Date Night and Leadership Presbytery

A Few Pics...

Scott, my warrior/Knight in cowboy gear!



My stunning outfit...

The Couple headed out for

Dinner at Rockfish,

Presbytery at church,

and Dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.

Putting to work that decorator gift I had called out...

I painted this picture in a couple of hours on Sunday.

It represents Scott's Presbytery in picture.

On Thursday evening last week, our church offered us the opportunity to be blessed, encouraged and called forth according to the giftings and callings God has placed in us both individually and as a couple.

I have recently commented on this blog about how the gift of prophecy is encouraged and presented to the body by the leadership of our home church.

First let me say that we sat in a small room with one other couple and three prophetic team members who offered us words they heard while praying for and asking the Lord about us. We had not ever met any of the five people we shared a room with that night before.

When receiving Presbytery the members are often encouraged to submit the prophetic words to the Lord and only receive what He confirms to us.

Prophetic ministry is administered according to Paul's teachings in 1 Corinthians 14. I pray for two things as I share this with you tonight.

1. That you would glean from the fields the Lord planted for us that night. Pastor Brady Boyd says you can't steal from the Holy Spirit - so if any of the words that follow ring true in your life - take them for yourself.

2. That God's words of encouragement, edification, comfort and exhortation that were spoken to us that night would be made sure - that our calling would be secure and that our submission to His will would bear much fruit.

I pray you are blessed by what you receive.

MICHELLE BENTHAM

Michelle, I see you bringing great beauty into people’s lives. It’s like I see you in a barren room, and you have a basket and you are pulling out these beautiful, beautiful objects. Pottery and Glass and Decorations for the windows, but it’s – I have a feeling that people who are lacking in their lives who don’t have that extra, who don’t have that beauty, who haven’t encountered the living God like you have are drawn to you. And, you champion them. You partner with them to show them the richness of what their true inheritance is. Because what you are pulling out isn’t what you’ve bought, it’s what Jesus purchased for them. And, you are helping them know that they know that they know this is really their inheritance. You are not showing them something that is you. You are showing them themselves. And, I just feel Father’s love for you for doing that. You’ve opened people’s eyes to the richness of Christ, to the richness of their Father God, and you delight His heart.

Well, Michelle, this is what I feel like the Lord wants to say to you. I just, what I heard was that you were a wild flower, perfect and beautiful. You dance with delight and I am so pleased. Your heart of worship is pure, true and strong. I smell a sweet fragrance around you when you dance. I just heard, “Dance, dance, dance!” I don’t know if you dance, but maybe He wants you to dance. Worship Me like never before! I want to spend time with you and I want you to know Me.

Hidden things will be revealed and truth is coming to you about your present situation. You have the gift of wisdom. I want to bring clarity and focus to you.

Jeremiah 33:3 “Ask ME and I will tell you some remarkable secrets about what is going to happen here.”

A Wildflower is a flower that can be hidden on a hill only for My eyes or it can be for the pleasure of any man. That’s how I have made you. You minister to Me, but you also minister to others. You are soft and sweet and you draw people to you.

You know how to navigate people with ease and grace. They are comfortable in your presence and because of this trust they come to you for wisdom and counsel. Speak MY words and speak them often. I have made you to be an encourager and I want you to look for every opportunity to share. It doesn’t have to be heavy, just be available. A word here, a word there, and opportunities will present themselves in ways that will astound.

People just want to be loved. These are hard time. You bring refreshing. Do as I ask and you will develop the gifts within. You are a jewel in my crown!

Michelle, when I prayed for you the first two words that came so clearly were that you are gifted and that you’re treasured. And, the Scripture was in Matthew 6:21 where it says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”(AMP) And I really feel like what the Lord said to me was You are…Because you have…You know where your treasure is. You know where your heart is. You have chosen to plant your heart in Him, and He sees you as a treasure. He sees you as just a very, very precious thing to be cherished, and He does cherish you.

Um… I felt like the Lord said you’ve had great brokenness in your life. Great Brokenness. He took me to Isaiah 61 about beauty for ashes. And, the Lord has been systematically over the last (however long) He has been giving you beauty for those ashes. And what He’s calling you to now is what it says in Isaiah, to bind up the brokenhearted. He’s sending you back! Sometimes it’s going to feel like you’ve gone backwards in your brokenness, you haven’t. You’re whole. You’re healed. But He’s sending you back to that point because there are other people who are broken and they need to be brought back to where you are. They need to be brought forward, that’s what I feel like the Lord’s really calling you to.

Um… The Lord says you are a declarer of good tidings, of glad tidings. You’re like those angels that come in and say, “Holy is the Lord.” You know, “Praise to Him.” You are that kind of a person. And, He’s going to give you more opportunities to share those glad tidings to lift people up. You’re going to turn people into optimists. You’re going to help them see the goodness of the Lord.

