Cookin' in my kitchen and what do I see...

Sweet little Kate smilin' back at me!

And the Lord Remembered

Tiffany Ann Lewis: "And the Lord Remembered"

Are you feeling like your promise is always just around the corner and never in your hand? You have received words upon words, promises upon promises from the Lord and you know that fulfillment is just around the corner, yet it seems like your corner never comes. I guess at a subconscious level I was feeling this way, so the Lord woke me up one morning with these encouraging words, "And the Lord remembered."

The first time we see this phrase in the Bible is in Genesis 8:1 as Noah and the crew were enclosed in the ark for the duration of the flood. As the waters prevailed on the earth, the ark was tossed to and fro in the storm. Day after day they waited for the land to be dry again. Talk about something that seems to be just around the corner.
"Then God remembered..." Genesis 8:1

This does not imply that God forgot; rather, it announces that the fulfillment of His promise is finally at hand. In Hebrew, the word for remembered is Zakar (Strong's Concordance # 2142). It is a verb, an action word, meaning to recall something, to remember, to call it to mind. God remembered the previous commitment He had given to Noah. It was now time for Him to activate the promise He made. God was about to act on His word.

Notice the Scripture reference, 8:1. Eight is the number of new beginnings; Noah and the crew were on the threshold of a new beginning. The rains have ceased and the storm is over. The ark has come to rest and the waters are beginning to subside and it looks as though the corner is finally here and their promise is at hand. But wait, there is still more waiting. At the end of forty more days, Noah opened the window and sent out a raven and a dove (Genesis 8:6-8). The raven just kept flying back and forth on its own, but the dove returned to the ark because there was no other resting place for her feet. This signaled to Noah that it was not yet time to leave the safety of the ark.

Beloved, often when it feels as though we are "stuck in our ark" God is really keeping us enclosed to protect us from something. Wisely, Noah waited seven more days before sending the dove out for the second time (verse 10). This time she came back with a freshly picked olive leaf in her mouth, signaling the corner was really just around the corner, but Noah waited yet another seven days before sending the dove out for the third time (verse 12). The dove didn't return this time, yet still Noah waited until he heard the Lord speak and give the command to leave the ark (verse 15). The dove and the raven have symbolic importance here. If we follow the raven's example, we will fly around and around, never finding rest for our weary soul. However, the dove, which is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, will guide us and lead us into all truth as we wait on Him. (See John 16:13.)

God Helps Us Wait

The problem that arises during the waiting process is that our minds begin to wander, and we can drift through the doorway of doubt. Even if you are a seasoned Christian, it does not mean that you are immune to the devil's schemes. We may not even realize it, but in these moments of vulnerability the devil gets in there and says, "Has God indeed said _____???" (Genesis 3:1b) Fill in the blank yourself. What has God said to you? We can become disappointed as we wait on and on and it looks as though God is not going to come through. We may even begin to wonder if we heard Him correctly in the first place.

Disappointments are painful and they can trigger negative emotions like doubt, worry and fear. Doubt--"Nothing good ever happens to me." Worry--"What if my corner never comes?" Fear--"Did God forget me?" These feelings only become magnified as we witness others coming into their promises while we wait on. In our conscious mind we know God is faithful, but some place deep in our subconscious a wave of doubt might be stirring. These thoughts act like an undertow pulling us out into the sea of uncertainty as we wonder if we'll ever come upon dry land again.
The Bible does not tell us that Noah experienced any of these feelings, but the reality is that most of us do. Maybe today you are feeling a bit discouraged in the waiting. I know I was, and that is why the Lord spoke to me in a dream and a vision. God encourages us along the way--just look at Noah. He had a lot of waiting to go through--we all do--but each step of the way God sent him encouragement. The rains did come to an end, the waters did subside, and the dove did return with an olive branch. God helps us wait! I needed to be encouraged desperately; I was buying the lies that the devil was telling me. I was growing weary and doubting if the corner would ever come when, suddenly, the Lord took me firmly by the shoulders and said, "Tiffany Ann, be still!! ...and know that I am God."

Quoting myself from February's Monthly Manna 2008, "It takes tremendous faith to 'be still, and know that I am God'" (Psalm 46:10). It takes a faith we don't possess to be still in the midst of the storm and remain convinced that He has not forgotten us or the promise He made. These storms come in many different forms such as financial hardships, sickness, regret, failure and even death. "O death, where is thy sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55). O yes, there is life after death, hallelujah, but meanwhile there is a life to live, and the burning sting of disappointment can throw us way off course.

