Tammie Southerland

Your Destiny Is Loading…

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Often, we think that we can just coast through life and say, “What will be, will be. I’ve been good enough and I go to church. So, I’m good.”

This is one of the biggest lies the enemy has fed us.

The rich young ruler’s encounter with Jesus is an eye-opening one.

Jesus offered him the opportunity to be a witness of the mighty ministry of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords — and to gain eternal life.

All he had to do is sell all of the stuff he had worked for and lay down his own fame.

That’s all, just get rid of everything that has no eternal value and give the money to the poor. But the Bible says that he couldn’t let it all go!

He had gained so much and had worked so hard to build his image as a rich man! Because of this, he traded one of the biggest opportunities any of us could ever want for worldly baggage; baggage that apparently ruled him instead of him ruling it.

He knew he would journey on an adventure with JESUS HIMSELF and he would gain eternal life. He knew had to go low and release his old life to gain the new. He had to trade his fame to be a mere witness.

Read the whole story and tell me, how does this speak to you?

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Mark 10:21-25

What will you chose to lay down this year?

You really should come to Ascend 2019!

Lay it all down! Do whatever you have to do!

Just come…

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Tammie Southerland

Syncronous Beauty

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The melody of the song, “Hail to the Chief” filled the air as I watched former President George H.W. Bush’s casket near the Capitol rotunda, where he will lay in state for a time. There are several steps at the entrance of the rotunda. How do they successfully get the casket to where it needs to go with all those stairs? Then I hear a command from an unidentified source ring out above the band’s rendition,

“AND STEP!”

Each military pallbearer was guided in each step up the staircase because they were looking straight ahead, focused on their duty. Each one relied on that command of when to take a step. Every step of every soldier was methodic and synchronous, all working together like a finely oiled machine. Each soldier had their own responsibility. Each had a part to play. Each carrying their own weight. None of the soldiers tried to outdo the other, or take another’s territory, or race to see who could take the next step first. They worked together as a unit to fulfill their duty.

“AND STEP!”

Oh, if only the bride of Christ would work together as a unit for her Bridegroom! In my book that is coming soon, Permission to Burn, I describe what true unity looks like and how it should function:

“It is true that we want unity, and this divisive, back-biting, accusing spirit is a demonic phenomenon that we must defeat. But, it will only be purged by holy fire. If we want to see the promise of awakening fulfilled in our time, we must be a generation that embraces the fire. Events are amazing, but God wants unity to reign in the body of Christ, and He wants His word to go forth with sustainability in His people. The unity Jesus speaks of in John 17 will not come in any way other than embracing the fire and glory of our amazing, fiery, holy, pure, and just God.

True Unity

His will and His Kingdom will come when we ask for it, and then we will find ourselves challenged to align with His vision. So many people think unity means everyone compromising to get along and do an event together. That is not unity. That is tolerance. That is building the tower of Babel (see Gen. 11:1–9). God the Father is the true builder of unity. Psalm 127 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.” And Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone of unity.

However, this can only take place as we lay down our rights to territory and our human-made blueprints, where we name and label everything as our own. It all belongs to the Bridegroom, and He longs to reign with His spotless bride—not with a broken, immature, offended, competing, cannibalizing body.”

It is critical in this hour to keep a check on the motivation of our hearts and ask:

  1. Why am I doing what I am doing?
  2. Am I disowning my life, and sharing the cross with Jesus? (Mark 8:34 TPT).
  3. Am I truly helping my fellow soldiers in Christ fulfill their duties well in action and words?

Psalm 15 TPT

Living in the Shining Place
A poetic song, by King David
   Lord, who dares to dwell with you?
    Who presumes the privilege of being close to you,
    living next to you in your shining place of glory?
    Who are those who daily dwell in the life of the Holy Spirit?
  They are passionate and wholehearted,
    always sincere and always speaking the truth—
    for their hearts are trustworthy.
  They refuse to slander or insult others;
    they’ll never listen to gossip or rumors,
    nor would they ever harm another with their words.
  They will speak out passionately against evil and evil workers
    while commending the faithful ones who follow after the truth.
  They make firm commitments and follow through,
    even at great cost.
  They never crush others with exploitation or abuse
    and they would never be bought with a bribe
    against the innocent.
    They will never be shaken; they will stand firm forever.

Selah

Tammie Southerland

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Tammie Southerland

Trauma Breaker

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Sometimes to get freedom, there is war first.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Hurt people hurt people”? It’s true.

