Love Him More

The Ugly Duckling Syndrome

What in the world does this mean? Ugly Duckling Syndrome… it is a case that many people run into without even realizing.

Awkward, weird, outcast, different, alone, uncomfortable, gawky, humiliating… these would be traits of the ugly duckling while he or she is “growing up”.  Meaning well but always saying the wrong thing… “awkward”… is hardly a word to describe these frustrating “growing up” times in the Lord.  Here you are with a vision, with a plan, an anointing, yet here in this place of growing up no one sees you, understands you, and you feel alone… like an outcast or simply an Ugly Duckling.  Maybe you have tried to share your dream and like Joseph you felt “they hated you yet the more”.  During this time (which can last at any length of time) you want to give up and be like all the rest of the ducklings; you wish and desire to look just like them…

Being an ugly duckling is a time where people you love and trust may hurt you the most.    It’s a lonely place and not many understand you.  Your friends whom you love also finds fault in you and then shares that with others making the ugly duckling syndrome even worse.  However awful this season, however long, it is possibly the best season you learn to lean on your beloved Jesus.  It’s a season where you look only to Him because He is all that you have, He understands you and takes care of you through His presence and through His word.  Amen.

For me; this season lasted 10 years… 10 years of feeling awkward, weird, betrayed by friends, alone, uncomfortable, gawky, alone, humiliated, outcast and alone…all classic traits of an ugly duckling.  I was really good at being ugly, even felt the part too! Praise God!

But then something happens, the Ugly Duckling doesn’t stay the Ugly Duckling; he begins to emerge into something very beautiful… new strong feathers appear… people, friends, leaders begin to take note that they have been with Jesus… they are not so ugly any more and their eyes begin to open and they see how beautiful because of Jesus you are!! It’s a stepping out, a season to be released and to follow God and the vision He has given you!  It’s your time to run and it feels so good!! The Lord gives you new leaders and mentors who love you and you love them and everything is right and good….

In the midst of the running and having fun; your beginning to really spread your wings and become this beautiful swan; you start flying.. wow!  It’s so good and you can hardly sleep at night…

BUT!

BUT, sometimes… the ugly duckling syndrome wants to come back… the awkwardness wants to come back…. the outcast wants to come back… and sometimes certain surroundings remind you of how it was… and you want to close away or run… Though you are not the ugly duckling any more… ugly duckling tendencies try to come back… and this is where we need the power of the Holy Spirit and the power to literally fight and come alive in the full maturity of the SWAN… and to not revert back but to stay…STAY… and not just stay but stay CONFIDENTLY and to really ARISE AND SHINE and to know that this is YOUR hour; the hour of your dreams are here… and to take hold of them and to NOT LOOK BACKWARD but to look forward to the prize!

Blessings Friends!

There is something so deep that I find in God.  Then when I think I have gone to great depths he shows yet another whole realm of His depth and of His love.  Embracing Jesus is what I/we do best.  There is no problem loving Him deeply and passionately… He loves that and whoo’s us to do so and to do so often.

Mom reminded me the other day when I was in High School that I would get so frustrated because I had no idea what I was going to do with life.  My friends all seemed to have an idea…

Today, I still have trouble knowing what my true occupation is and God reminds me.  Hope this doesn’t bother anyone, but my true occupation is not to win the lost, it’s not to travel the World preaching, it’s not to save and feed the children in Africa… my true calling and occupation is to love Jesus and to love Him passionately more then anything or anyone in life.

It has been my true calling for years and still this day I am but only a child so excited about loving Him.  And everyday (& night) I awaken to a new fresh love within to grab hold of yet a deeper part that I didn’t see the day before.  I love Him and He grabs hold of all the love I give Him and expects and longs for even more…

Seriously, I am not saying this is how it is for everyone but for me I can say that my occupation and my reason for living is to love Him more and more everyday.  People maybe thinking ‘Yes, desiree that is how we are all supposed to live’ and while I believe that to be true… and people do aim for this in their everyday lives… I feel it deep inside that I was (and other people like myself) was/are called for the “responsibility” to love, adore, and to spend hours a day with Him.

In Him their is so much safety, in Him so much peace, in Him we make no mistakes, we don’t say the wrong thing, but sing a continuous love song that never ends.  In that place we become the apple of His eye, we abide in His shadow and are safe, we have mountain tops experiences, we embrace Him and see that His lovingkindness is better then life, and we taste how good He is, we are His friend and He talks to us…etc

Beloved, this is you! You are a lover of Jesus… He loves it when you spend time with Him… you mean so much to Him, their is nothing greater then you loving Him and being with Him… He loves it when you spend time with Him, He loves to be with you my friend… more then anything or anyone…He loves you… you are so precious.  I extol you to take heed to His beckoning and take pleasure in Loving Him…♥ and you may find that it may be your occupation…

That being said for those that are wondering… yes. He then He propels you to a ministry of seeing the lost saved, seeing the sick healed, preaching to the masses, starting ministries in Africa… feeding the homeless… television ministry… conferences…etc..

