New Found Land

January 2021

We are blazing new trails that have not been walked before. Many have been cutting out the weeds in their lives and clearing a new path of purity—fortifying a strong foundation to stand on in the coming days. Some have felt the yearning to build and create something new; to blaze trails through uncharted territory. The pioneer spirit is sweeping across our land with new revelation being imparted to those with open arms.

“For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be

perfectly equipped for His office

as High Priest] through suffering.”

Hebrews 2:10 AMPC

In a vision, I was shown a beautiful lake surrounded by lush, green grass. I looked around trying to figure out where I was. It was new; a place I had never seen before. I saw a man fishing at the lake and I walked over to see if the fish were biting. As I got closer, the man turned around. It was Jesus! In awe, I smiled and ran over to Him.

He handed me a fishing pole and I was very excited because I love to fish. On the ground beside Him was a rope with fish attached to it. As we stood next to each other, just enjoying the sunshine, we cast out the lines of our fishing poles into the lake water. Such peace surrounded me as I began to take in the surroundings of this new land from the post in which I stood.

Just as my thoughts drifted to how very green the trees were around the lake, a fish tugged at the end of my line. Jesus waited with anticipation as I reeled the fish to land. Just like the true gentleman He is, He took the fish off my pole for me. He then held up the ugly looking fish so we were eye to giant fishy eye. The smell was disgusting and I covered my nose. Jesus said, “Kiss the fish.” I was like, “Ewww!” Then I questioned, “What kind of fish is it?” He said, “Kiss the Cod.” As I kissed the nasty looking cod fish and began to wipe my mouth off, the land on the other side of the lake amazingly opened up and new trails began to form. It looked like something out of the Little House on the Prairie. I knew they led to many new places to explore.

“...Go and explore the land...” Judges 18:2 ESV

As I looked up what an actual cod fish looked like, to my utter surprise, kissing a cod fish is a tradition or type of ceremony to introduce a newcomer to the island of Newfoundland.

Wikipedia explains that:

“Kissing the cod, also referred to as a ‘Screech-in,’ is a tradition that began in and continues to occur in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is traditionally used to welcome newcomers to the island or give them the experience of being a Newfoundlander. Some also consider foreigners who've been ‘Screeched In’ to be unofficial Newfoundlanders. The ceremony may be performed by a travel guide or local family. The ceremony may differ by region or participants.”

I feel that “new found lands” are now being discovered. Many are getting direction from the Holy Spirit and will begin to move into new unchartered territories and domains. There are new trails to be made and paths to discover.

“It is my honor and constant passion to be a pioneer who preaches where no one has ever even heard of the Anointed One, instead of building upon someone else’s foundation.” Romans 15:20 TPT

The pioneer spirit is the spirit of faith in action. In order to be a pioneer one must have faith to leave their comfort zone and explore unfamiliar waters. The pioneer spirit must have faith attached for the land to be found and developed. Faith without action is dead and the pioneer spirit without faith is useless. Without action through faith, commissions to find new land won’t work. The pioneers must rise and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit with faith to see His plans become reality.

“Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?” James 2:20 ESV

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” James 2:14 ESV

Mark Hankins says,

“There are three kinds of people: Pioneers, settlers, and museum keepers. Museum keepers–are content to dust off the memories of the past. Settlers–are content to stay in their comfort zone. Pioneers–are constantly pressing into new territories.”

The Lord is welcoming us and opening up new territories for us to navigate. There are new found lands to be pioneered. We must not stay complacent, stuck, or comfortable in the museums of the past, but break free to explore and discover the new land. We must press on toward the prize—Jesus.

“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:14 ESV

It takes faith to “kiss the cod” and chart the new waters ahead. It takes bold faith to go where God is calling many to go. It takes faith to hear and obey no matter how scary and intimidating the “new” may seem.

“Abraham, our father of faith, led the way as our pioneering example. He believed God and the substance of his faith released God’s righteousness to him.” Galatians 3:6 TPT

Pioneer, He needs you! He needs your voice! He needs you to be His hands and feet in the earth to prepare the way for His return. He needs you to plow new ground.

“...The voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord…” Luke 3:4 KJV

It takes hard work to plow new ground. It takes someone willing to get a little dirty to blaze new trails. The Lord has unleashed the pioneer spirit upon the earth and a company of Jesus lovers are arising to prepare the way. They are being commissioned to get down and dirty for Him—trudging through the depths to build what God is birthing.

“Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting, ‘Clear the way through the wilderness for the LORD! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!’” Isaiah 40:3 NLT

If this is you, He needs you to “kiss the cod” and accept your new status as a resident of His Kingdom—seeing yourself seated with Him instead of viewing yourself only as a visitor in the lands He is opening for you.

“Fixing our attention on Jesus, the Pioneer and perfecter of the faith, who, in view of the joy set before Him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 ISV

It’s time to prepare the way, plow, plant, and harvest. It’s time to build and grow in the new land. The harvest is ripe. Pioneers, let’s get busy and plow so we can gather a plentiful harvest.

“He turned to his disciples and said, ‘The harvest is huge and ripe! But there are not enough harvesters to bring it all in.’” Matthew 9:37 TPT