After a conversation with my leader a couple of weeks ago, I found myself in an all too-familiar cycle. I replayed the sentences in my mind, appalled at what was said. I was offended because i was hearing and seeing through a lens of threat. My entire being was in a constant state of bracing itself in certainty of the next hurt from a person or situation. Much like a porcupine with his quills engaged, I was living in a perpetual state of defensiveness to keep from getting hurt.

Troubling thoughts continued to swirl as bits of the conversation looped in my mind. Finally, I thought it best to write an email of what I thought about the conversation, along with various other “opinions”. The oppression and condemnation was so heavy, I could barely function.

What was happening to me?

I cried out to the Lord, as I randomly googled the words “spirit of trauma” without really thinking. I found a trustworthy source and began reading. This minister had over 30 years of experience setting people free from trauma. Something this minister said prompted me to look up the scripture where Jesus healed the boy from seizures. I looked it up and read it (Luke 9:37-43). As I read it, I immediately thought of my cousin who has had epilepsy all his life. I also knew that I often found myself trying to complete certain tasks, and would just freeze up with mental and emotional blockages.

When I was young, I remember my mechanically-inclined dad talk about motors that would be “seized up” or “froze up” which meant they would not function at all; the parts would not turn. If you look the up the word seize on websters.com, seizing means to bind, to take prisoner, to overwhelm physically. At that moment, I knew that not only had I personally gone through some horrific trauma in my own life, but this was a generational situation. I knew I must get free from this. I also knew once I received freedom, I had the key to freeing others.

The next afternoon, our church family had a cookout and saw my leader for the first time since I sent that email. I repented to her, told her that I knew what was happening, and shared with her what the Lord showed me.

Engulfed in flames

That night after everyone ate, prayer broke out in the kitchen. I remember my leader praying against trauma for another lady, then she turned and looked at me. I saw fire in her eyes as she said, “You have the anointing to set people free from trauma! That is the call on your life!” She put her hand on my head. I was engulfed in flames as I dropped to the floor in tears.

That night, I experienced deliverance from trauma and a level of freedom I never experienced before. I finally knew what it meant to abide in that peace that Philippians talks about; that peace that surpasses all understanding that guards my heart and mind! I am able to experience a joy I could not experience before. All it took was for me to be in willing surrender to the Lord, no matter what it looked like, or who was watching.

The Lord’s justice is rendered against the enemy when a person is set free and they set others free. I would love to pray for you to receive the same freedom in Christ!

After all,

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:

To loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke,

to set the oppressed free

And break every yoke? — Isaiah 58:6 NIV

By Angie Woodard

 

 

 

 

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Tammie Southerland

Rest for the Burning Heart

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What does it mean to rest? Does it mean that we don’t have to do anything and we can expect God to do it all?

Not exactly…but we do have to sit down and take our seat!

Take Your Seat

As we are occupying the earth and taking territory for the kingdom of God in this last hour, it is critical to understand the concept of resting in the Lord. This is the actuality of what Jesus did for us when He went to the cross and then ascended. He didn’t just go to the cross and die—He was resurrected, He ascended, and then He just sat down at the right hand of the Father. He is resting in His finished work! (see Hebrews 10:12) He said to us “Now, come sit with Me.”

He raised us up with Christ the exalted One, and we ascended with him into the glorious perfection and authority of the heavenly realm, for we are now co-seated as one with Christ! Eph. 6:12 TPT

Did you know, the Word of God says that there’s a rest that we’ve not yet entered into? He’s calling us into that rest. He is drawing us into knowing that supernatural peace, even in turmoil.

On the Offense

We must learn how to be on the offensive end of this spiritual war rather than the defensive! That’s what we’re called to. We’re called to the offensive. We are to occupy the territory that’s already been won for us by Jesus Christ. We think that by having the full armor of God on we’re always going to be fighting everything off all the time. I got a prophetic word from the Lord when I was ministering in Florida last year, The guy said to me, “You know, it says that Satan has fiery darts that hit the shield of faith,” He said, “but the Lord says: I have given you fiery darts of pure fire!” The truth is, the enemy does not have all the fiery darts! We have them in our quiver also! Ours are much more powerful that satan’s! It’s time to start taking him out by knowing what we have in our arsenal and all that we have access to through being blood bought, Holy Spirit-filled sons and daughters of God.  

How to Rest

But here’s the key: the Spirit of Revelation, who is Jesus, has to give the revelation of His own mind, heart and plans of Heaven to us. This way we can say what He says and do what He does. We go to Him daily where He is in prayer and meditation on His word to get His thoughts in exchange for our own.

