Connect With Carol Brown: learning curve

On this Pentecost weekend I was privileged to see a few glimpses from God's point of view. The one that pulled me up short was that I saw that I have been a reluctant warrior. God told me one time that there are many ways to war; I didn't want to hear it. I didn't care if there were many ways to war, I was not a fighter and didn't want to become one. I wanted to knit sweaters and spin yarns to my grandkids. Maybe bake a batch of cookies before I lose my touch--my oatmeal-raisin are awesome. But this was Pentecost weekend and He decided to "pour out!" He poured out a revelation on me and the experience changed something. I think He gave me a warrior identity. It's kind of like an undergarment that I will wear all the time, sort of like my Camel Hair Shirt--oh, I haven't told you about my Camel Hair Shirt? That will be the next post then.

What I learned/saw/experienced was seeing my pen as a sword. I don't actually use a pen anymore, I use a keyboard, but you understand the metaphor. I think God is expecting me to live my life as I currently do, but with the awareness that I am a word-warrior. I may knit; I may be storytelling or baking cookies but as warrior! Even high sensitivity has become a part of the warrior arsenal; it is like a motion detector that goes off when the enemy makes a move on one of the family of God within my sphere. It calls me to prayer on their behalf. It is like my "iron dome" that they use in Israel to warn of incoming rocket fire. It alerts me to intercessions in regard to things that weigh heavy upon the heart of God. There are times God's heart aches to move on our behalf but He waits for someone to invite Him to do that very thing that is on His heart to do.

One thing that is heavy upon God's heart is that people are becoming needless casualties of war because they lack knowledge and/or vision (Proverbs 29:18). "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (KJV). Or, "Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction" (NIV). Or, "If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed" (The Message). God wants to act--to give the revelation and the instruction, to create the vision! It weighs heavy on His heart.

Years ago the Lord made His calling to me clear: I was to "make it plain." He carefully planned and orchestrated my life to train my mind and to give me the eye/hand/spirit coordination to make things plain. Several times I thought I knew what He had in mind for me: first I thought it was Wycliffe Translation, then teaching, administration, ministry or a combination of all of that. All those years as "the language nut" were about acquiring the skills to make difficult things easily understood. Each one of those periods was a vital part of, but only a temporary assignment in, God's overall plan. Each assignment gave me a skill set and experience that I would need to write down the words I hear Him speak. I don't know yet what the next words are that He will have me write, but I sense that there is a mystery that He will make plain; something hidden He will bring into the light, a conundrum to make simple and easy to understand.

In a private little ceremony in my living room this weekend I received my flaming pen...it's a transformer pen! It. Is. Awesome! The Holy Spirit's presence can transform it into a sword (insert snapping fingers) just like that! I never know when it is going to happen either. I need to go exercise now to be physically fit in case it suddently turns into a sword and I have some swashbuckle fencing to do! In Highly Sensitive I warned readers that Jesus is a safe driver, but He doesn't slow down on the learning curve. I strongly urged them to buckle up! I think now I need to say, "Oooon Guard!"

So what happened on your Pentecost?

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Welcome Blog Hoppers!

Today is our last day : ( Thank you all for stopping by and leaving your comments and signing up for the Blog Hop Giveaway draw and my thanks to those who are "following"...it has been fun and such a blessing to meet so many wonderful people and discover what others are writing about, how God is moving.

As I promised, here is my second book on the subject of how highly sensitive people experience life. If you find it a struggle to manage, you may find some guidelines that will help you rein life in to where you can manage it! Take a look.

Self-help books, codependency teachings and recovery groups tell you that you are responsible for your own feelings. That no one else can "make" you feel a certain way, rather, it is a fault of your own thinking patterns. It is good and important to learn to take responsibility, but what if you have done everything you can to be responsible for "your own stuff,” and still feel deep uncontrollable feelings? What more can you do? Welcome to the ongoing quest to make sense of life—to find meaning among the odd and confusing thoughts and emotions that seem to come from “nowhere!”

