My heart for a minute...

I honestly thought God would let me forget about this blog, because it's so not "me", Then He let me in on a little secret.....I'm not the me I used to be. See for the past few months, God has taken this child of His on a journey that I haven't gotten over yet. His presence is incredible and I feel blessed to walk in it. I'm a week in to making my place with God, my spot with Him, my "altar". I've got one word to describe it...wow. The revelations are coming, the truths are powerful, and the anointing in stirring. Yes I said it...anointed. I've come to far for you to tell me I'm limited by God. God didn't make a box that we all fit in, He made us and filled us with a power that is ours for the using. Did you catch that...the using? The power is on the inside of us as Children of the Most High, are we using it?

This may be a different type of blog, but I felt so strong that someone out there needs to read it. I know what it's like to be hungry, thirsty, and desperate for Him. I know what it's like to be busy about what His church and forget to listen to what He is saying. I know what's like to go through the Motions and end up dried and tired. I know what it's like to try to change from the outside to the inside and it not work. I know what it's like to be sitting down in the midst of a pity party that has physically taken it's toll on me because I sat down. I know what it's like to be told who I am in Him by the yoke of tradition and religion. I know what it's like to feel defeated, but this blog isn't about that. This is a blog about power. See I also know what it's like to be satisfied, to be full, and to find Him. I know what it's like to be in the car and without even one of those "praise songs" on start praying in the Spirit and the tears flow. I know what it's like to wake up in the middle of the night and know it's time to pray for someone. I know what it's like to read through His word with new eyes and to have revelation after revelation after revelation. I know what it's like to go not this time enemy and to walk forward in the power knowing that God's walking behind you, Jesus is walking beside you, and the Spirit is the one saying step here, step there. I know what it's like to hear Him use you to speak truth to someone(and I know what it's like to finally know what that obedience feels like). I know what it's like to have not only the gift of discernment, but to let the Spirit use it as a prayer prompting. I know what it's like to take the enemy back to the place where God said nope..that's my anointed Child. I know what it's like to remind the enemy he's defeated and a liar so back off. I know what it's like to hear God say....it's time for war, armor up child.

There is a call going out. There is an army rising up. Lukewarm isn't where it's found. Being cold isn't where it's found, it's about being in His presence and letting Him light the fire that cannot be extinguished. God's looking for a people to pour His Spirit out upon in this time we are living in...ask me how I know...because I have been sitting under the spout constantly for the last couple of months. My toes have been stepped on by God at times, and I'm good with that because it means He's still molding me to the soldier, the warrior He has called me to be. Conviction brings about change....I'm not perfect, I still make mistakes on a daily basis. The difference now is that where I used to sit down, now I stand still. There is a power on the inside of me...for years I have felt it stirring, but I ignored it. I listened to what others said and believed power and anointing for others. Well guess what devil...I grabbed it for myself last week. I grabbed on to that calling, that anointing and started claiming it and believing it for myself.  Being in His presence changes you, if it doesn't ...you may want to check what presence you were in. For me, I haven't been the same since.

Moving forward isn't always comfortable. Getting off the fence can be scary at times, but there is a freedom and a peace that passes all understanding. There is an anointing and a power for every child of the Most High to walk into. Tap into yours.....there is an army rising up. Are you a solider ready for battle or one still looking for their shoes?

Tuesday Truths vol. 4

This passage has been one I've quoted MULTIPLE times and in many arenas. It's one I've believed on, stood on, and Sunday God used it to push me, to provoke me to change. I mentioned some of this in my previous blog.

Isaiah 54
15  If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;

    whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

16 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith
    who fans the coals into flame
    and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc;
17     no weapon forged against you will prevail,
    and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,
    and this is their vindication from me,”
declares the Lord.  

