THE WORDS OF BEGINNING

October 5, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

It is day 5 of sabbatical.

My rhythm has definitely changed, but I cannot say I have yet done a lot of “resting”. The weekend was given to three big events designed to bring “Word from God” into my heart.

The events certainly did their job. I have lots to contemplate over the next 26 days.

Even before the events began I heard:

FROM NOW ON.

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AND TAKE THE JOURNEY THROUGH THE WINTER SEASON.

I ALSO HEARD, IT IS TIME TO PREPARE: A NEW RHYTHM, A NEW ORDER, A NEW ACCOMPLISHMENT, A NEW SIMPLICITY.

Gardener planting seedlings in an enchanted forest beside a cottage

On Friday I attended our church’s men’s conference. The word I heard there was…

WHAT YOU SPEAK WILL BE YOUR FUTURE. YOUR CONFESSION BECOMES YOU.

On Saturday morning I attended a community conversation where I heard the word…

A NEW WAY OF LEADING LIES BEFORE YOU.

On Saturday evening I attended TWR’s Prayer conference, where I heard…

THE FALLEN TENT OF DAVID IS RESTORED. ENTER IT. SEE WHAT GOD IS DOING AND JOIN HIM IN IT.

Two adventurers beside a tent in an autumn forest beneath a crescent moon

I took Sunday to rest completely and tom begin unpacking these words with God.

COLLAPSE

October 2, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

Day 2 of Sabbatical.

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I forget between sabbaticals what the first days are like. I am not as disciplined as I should be about resting so when I come to vacations (which I seldom take) and sabbaticals (which I take every two years), the first day or so my body just collapses.

This year I have built in a pretty aggressive prayer schedule to the sabbatical. I was at prayer by 6 A.M. yesterday. I had gotten up at 3:30 A.M.

By 10 A.M. I was drawing in weariness

So I went to bed until 1:30 P.M.

I dragged myself out of bed for the afternoon gardening and animal chores.

I barely made it through the chores. I had to take breaks between each dog walk and the chicken coops.

My plan was to go to prayer at TWR House of prayer for three hours. The prayer topics were: Braking down strongholds; prayer for the church; Prayer for TWR House of prayer. I knew by 3 P.M. that was not happening.

I had a light supper and I was in bed by 7 P.M. again. I slept until 3:15 A.M. without stirring.

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I prayed in the dawn. I am feeling better today, and that is good. It might be sabbatical, but I have some very important places to be tonight and tomorrow.

INQUIRIES

September 30, 2026 / joseph elon lillie / Leave a comment

Monday night is my assigned night at The Worship Room House of Prayer. I lead worship for the first hour and then lead prayer for the second and third hours. The second hour is what TWR calls worship with the word and I call lecto divine.

The verse we meditated on this week was Psalm 27:4

One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.

As I sit here typing on the eve of my third sabbatical I am captured by the thought of INQUIRING of the Lord.