In Psalm 91, it says that “whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Dwelling in Him, in that place of intimacy, is where the Spirit of Revelation abides. It is where we learn the heart of the Lord, see what He sees, do what He does. Outside of that place of intimacy with Him, we bear bad fruit that’s not of Him (John 15:4-5).

Right now, God is stretching us because we cannot chase after spiritual things without the truth of His word being the plumbline, nor can we study scripture without seeking after His very own Spirit. It is His Holy Spirit that breathes life and brings revelation. We have to know the Word so that we recognize His voice. Jesus says, “My sheep know My voice and they obey!” (John 10:27).

These elements must be blended together  in the life of the beloved of the Lord to take hold of that rest in Him. This rest that is found by seeking Him first and spiritually sitting down in His lap at the right hand of the Father. Here you can hear the plans of His heart and be equipped with an arsenal of pure, fiery darts. Darts that are launched from the place of knowing peace. Knowing that you are not just surviving but thriving! Don’t be discouraged, Beloved, this is what you were created for! Get ready to hit the mark every time with your prayers as you devote your life to listening to, working with, and trusting Him.

Fasten Your Seatbelt!

Portions of this article were taken from part 2 of Tammie’s Ascend series, 11/10/2017

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Tammie Southerland

Depth Under Pressure

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He’s calling you deeper! The strain, stretching, and tugging on your heart is your Beloved calling you deeper! Being called deeper sometimes feels like you are hitting a wall. It can feel exactly the opposite of blissful romance.

The searching

Song of Solomon 6:1 shows this search of desperation. That moment of anxiety when the lovesick bride realizes her bridegroom has gone missing. Even the other women look at her and feel her distress and they know the value of this romance!

“Where has your beloved gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your beloved turn, that we may look for him with you?” Song of Solomon 6:1

The stretching and feelings of loss are actually drawing her into a deeper place of longing! This pain will produce passion and that passion puts the message of true love on display for all to see!

Are you searching? Are you being stretched? Stand your watch beloved! Keep looking because that hunger will not go unsatisfied!

“Blessed are the hungry for they shall be filled,” Matthew 5:6

Will you keep pressing deeper into His heart to know Him more? Does the heat feel like it’s being turned up and the night feels dark? Just wait, watch, and pray! He’s leading you out! Be willing to press in for that depth of intimacy! Go against the flesh!

“I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves,” Song of Solomon 3:2

It ends well!

We find Him and He finds us! All will see and declare that our pain and pressure was not in vain! This verse in SS 8:5 is the beautiful picture of the pleasure filled moment when the Bride and Bridegroom come out of that wilderness season. She is no longer ragged and lost but is leaning on her beloved! They are so close they can experience breath to breath and face to face knowledge of one another!

“Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?” Song of Solomon 8:5

Do not give up! You are in the middle of a divine romance! Here He comes, beloved!

By Tammie Southerland

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Tammie Southerland

The Worship of a Burning Heart

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Photo by Alex Woods on Unsplash
By Tammie Southerland 

The Worship of a Burning Heart

It is the presence of God that changes people—not our services.

“One thing I have asked from the  Lord, that I shall seek: That I may dwell in the house of the  Lord  all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord and to meditate in His temple,” (Psalm 27:4 NASB).

Even in all of David’s failure, he resolved his life to one thing; just one thing. I mean, he was a king! He just asked to dwell in the house of the Lord, gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and meditate in His temple for the rest of his life.  

When we sit in an atmosphere of pure authentic worship, not mere musical entertainment, we are transformed and begin to hunger for more. He is drawing us into deeper proximity to His heart. He longs to take us into a place where we’re not just looking to gaze upon the next big thing; the next thing that we want, or something that will feed our flesh. He’s training us, our generation, to learn how to focus our hearts on things of His Kingdom and focus on Him like we never have before! Right now, the Lord of Glory has released a spiritual desire to catch us up into a place where we will begin to long for that one thing that we never knew existed.

That One Thing

This man, King David, before Messiah was sent, gained the revelation, that in all of his setbacks and in all of his successes, it boiled down to setting his life focus on “one thing” (Psalm 27:4). This one thing consumed all else. All he wanted was to gaze on the beauty of THE LORD all the days of his life. He longed and desired to build a dwelling place for the Lord in the land of Israel. He was ruined with the holy desire and insatiable hunger to solely look at the beauty of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. He knew there was a King that was greater! He knew there was a Lord that far exceeded his own lordship. David wanted to give the rightful King the throne above His own.

