart sick’ (Prov. 113:12), but that 2012 would bring forth the ‘tree of life’, a refreshing accompanying the fulfillment of some desire in their life. I am now ministering to a remote people whose hope was deferred and were truly heart sick only 2 years ago, but there has come refreshing brought by the Holy Spirit, through people led by the Holy Spirit, with spiritual and practical provision authored by the Holy Spirit.

Be encouraged that whatever challenges you may face in this pivotal year, there will be opportunity to gather under the tree of life where a God-birthed desire is fulfilled, healing the heart and bringing refreshing. Be encouraged even as the people at the end of this road are encouraged! Just when you think you’re at the end your road, the tree of life appears. Hallelujah!

2012 - a ‘Pivotal’ Year

2012 is a ‘pivotal’ year. A prophetic word for the church is ‘pivotal’, meaning crucial, very important, something upon which people and organizations will turn. In our church we received an associated prophetic word that 2012 will not be ‘normal’ in the sense that there is a substantive realigning coming in 2012. This, I believe, extends well beyond our local fellowship into the CrossFire International Alliance and to nations. To realign is to reposition something to bring it in line. The Holy Spirit is saying that crucial decisions will be made in 2012 to re-align the hearts and minds of individuals, churches, and governments. This will be a crucial, pivotal year to CHOOSE God’s way or another way. When the Holy Spirit speaks forth these things we must have our spiritual radar tuned so that we as leaders have our hearts and minds prepared to turn with Him at the right time as opposed to staying the normal course. The Holy Spirit reflects the abundant favor of the Father by revealing His heart for us to be effective in our Kingdom work. He does this to bring awareness, acuity, and accuracy to the strategic work of people advancing the Kingdom of God.

He desires to bring people, church fellowships, ministries and nations into proper alignment. I believe strongly that the Holy Spirit is telling us to be acutely aware in 2012 of crucial opportunities to position ourselves to bring forth the fullness of our purpose, calling and assignments in the Kingdom. Something will change from what had been normal for you. Very often our ‘normal’ life allows hearts and minds to get off track, to slowly and subtely get out of alignment. We drift off without realizing it. You can be assured there will be efforts by the enemy to keep everything normal, to move or keep you out of position, or to steer you in direction out of alignment with God’s purpose in your life. God’s abundant grace will give you ample opportunity and clarity for these crucial decisions in 2012. He is not hiding anything or being coy. But………you will have to choose. Your choice is pivotal to your purpose and your work to advance His kingdom!! Hallelujiah!