ariel brittany’s blog
replace this ariel view with Your aerial viewArchive for April, 2009
Spirit of Adoption and Believer’s Rest
This is a follow up to my 4/9 blog – the section regarding the correlation between entering a place of rest and the spirit of adoption. I was struck a little while back by Matt 11:25-30.
At that time Jesus said, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. 26″Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 27″All things have been handed over to Me by My Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father; nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28″Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29″Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30″For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Verses 28-30 are familiar to many. However I would venture to say that most of us struggle on some level to truly live out the realities of an easy yoke and a light burden in our day to day lives. Perhaps this is because often we forget the importance of the three preceding verses (25-27) where Jesus points out His own sonship as well as His role in revealing the Father’s heart to us.
Hebrews 4:1 says, “Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.”
More and more it is the cry of my heart that Jesus would indeed will to reveal the Father to me – that I would be in a healthy place of fear for as long as I am not fully abiding in the fullness of the supernatural rest He has prepared.
I want to have such confidence and rest in the Father’s affection that, just like Jesus, I can sleep through the wildest of storms. With a simple, “be still” I want to return to that place of dominion and authority that we had back in the garden before the fall – that perfect relationship with the Father (which Jesus died to restore) that calms the most untamed of seas.
I Have a Story
April 21, 2009
Come listen My daughter, come listen My son,
I have a story for you, a masterpiece for each one
New chapters with new seasons,
New lessons, all perfect reasons
Both blessings and pain
Usually sunshine mixed with rain
Each tale is uniquely designed
And everything perfectly timed
No two stories are ever the same
But constant is that I always reign
I write the end before each begins
And I see all through an eternal lens
There will be shifts and changes, twists and turns
Trials, victories and blessings unearned
One gets mud rubbed on his eyes
Another sees trees and takes two tries
No two are alike, for this is My delight
Yet the end result is that both receive their sight!
So calm down My dear
You have nothing to fear
If you’re in blessing when another’s in pain
Remember it’s all for My glory and gain
Each story will be different, each one divinely unique
Regardless I will reign, so let My Kingdom be what you seek
Don’t stress and don’t strive
Just sit back and let Me drive
I am the Author and the Star
I am close by, yet see from afar
It’s brilliant because I’m magnificent
Complete beauty, because I’m sufficient
It’s not your job to shift and change
It’s not your job to help others rearrange
Their story is not your own
Though you’re not called to walk it alone
It’s not up to you to help Me write
Simply love them through their day and night
I will raise the valleys and level the mountains
As you gaze on me and drink of My fountains
I am the Author and Finisher, so come and discover
Each story is My own, from cover to cover
NYC Project Dance Trip 2009
Finally! The long awaited tale of our NYC Project Dance 2009 trip. This was the third year CCA’s Fusion Dance Group has attended the NYC Project Dance conference and performed in Times Square, and my third year planning our trip. With two previous years of experience, this year was therefore initially one of the easiest for making arrangements and plans for travel, accommodations, itinerary, etc. However, we ended up having quite a bit of unplanned opposition-more than usual.
Last October I was sitting in my car in the church parking lot – one of my most anointed, creative locations! I was praying about what piece of music I was supposed to choreograph for Fusion and as I listened to possibilities, the LORD kept drawing me to Corey Russell’s spoken word “End of the Age” piece. I was not immediately confident this was the one He wanted me to choreograph. It is very intense, direct, and bold. It is truth, as he mostly speaks pure scripture, but I had questions of whether it could be misunderstood and confusing for some people. After a few weeks of back and forth with the LORD, He continued to confirm that this was what I was supposed to choreograph. I was confident and excited.
Ever since then, He has continued to confirm in my spirit that the message of this piece is really important for such a time as this. It is based upon 1 Peter 4:7, “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.” In this piece Corey Russell proclaims passages that the church of the West often overlooks such as Revelation 6:16, Matthew 24:37-39, 42, Psalm 13:3, Luke 21:34.
Everything was lining up and falling into place. Mid-March I experienced some warfare in my mind of mostly just accusations of the enemy and doubts regarding my choreography, etc. But I was still confident that amidst my doubts, the LORD had clearly given a calling and vision for this piece back in October. So I continued to cling to that vision and cry out for an increase of restoration in my own heart of that original vision.
The Edit…
All was going as planned until less than 48 hours before we were to leave Richmond and travel to the event, I received a phone call from the stage manager regarding some adjustments that were needed due to time constraints. They were needing to keep all the dance pieces as close to 5 minutes as possible due to an increase of last minute submissions. Our piece was 6:40 and so they wanted us to cut it down by two thirds and only perform the first 2:47, but the deal was that we could perform that 2:47 twice during the day. There didn’t seem to be any other options available, although it was implied that if I could come up with one, then that could be considered instead.
