Last week we began a series on healing of a broken heart. And for most of you who are readers here at Thrive Ministries with Lynn Donovan have submitted yourself to the hard work of prayer and study to find healing.

I’m so proud of you. Healing takes effort, time and persistence. For more on the spiritual principle of persistence, I’m writing about that at SpirituallyUnequalMarriage.com. Click here for the first in that series.

However, how do you know if the healing efforts have been enough? Let’s look at our lives and consider seven aspects of our behavior that indicated we might have some more work to do.

1. Anger: Is there a slow burning resident of anger under the surface? If you are set off by triggering events and people, and rage manifests, there is some more spiritual work to be accomplished. And there can be a demonic oppressor that is contributing to your torment.
2. Are you overly insecure? Shame, blame and guilt seem to be your constant companions and you never feel good enough or worthy of love or acceptance? You feel the constant need for affirmation and encouragement. You are uncertain of your decisions.
3. Pride: This is the other side of insecurity. You may have thoughts such as: Because of my pain I’m going to show the world I’m better. I’ll take care of me. No one will hurt me again.
4. Are you overly independent? Do you refuse to accept help? This often manifest in inner statements such as: Because of my wounding, I can’t trust anyone. I don’t need anybody. I don’t trust God. Side note: Ahem, yep, this was me. Praise God He was so patient to help me unwind all this pain and wounding. Hallelujah!
5. Overly Sensitive: This is where we are offended easily. No one can say anything to me because I’m sensitive. Our culture today is in a constant state of offense. I’ll share this with you. A few years ago, the Lord said to me, “Lynn, the second you are in offense. You are in sin.” Ouch!
6. Excessively shy: This will manifest in avoidance. Because of the emotional bruises and feeling beat up, you won’t risk relationships.
7. Excessive need to control: Controlling of relationships, time, emotions and others. This is born from living and/or a childhood where there was no control. This is where we manipulate our circumstances to our optimal best because we cannot face uncertainty. I’ll admit, this one I still battle with. Lord help me!

My friend, if you just read through all of this, then you are a prime candidate for healing. And God is filled with love, mercy and forgiveness. And if you are breathing, there is always hope for healing and a better tomorrow.

Take the time to do the hard work of healing. I promise, as a child of God, who has done so much work in prayer and practice myself, it’s worth it. The peace, the truth and the reality of our loving God and Kingdom family is worth all your efforts.

To schedule a Healing Prayer session with me, Lynn Donovan, visit: HEALING PRAYER

Have a blessed day. Lynn

On Sunday my pastor took on a very difficult topic that is rarely addressed to a congregation on a Sunday morning. Pastor Hector provided specifics and talked about the reality of why people are broken, how they find healing and how the determine if they need more healing.

It was so good.

I thought I would share some of my notes with all of you.

First the most important truth every person needs to know is this: Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted. 

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Luke 4:18-19

So let's first discuss what is broken? Well the Hebrew word broken is Shabar. It means to shatter. Like a glass dropped upon a tile floor. A heart can be shattered in so many ways. But what is crucial is knowing what happens is that we actually have a breaking of our soul. The soul realm of an individual is their emotions, their will, their mind and this is the realm that the demonic can occupy. 

This is why I preach so much about taking thoughts captive. It's our thought-life that the demonic works to influence. It's int he soul that the enemy preaches lies that corrupt our identity and God's identity. The lies keep us in bondage and in broken pain. 

The demonic gains legal rights and will continually reenforce the core lies and erroneous belief systems we hold. The keeps us in pain and unhealed. These wounds can then carry forward to the next generation. Eventually becoming generational curses.

BUT, Jesu came to see the captives free. He came to heal the Shabar and to set us from the pain of our past. However, we also have a significant part to play in this process. And in future posts we will talk about some of the steps of healing.

Today, let's look at three signs we are moving toward healing. 

1. Awareness
2. Prayer
3. Wise counsel

If you have become aware of brokenness, issues and have prayed and asked for healing, that's the first steps of healing. And for some, this is all a person may require. But if you are like 99% of the human race, you need more. And we will discuss this in future posts.

Next week we will look at seven signs you need more healing. 

So, where do you see yourself in your healing journey? How can I pray for you? See you in the comments. 

You are deeply loved, Lynn Donovan

*Pastor Hector Gutierrez

Hi Friends,

Yesterday, I purchased two tickets to the movie, Jesus Revolution. Mike rarely will accompany me to church, so I was surprised that he went with me. Perhaps his miserly ways were tweaked because I'd already spent the money on two tickets?? 

We were early and after 30 minutes of commercials, the theater was mostly full. Say what? Do these people know this is a movie about Christians?

The timing of this movie that highlights the Jesus People movement in the 60's with the self-described hippies, is uncanny. Truly, it was a recap of a revival with disenfranchised people. And how us normies, those of us who are regular attenders or lifers, created a church that loves and follows Jesus. 

I'm blown away that we are positioned, right on the edge of an unprecedented NEW REVIVAL. The Asbury movement has spread to other campuses, as far as other countries. 

I believe we are going to push out all the divides and cling together with those whom we may not normally hang with to welcome the Holy Spirit into our world and that we would experience Holy Spirit and Jesus in a unifying and healing manner.

