I once attended an early morning Bible study, held by some business leaders in Minneapolis, at a well-known home furnishings store called Gabbert’s. As I entered the employee break room on my way to the gathering, “the wall” caught my attention.

John Maxwell, the well-known leadership expert, once said, “Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.”

As Spirit-filled believers, we are supernaturally equipped. Not only have we been personally empowered, but we’ve also received the ability to empower others.

In a dream I had several years ago, I was working for a businessman, and we were going to a meeting. My job was to take along a large tractor tire, so I rolled it down the street and into an impressive-looking office building, amid many stares and snickers.

With my boss behind me, I rolled the tire into a room that held a large conference table, covered with a variety of small electronic devices. A group of men was seated around the table. I rolled the tire toward the leader, while several people expressed displeasure at the interruption of their meeting.

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Cor. 11:1, NIV)

As a new ministry leader, I remember enthusiastically telling our congregation to watch me, as I intended to embrace my complete destiny in Christ. I was convinced that it was as simple as completely and wholeheartedly following Him.

With several months of the year of the whirlwind still ahead, how do we need to position ourselves and respond? First of all, we are to obey the admonition from scripture to not give in to fear. The enemy wants to stir up panic and distress, but we have to stand firm, trusting God’s faithfulness.

Mike and I enjoyed an unusually long ministry trip to beautiful Costa Rica—12 days! The tourist agency advertises it as an infinite paradise—you only have to visit once to know why.

As we were worshipping, the Holy Spirit started speaking to me, just one word, and it was the word "dreaming." And then I realized that what He was saying was this:

The Holy Spirit was speaking to me this morning, and I got one word at first, and the word was "fear.” And I said, "What do You want to do with that, Lord?" And this is the word He gave me:

Reconciliation matters to God in such a profound way, more than our hearts and minds are even fully able to grasp. It is the common thread throughout Scripture, the overarching theme of the gospel—God wants His children to be reconciled to His heart. And as that process takes place, we will also be reconciled to each other.

ISIS Captures Another City; Protesters Call for End to Police Brutality; Racial Tension on the Rise; Christianity in the US Declining. We are bombarded with headlines that strike our hearts with the knowledge that our nation—and the entire world—is in dire straits. We long for restoration, but in the chaos, some fear that we are doomed. Several times a day, I either read or hear the words, “There is no hope.”

I see a vision where people are at the end of themselves and they don't know what to do, and things are very, very dark. And the Lord says, "I want you to understand that I am with you in the dark places as well as the light places. That many times you feel affirmed and accepted if you see me and you feel like things are easy and light. You feel like things are alright."

“For the time being [Jesus] must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of His holy prophets… said it would be.” (Acts 3:21, MSG)

For a few years now, I believe the Lord has been prophetically speaking of bringing us into a season of accelerated restoration in the earth.

“For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And He gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” - 2 Corinthians 5:19 (NLT)

The body of Christ is awakening to the need for reconciliation. People are beginning to realize that we cannot go on as we have—offended and divided—and still be effective at reaching the lost.

When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” - Luke 12:48b (NLT)

When I was in college, I spent a month doing missions works in Swaziland, a tiny little country next to South Africa that is being decimated by HIV/AIDS. They have the highest infection rate in the world and a life expectancy of only 50 years.

“But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.” - Amos 5:24 (NKJV)

My small Wyoming community was recently shaken when a young mother was shot and killed by someone who should have loved and protected her.

In a vision, I saw a bridge to a place I needed to go. And I saw that the waters under the bridge were so troubled underneath this bridge that we as God's children were looking at it and we weren't looking at the bridge, we were looking at the troubled waters, and as I stood and I knew I represented the body of Christ, I was looking at this bridge and it was dark walking up onto that bridge so I could not see where I would be walking and so the darkness of the night, I knew I was in transition.

There are so many justice issues arising in our world that it can become quite daunting to figure out where to devote our time, attention and resources.

I’ve struggled with this for much of my life. My heart is very much for justice and making things right. Whoever is in front of me, talking about their cause, has my passion and attention. Stop human trafficking? I’m in. Take care of orphans? Let’s do it. Fight for the unborn? Sign me up.

The Lord first began speaking to me about restoration early in 2012 when I had a dream. I was watching three young boys play, and there was an understanding in the dream that they were my sons. That was all there was, and then I woke up.

“The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.” - Psalm 33:5 (NIV)

Cries for justice can be heard from all around the world. Justice for the poor. Justice for the unborn. Justice for the enslaved. Justice for the marginalized. Justice for the persecuted. We want justice.

A few years ago, I started feeling really stressed. I found myself being short with others over very small matters. I didn’t like what was happening in my life. I also began to wonder if I was getting defensive about myself. So, I went to the real source where I knew I could get the truth and nothing but the truth—my grown up daughter. I decided to broach the subject while driving down the street on the way to a shopping trip.