Being so last minute, this threw me off. Not only did their proposal cut out most of the message, but also the majority of the girls’ actual choreography as well. The piece builds, so the first 2 minutes were definitely not the heartbeat of the piece. I had many thoughts, questions, and reservations about this option. I went out to my car for a conversation with Abba about what He was speaking in all this. After about an hour I went back into my office with a lot of peace, but still unsure of what my next steps were supposed to be. Then my dad happened to stop by for a visit. After chatting for a bit, he urged me to try to edit the music down to around 5 minutes, but in a manner that would not cut out the majority of the message and dancing. I had thought of doing this, but previously brushed it off because of the complexity and shortage of time. I only had a few hours before my last rehearsal with the dancers, and a major edit in multiple places would take a lot of time to complete. It would NEED to be completed by time I went into that last rehearsal so that the girls could rehearse the modified version. I flat out did not have enough time. But I heard the LORD say that I should still try and He would increase my time.
Well, big surprise, I know, but He certainly did! I edited the piece down to 5:10 in around an hour’s worth of time! I was stunned! I have had a lot of experience with editing music over the past several years, but NEVER have I edited so fast with such immediate precision. It was TOTALLY a miracle! I even had spare time after editing to plan out the quickest methods for teaching the dancers the modified choreography before our rehearsal. Oh, AND all the while He gave me a word I was supposed to speak to them during their rehearsal in order to dispel any anxiety over such a last minute change. He is SUCH a good leader!
The Count Down…
I emailed the edited music to the stage manager and awaited confirmation that we were good to go on using my 5:10 version instead of doing their 2:47 version twice (totaling 5:34). It seemed like a win win situation – it was even shorter than their option, but preserved the majority of choreography. I did not hear anything until 10pm the night before we left (6am the next morning). There were more complications. It turned out that time ended up not being the real issue after all. I won’t go into details, for the sake of respecting the Project Dance team. Ultimately, however, there were multiple phone calls and conversations back and forth that dragged on for at least two hours. For the majority of the time it looked like we were still going to have to do the 2:47 version. My primary concern was for the 4 dancers who did not really even dance until after that 2:47 point. I knew that any concerns I had regarding the LORD’s will for the message we were bringing with the piece, He would take care of. My job at that point was primarily to stand up for looking out for the girls, because He would take care of the rest. Suddenly, there was a shift that occurred, as I made one of my last pleas over the phone. The tide suddenly turned and we were allowed to do the full piece once more!
Lack of Sleep…
After all of the back and forth so late that night, I still had to pack and plan out the rest of the details for our itinerary. I only got 2 hours of sleep that night before our 6 hour drive up north and the craziness of New York City driving. We had a few complications with directions inside the city, but He sustained and led us safely to our destination, despite my lack of sleep.
Stomach Bug at Showtime…
The next morning the girls came to my room to meet for breakfast. My sister, Olivia, had gotten sick to her stomach 3 times before she came down to my room. It was 8:30 and they were scheduled to perform at 9:30am. We had no plan B. Just a good, good Father. For the remaining time before we had to leave we entered into a deep time of intercession and worship. He had already been SO faithful to provide where I had no options, and it was almost an honor that He was entrusting to our group yet another impossible situation for the sake of His glory. After prayer, Olivia was still feeling weak but walked with us to the performance location in Times Square (at 44th and Broadway near Toys R Us). Long story short, His power was of course made perfect in her weakness. She danced more passionately and precisely than ever before. Afterwards, she continued to struggle for a good part of the day with the bug, however God opened up that window of time that morning when she was able to dance her heart out!
Good Gifts…
By Saturday evening, Olivia was not completely 100% better, however her fever had gone down and her stomach had stabilized enough for her to join the group at our favorite restaurant in Little Italy, Puglia’s. This was really special because it was something our whole group had been looking forward to. We had created memories there the year before and with this being my last year at CCA, we were all anticipating a really special evening of fellowship and fun together. I was really sad when I thought Olivia would not be able to join us – I’m not super sentimental but I really wanted my sister there to share this evening with us. An hour before our reservations she texted me that she was feeling well enough to come along! I was SO excited! This was such a beautiful representation of the Father’s compassion towards us, even in those little areas. Liv made it through the evening (and even the China Town fish smells) without feeling bad again and we had a blast!
my stuffed artichoke reminded us of some of Olivia's earlier activities that day!
Angels, angels, angels…
The profound provision and protection continued through to the very end of the trip. We left the city to head home later than we usually do on Sunday and hit some really terrible Lincoln Tunnel traffic – NYC traffic to the nth degree. The whole time I was thinking, “This will be a miracle if we get through it safe and no fender benders.” Sure enough, we did. Of course it did allow for crazy stories—at one point this man walks out in front of my car and just stands with his back to me, nearly sitting on my hood, for a good 15-20 minutes before I finally laid on the horn and was surprised when he walked over to my window and apologetically acted like he had just found out that he had inconvenienced me! Haha! Even beyond NY, all the way home, both Jersey Tnpk and I95 traffic were extremely intense. I had a weird sense in my gut like I needed to pray for increased protection (and later found out that my mom had been sensing the same thing at home). He is faithful and we made it home safely. He has promised that “He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways.” (Psa 91:11).
Thank you for those of you who were praying for us! I have no doubt that each one of your prayers was significantly key in the provision and protection we experienced!
Pictures are now up (right). And you can see a video of the performance at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KM8m3FrEjc.