In Psalm 110:1 he declares, “The LORD said to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” In Matthew 22:44, Jesus quotes this verse in a discussion with the Pharisees in order to prove that the Messiah is more than David’s son; He is David’s Lord and David knew this deeply.

I believe with everything in me that there is a depth of the holy, beauty, fire, and of holy hunger in which David longed for, that is for available to us. David could only prophesy of what we have access to in Christ today. The Father wants close proximity to mankind. He wants closeness in a way that we can’t imagine. I believe our level of pursuit of this closer proximity to Him actually determines the level of our tangible intimacy with Him.

If we’re not willing to come close, then we will always be standing on the sidelines looking at others who are coming close and saying, “Why not me?” He did everything that we ever needed Him to do when He came down and gave His life for us. He died, resurrected, ascended and gave us full access to be filled with His own Holy Spirit so that we could to come close. That part of the work is finished. We just have to hunger and drawn near to Him. We must ask for more than we have at this present moment, every day.

You Don’t Need An Instrument to Worship-You are One!

David had 4,288 musicians and singers set up day and night, playing songs in intercession and worship in a tent (See 1 Chronicles 16). This non-stop atmosphere of worship must have been powerful. Even though it was his personal desire, David stored up money and materials his whole life for his son, Solomon to build the temple because God told David that it would be his son who built it (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 28:3). I have personally longed for the same things as David but I understand legacy! I want to build a place for the Lord. I want to gaze on His beauty all the days of my life! I want to host His presence day and night in my city. I want to see Him King and Lord over my city, state, nation, and world! I believe this is His desire also and just as David was able to host Him in a tent, so can we—but in a much closer way! 1 Corinthians 6:19 says, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” We have the glory of God ever-present in and with us in a way that King David merely dreamed of. The Spirit and the presence of God Himself has made us His temple. When He poured out His Spirit in Acts 2, He put Himself into us so that we could be in non-stop communion with Him. We don’t have to have an instrument to worship, because we are one.

We Are the Sound!

I believe God wants us to know that we are the sound! You and I are His instruments of worship!  If you haven’t experienced encountering Him outside of church or a service in which someone else is leading you into worship, just ask, and get ready! Surrender and entering into a depth that we’ve not previously experienced calls into learning how to be okay with awkward, silent moments.

As soon as we get comfortable, He is going to make us uncomfortable because there’s more. There is a higher place of knowing Him that we are going after. As soon as we think we’ve got it figured out, He is going to show us that we don’t, because He wants us to get into that place of lifelong increasing revelation of Him. We were created to be in constant communion with Him; now and for eternity. This means we get to learn more of His unsearchable beauty forever. The angels that are seated around the throne are constantly saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty, who was and is and is to come” as they look upon His beauty because they are in a place of revelation all of the time (Revelation 4:8). They never get bored and life around the throne never gets mundane for them. I am amazed that He created us to know Him and gain even greater revelation of Himself than the angels in heaven (1 Peter 1:12; 1 Corinthians 6:3).

In order for us to be able to ascend into that place of knowing God in a greater way, than even the burning ones around the throne of God-we have to begin to hunger for more than a mental understanding of the written word of God.  The spiritual revelation of His heart, mind, and character are essential elements to knowing Him personally.  Prayer, scripture study, worship, being still and listening for His voice are important disciplines in the life of the follower of Christ.  All of this develops depth into sustainable spiritual growth. The angelic hosts of heaven know His amazing holiness is real and unsearchable. We too must know that there is more than cerebral knowledge of Him. The experience of knowing Him spirit to Spirit is extremely important. He’s given us the ability to know His worth and power contained in “The Word” who is the person of Christ.

Silencing Distractions Could Take us into Highest Place of Wonder

Some of the most powerful encounters I have ever had with the Lord happened when I forced my mind to be still. I turned off all of the electronics, and yes even the music, and listened for His whisper. It takes a little while to learn to be still in your mind and tune your ears to His voice in this crazy world, but it’s a discipline of one who hungers. Prayer both in tongues and in the your native language is powerful and should be a practiced daily! I encourage you like the Apostle Paul to pray in the heavenly language of intercession (tongues) often and for, at the very least, 20 minutes a day when you are starting out. I also encourage you to learn the discipline of being still and listening to His reply.

Truthfully, as we learn the discipline of living life in His presence and in prayer, we learn how to abide in Him and He in us (John 15). We will begin bearing Spiritual fruit in abundance. We will be able to sit in a room with absolute silence or in a room with crazy chaos and be with Him. We can learn such a lifestyle of proximity to Him that we can be in a place where others are leading a worship gathering and we are on the floor helping bring people closer to Him without touching a stage or microphone. We will learn how to abide in our heavenly seat that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6:2, “we are seated with Him in heavenly places,” and we become fully active in our HOLY spiritual existence.