So many times we quote verse 17 and forget to read the versus prior to that one. We stand on the fact the truth that God promised no weapon forged against us (forged means formed, made, imitated etc.) will prosper. God protects the weapons that are sent our way from others or outside sources. What about the weapons (i.e. thoughts, choices) we allow from within? The thoughts that sow seeds of doubt or discouragement. The choice that leads to condemnation or feelings of unworthiness. I truly believe as a child of the Most High God has the outside sources covered, but He needs us to believe it for ourselves. His part is taking care of the weapons formed against us, ours is believing what He says about us. See if we believe what God says about us, what others say about us will not matter. It may be a thought that enters our mind, but it's deleted with the truth of God's voice/word. It may be a moment of discouragement, but you defeat that with a praise song or a moment spent just letting Him love on you. No weapon forged against/created against us will prosper or prevail, that's God's promise and we can stand on that. Now let's add to that truth that the One who has called you is faithful and He will do it. God doesn't start something and not finish it, and you sweet reader are one of His most prized creations. Believe what He says about you, tap into the power that He already said you could have, and trust that the He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it!      

Sometimes you gotta preach to yourself....

I'm beginning to see the pattern with that mean old devil (who is a liar by the way). I'm sensing his schemes, I'm learning his tricks....oh this means war devil. 

The enemy apparently didn't care for the blog I wrote yesterday or the two that God was working on writing throughout the day. For a time the enemy's thoughts were louder than God's truth...but then my stinking thinking got me feeling stinking..I'm so tired of his messes. The enemy has a plan, but my God has a purpose. 

At some point last night, when I knew my feelings were taking me down a road I didn't want to head down I plainly told God I needed a word. At this point I didn't care what the word was even I just needed to hear from Him. He is a constant and so very faithful. 

He started speaking last night and hasn't stopped yet. Sometimes you gotta preach to yourself, sometimes you have to encourage you. It's okay to seek encouragement from friends, but sometimes God wants you to seek it from Him. God wants to remind you of what is on the inside of you. Last night I went over some things with Him, I was like God you have my future...He said yes child I know. I then said and you have my past...all of those hurts that I had let take root are in your hands. He said yes child I know...So I said...what am I missing...His answer was not what I expected. He replied with You still have your present. You have given me your tomorrow, but what about when tomorrow turns into today. I was like ouch God...

So many times our today is what messes us up. It's where our feelings lie, where our emotions can be louder than our steps. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He wants to take care of our todays just like He does our tomorrow. Once that truth set in...wow....

This morning God was still pouring it out. He took me to a verse I have read and quoted MANY times before to myself at times of struggle. I read the verse and He said now read the one before it. Have you ever had God just take a verse and go here's that word you asked for? Umm..yeah those times are becoming frequent and I LOVE it! I will never read "No weapon formed against you shall prosper" in the same way again. 

You may be thinking well this is a different kind of post and you are right it is. I've been on a journey for awhile, but finally started running it in July. I'm not going back, even though it would be comfortable at times and easier to just get in a routine (which leads to a rut). I'll admit I've tried to run backwards, but every time I try something stops me....The song "I won't go back" starts singing in my Spirit and I just have to stop. Dig in and stand still friend, but don't go back once you start moving forward. It's a blessing to have friends who will encourage, pray, and speak life into you...sometimes though all you need is a reminder of the power on the inside of you and the shift starts to happen. God knows what He's doing. He finishes what He starts and It's not over! 

Different kind of post, but somebody needs to know the power inside of you is greater than any feeling or thought that the enemy is throwing your way. Stand up, get your praise on, and know that God is the one fighting the battle. The enemy wants your praise, don't let him have it through the busyness of life. 

Have a blessed week! 

Coals and Flames

God doesn't waste a moment, a word, or a picture. 

Fires are precious. Some see the results as warmth and comfort, others see it as heat and irritating. Fires are also costly. They can do damage when they are not contained and can also leave scars from the burns. Fires are also beneficial because they take care of impurities, strengthen things being molded, and can bring out the gem under all of the dirt. 

Things in the natural reflect things in the spiritual. 

