A God Encounter

God is willing to encounter us in the simplest yet most profound ways. I am a witness.

It was a breezy Friday in Redding, the last Friday in September. A friend and I went for a walk at this beautiful ranch to process. The last week had been challenging in more ways than one. We’d both faced disappointment on different levels and were in need of externally processing it. At this point, financially I was not in the best position. After facing job rejections, I was discouraged and stared at the end of September as the possible end of it all. I was beginning to make my “peace” with that. As we walked around, we shared our hearts and declared the truth. It was refreshing although I could feel in the deepest part of my heart that I wasn’t receiving it. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I could believe anything that we were saying. I’d been convincing myself that God wasn’t for me [which is a total lie. Let’s just laugh at that].

Anyways, we get lost. We get completely twisted up in the ranch. Our beginning was our end was our beginning. 2.5 hours had passed and we were hungry and potentially crossing the line of irritable when we passed a pond-lake of sorts. As we walked, we saw a beautiful white heron. It was stunning with its pristine white feathers and long, elegant neck.  As we neared it, it took off lifting its body into air. It was beautiful to watch. As this white heron flew by, another flew in its direction from the water, its mouth full. I stopped. “I wonder prophetically what white herons stand for?” I asked out loud. My friend began to wonder as well and pulled out her trusty Iphone. As she searched up the meaning of white herons, I sensed they represented prosperity. Holy Spirit totally dropped it in my spirit and I mention it to her. For me, it correlated with seeing the second white heron flying away with its mouth full. As we continue walking trying to find our way, my friend finds an article that states how in ancient Egypt a double-headed white heron represented prosperity. Instantly our mouths dropped and we were blown away. 2.5 hours ago, we were discussing finances. We just saw two white herons. It was a crazy prophetic moment for us. We began to declare into it–prosperity over our finances and relationships.

A symbol of prosperity. Photo-cred: Sara Harding

On October 1st, the second installment of tuition was due: a total of at least $1100. I was nowhere near that goal. The weekend I saw the white herons and began to pray into it. On September 30th, my father texts me asking about how my tuition was going. I told him I still needed $2200 (this would pay off all my tuition). A few minutes pass and I receive an email notification letting me know that my tuition was completely paid off. I was in shock and undone. As my heavenly Father moved on my behalf, He moved upon my earthly father. I was completely humbled at the sacrifice my father made as he invested in me. My level of gratitude cannot be expressed in words.

God is seriously faithful. He sees us and knows us. It was not a coincidence that my friend and I came across two white herons. The prophetic moment that unfolded on September 27 has opened the door for radical encounters. As you read this, I just release my testimony to you. I release the revelation that you are seen and known by God. I release favor over you with friends and family. You are seen and known by your intimate circles. You are always, constantly on God’s heart. Your needs are not too big for Him. I declare that what I’ve received you will receive a double portion. You are worth investing in. You are not a mistake. You are purposed and you are called.

Til next time,

D

MINI UPDATE

Hey guys! It’s been a month since I last blogged. It has been a crazy few weeks of processing and stretching!!! I am super excited to share what’s been happening with my heart and all that jazz! But first, I need YOUR help!
I first want to thank Jesus I was able to start 2nd year with half of my tuition paid leaving a balance of $2200. He is so INSANELY faithful. He is a fulfiller of our hearts’ desires and dreams. As the first month of the school year is coming to a quick close, I ask for your prayers as I am still in need of $2200. I am a FIRM believer that God finishes what He starts. It is impossible for Him to not come through. It is against His nature to not show up. He is also the Daddy who does nothing in halves. When He let His son die on the cross for us, He didn’t let Him die half-way. He didn’t raise Him half-way. He did it ALL in FULL. He’s ALL IN. With that said, I am believing God to have my tuition fully paid off within the next month. By October 1st I will need at least $1100 to continue with 2nd year. As I pray for more faith and boldness in this, I release it over you. Whatever financial concerns you may have whether it be debt, rent past due, car notes, accumulated fees–whatever it maybe—I release every financial breakthrough I’ve had over you! Every financial miracle I’ve witnessed you have permission to receive! Even as you read this supernatural provision is happening. Doors are opening in places you least expect. Checks are being placed in the mail. Papa prick the hearts of the community this reader is surrounding by so this reader knows they are not alone or forgotten. Release Your grace over their finances. Let this reader know that they are seen and that YOU see their need and will ALWAYS provide for them. He’s just that good!
Again, I say thank you to all those reading this who have invested in my journey thus far. You are a part of dreams coming true and I am so grateful! If you are coming across The Redding Project for the first time, check out my story here. To invest in the second leg of this journey, just do the following below:
go to www.ibssm.org and click on “give to tuition”. Type in my name: Danae Carson.
Any amount counts and I’m greatly humbled and thankful for your support and your belief in me. Know that God’s hand is ALL over your dreams. He is ALL over your finances. He doesn’t give you crazy big dreams to tease you. He fulfills them. He has pre-budgeted your lives. Every expense, every need is accounted for before you came into this world. God is limitless. He has limitless resources. I stand in agreement with you and declare life and truth over your finances. If you experience ANY financial breakthrough after reading this or if you have experienced it in your life prior, leave a comment on this post so that others can read it and be encouraged! There is POWER in the testimony!
You guys are AMAZING!
Til next time,
D