As we live this way, we are made free of being dependent on another person to take us into His presence. We just abide there. The supernatural grace of God is falling upon His people right now in such a way that we are able explore places of His heart  that no other generation has known. He has given us access, but He has also called us to lay down the distractions and cares of the world on a daily basis in order to enter into this place of deep relationship. Many have been so frustrated with their life and relationship with God recently. This is because He has been allowing the rubbing, pressing, and stripping away of temporal pleasures to prepare us for the deeper knowledge of Him. We must know that there is a greater responsibility to carry out the plans of His heart as we begin to understand the deeper revelation that He’s giving to us.

“The Lord our God has secrets to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.” (Deut. 29:29, NLT)

“When someone is given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted  with much, even more will be required.” (Luke 12:48, NLT)

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Tammie Southerland

Is Your Heart Burning?

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Is Your Heart Burning?

And no, I am not talking about the kind of heart-burn that is caused by what you ate for dinner! That’s acid reflux. 🤣

The kind of burning I’m talking about causes true pleasure in knowing the Lord personally and knowing that He knows you inside and out!
The kind of burning that I’m talking about is the feeling of passion and being alive in the depths of your being. I am speaking of Christian living that is more than going to church once a week and putting up with the person in the seat next to you! Our Father in heaven LONGS for us to live with a heart that is alive and on fire for Him!

Did you know that the Aramaic word for love literally means, to burn with passion? For some this is a new concept, but you can feel the desire stirring up in you to know Him this way and some of you have found yourself burning with passion, now more than ever before, to get closer to the One called Love!

Either way, you’re in good company! This burning heart phenomenon was experienced by Jesus’ downtrodden disciples when Jesus appeared to them in His resurrected body:

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?’ And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them. Luke 24:31-33

Hopelessness and Despair Brings Hope
The disciples on the road to Emmaus were broken and hurt. They didn’t understand why Jesus had died. We can practically hear their thoughts as we read the story in Luke 24. They wonder, We thought Jesus was our Messiah, and now He’s gone—dead. What do we do now? There’s nowhere to go. So, they give up and go back to their old lives as fishermen. But then, there He is—Jesus in His glorified body. Yet, they have no idea who He is. He asks them what is bothering them, and in amazement, as though this stranger lives under a rock, they ask, “Do you not know?”
He continues to talk with the brokenhearted disciples for a while, explaining the importance of the crucifixion; eventually, He disappears. The disciples look at one another and recognize that deep, inner burning in their hearts, and they say, “Oh! It was Him! It was Him!”

How did they know?

Their hearts burned within them. All of a sudden, they experienced the fellowship of the burning hearts. And in that place of intimacy and revelation, even in their brokenness, Jesus came. Jesus showed up in His glorified body, but because of their overwhelming emotions, they didn’t recognize Him. They were focused on earthly things instead of heavenly things. Instead of rebuking them, Jesus came into their brokenness and encountered them in His glorified body, causing their hearts to burn. Suddenly, they began to remember what it was like to be with Him. They knew it had to be Him.

It Had to Be Him!
The disciples knew they had been with Him because of the physical, emotional, and spiritual burning that continued even after He vanished. This burning heart phenomenon also happened to the prophets of old, like David, Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. David’s heart burned with passion for the Lord (Ps. 39:3). He desired one thing and was called a “man after God’s own heart” (Ps. 27:4; 1 Sam. 13:4, Acts 13:22). Moses talked to God face to face and breath to breath (Ex. 33:11, 18; Num. 12:8). Isaiah’s fiery encounter in Isaiah 6 with the coal to his lips transformed him from fearful and timid to bold and fearless (Is. 6:6-13). Jeremiah had fire in his heart and bones that compelled him to be true to his commission, even if it meant death (Jer. 20:9). But to these disciples, this was an awakening to the deep inner witness and recognition of the One with whom they were walking—the Christ.

What To Do With The Burning
Many find themselves feeling like they are of a few with this burning on the inside, not knowing what to do with it. I encourage you to keep on praying, worshipping, and intimately encountering the Lord! Pray about and find a local chuch expression of other burning ones with whom you can fellowship. The Lord will connect you with other burning hearts!

 

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Tammie Southerland

Sound the alarm! Blow the trumpet in Zion! Be Silent No More!