Highly sensitive people—burden bearers—can easily become overwhelmed by the continual flow of sensory data. Your DNA drives you to "help," but it seems like everyone else’s agenda is worked on but never yours. You try to finish a task but are continually interrupted because their problem needs attention now! How do you stop people and life from overwhelming you? This book was written to help you rein life in so that it becomes more manageable.

· I talk about how to sort through the confusing jumble of “stuff”

· to figure out what is your own feeling, your own sore growth spot, from all that continually bombards you, and

· what is a burden God wants you to carry to the cross! Learning how to discern these differences is a huge learning and essential if you are to thrive as a highly sensitive Christian, rather than just survive.

If the enemy has you by both ears it is difficult to hear God!
Learning to bring intuitive responses to consciousness will be a process
Jesus is the master burden bearer—you and I are apprentices.

Burden bearing is learning to understand God’s language. You are learning a language, a spiritual language—and language learning takes time. Learning, means that you will not do it right the first time or all the time! And that is okay! The world will not stop spinning, and those you love will not self destruct if you “do not do it right” or miss it altogether.You will find help with that in this book.

If you have spent your life being the family’s emotional dumping ground or steam vent, told that you are too sensitive and you better toughen up, called crazy, a basket case, etc…if you have been mocked, dismissed minimized or rejected, after a while you begin to believe what others say, and agree. You begin to see yourself the way others describe you. Your reaction is “to not want to be this way” and to shut off the incoming emotion—if only you could! How you see and feel about yourself has a great deal to do with how you come to God and what you believe He can and will do because you ask Him to! If you are to thrive rather than just survive as a highly sensitive burden bearer you need to build or repair some inner structures. This book will help you do that.

Highly Sensitive, Learning to Live With The Gift focuses on the spiritual habits and disciplines you can develop to cooperate with God's plan for you. Many things God does for us, but we can learn, mature and developing spiritually--that is our part.

Seeing life from the perspective that it is a time of preparation was a comfort to me. Like Queen Esther, you will be presented to The King one day. This life is about learning how to walk, talk, live and love like royalty. And, if you are highly sensitive, burden bearing may be the spiritual workout regimen that molds and sculpts you into a striking resemblance of Jesus. My prayer is that in reading this book you will understand yourself better, that it will help you be kinder to yourself, and provide you with specific and practical things you can do as you cooperate with God to heal and restructure your inner being! Some chapters lend themselves to more in-depth meditation and personal work with the Lord. For those chapters, I designed worksheets which you may download free from my website: www.fromgodsheart.com (Click Downloadables tab.)

I was 40 before I learned about burden bearing. What a relief that was! Life does not have to be burdensome. You do not have to endure life as a joyless existence, to hang on until eventually God calls you home! Be encouraged—there is hope and meaning. Jesus will take you at your word when you ask Him to be in charge of your sensitivity. That puts Him in the driver’s seat, so buckle your seat belts! He doesn’t slow down on the learning curve—and it is a doozie! Hang on and enjoy the ride!

Highly Sensitive is available on Amazon, from Destiny Image Publishers, and my website (www.fromgodsheart.com) if you would like an autographed copy!

Blessings, Carol

P.S. Be sure to sign up for the drawing! Today is the last opportunity. Tomorrow I will find out who wins the prize of a set of books! And if you have comments do leave them and I will respond ASAP!

Blog Hop Participants:

1. Lorilyn Roberts (John 3:16 Network Blog) –http://john316mn.blogspot.com/

2. Lynn Dove – Word Salt (Host blog) - http://wordsalt.wordpress.com/

3. Laura J. Davis - http://interviewsandreviews.blogspot.com/

4. Paulette Harper - http://www.pauletteharperjohnson.blogspot.com/

5. Carol A. Brown - http://connectwithcarolbrown.blogspot.com/

6. April Gardner - http://www.aprilwgardner.com/

7. Sue Russell – http://www.suerussellsblog.blogspot.com/

8. Thomas Blubaugh - http://tomblubaugh.net/

9. Susan F. Craft – http://historicalfictionalightintime.blogspot.com/

10. Heather Bixler – http://heatherbixler.com/

11. Joy Hannabass – http://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/