I felt like the Lord said you have a mothering spirit. That you are a good mom. You are a special mom. And, that you are a champion of families. And, that you are a champion of your own family. And you have done really, really well at championing your family. And, you’ve changed your family line. From here on out it’s different because of the lines in the sand you’ve drawn. And the Lord just wants to commend you for that. And the song I keep hearing, I don’t usually hear songs so that’s interesting, is that Beatles song, “Michelle, my belle…” And the Lord just said that you are the Love of His Life and the Apple of His Eye, and He just wants you to remember that.

SCOTT BENTHAM
(And As A Couple)

Well, Scott I feel like what the Lord wants to say to you… And, I just felt this so strongly… I just felt like the Lord say that you are a warrior. He is like David, fearless in battle. He can take out the lion or the bear.

So, I went to 1 Samuel. He led me to 1 Samuel 17:34-37 “I have been taking care of my father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and take the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death. I have done this to both lions and bears and I’ll do it to this pagan Philistine, too, for he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who saved me from the claws of the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine!”

Scott is fearless. He has a heart to shepherd and protect my people. He leads with compassion and strength. You have a real heart of courage. You are a healer and deliver. I mean just a real leader.

Um… I heard the Lord say Lead My People! Stand Strong! I’ve made you to be bold as a lion! And the verse, the Scripture that goes with that is Proverbs 28:1.
“THE WICKED flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion.” Proverbs 28:1 (AMP)

Um… Don’t shrink back! Move Forward! Always charge the battle, the victory is yours. Don’t stop to look at the enemy but press ahead.

I went, I then felt led to go to 2 Samuel 6:17-21. After David was anointed King, He came to seek God’s face before fighting the Philistines. He asked the Lord if he was to fight them and if he would win. The Lord said, Yes, I will certainly give you the victory. David went on to defeat the Philistines and he named the place Baal-Perazim (which means the Lord who bursts through).
“17 Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. 18 The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. 19 So David inquired of the LORD, saying, "Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?" And the LORD said to David, "Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand." 20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. 21 And they left their images there, and David and his men carried them away.” 2 Samuel 5:17-21 (NKJV)

I just felt like that you charge the enemy. You believe what God has to say. There is no turning to the left or the right. You are pushing through, you are breaking through, and you are going on to victory. Nothing else will do.

David had many battles and many victories. I am with you just as I was with David. David knew his God. Know Me! Memorize My Word. It will carry you through the tough times to victory. Spend time in My presence with worship. You’re a man after God’s own heart!

(COUPLE) And, I just believe that because of the worship between the two of you, I think God’s hand of protection is upon you. And, I believe you walk in unity. And that is where, Psalm 133 is where because of the unity the oil was poured on Aaron and ran down the beard and because of the unity God commanded a blessing from the throne room. And, I just believe that God will command a blessing from you because you spend time, you worship Him, you know Him. And, I just believe breakthrough is coming.

Psalm 133
1 A Song of Ascents. Of David.
BEHOLD, HOW good and how pleasant
it is for brethren
to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment
poured on the head,
that ran down on the beard,
even the beard of Aaron
[the first high priest],
that came down upon the collar
and skirts of his garments
[consecrating the whole body].
3 It is like the dew of [lofty]
Mount Hermon and the dew
that comes on the hills of Zion;
for there the Lord
has commanded the blessing,
even life forevermore
[upon the high and the lowly].
Psalms 133:1-3 (AMP)

Scott, I see you dressed like a lumberjack with a huge double-bladed ax. And there are people around you who are trapped. It’s like brambles have grown up, thorns have grown up and trapped them. And, you’re able to go in and clear cut that, and free them. You are a… And, you had no regard for yourself. These are things that could easily attack you. You had… It didn’t matter. All you could see were the people who were captured, and had been taken captive by the enemy. And, you had a plan and you had ability because you knew your God was with you. And, I see you just swinging that double-bladed ax and the things that had captured them just falling off and bringing them forth.

(COUPLE) And, I see you together as a team. As I see you (Scott) bringing forth those that are captured, I see you (Michelle) furnishing the things they’ve never had. And there is just like this open field full of flowers where there were just thorns and thistles before. And, there is a great strength that comes between the two of you being together, and being who you are.

And, the Lord respects you, Scott, for the stand you’ve taken. You didn’t see this growing up, but with eyes of faith you’ve been able to see what your Father’s wanted you to do. And, He admires you, and respects you for the walk you’ve chosen to do with Him.