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I hear a sound coming from the depths of the souls of a company of people! They are beautifully adorned with the glory of the Father! They are His daughters—His radiant ones! They were born to blow the trumpet and birth a movement! Daughters, you were born for such a time as this! You were created to birth the living! You were made to birth a revolution that proclaims the identity of the church that has been overlooked and misunderstood; this identity is living eternally as the bride of Christ!

 

“…that He might present the Church to Himself a glorious bride, without spot or wrinkle or any other defect, but to be holy and unblemished” (Eph. 5:27 ESV).

 

You were made to manifest passionate intimacy that demands a response from heaven! He says to you that you are the beloved apple of His eye! You were born for this! The world has offered you the dainties of authority and leadership, and often the church system has attempted to keep you enslaved because of being female! But God chose to appear to a young woman named Mary to birth and rear the Savior of the World! You can lead governmental positions; be doctors, lawyers, teachers, and even presidential leaders, but in the church system you have been given much responsibility, often with no authority! This was never the plan of your Papa! He created His daughters to bear His image and to walk in His authority! You were created with a womb, spiritually and physically speaking, you were created to birth and powerfully nurture young and old, both men and women into their world-changing, God-given nature! You are both spiritually and naturally wired to be feelers and discerners, intercessors, and bearers of the beauty and glory of the Lord! You carry the revelation of passionate intimacy, and were created to shine the beauty of His heart to all the nations of the earth!

 

In 2015, I had an encounter with the Lord. In this encounter, He spoke these words to me, “In the same way that out of the womb of a woman was born the bridegroom Jesus, so will it be with the birth of His bride in these last days!” This encounter revealed the Father’s desire to overshadow His daughters to conceive of the dream of His to birth the bridal revelation in the last days! This revelation is His plan to bring about the greater glory and the latter rain! It is a revelation that goes well beyond the business of doing ministry, but dives deeply into the beauty of being His ministry in the earth! It is the revelation of the lovesick longing for His heart-to-heart connection to be fulfilled as promised!

 

His daughters carry the heavy revelation of the bridal identity! His bride is His passion, and the pure fire of jealousy that rages in His eyes is she! His bride is both male and female, just as His sons are! His bride is His church that the gates of Hell will not prevail against! The lovesick warriors who chose to be one with Him and desire to see Him will be made manifest on the earth as it is in heaven! His vision and His will—not just a man-made dream of building the “business of ministry”, but the God-conceived dream to birth and build heaven on earth!

 

Just as Esther risked her life by boldly opening her mouth and going to see the king unannounced; just as she risked her life to save her nation and generation, so now the Father is releasing His daughters into a season of declaring His name in the places where they have been hidden and ignored! Danny Silk of Bethel Church in Redding, California said it this way, “Women have received much responsibility in the church, but they’ve been given no authority.” This statement speaks of the heavy weight that has been placed on women to carry the baby, so-to-speak, but to not have the right to parent the very thing they have birthed! They have been forced to either abort what they have been carrying, or give it up to a male-only, single-parenting church system. This has produced a loveless and legalistic system that only allows for correction and legalism without nurture, care, and intimacy. When one takes on responsibility but has no authority, this equates to abuse and slavery!

 

“For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Gal. 3:27,28).

 

Paul writes these words to awaken the reader to the knowledge of being united in Christ and with one another! In that level of unity, they are one; the same way the Father is one with the Son and the Spirit. Mary had Joseph, Eve had Adam, and Christ has His bride. He choses to rule and reign with her! Giving her permission to speak, prophesy, rule, reign, and be His trumpet, both now and for all of eternity! The Esthers, Marys, Phoebes, and Deborahs of this hour, rising out of a long season of silence, are consumed with fasting and prayer, and even being healed from the barrenness imposed upon them by this legalistic, pharisaical system.

 

They are bringing forth a message that will bring freedom, passion and intimacy back into the church at large! They will invite the beloved church into a deeper intimacy that she has never experienced! You have heard it said, “Women, you shall be silent in the churches…just as the Law also says” (1 Cor. 14:34), but your Father has put a trumpet to your mouth! The man-made law that the Pharisees were teaching the Corinthians was abolished by the Beloved!