It's okay to feel hurt and disappointed; we just can't let those feelings cause us to fly around and around like the raven, or else we'll be exhausted both physically and spiritually. If Jesus had not held me still that day, I would have remained discouraged, doubtful, and worse--I would have remained, spiritually, right where I was and not move forward into my destiny.
God Cannot Escape His Faithfulness--He Gave His Word

I believe the Lord is trying to bring us to the place where we can wait without worry, a type of faith place where we won't wrestle with our thoughts and emotions all the time. A place of peace where we can fly as the dove did above the floodwaters that are in our lives and find rest as we wait in Him, our Ark. This waiting is what will bring us to the threshold of our Genesis 8:1, "Then God remembered..." It's our new beginning where we will see the fulfilled promises of God manifested.

Beloved, the promises of God are received in one place, the Promised Land, and it's our heart-convinced faith that will bring us there. It is shocking when we realize in Hebrews 3:19 that many did not enter into the Promised Land because of their unbelief. Can you see why Jesus addresses this issue with His disciples over and over again? The disciples were the believers, yet Jesus is addressing their beliefs, or rather their lack of them. Can you see why He told Peter He was going to pray for his faith? Can you see why He invited Thomas to touch His hands and side? Can you see why He would give me a dream and vision?

He is encouraging us, building up our faith. Beloved, God wants us to trust Him and take Him at His word so we can enter in. The devil's taunting words of, "Has God said?" should never have power over us as believers! God cannot escape His faithfulness; He is moved by His very character to fulfill all His promises. He gave His Word!
"God is not a man, that He should lie." Numbers 23:19

Maybe you are waiting on the promise of a restored relationship, health, happiness, peace, joy, love, or financial prosperity. These aren't Christian fairy tales; these are part of the abundant life that Jesus said He came to give. God is faithful. Maybe God told you to write a book, sing a song, start a church, feed the hungry or visit the lonely, yet every step you take forward the devil pushes you back two with that same old phrase, "Has God indeed said?" We can't let it distract us one more time from who we are and who God called us to be. We must not give up. It's in the waiting that we will see God's promises fulfilled. We are on the threshold; the corner really is just around the corner.

Beloved, never forget, God always remembers and He will complete His destiny in your life. Amen! "But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Tiffany Ann LewisDancing with the Flame of the Lord MinistriesEmail: tiffanyann@tiffanyannlewis.com

Tiffany Ann Lewis is a prophetic worship leader and speaker whose heart has been passionately awakened by a God who sees us in our shortcomings and loves us in spite of it all (Ezekiel 16). It is this message of Hope--God's burning love for humanity--that she desires to share through word or song wherever she goes.Tiffany Ann has been ministering for over 10 years in prophetic worship throughout the Body of Christ. She worships with her family at Northway Church in Malta, New York, where she serves on the worship team.

Tiffany Ann Lewis' Itinerary: May 4, 2008 - 9:30 a.m. Worship at Spirit & Truth Christian ChurchSchenectady, NY

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So, what are we missing???

Most of you know I struggle with arthritis. For some reason, my first pregnancy seemed to trigger it's evolution. For eight years I've daily struggled with pain. Most of the time it's very liveable. A few times a year, the arthritis "flares" causing a tremendous increase in pain. I have had it in my toes, both my feet, both my knees, my fingers, wrists, jaw, and possibly my neck. No fun. I've asked God to take it away. I've asked the Holy Spirit why it's there and what can be done about it. I've been prayed over more times than I can count. I've cursed it, cast it out, rebuked it, sought roots to it. I've seen multiple doctors, taken unconventional therapies, and been on extremely restrictive diets for very extended periods of time. Some of it has seemed to help for a season, but always I'm back to pain.


I'm puzzled, annoyed, perplexed, dismayed, and when I'm hurting really bad, I'm totally distraught. My ever increasing bewilderment is this... WHY? With His stripes, Jesus paid a high price for me to walk in complete restoration. So why can't I get there?


I know He wants me to walk in wholeness. With every fiber of my being I know He can, and perhaps even already has made me whole, but why do I still hurt?

As the body of Christ why don't we daily walk in the supernatural? Jesus commanded us to preach the gospel, cast out demons, raise the dead and HEAL THE SICK. Why don't we? The Old Testament prophets did, the New Testament apostles did, what's our problem?

If we're born again, filled with the Spirit, seeking His face and hearing His voice WHAT ARE WE MISSING???

Are you avoiding me?

So, if you purposefully avoided answering my question to the gas pump post because you were embarrassed to tell the TRUTH, you're a big WEENIE!