God starts the fire the day you become a Child of His. Let that sink in....so many times we talk about our fire going out, our spark not being sparked anymore etc. When God starts the fire, it never goes out. It may appear that the fire is growing cold, but that is a choice we have made. We let the enemy throw coals on it, turn the thermostat up or down, and or add the wet wood in the mix. When God starts the fire, the flame is eternal. You can pretend it's not there, but it's still burning one way or another. The enemy can only touch your fire when you make the choice to let him, but even then he can't take it away. What thoughts of discouragement, doubt, despair, condemnation are we allowing to be cold coals on our fires? What situations, circumstances, or people are we allowing to mess with the thermostat? What pity party, Eeyore mood has allowed wet wood on your flame? The enemy knows the weak spots in the fire, where the flame isn't as hot, how the wood is laid etc. God also knows the weak spots in the fire, and can shift the wood at any moment to strengthen the flame. 

Your fire is one of the most precious thing you have. Protect it. Draw a line around it and cover the line with the blood. The enemy wants to put your fire out, because he knows that the fire is what will impact those around you. The fire is what will cause others to look within themselves at their own flames. 

God started speaking last night from Sister Darlene Bishop's word on Prayer. I'll admit even with watching via Periscope every night and attending last night...the busyness of life had started to take it's toll on my fire. God is faithful. If we will get in the overflow of His anointing, He plants seeds we didn't even know we had asked for, He word takes root in the right atmosphere. He waters those already planted, and He sets a spark to the flame that you thought was about to die out.  Prayer is the power source for changing lives. Prayer is what keeps the flame going when it seems to everyone else the fire should have already gone out. Not tapping into the power of prayer is like asking God to save you on a ship that is sinking yet refusing to get into the Lifeboat that is there. As His word says, we have not because we ask not. 

Where is your fire at? Have the coals of life started to cool the flame? Has busyness become a way of life again, even though you promised yourself it wouldn't? Have you taken your focus off of the end of the race only to think about how you feel while running it? Sometimes we long for more, we hunger for that touch that only He can give, but our words never speak it. Life and Death are found in our words. What are we speaking about our lives that may is either turning our flame up or turning it down? 

One last thing...You won't always get it right. Life gets in the way and you lose focus at times. Those times decrease as you get stronger, but there will be those moments when you have to crawl in His lap and tell Him You're sorry. I don't always get it right, I've learned that, grown from that, and refuse to let the enemy condemn me at those moments....but I always get up! After you have crawled in His lap, He's dried your tears and spoken life to those feelings of yours....don't keep crawling. Stand up and keep moving forward. 

Have a blessed weekend readers!

~Melissa

Tuesday Truths vol. 3

Volume 3...sorry for not posting the last couple of weeks. Back on track this week ;-)

God's been whispering (well almost shouting a couple of times)...armor up. With that whisper has come some new revelation for me on the armor of God. Below are the verses and some of that revelation..

Ephesians 6

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God,so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

I have always loved this passage of scripture for various reasons. Here are some thoughts/truths I gleaned reading it again with a new perspective. 

• First off it says be strong in the Lord and in His power...(That power is on the inside of every believer..it's the only way we are going to be able to stand and be strong. If we don't tap into that power though...well)
• Realize where the struggle comes from and who you are fighting against 
• Belt of truth: Your belt holds you up and helps you to stand...Truth in who God says you are, not who the world says you are. Knowing that truth will help you stand when you feel like sitting and giving up. 
• Breastplate of righteousness...stand in who He called you to be and what He has done for you and through you...it's all about Him anyway. 
• Feet fitted with peace: Peace despite what is going on to stand...peace knowing He has this all under control and is working always on your behalf. Steal toed boots....nothing can bother you..
• Shield of Faith: God's already taken care of this, walk in that promise....
• Verse 18 makes me want to shout! Thank you Jesus for the prayer language...

Let it Rain...