Scott, I also heard that you’re a warrior. And, um…What I heard the Lord say was Stand Tall. Root yourself on the front lines and don’t move. I’ve given everything over into your hands. And, I really felt very strongly that the Lord was just saying that sometimes there is definite temptation to retreat, but you don’t have a reason to. You only need to retreat if you are losing, and you’re not losing. And, you’re not going to lose. And, so, that fear doesn’t need to be there. You can just give that fear over to the Lord, and let it go because there isn’t a reason to fear. You’ve already won. And, now it’s just a matter of carrying out the rest of the battle.

Um… the Lord said you have such a heart of tenderness and compassion. And, that is interesting because it seems like that is the juxtaposition of a warrior. Warriors are thought to be so strong and tough and hard. And, yet inside you have such tenderness and compassion. You know what you are fighting for, and the Lord really wants to commend you for that because that’s so important that you’re heart has stayed tender. It’s stayed tender to Him, it’s stayed tender to people.

The Lord said that you are a faithful friend. And, that’s going to come into play more and more because there are some important and significant friendships that are coming your way. And they’re not only going to help to advance the plans and the calling of what the Lord’s doing in your life – what He’s calling you to do. But, they’re also going to minister to you. They are going to give back some of the things that you’re giving out. And the Lord is wanting you… It’s going to be a good season. It’s going to be a very good season so treasure those relationships.

Um…And, I felt like the Lord said you have a prophetic gift. I don’t know if it is something that is active right now or if it is something that is coming, but I felt like the Lord said you’re a Seer. That He’s going to be showing you things in the future, and He’s going to be showing you the people and the places where you’re going to be assigned. And, I felt like it was going to be in the marketplace. That you have a calling to the marketplace. And you’re going to be assigned and charged with taking the church into the world. And there are going to be some very significant strides that you make in the world. That you are going to show people who don’t know otherwise that church is not a building. Church is what God does in your heart. That that’s what’s important.

So… I just want to encourage you that the Lord has very significant things for you. Very significant, very important things that He’s going to call you to do. And, um… You have a good wife by your side who going to support you. And, um… the Lord’s already placed in you what you need to be able to do this. It’s all there.

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus, Lord God we love you and we thank you. We just give you praise. Lord I just thank you for the heart of courage you have placed within this man. Lord, I thank you that he is out there, that he is a warrior, that he is fighting battles, that he is looking out for Your people that you’ve called him to be a shepherd. Father, I thank you that He has no fear. And, that he charges the enemy and the enemy just doesn’t get away with anything. Lord, I ask that You strengthen him and give him courage. And, Lord, just let him always see… let him see in the natural what’s in the supernatural. Father, I just ask that You stir up those gifts within him, and just give him the opportunities and the open doors. I thank You that You are Baal-Perazim, You are the Lord of breakthrough. And, that you are breaking through.

And God, I thank You so much for Michelle. I thank You for her heart of worship. And, I thank You that she draws people, that she refreshes that she brings encouragement. And Father we just praise You, I thank You that You’re going to show her those great and mighty things that she does not know. That You are bringing her into clarity and focus and revelation. Father, they’re a good team, and I ask that You protect their marriage. Just put a wall of fire around them.

Father I just thank You so much that as a couple they stand before Your throne and raise their hands in praise to who You are. Father, we can see a man and a woman but you see a Diety – You see them together – you see them portraying Jesus and the Church. And, that love that pours forth from them draws many to them. Father, I thank You for both of them and You stir up the gifts of prophecy and whatever means You have for them. Father I just have a sense that it is very deep and very strong in both Scott and Michelle. And that Father you are bringing them into a new season of being exactly who You intend them to be in the body. That the prophecy will pour forth from them to those who are hurt, who are lame, who are dying and will bring them encouragement, comfort, deliverance and freedom. Father, I just thank You that You are their provisioner that everything they need for life and godliness You provide for them. And, Father we just thank You that You pour Your blessing on them because they are so dear to Your heart. You cherish who they are, and Father we just thank You for the gift they are to the body.

I miss my man...

Scott has been away now for nearly one full month. He will return home on Wednesday for a few days before heading back out for another month to work in West Virginia. Your prayers would be appreciated both for safe travel and for our marriage.

As I wrote earlier in the year our marriage hit the rocks pretty big in December and January. All of that was preceded by six weeks of my hubs working away from home. I would just appreciate it if my prayer warrior friends would elevate him and his relationship with the Lord while he is away. AND, elevate me and my relationship with both the Lord and my husband as we work through the weeks ahead that we will be apart. My heart misses HIM. I wish he were home already and know that this is only season. I miss the one my heart loves. I miss him terribly.