 

The scripture previously mentioned has been taken out of historical and scriptural context far too long, and has been used to enslave women to silence. Similarly in times past, scriptures were twisted to promote slavery, abortion, and other things that are abominable to the Lord! Paul’s letters are addressing the questions asked by the Corinthian church, as they were dealing with coming out of paganism and the imposed religious teachings of the Jews. Just before he contextually responds to their question, which they likely wrote to him in a letter, he wrote this in 1 Corinthians 14,

 

“For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets; for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

 

In a sense, he is saying, “You asked about whether or not women should be silent. That’s a crazy question! Why are you referring again to the law? Was it from you that the word of God first went forth, or has it come to you only? I just said, ‘all may prophesy!’ Just do it in decency and in order, so that there is no confusion” (1 Cor. 14:36, author’s paraphrase). The context of this section of scripture is in reaction to instruction of the newly converted Corinthian church and the amazing manifestation of the spiritual gifts. He is encouraging all to prophesy and to speak in tongues, and not to silence anyone, but to do it in an orderly fashion. He is telling them to stop reverting back to man-made tradition and law, reminding them of their freedom in Christ to be one!

 

“Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues. But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner” (1 Cor. 14:39-40).

 

The Lord is saying that He has given His daughters permission to speak! The enemy has attempted to silence your voices, but He is saying, “No More!” He has put a trumpet to their mouths and a longing in their hearts to manifest the beauty of the Bridal revelation in the earth! Now is the time and this is the hour! A pure women’s movement is arising! Let us rise up! Let the message of the wondrous beauty of the Bride and Bridegroom come forth, and may our nation and generation be saved!

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Tammie Southerland

Desperate

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DESPERATE

deperate in prayer

 

Often when we are desperate and weak, we call on someone whom we consider a prayer warrior to say ” I need you to pray for me!” Then we pour out our frustration and aching hearts before them.

 

Desperation is beautiful to the Lord and He loves when we are vulnerable enough to ask for prayer. He loves when we bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2) He loves when we acknowledge our weakness, for in doing so He can be our strength! But, often in our weakness, we run to other people before we go “Boldly to the Throne of Grace” for ourselves. (See Hebrews 4:16) We often feel too weak, weary, ashamed, or just don’t know how to pray about certain situations. He loves when we come to Him and to others  bold, broken and admittedly not having eloquent words. It is a beautiful thing when someone lifts that burden before the Lord for us! But, there is One who will pray not just for us, but with us and through us!  He will also work deep inner healing in us as He prays, but we must let Him!

“But if we hope for what we do not yet see, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:25-27

The Power of His Intercession

Did you see that? Did you catch the power of HIS intercession! He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God! He is God and of course He knows the very mind of God!  The Spirit of God  knows exactly how to pray His perfect will in our lives! Those deep groanings can be embarrassing to our dignity, but they are powerful, perfect, and mightly productive.

I mean really, what’s more vulnerable than spilling your deepest weaknesses out before a friend? Why not go first boldly to The Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Prov.18:24b); to The Friend who has  laid down His life that we might be able to run to Him in times like these? (see John 15:19)

He is welcoming us to bring all of our broken desperation to Him first- and in private!  You may  hear groanings coming out of the depths of your being. That is good! You are hearing HIM praying for you, with you, and through you the very heart and will of The Heavenly Father! The greatest religious tragedy of our day is that we don’t know how to pray. We have heard it taught that tongues of intercession have ceased! This is a lie from the pit of Hell! Satan is terrified of you groaning with Jesus in intercession for your life and the lives of others! If you do pray Satan wants you to try to make it eloquent, dignified and  therefore powerless. He wants you to leave your prayer time feeling as though God didn’t listen or that you don’t know how to pray anyway.  He knows that Jesus, The Great Intercessor, is releasing heaven and earth shaking groanings for us before the Throne of God and we are invited to join in! That enemy of God doesn’t want us to know that we can come boldly before the Throne of Grace  by the blood of Jesus to make intercession with Him!  In doing this we are pulling God’s perfect will in heaven into the earth (Matt. 6:10)! We are taking our rightful inherited place of dominion!  Satan knows that once the sons and daughters of God grasp this key the kingdom of darkness is done!

Let your Guts Groan

I challenge you today to make a ‘war room’ in an ‘inner room’ of your house; where you can go and just let your guts groan with the Lord daily. You will find less and less desperation to need others to pray for you and more and more the longing to pray with The Spirit of God Himself! Your strength will rise and you will soar with Him in heavenly places! (See Ephesians 2:6)  You will know more and more your identity as HIS child,  because you are communing with God before His very Thone daily! This will be your ‘daily bread’ or substance for life!  You will be desperate, hungry, and longing for Him!

Give it at least 20 minutes a day to begin with. Eventually,  you will find yourself wanting for more time in that secret place.  Resist every thought of  distraction. Turn off your phone and rebuke feelings of embarrassment or doubt. These feelings and thoughts often come  in these first 15-20 minutes, they are just the enemy’s lies and his attempt to try to get you to give up or get distracted. Don’t listen to a liar.  Listen to the voice of Truth, His voice,  break in!