I wish you could have heard my conversation with God this morning as I was getting ready for work. My flesh wanted to be ill and grumpy that it was Monday, but God was speaking so I stopped to listen. I'm not a morning person, and definitely not typically a Monday person. I love what I do, but I also like my sleep. This morning my flesh wanted to be ill that it was raining and I have morning car duty. God was clear...what happens in the physical/natural is a picture of what is happening in the spiritual realm. It was then I knew I had a choice...I could deny my flesh and take up my cross, or I could let my flesh win and be ill all day. It's a choice in the mornings as to whether we are going to walk in His strength or walk in our own strength. This morning I chose His strength. I've been smiling all day....despite things that frustrated me, things that could have gotten me discouraged, side tracked, or even down...I've been smiling. The weather forecast is for rain a lot this week, and I'm okay with that. It's a symbol of what is going on in the spiritual realm...God is raining down His spirit on those that are willing vessels. Those children of the Most High that are willing, desperate, and seeking more of Him. Just as the rain showers over this week are forecasted to be scattered, God's rain may seem that way as well. It's not because He doesn't desire to pour out His spirit on everyone, but not everyone is willing. There is a body of people, believers even out there that are okay to be okay. They are content to stay in their comfort zone. They are content to do things the way they have always done, content to be who they have always been. There is a group of people content to listen to God on Sunday, maybe even leave those sins, burdens, worries at the altar...but the minute the devil throws it back their way they catch it and hold on to it again. There is a people plainly put that are lukewarm. They aren't really on fire for God and they aren't really cold towards Him either. They have a lot of head knowledge, are probably even saved...but are walking without power and without the victory that He said they could have. See God doesn't force His gifts on us...He doesn't sit by each day and say now come on, you know I gave you___________ to use. He lovingly asks us to use them, shows us how, and even provides a way...but the choice is ours to walk it out.

So God let it rain...open the windows of Heaven and let it rain. I'm beyond excited about what He is already doing and what He is going to continue to do. See I've seen it over the last couple of months. I've seen chains broken, I've felt His prompting, I've listened to His whispers, and I've watched Him move...I've walked into a place one way and walked out lighter. I've lost who I thought I was only to find out who He said I was. I've felt the freedom and the peace when He takes something and holds on to it. It's more than just leaving it at the altar...leaving it in His hands means the enemy can't throw it back at you the next day. I've prayed prayers I didn't understand and I've read with new eyes His word full of revelation. This is what running the race feels like....for so long it was a crawl, and then the walk seemed to keep going and going. Freedom is running knowing that God isn't just at the finish line, but running beside you. Freedom is drawing the line in the sand and telling the enemy this means war...and armoring up.

It's raining this week...in the physical/natural and in the spiritual. God is pouring out so much that there is going to be more than can be imagined, an overflow of His presence, His mercy, His grace, and His power! (If you are not able to attend Restoring Hope's conference/revival this week...download the app Periscope. I promise you...you will be blessed!) .

Thankful tonight...

I just wanted to take a minute to thank God for this past week thus far. The enemy has came in more than once and attempted to taken the wind out of my sails, but God has came in with His truth. The word says when the enemy comes in like a flood, God will raise up a standard against Him...a standard of truth. The enemy plays on weakness, sometimes the attacks feel like a punch in the gut...God gets that. He also knows that greater than the way that punch feels is the word He wants to bring forth. See the enemy wouldn't be punching you in the gut if God didn't have a word that was about to come forth, a seed that had been planted, a dreamed that was about to come to life. The enemy seeks to defeat and when you are defeated you are immobilized...stuck in fear. Fear can come in so many forms, but that is a blog for another day.

I'm thankful tonight that God pursues us. He knows our hearts, He created them. Nothing has taken Him by surprise. It may have you, but He knew it was going to be part of your day, before your day was even on your calendar. He knew and He planned for what you needed.