SEE YOU

“We create with our words. What are you creating today?”- Beni Johnson

Our words create worlds. A spiritual father of mine spoke this truth and it has stuck with me. What we say about others, about our countries, about anything really has an effect. What I’ve been challenged in lately is the word I’m speaking over myself. What am I saying about me? What world–atmosphere–presence am I fostering when I speak? Am I birthing a reality of doubt–faithlessness–fear in my life? Or am I releasing a world of joy, hope, and destiny?

I was faced with this not too long ago. I was discouraged and getting completely in my feelings one night. I was letting lies trickle into my mind. I remember crying and saying to God, “I want to be seen. I want to be encouraged. Let someone encourage me!!!”  Before I could even begin the down spiral to self-pity [so glad I didn’t that place sucks], I heard God say, nicely but firmly, “how about you see you” (paraphrase). Essentially, why are you waiting on someone else when you have a mouth and can speak just as well? Instead of entertaining the lies, why not speak the truth?

I felt the conviction and the question was raised: how can I expect from others what I don’t do myself?

Self-love is so important. SEEING YOU IS IMPORTANT. We pour into what we believe about ourselves. What we say about ourselves creates the reality from which we live. That night, I refrained from calling my R.O.D. (ride or die) right away and first, spoke over myself. I chose to see me. I declared the truth about myself. The cloud of discouragement that was hovering began to dissipate. I really did feel my heart strengthen. Why?–because, my words in my mouth about me are just as powerful and affective—if not more—as anyone else’s. [<–awesome insight from a friend]. My words fuel my thoughts and my thoughts affect my actions. The moment I began to speak life over myself, when I chose to see me instead of waiting for someone else to, my thoughts were reminded of the truth and thus I began to shift from discouragement to self-appreciation and love.

Now, please understand, it’s so important to have community. It’s seriously AMAZING to be surrounded by people who intentionally see you and protect your heart. It’s a beautiful thing to have a core who call out your gold, challenge, inspire, and motivate you to go higher and be all you were made to be. In that same breath, it’s even more important that YOU see it. It’s crucial that YOU know the truth about yourself and that YOU see YOUR GOLD. So when your core is unable to do it, you can do it and believe it.

So here’s a little exercise!! I challenge you to write out some empowering beliefs about yourself and declare them, even when you are feeling the complete opposite–declare the truth and watch your atmosphere change. This weekend and this coming week, be intentional about SEEING YOU!

Til Next Time,

D

Here’s to Part 2

A year ago this month, I entered a life-changing experience. I packed my bags and moved to Redding, California . I didn’t know what I was getting into. I didn’t have a clue what to expect. I just knew that I was heading the direction God spoke to me [read about it here]. People ask what I learned or what I gained there. As dramatic as this may sound, when graduating, I really felt like my life was beginning.  . A five-year journey of breaking through came to full fruition in first year.  My heart was uncovered. I discovered my message to the world. Not only did my voice return—I encountered intimacy. Oh my heart has melted in ways I can’t describe towards Abba. He is my best friend. Our relationship has gone to deeper depths. I’ve learned the power of the secret place. The power of worship and the sweetness of the Holy Spirit. First year has brought me deeper and higher. I really am forever ruined by the truth, power, and love of the King.

The last nine months have been transformative, inspiring, and revelatory. I’ve discovered what I burn for, what my purpose is. Who I am was born. It excites me because I desire to share this with the world. I desire to see other people come into the reality of who they are and whose they are. I aspire to release the revelation of identity to others.  My heart is to encourage and empower others to find their voice—their message. I want people to be reminded of how faithful God is. I want people to know and encounter His supernatural love. My heart is to see a generation raised and a generation rise up in and to the reality that they have a message this world needs. They have a voice that rings loud with authority, passion, and power and is drenched in the purity and culture of Heaven. I desire to see a generation broken free of religion and released into the grace and freedom of the Kingdom. A generation that knows that freedom and grace is not a “free pass” to live any kind of way but core values that hold them accountable to the standard they are called to. Whew. I could go on! The last five years but specifically the last year has really opened my eyes to the truth that there really is soooooooo much more. SO much more to life, to this walk–to relationship with God. It goes beyond me–it goes beyond us. It goes beyond one state—one city—one country. It’s an eternal reality—a never-ending revival.