For me, I don't want to be left out. I want more. I want the miracles. I want the unexplainable. I want people you wouldn't expect to go to Christian movies, attend church and find that.....

JESUS SAVES!

Let's pray this movement forward. Jesus is moving. Be the new wine in new wine skins.

Blessings and hugs, Lynn

Jesus, we bow and humble ourselves. Your will be done. We live to love you. We live to bring you and the Kingdom of our Father great glory!!!  In Your Mighty name, Jesus. AMEN

From the authors: Ann Maria Mora and Lynn Donovan and their book, My Child Sees Monsters - Simple Steps to Send Them Away.

This video is SO GOOD: 

In November I spoke at the Mount Hermon Writers Retreat. I share with the audience what the Lord revealed to me about Kingdom writers. I want to share that with you today. Blessings, Lynn

In 2017 the Lord spoke to me often through my journaling. I wrote down what he was telling me and many of my journals became devotions that were published in my local city’s newspaper. Eventually I collected them into a book. Kingdom Conversations.

In preparation to speak to the writers at the retreat, I sat once again with my journal as I was curious what God really thought about us writers. I waited with my pen ready. As a readied writer and asked the Father a question.

I was undone by the immediate and passionate response to my question.

Listen in as we have a conversation with our Father in heaven.

Q: Father, what is your heart for writers?

He replied: Kingdom writers are the echo of my voice. Their lives and their stories are lived out on pages of books…. And these pages reflect my love, healing, truth, wisdom and goodness. Their written words reflect my Son. Because their story, their books, lead to redemption.

Then He went on….. Encourage these special creatives of the Kingdom to write from their hearts, write of their love and faith.

Then He said tell them to be vulnerable. Sharing your real, story, the good, bad and ugly in light of redemption is where we connect with others. And connection is family. It is love, and it is eternal.

He said: Be brave. It takes courage to write with vulnerability. But know that you are not standing alone. I am always with you. The Holy Spirit is with you. The angels have been assigned to protect and assist you. And a great cloud of witnesses is watching, and all are cheering you forward. (I could see in my mind the saints and relatives, who passed on cheering the loudest.)

Be the path-maker: Show your readers the pathway through the weeds, the briars and the traps of the enemy. Show them the hidden way through pain, confusion, and loss. Show them what freedom looks like. They look to you for the truth to lead them forward through the darkness into the light and into hope. Help them to take My hand when they can’t see past the diagnosis, the divorce, the broken dreams and all that seems hopeless.

Be the teacher: You, my Kingdom writers, teach my people to dream again. Teach them my holy Word. Restore their broken identity and lost purpose. Reveal the many promises I’ve given to them and that I stand behind them in the trenches. Instruct them in the holy ways that they emerge from deception and find release from the snares of lies and the mire of untruth. Reveal how truth changed your life and will also change their lives. Lead them to discover that a broken heart becomes healed and made whole in the light and love of Jesus Christ. Lead them from fear into safety and stability. You can lead them because you have walked the path of humility and service. You are readied and prepared to direct the many through your example of compassion and love in action.

Be a friend: Laugh together, giggle, make your readers smile and anticipate the goodness of life through Jesus, my son. Introduce them to a way of living that is outside of selfishness and worldly pursuits. Please show my people that living life identified as a son or daughter of God, is the highest and best life and fully attainable now, not just in heaven.

Hold my sons and daughters when they are sad. Celebrate their victories. Always, always, always write to give them HOPE. Encourage their faith. Write words that inspire them to love Me and love others with a full heart.

My Beloved Kingdom Scribe, this writer’s call that you are walking out is a renowned high and holy calling. It is only for a chosen few. Your words echo my heart for a lost and broken world.

Kingdom writer, you determine to live out my truths, then write about your experience and my faithfulness. Then share your words and illuminate Me and My love. Illuminate my son, Jesus, he will save them.

Kingdom writers, as your Father, I commend you. Thank you for giving from the depths of your pain, your hope, and your struggle. Thank you for pouring out yourself.

Your words bring me honor and glory.

Well done good and faithful servant. Now go and share your gifts and talents with the world.

• Be vulnerable
• Be brave
• Be authentic
• Be a path maker
• Be a teacher
• Be a leader
• Be a friend

Your book is my book. Your words are an echo of my heart.

Let’s pray:

Father, I take up Your charge and declare today thatI will fulfill our high and holy calling. We will write to reflect your love. Father when uncertainty, frustration, or fear of rejection tries to speak doubt into my purpose, I ask you to remind me who I am and whose I am and that one written word and change a life, can save a life.

Today I determine to share the hope we have with the world. Stir up an unquenchable passion to write and speak your truth. Let me become a hope bearer to bring illumination to the path less traveled that others may find their way. Bless me as we write. Place your creativity upon my heart, mind and let your words flow onto the screen.

Father, thank you for establishing me as a Kingdom scribe. In Jesus name.

Please stand:

Today, let's make a stand and declaration. REPEAT AFTER ME, ALOUD:

Father, in the name of Jesus, I am committed to reveal your kingdom to others. I will write and speak Your truths. I will be a hope bearer and teach others to love. I will share my story with vulnerability and courage. I will come alongside people as a friend with humility. I will point them to healing, honor, and joy as a leader to the pathway of freedom.

I declare myself a Kingdom writer. In Jesus name. AMEN

November 2022