BUT…While… all along… you know deep inside what your first and true calling is when no one is looking is that you may be found all alone, no one looking, on your face before Him and doing what you do best…. loving Him more and more and more….

© Desiree Lamphier

Never mind going, never mind trying.  Just be who it is you see yourself inside.  Jesus longs for us to accept and walk in our true calling.  That is embrace the cross, see what He has done.  Put away the jargon of religious duties and simply love Him.  You are so loved beyond words: but loved with scars that are forever marked on His hands. He makes it so simple just believe Him when He said “It is finished!” Take what has been released to you this very hour.  My friends it is a great thing to be honored that is a man who knows who He is in Jesus and to LIVE it…

Love you so much and am praying for you today: that you will take hold of this truth and be free…

Desiree Lamphier ©

Exceptional praises belong on the lips of God people. Every morning, every afternoon, every evening let the high praises of our King be exalted. Let it be a calling deep within the very crevices of our beings; that is the core of who we are, let praises arise to our KIng 

We don’t magnify flesh and blood but we magnify our omnipresent, all knowing, all powerful God who sits on the throne in Heaven and on the throne of our heart. May His way be established in America, in Africa, in Europe, in Australia, all over the World: Our King be exalted this very moment.

Praise be to God who always makes us triumphant!

Love You!

Desiree Lamphier ©

How many times have I went into a store and forgot where I have parked. Seems like a simple thing and how many people would say oh yes I have done that. Or how about the time where you felt like you were watching your self? May happen on occasion right?

During prayer for years I have taught myself to FOCUS while I pray. To give everything I have when I am praying all my heart, thought and devotion to Him. So much that I become focused and almost like an intense praying. James talks about the “earnest heartfelt prayer availeth much” the Amplified Bible even says this “makes tremendous power available dynamic in it’s working”

This is how a new life has been born to me the last year or so. I never no where I parked even at a gas station, it’s like an an out of the body existence feeling and it is so good. It’s where the Bible says “I live in this World but not of this World”. It’s witnessing and praying for people without any thought of should I or should I not… it’s automatic. 

Yesterday I was at a gas station and was on my way to a meeting (and running late) when a arab man asked me about my badge (for the conference) and I told him a little about the conference… I talked to him about 10 minutes and while I am talking to him I am asking the Lord what is going on here… felt like I was watching myself; the Lord encouraged him because he wants to be a minister so we gave him tons of ideas on how to begin….

I had no idea what was going on… something so wonderful happens when we step out and let God fill us so much that we become so focused on Him that He automatically works through us when ever He pleases.

During worship, I can be sitting in my seat and go to heaven in a second. Yesterday was chatting at the back of the church with some people and a wave of glory passed by and lost my balance, woe that was something I said to the people around me… they looked at me like huh?

I can sit in my car and go to heaven/glory in matter of seconds….
It’s the power of a FOCUSED mind on CHRIST and giving yourself to Himself.

Definition meanings- Going to heaven- meaning feeling the tangible presence of God or the Heavy weight of His glory… meaning the presence of God so heavy like a thick blanket is placed on you. And sometimes recently for me is seeing bright bright flashes of white light.

The point… When you pray get lost in God and really focus your “mind” and tame it to pray and focus on God!!

Bless you,

Desiree Lamphier ©

If God….

If God is all that He says He is… then why should we worry about what “man” should say or even think of us.  If God be for us; who can be againsts us?  Do we really believe that statement or is it just a nice quotation from the Bible?  I am challenging myself, I am challenging you to take hold and Fear Not.  I feel like this is a word for someone, someone who is lost, lonely and wondering if the Lord can heal, if the Lord can hear their prayers this very moment.  My friend (I always call ‘friend’ to those that have meant so much to me, though they may no longer be living; some of these people, their teachings, their lives have mentored so much and they are at times my life-line…) Katheryn Kuhlman always says this “He is closer then the mention of His name…”