So... In honor of my fella - I am going to write the ten things I appreciate the most about him:

1. His heart for his family. He loves our children and He loves me. Every morning before he leaves for work we talk on the phone and pray for our day, our family and the decisions we need to make. When he is home he always is sure to kiss me goodbye and we typically pray each morning together as well. This is new to him and he has so committed himself to remembering to honor the Lord with me each morning in prayer.

2. His strong work ethic. Scott is a bit of a perfectionist. He often would tell me his bosses would say that he did good work, but was slow when he worked in sheet metal. But what he wouldn't tell you was his penchant for doing the job not just well, but taking the time to do it right - with excellence. He often still evaluates the soffit work on new buildings if sheet metal is involved. At Verizon, he is often told to slow down. Though he often works quickly, he gets very frustrated if a job is not done well --- he is a standard bearer in the work place.

3. Scott's concern for others. Scott so blessed my heart when Justin was in the hospital. He would not leave me there alone first of all. He slept in the waiting room on an uncomfortable bench so I could stay the night with my son. He also knew the story of every family in the waiting room. He came back with a list of prayer requests and concerns for others while our own family was in the throws of crisis. He was also the first to offer the food that was brought to our family to others. Scott has always been one to bring back the prayer concerns of others.

4. His smile... When Scott smiles - his entire face smiles - especially his eyes.

5. I miss his mood eyes. No kidding he has hazel eyes, but when his mood changes so does his eye color from dark brooding gray to a light, misty lime-green when he is feeling amorous. I love the way his eyes capture me.

6. The way he smells when he arrives home from work. Okay, so this is weird - sort of - his earthy, musky just home from work smell is intoxicating. It smells warm and it just works me over every single time. I don't like it day old. But, fresh through the door - it is one of my favorite things --- hugging my hubs when he gets home.

7. His arm around me at church. It is the sweetest thing to receive the word with my husband's arm across my back. It is one of the safest feelings in my world.

8. When he says, "I love you, Baby." And kisses me. My favorite is when he slips his hands up into my hair and cups my head and kisses me tenderly - not long or crazy, but just a sweet, intentional kiss on the lips that says more than words ever do.

9. That he takes out the trash and has recently begun helping with the dinner dishes.

10. That he is still with me. After all the time, turmoil and the craziness that has been our blended life... He is still here working it out with me. I'm so blessed to have this man as my husband.

AND well there is one more: The man would come home from working all day when I was down in 2002 with a bum knee. He would help me into the truck and drive me 20 miles to my favorite sno-cone stand to get me a large cherry sno-cone. He is totally the bomb! :)

I love you, baby!

A History Lesson...

September 1, 2009 goes down in my book as one of the most revelatory days in my journey with Christ I've ever had. I did my devotional reading that day in Genesis 1:1-Genesis 2:25 and the following is what I reflected from that reading:

First, I had some questions.

• I noted that God made significant distinctions regarding the lights in the heavens He created verses the darkness, and between mankind and the animals. Read it for yourself. I read the NKJV... but I'm sure there will be revelation in any translation. Particularly interesting was that He had made the sun and moon and stars to "rule over" His creation (Day/Night). And taht He made a significant distinction between how He set man apart from the animals. Man was made according to the image/likeness of God, but the animals each were created according to their own kind.

• My questions... Why? Why? What does that mean? So I asked the Lord to show me what He wanted me to know about Him.

After I asked that question, this is what I read: Genesis 2:4 "This is the history of the heavens and the earth..."

And at exactly that moment something in me came alive. It was like I suddenly knew why I was so curious at that moment. My journal reflects that glorious moment so much better than my memory does - so read on to learn what it meant to me:

"God has been writing a story...a history, rich with people, experiences, action, drama, struggle, victory, power, intrigue and beauty. But, these things are not the heart of what He wants the history to reveal. The history of the heavens and the earth reveal not just what God has done - they reveal who He is and what He desires to do... His plan.

The history of the heavens and the earth involve stories - stories about God, angels and people. It unfolds like a map across time and each story reveals a clue, a revelation about the manifest presence of God, His character, and His nature that points to the depravity of our human condition and nature as well as our utter need of His loving redemption and truth.

The history of heaven and earth reveals the lengths that love will go to reveal itself to the one who beloved.

My story tells a part of that - and by allowing me to choose, He has allowed me to come alongside Him and write the story He is telling through my life.

It really is all about Him and what He wants to do in and through me... That week God spoke to me about something He had showed me a long time ago. It was something I believed that was related to my husband and his ministry, but God said, "You have Healer and Restoration written all over you." Oh Lord, I told everyone that week that by Friday I could just go and fall on my face before Him I was so in awe and so blessed by what He was doing. He is so good. So beautifully, faithfully good. I love Him so.