The Father Heart of God Series
The spirit of Elijah, the spirit of adoption, and the forerunner calling…
It was said of John the Baptist, “It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, TO TURN THE HEARTS OF THE FATHERS BACK TO THE CHILDREN, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17)
Last November the LORD started speaking to me about the spirit of adoption (Rom 8:15, Gal 4:5, Eph 1:5). He continued to speak about His identity as not only my Bridegroom, King, Judge, Savior, etc. but as Father in December 2008 at the Onething Conference in Kansas City. He was simultaneously calling me out as a forerunner at that conference. I had compartmentalized these two concepts and saw them as two separate things that He was working within my spirit. I saw them separate, that is, until Holy Spirit nearly dragged me to the front to respond to the Sacred Charge forerunner calling (http://sacredcharge.com) and suddenly in the context of very little hype the Holy Spirit came upon me more intensely than ever before in a sort of Matt 3:17 type of moment.
Then again, last weekend, at the Awaken the Dawn Conference, the LORD (who is SUCH a ridiculously good teacher!) continued to stir my spirit in the reality of my daughterhood and who He is as Father. The whole conference was about the Father heart of God (spirit of Elijah). But I was most impacted when Shara Pradham shared a profound message at the end of the conference on Sunday night. She opened up with deep transparency and confessed that she had not truly entered into the reality of the spirit of adoption until later in life, even after she was well into her time of ministry with Heidi Baker.
This resonated with me as I have realized over the last 5 months just how foreign God as Father feels at times. I so easily connect with God as Lover and Bridegroom. But just as Shara said, you have to be a daughter before you can be a bride. And I would add that even more, you have to be a daughter before you can be a forerunner. I have been reading Bill Johnson’s book, The Supernatural Ways of Royalty, which calls us to walk in the boldness and confidence of our identity as sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father. And as I have tried to walk out the Sacred Charge and encountered my own struggle to truly walk in all the grace that is available and necessary for success, I have realized that my identity is key.
Of course I am a daughter of God already. However, just as an orphan who is adopted into a family has to still transition out of that orphan spirit, even after the adoption is complete, I too have realized a much deeper orphan spirit within myself than I would care to admit. An orphan begs and pleads. An orphan works and strives. An orphan struggles with a spirit of rejection. An orphan operates under weariness and loneliness. And in very subtle ways, I have realized some of these threads as I relate to God and others.
I have especially been struck lately at how nearly impossible it feels to enter into a place of true rest. Even in my moments of stillness and silence before the LORD, I feel such a struggle against wanting to do something “productive” in the spirit. And such a struggle to silence all the other voices. I received a prophetic word back in December that the LORD was calling me to a season of resting in His presence and while study of the Word was important, I was to focus more on the place of meditation and rest for this season. I did not really know what to do with this word. It seemed very contradictory to the forerunner calling. However, I have found there is a big tendency for the forerunner calling to be very works based, if operating under the wrong spirit. (Which is why I believe that is to be so integrally connected to this spirit of adoption). But I again received this same prophetic word of resting instead of so much focus on study at ATD last weekend. And that’s when it began to hit me how connected the place of rest is with the spirit of adoption (my identity as daughter) and the forerunner calling.
Anyway, as I look forward to the Onething Internship, I am excited to not only go after increased revelation as Jesus as Bridegroom, but also the Father’s heart for me as His daughter. I have been reading Luke 2:49 in a different light lately. Jesus declared to His parents, “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” I find it interesting that he did not say, “Did you not know that I might be in My Father’s house?” or “Did you not know that I should be in My Father’s house?” or “Did you not know that I would probably be in My Father’s house?” but rather “Did you not know that I HAD to be in My Father’s house?”
John 5:19 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.” It was because of His perfect relationship with the FATHER, that Jesus could live the life that He lived and do the things He did. After all “although He existed in the form of God, He did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,” (Phil 2:6). I don’t believe He lived a perfect life of power and love because of His Godhood but rather because as a man He was in perfect relationship with His Father. And when Jesus said “I had to be in my Father’s house” I believe He literally HAD to be there.
So with that, I am even more excited about my time in Kansas City. I believe it is essential, mandatory even, for forerunners to be in their Father’s house, in this hour in history (note: I’m not referring to a physical location but rather being in the secret place with God, however that looks). It is a time of preparation and equipping, so that we may walk in the fullness of all that God has for His sons and daughters who are seated with Him in heavenly places!
the blog & the transition
Finally! The computers worked for long enough for me to figure everything out and get my website and blog up. (We will just pretend it’s not almost 2am in the morning.)
As I begin a huge life transition over the course of 2009, I am excited to have a place where I can keep family and friends updated. I hope you will join me in this adventure as you feel led: in spirit, in prayer, in support.
Hebrews 3:12-14 says, “Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.” (NASB)
I pray that this blog will be a place of deep encouragement for both you and for myself. We overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony (Rev 12:11). I look forward to sharing many testimonies of the LORD’s faithfulness. And I look forward to hearing many testimonies from you as well!
May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus, the Messiah, be yours!
…and so it begins.