Their is a place, a moment in time where our heart beats and is even in oneness (John 17) with the heart beat of Jesus.  It’s a place for mature Christians, where we stop needing approval but embrace the word of God.  No matter what circumstances around us come up.  We only seek His face for the approval we once needed from man.  And it’s when we come up, yes… come up to this place, we kiss the face of Jesus.  Because we become selfless, we become dead, embracing, loving, and kissing Him.  It’s in this place where their is no doubt, no condemnation, no guilt, but only the purity of the Father loving us as us.  The way we are ‘perfect in His eyes’ because of what He has purchased we can walk freely to Him.  We are set free from the ways of the World, the ways of trying to prove ourselves, the ways of trying and we come into a place of being… Because we just are… If God says in His word, if God gives us a promise, If God begins a good work in us… surely He is a God who will keep every dream, every promise, though we may not have all the answers to His ways… He is God and we must come to the place of faith and believing that He is all that He said He is and He is going to be all that He is going to be to us and through us!

You are so important to Him, seek only His approval… Go for the Gold in Him…

©Desiree Lamphier

Today, I was shopping and off in the distance I heard a tiny baby crying.  Which is a normal thing babies do, but this baby kept crying and crying… it broke my heart.  I started talking to the Lord about how I  don’t know how He handles all that He sees, all that He hears, all the bad things He must endure.  All the suffering of mankind (though He paid for it all on the cross; yet so many don’t know Him or choose to suffer because of their “lack of knowledge they perish” as the Word of God says).

I was in Africa about two months ago and was packing and preparing to go out and minister in the Bush.  But while I was packing I kept hearing a baby crying on and on. We had to leave at a certain time so I began to get ready quicker because I could still hear this baby crying off in the distance, I wanted to get this baby!  It wounded me as I was packing, I heard this cry on and on I kept thinking to myself “am I the only one that hears this baby crying?  What is going on with this baby?”  Finally, I was done packing (didn’t want to forget anything going out to the Bush) and began to quickly and almost jog my way in the hot sun to the area on campus where the baby house (like an orphanage) where babies live.  I feel like I stumbled my way to get their; I was in such a hurry, I am coming… I am coming… Jesus, I got to help that baby… I saw a woman with a crying baby, nope that’s not the one… The closer I got to the baby house the more I could hear “my” baby crying.  I burst through the gate where they keep the babies… where is “my” baby… I looked in the windows of the different rooms… no baby.. so the focus was redirected to outside in the gated area…walk, walk, walk… and their he was… about 15 months old, crying.  He was in the corner of the fenced area with a few other babies.  One spotted me and instantly crawled and wanted me to pick her up, I held her for but a moment as I made my way to “my” baby.  ”What’s wrong baby?” I asked him.  But still he cried.  ”Can I hold you sweetie?”  I sat down in the dirt and picked him up and I noticed or thought, he has a stomach ache… so I began to rub his tummy, and within about five minutes he quit crying.  ”Oh Jesus” I thought, he had a tummy ache!  All he needed was someone to rub his tummy and hold him.  I began to weep and weep… it broke me.  I began praying for the babies.  They don’t have toys, they play with little tiny cardboard pieces, they took sticks and beat on 2 liter pop bottles for their playtime.  I watched them for about 45 minutes, praying, crying.  I am so glad I am not God; I couldn’t handle what He sees.

Seeing a sibling tease their younger brother or sister with no remorse.  Hurts.  Seeing people being mistreated. Hurts.  Seeing people with signs along the road “will work for food”. Hurts.  People with cancer or any kind of pain and sickness. Hurts me.  Hearing the news (which I never watch but find out just what I need to know.) Hurts. If I hear an accident on the news or someone was killed… later, when no-one is around, I will weep. Seeing people with no hope. Hurts. I am so glad I am not God.

I am so glad I am not God.  But He is God and He is able to endure what He sees.  He is able to intervene because of our prayers.  I know there are many of you who feel the same way.  We must try and comprehend and even gain understanding; how BIG God is.  How majestic and awesome He is and He reigns forever and ever, no matter what may happen He is God and He is on the throne!  He is so good!! Praise God~~ Jesus, we love you and were so glad you are God and you are in charge.  

How can one even begin to understand the inwardness of a man being summoned before the King.  A king with whom no one can see.  How can we grasp this upward, inward pulling within ourselves.  It’s Him, again; beckoning us to come- alone and be with Him.  Who can understand that their is someone whom we have never seen… yet have such an effect on us.  How do we explain the longing’s of a deep, pure love, that is tangible.  He wants me right now, what do I do? How do we respond to such a love that can not even be expressed with mere words.  It’s almost like His heart beats.. boom… boom… inside of me; I can hear it; I can feel it; He wants me (you), now.  We are connected He and I (you).