You probably guessed since I posted the question I was struggling with the pervasive American thought, "Of course, FILL UP! It's their mistake. They have to honor that price. It's not stealing ~ we are paying for it after all!"

I don't like the "WWJD" marketing theme. Though a brilliant slogan, I just saw it on too many t-shirts, bracelets and coffee mugs for it to produce any fond affection in my heart anymore. With that said, I truly do have a hard time seeing Jesus pull away from the 35 cent gas pump, having just filled his suburban up for $7.00, instead of $70.00, his long hair blowing in the wind, a big smile on His face, saying to Himself, "Omniscience ROCKS! That was one SWEET deal!"

I'm reminded of a verse, I Cor. 10:23 & 24. It says:
"Everything is permissible ~ but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible ~ not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others."

I'm sure we're all thinking, "Is too beneficial!" Beneficial to my wallet! But, is it beneficial to your conscience?

We are called to answer to a higher Authority.

Thanks to the THREE that responded!

Fuel for thought

So this morning on the radio I heard about that gas station over in Wilmington, North Carolina, where the attendant accidently programmed the premium pumps for 35 cents per gallon instead of $3.35. It started about 9 am. People called their friends, and those people called more people until there was so much traffic the police were called for crowd control. The mistake was finally realized late that afternoon.

Would you have filled up???

My Crayola Wonder

Does this mean blue poop cometh?

Our social worker came last evening for our first post - placement visit. She needed 8 photos to send in with her report, which will be forwarded to Korea. (Ummm, she won't be getting this pic!) She will return 2 more times, June and September for 2 additional reports and then we can meet with an attorney and finalize Kate's adoption! (Korea doesn't finalize in-country like some other countries do)

Kate is 10 months TODAY!

Makin' Jook

Kate's foster mother lovingly packed her some food for her journey home. Included was some sort of mushy, gooey rice resembling oatmeal that smelled heavenly. We asked her, via our interpreter how to make it, but a lot was lost in the translation process. When I got home, I threw the question out to an adoption forum that I had been a part of and found out it's called "Jook". I was told it's the baby food of choice for all Korean mothers. It's just sticky rice with lots and lots of water cooked for a long time (sort of like a risotto). The rice falls apart, become glutenous, and is seasoned with meat, broth, bouillon, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, vegetables, dried seaweed, sesame oil, soy sauce or whatever you wish to add. I'm so glad I found out how to make it. Gerber just wasn't doing it for Kate when she arrived, and I honestly don't know what I would do without it! I now make it about once a week ~ it's such a big staple item for her. I know there are lots of other Korean families that peek in here from time to time, so I just wanted to make sure you knew about Jook! Here's a couple of links if your interested in trying it:

http://whatscooking.jdpages.com/kellys_jook_rice_porridge.html



http://www.xanga.com/item.aspx?user=koreancooking&tab=weblogs&uid=365967081

Rewards for a home school mom....

Callie used to HATE to read. Today after she finished reading her assignment out loud to me, she curled up in the corner to continue reading ahead by herself ~ now a common occurrence around here! I'm a happy mommy!

Victory at the baking drawer!

So, do you kid-proof your house, or house train your child???

Kate loves to play in my baking drawer just underneath the oven ~ a very good thing. Yesterday she was carelessly banging my favorite glass loaf pans together ~ very bad thing. Instead of rearranging my whole kitchen and removing the glass loaf pans, I sat down on the floor with her and began baking drawer lesson 101. I pointed to the glass loaf pans and calmly said, "No, no." As expected, her chubby little hand almost instantly reached for the glass pans. I flicked her knuckles with my finger and gently repeated, "No, no". Then I showed her she could play with all the other drawer contents, just not the glass loaf pans. This exact scenario repeated itself several times. Finally, she made a choice to reach for something else. A decision that I highly praised with lots of smiles and accolades. She played contentedly there for some time.

Today she again opened up the drawer. I saw her curious hand start toward the glass pans. Halfway there she started waving that hand in the air and redirected it elsewhere in the drawer. She looked at me to see if I had noticed. Of course I had. Many more praises, smiles and accolades came her way. She's a happy member of the house.

We've found removing all "off limits" objects is a disservice to a child's world. Taking a minute to establish a boundary helps them to feel secure, and lays a lifelong foundation in obedience and self control. (Of course we remove the dangerous and harmful stuff!) And, oh, how rewarding it is for your child to walk in obedience, even at 9 months! (They're happier, too!)

Drool bombs

Strategically placed by our youngest to sabotage unsuspecting bare feet everywhere!