In April of this year, I was accepted into Bethel’s second year program. In a month, I will be heading back to Redding to delve deeper as I begin second year. This year it’s all about serving and pouring out. I will learn and live out how to take ALL that I’ve gain, seen, and encountered and give that to the world. It will be a year of more stretching—stretching who I am as a leader; propelling me to walk out–even more fully–my purpose. This year I will have the honor of serving and running alongside leaders in the community of Bethel and second year students.

As I am working now and starting to prepare to return to Redding, I ask for your prayers. Tuition is $4400. Praise God, my tuition is half-way paid with $2590 left in the balance. Recently, God shared with me this revelation that He does nothing in halves. When He let His son die on the cross for us, He didn’t let Him die half-way. He didn’t raise Him half-way. He did it ALL in FULL. With that truth, we get HEALED in FULL. We get DELIVERED in FULL. We are PROVIDED for in FULL. We are LOVED in FULL. We are REDEEMED in FULL. You get it? God does nothing half-way. He’s ALL IN. With that said, I am believing God to have my tuition fully paid off by September 3^rd. I believe this also for all my financial needs this year–missions, housing, and ministry trips included. As I pray for more faith and boldness in this, I release it over you. Whatever financial concerns you may have whether it be debt, rent past due, car notes, accumulated fees–whatever it maybe—I release every financial breakthrough I’ve had over you! Every financial miracle I’ve witnessed you have permission to receive!  Even as you read this supernatural provision is happening. Doors are opening in places you least expect. Checks are being placed in the mail. Papa prick the hearts of the community this reader is surrounding by so this reader knows they are not alone or forgotten. Release Your grace over their finances. Let this reader know that they are seen and that YOU see their need and will ALWAYS provide for them. He’s just that good!

Again, I thank you to all those reading this who have invested in my journey thus far. You were apart of dreams coming true and I am so grateful! If you feel lead or would like to pour into the second leg of this journey, you can follow the instructions below:

go to www.ibssm.org and click on “give to tuition”. Type in my name: Danae Carson.

Any amount counts and I’m greatly humbled for your support and your belief in me. Whether you donate or not, just know that God’s hand is ALL over your dreams. He is ALL over your finances. He doesn’t give us crazy big dreams to tease us. He fulfills them. He has pre-budgeted your life. Every expense, every need is accounted for before you came into this world. God is limitless. He has limitless resources. I stand in agreement with you and declare life and truth over your finances. If you experience ANY financial breakthrough after reading this or if you have experienced it in your life prior, leave a comment on this post so that others can read it and be encouraged! There is POWER in the testimony!

You guys are AMAZING!

Til next time,

D

A Love Declaration

Free. Unashamed. Bold. Uncompromising. That’s how I wanna love. That’s how I WILL love. With no conditions, no lists, or comparisons and contrasts, I will love fiercely. I will love without fear. With a reckless abandonment of entitlement, self-centeredness, and pride, I will love purely.

I’ve been loved–I am loved with such fearlessness. God has loved and keeps loving me INSANELY. He threw caution to the wind and let His only son die for me. He burns with passion and pursues me wholly–unrelenting until I am consumed by His fire. He chooses me EVERYTIME. No questions, no ifs, no maybes. He decisively picks me. He chose me before I wanted to be chosen. When everyone else and everything else wavers, He remains constant—faithful. Faithfully holding my heart, He tenderly breathes life over every dream—desire—vision.

I will love like that. I firmly believe I have no right to withhold this kind of love from anyone. God freely gives it. He willingly pours it out on me and I pour it out on Him and He compels me to pour it out on this world. Ephesians 5:1 calls me to a standard that screams BE LIKE ME (God). As a Christian, who I am should ALWAYS imitate God. So who I am in traffic, at the store, on a date, or in my prayer closet should consistently and will constantly reflect Him.

Oh my heart’s desire is to re-present the Father. To see, through a simple smile, lives completed wrecked by His love. I will be marked by radical love. I will ooze passionate grace. Because I’ve encountered it, I can release it and I choose to make it a point that every inch of my life overflows with radical love and with reckless abandonment I will love with the Father’s heart.

Be encouraged guys—you’ve been called to love. You’ve called to love people to life, to release radical love to the world. There’s no formula for this. Remain humble, usable, and willing. Ask for His love to completely wreck you. Let God show how to love radically and insanely.

Til Next Time,

D