 

Pray this, Father, I am desperate fill me to overflow from the inside out! Baptize me with more that just  water, but with Holy Spirit and Fire according to Matthew 3:11; pray for me and though me according to Romans 8:26! I am desperate for You!

Now, let Him be God! Be a doer of the Word not a hearer only!

Let me know how you are growing in intimacy with God! Share this post to help others!

Blessings

Tammie!

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Tammie Southerland

Covenant With Carolina

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Today, after almost two weeks of rain and “Historical Flooding”, the sun is shining in South Carolina! However, they tell us that the dams are continuing to break and that the flooding is not over. Water from the mountains is still trickling down, and more barriers are expected to break.

But I hear the Lord saying,SC you are here for a reason

“Barriers have been broken, and they are correct in saying more barriers will break! This flood was only the beginning! Barriers made by man’s hands will no longer stand against what I am doing in MY South Carolina!
From the mountains to the sea, they will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!
Out of the wilderness places, I am flushing out my beloved ones; they are coming with fire!
Even as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be with you. The flood brought cleansing and was a promise fulfilled….Many have been crying out for My reign!

Noah cried out (warned) the people and for 100 years he prepared a place of refuge. The rain came, but after the rain the sun came, and with it the rainbow, the sign of the covenant!
The rain fell, and the flood came, but I tell you this: a company of Ark Builders is yet arising! They are my sons and daughters who are proclaiming and preparing for My return!”

“So, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” (Matthew 24:33)

The Water A Sign & Covenant

fire rainbow

“This water was a sign of things to come!

NOW I am making a covenant with you, South Carolina and with North Carolina!
I am making a covenant with you! I am making a covenant with this generation, and it comes with a promise! It’s a promise of My return!

“Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift them up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in!” Psalm 24:9

My Bride will arise without spot or blemish, and every knee will bow and every tongue proclaim the Name above all Names, Jesus!

Carolina will be a voice to the nations! She will not be satisfied with lukewarm Christianity. She will be pure and will passionately pursue my heart!
She is washed with water, but soon she will be baptized with Holy Spirit and Holy fire! (Matthew 3:11).

You have seen the promised rain, but I am about to release Holy Fire!
My promise is true! As She unites, She will no longer be called ‘A State of Division,’ but She will be called ‘A State of Intercession.’ She will no longer be known as the state that pioneered oppression and division, but one who will pioneer freedom!
She will be a state flooded with my glory and who burns with desire for Me! As hearts become unified with each other and with Mine, My glory will fill her dry ravines.
Just as the ‘bow…in the clouds’ was a sign of a covenant promise, the time will come when I will fulfill my promise to return in my glory in the clouds (Genesis 9:13, Mark 13:26). My weighty glory and mantle of this promise is upon you, South Carolina!

Watch and wait, for you, my beloved Carolina, will be a voice to the Nation! I will release my fire after the rain! This rain was just a sign of my coming.

The fire of My passion and My glory will burn hotter in my Bride; for I will blow on her with the winds of My Spirit!”

Convergence is Coming e0a77abd-49d3-40e3-ae9e-07c3ad413bf5

“A convergence is coming from east to west! You will be called a ‘House of Prayer’, an ‘Altar of Fire’ and you will be a home to many of my people from different regions.”

As the world grows cold, my people in the Carolinas will burn. As the world rages around you in the coming days, you will host my presence and my peace. You will not be known for the flood, but for the fire!

Therefore, be alert! My messengers are emerging like a flood in this hour! They are bold as lions but meek as lambs. They are full of compassion and love but execute my justice, for they know they are mine! They will speak the truth with the very tone of My voice! Do not reject them, for if you do you, will again become a reproach. They will break the man made religious and political barriers, smash the idols of impurity, and restore My Heart into this land! He who has an ear let him hear! I am mantling you:

In doing these things, you will no longer be a reproach or a barren land.
Break forth in song oh Carolina. SING, for the barriers are breaking! The night is over, the SON is shining! Let the fire fall and sing! I make a holy covenant with you!”

“Shout for joy, O barren one, you who have borne no child; Break forth into joyful shouting and cry aloud, you who have not travailed; For the sons of the desolate one will be more numerous Than the sons of the married woman,” says the LORD. “Enlarge the place of your tent; Stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, spare not; Lengthen your cords And strengthen your pegs.…”
Isaiah 51:1,2

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