I've come too far to not know that God is moving and that the enemy is too. The devil (who is a liar by the way) knows that his days are numbered.

I'm thankful tonight that He is on a time God and always shows up on time.

I started this last week, in the midst of a couple of shifts. If you had asked me this time last year if I could tell you what a shift was, I would be like umm...and would come up with something, but never be truly able to describe it. That's not the case anymore. I've felt the shift, I've felt God turn things around in the atmosphere and to put the enemy in his place. God doesn't always change the situation, but God can turn it around for your good. He never wastes a moment, thank you Jesus. I've come too far for to you tell me God's not moving. There is a call and a purpose inside of me that I've let lie quiet for too long. As a dear friend said Wednesday night, this means war. The second shift was declaring that. See my God has already won the battle and when it's all said and done, I will still be standing unless I make the choice to sit down. Thank you Jesus for the strength to stand even when the storm rages and I feel like sitting. Greater things He said are still to come, and I am believing that..I've already asked Him for it. There is a power inside of each and every believer...tap into it. The choices is yours...God desires for you to walk in victory, to have an abundant life here on Earth, to take Him at His word and to know that He is able to do more than you could ask or imagine. There is more to this relationship thing than just accepting His gift of salvation, but that's a blog for another day. Being uncomfortable can be a good thing...it can produce change and promise.

I don't know what your week holds, but I know who holds your week. As a Child of the Most High believe that He has amazing things in store for your week, listen for the whispers along the day, step where He steps, and know that He is greater than anything in this world!

Blessings,
~Melissa

So we sing....I won't go back

The title of this blog is one is a line from a worship song. One I have been singing to myself over the last couple of days when I would get still. The downside is I haven't been still enough. I haven't been quiet enough and have let busyness take residence where it's not welcome. The routine started this week with back to school. While I love a routine, it has exhausted me trying to get in the swing of things. I didn't realize until today (thank you Jesus for Saturdays) what was so exhausting. It's been the fight of the old me versus the new me. The enemy (who is a liar by the way)...wants to keep us exhausted and if that means keeping us busy at the same time than so be it. God wants to pour in to our minds, our hearts, our lives...but to do that some times we have to get still. Conviction is telling God I'm sorry for not taking enough time to be still this week. Condemnation is letting the enemy telling me I've moving back to how I used to react to things, used to handle things, used to deal with things. Sorry devil..you have come by too late to tell this Jesus girl that I'm not different. Cause I can take him back to the place and the time when God said enough is enough, a new level is here....and this girl isn't going back!

So God started talking to me about the word routine today. Routine is dangerous. While a waking up time, going to bed time, and some set times are good....becoming so rote in how you go throughout your day can cause you to miss the blessings God has along your path. It can cause you to become so focused in checking off your list that you don't pay attention to what God wants to add to your list. It can cause you to grow complacent. That's why His word says not to worry about tomorrow and that His mercies are new every morning. God wants us to look at each day as a gift from Him because it is. Childlike faith.....we should see each day as a child on Christmas morning. We should unwrap it with expectation of something amazing on the inside.

God never said it would be easy, He never even promised it would all go "our way", but He did say He wouldn't leave us or forsake us. So when it feels like the enemy is winning, don't lose heart...God's already at the finish line, it just looks like the enemy is ahead. When the enemy is pressing, press back....Resistance makes you stronger. When the enemy wants to sow a thought of discouragement or doubt, press back with the truth that if God be for you who can be against you. Press back with the truth of no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Press back in faith knowing that the God of the universe who calls you by name has already handled EVERYTHING for you. He just needs you to step out and walk it out in faith. Take Him at His word and know that His promises are for you Child of God....believe them!