So this is His deep calling to my deep; a healthy good ache in our heart that will not go away.  We don’t want anything but the purity of who He is living and breathing inside us.  Were wanting, desiring to be near Him; because that is the only thing that will satisfy us.  

Shsh! Quite, close your eyes for a moment… Do you feel that… inside your heart, it is the voice of our beloved, His desire is towards you; He is so real we cannot deny it.

How much longer Sweetie?

Boom, Boom, Boom,…      I hear you Jesus.

© Desiree Lamphier

www.LoveHimMoreMinistries.org

I am feeling that familiar tug in my heart to Him whom my soul loves.  It’s times like this I can feel Him go deep within and I feel the strings inward in my heart being pulled to an unseen World.  Like nothing in this World can satisfy this moment in time but Him and Him alone! He takes my very breath away because of the need for Himself He gives to me and you!

You know the feeling…you know that tug too.  What do we do with our Husband, our Maker when we sense Him drawing near and desiring something from us?  People would have all kinds of answers for this question “worship, pray for hours, sing, read His word, etc” but what it comes down to is this… What does Jesus want from you at this holy moment in time?  This is not a works thing, not a trying to do something Spiritual thing; come on now. Seriously, this is about you and me loving Him with no agenda, no prayer lists, no special requests are necessary during this time.  This is His time with you. 

I have two beautiful little girls! Both are precious, both are sweet, and both love “snuggle time”.  It’s a thing we do where they lie down on the floor and I come and wrap my arms around them and give them hugs, kisses and tell them over and over how wonderful they are.  This is Holly’s favorite thing, she can’t get enough of it!  And do you know, it’s the same way with our Husband, our Maker Jesus.  He comes to us and says it’s “snuggle time” and He goes lies down on the floor and waits for us to come and snuggle with Him, to be giving Him hugs and kisses and tell Him how wonderful He is.  It’s not a time to ask, but a time to love, not Him loving you… but YOU/ME loving Him! How holy is that?  He…Jesus initiates this attention for our love and all we have to do is respond to Him, only thing is we end up longing for more and more of those times.  And we come to a fork in the road; one leads to the life of a normal Christian and the other leads to a more solitude place of longing, wanting, and needing Him as we feel Him longing, wanting, and needing us.

It’s a place not many go to; though they desire to.

This place is an option.  I say to my Savannah “Would you please unload the dishwasher?” and her response is “Do I have to” and my response is always this (and she will ask me to not say it but it comes out nonetheless) “you don’t have to unload the dishwasher, you get to!”  And so is snuggle time with Jesus, you don’t have to… but you get to!!

If you allow this time with Him, to be what it is that He desires, it will become effortless and these special snuggle times in your life… will change your whole world cause His personality of all that He is and all that He desires you to be will rub off on you.

You need to know this: Jesus loves you no matter what! His love is never ending towards you and I!

Amen.

I tell Jesus all the time… Jesus I don’t love you… I am so IN love with you!

Blessings Friends!

© Desiree Lamphier

www.LoveHimMoreMinistries.org

I feel it in the atmosphere; it’s a day of fresh manna.  A day like no other, a weekend that has never been quite like this one.  Their is something very fresh about today, about this weekend.  All we have to do is look up to the face of Jesus and say “Whatever” and let Him use, be, do, whatever He wants this hour for you.  I feel like (call it prophetic) God is looking for people to bless; for people who will actually look to His face and receive the blessing of His goodness that come from being His child.  Some want to work for it, some want to pray for it, but this is not something that can be earned.  These are pure “precious and exceeding promises” as the Bible says; He wants to bless you and “daily load you with benifits” today! It’s the goodness of God, a Father loving His children.  Take time to “open your mouth and let Him fill it with good things” as it says in the psalms. 

We have to understand (for some this is easy), but some have a hard time receiving blessings from the Lord.  For today, were not saying what blessings, (because we sometimes can limit God when we say what blessings) but praying:

“Papa, I receive your blessings right now, today!  Whatever you have for me… I receive your goodness of what you want to do in my life, through my life, and all that you desire to be in my life; not because of how good I am but because of how good you are!”

It’s with simplicity of heart that draws Him to us, allowing Him to capture our heart to draw us near to be with Him… It’s coming from a place of pure motives; pure heart; which means we accept what the word of God says about being free from the laws of sin and death; and we simply walk in your full inheritance because of what Jesus did on the cross…

He’s so beautiful! He has something for you today; this weekend… I can feel this word…. it’s blessings… it’s a piece of Himself… it’s His love… We want whatever He desires to give us on this blessed day!

Love you!

© Desiree Lamphier

www.LoveHimMoreMinistries.org