Maybe you are thinking well what if I fell down this week. What if I let the thoughts try to take root, what if I reacted to something someone said instead of just letting Him fight the battle. What if, what if....so what if you fell down...did you get back up? The test comes so that you can share the testimony. The mess comes so you will speak up with His message. God never said you wouldn't fall, He just promised to be there with you. Don't stay down...life is learned in getting back up and grace is found when you let Him not only help you up, but to clean up your wounds as only He can. Conviction says, let me help you up. Condemnation says I'm never getting back up again. Know the difference Child of God....one is a lie from the enemy and the other is a truth that God has promised.

"So I sing...I won't go back, I can't go back to the way it used to be...before your presence came and changed me.." Spending time in His presence is life changing....once you have, you don't want to go back to the routine, to the way things used to be....your heart wanted more, thirsted for more..God honored that..and now your Soul and Spirit are not satisfied without it. Oh how sweet it is....

Walking with Him,
~Melissa

More of You, Less of Me....

Life happens, the routine clock starts and busyness creeps in before you can realize it. It's two days into the school year and I'm already realizing purposeful may be my word for the year. Purposeful in my choices, purposeful in my words, purposeful in my thoughts, and purposeful in my time. If we don't set out each day to walk in the purpose God has planned for our lives, called us to, created us for...the enemy will seek to make our day full of his purpose. There will be moments in our days that drain us, but if the moments that fill our buckets outweigh those days we still come out on top. Even if they don't we still win, because we know who is holding our bucket.

As I was going to bed last night, God gave me an amazing picture. We were both standing there looking at the mirror. I thought this was going to be one of those Melissa I love you moments see how I see you etc. It wasn't though. As I stared at the mirror I saw holes in myself. (Naturally we want to take those moments and see those holes as things that are wrong with us(how we look, what we can do etc.), but then suddenly as I was stuck on looking at the holes, God moved behind me and the holes disappeared. When I tried to find them again, all I could see was Him.

We see our weaknesses as just that weak areas of our lives, but they are really glory areas. Moments, opportunities for God to use us to showcase His glory. If it was something we could do on our own, the world may only see us. When it's something only He can do, they will see Him. The enemy would rather you see these areas of your life as what they are holes. God wants you to see them as opportunities for Him to fill you with more of Him, where there is less of you.

Be Purposeful this week!

(I know it's supposed to be Tuesday Truths, but this was weighing on my heart). I'll post Thursday Truths this week.

Did you empty your Recycling Bin?

I'm a techie person. I love technology and finding new resources. I love presenting on it, sharing it, and talking about it. So why wouldn't God take one passion and use it as a picture for something? He did...hence the title to the blog. I had some drive time this morning and afternoon, and God was talking/writing non stop.

When you go to open a document from an email or website, often times it will ask you if you want to download the document. You can then choose to just open it or download it and then open it. Once you download the document, you then have to choose to delete it if you want to get rid of it. Often times people forget that even though they don't save it to a folder, the download is still there in their downloads folder. Helping others with technology issues has also made me realize that few remember to empty their recycling bins without being reminded anyway.

Stay with me for a minute...

Thoughts are going to come at us every minute of every day, but we have the choice and power to choose which thoughts we think on and which ones we do not. When we choose to think on that thought, in essence we download it to our heads. That thought eventually makes it to our heart and our mouth. If it's a thought that is from Him and full of truth, great download it. If it's not a thought from God (see Philippians 4:8), we should not be downloading it. Often times we do though, because the thoughts hit us faster than we can hit delete.

I have heard many times before, you don't have to think every thought that comes in to your mind. God took it one step further this morning as I was driving to church. Often times we delete the thought, but we forget to empty our recycling bin. Once you delete a file on the computer, it goes to the recycling bin. The file is there until you empty the bin, even though you hit delete. So if you accidentally delete something, you can "restore" it again. Let God empty your recycling bin. When God begins to do a new thing, old thoughts may raise their ugly head again (the enemy knows which ones to pull back). God begins to replace your thoughts with His thoughts, and it scares the enemy. When God empties the recycling bin with all of those "deleted" thoughts, the enemy can no longer reach them. Those thoughts, distractions, weaknesses no longer have a hold on you.....

I know this was a different kind of blog, but for me it has been a very real part of my journey. Starting back in my routine this week I was confronted with some of those thoughts again. Thoughts that could lead to despair, discouragement, doubt, frustration. I had deleted those thoughts this summer, but somehow back in a routine the enemy tried to restore the thoughts. God was louder though...recycling bin emptied. Thank you Jesus!

Ouch that Hurt....

The flesh is never an easy topic to talk about or to write about, and discussing crucifying the flesh is even more difficult. It's a subject that is mentioned, but to elaborate on it means dealing with some of those things most of us would rather not talk about. So why am I writing this now? Because this has been the theme for the week on my journey with God. I wrote the title to this blog title early this week, but knew that it would take a couple of days before typing would happen.

Let's get a few things out in the open/recap etc....the more you press in with God, the madder the enemy becomes. (I think we already established that in an earlier post, but it bears repeating). The enemy knows your weak spots (How so you ask...you told him..(words have life and death...Be careful what you speak especially about YOU!). Seeking more of Him, means staying focused on what HE has called you to do and being who He has called you to be.

Work started back this week...This time of the year is never easy because it means getting back used to being on the go for 8 plus hours during the day, getting up early, going to bed at the same time (working on that), and giving more than you probably take in to the events of the day. The last couple of years I have made some grave mistakes as far as the input/output of my day. I put out way more than I took in and in turn it left me dry, weak, and susceptible to the darts the enemy sent my way. How many know the enemy doesn't send most of the darts when you are at your strongest, rested, and focused on tackling the day...he sends it when you are tired, depleted, and busy. The darts will be thrown on your strongest day, but on those days you know where to find your Shield of Faith. When you are tired and busy...your shield may or may not be in your hand. Without the shield in the hand, the darts tend to hit...and those thoughts that you need to push delete on begin to download instead. With the shield in hand, those moments that make you feel frantic send you to praying instead of complaining. Those moments that make you cry, send you for a walk with some praise music on instead of to ___________(fill in the name of indulgence (cookie, cake, ice cream etc.).

How do we walk a day out with our shield still in our end when we lay our heads on our pillow at night? Prayer.....I can look back over this week and see a stark difference in a couple of days. The days that I started the day out in prayer, I was able to walk through the day with a confidence...not in anything I could do, but in everything He could do(and did). The days when I didn't start the day in prayer, things got under my skin, I was close to frantic mode more than once (one time even with tears), and I complained way more than I praised. I realized what was going on about half way through the day, recognized who was at work...and did a quick Jesus help. Of course He did, but oh how much I could have spared myself if I had just taken a few minutes that morning. My typical morning routine is to pray on the way to work. I would love to tell you I always remember to do it, but I'm human....there are times I don't and I can tell when my day starts rolling it's way. Word of experience/caution whatever you want to call it...don't make the morning prayer time just about what you want from God that day. Use it as a time to intercede for others, ask God to cover the day, and my favorite this week has been God if it's not Your words...just keep my mouth shut. What you make happen for others, God will make happen for you.

Looking back over my day with God has become one of my favorite parts of the day. It's not always easy because sometimes the revelation part of it hurts. He is always loving, but ouch that hurt has been said more than once. Revelation from Him is not for condemnation, but for correction and improvement to make us more like Him. Feelings are natural...He gets that, understands that, and can use them for His glory (and our benefit). The day is not going to go our way. Let's face it...very rarely has there even been something we could consider the perfect day. Perfect is in the eye of the beholder though. Can we put our feelings aside knowing that He has our best interest at heart? Can we walk forward even though we can't see the end result, but knowing who holds the flashlight? Can we trust Him to fill us up knowing that it's not found in food, busyness, or entertainment? Can we trust Him when our sciatic is acting up knowing that healing is on it's way? (Yeah that one came through from Him today).

God has a light inside of each of us. Spend time around people that fan the flame and help that fire to grow. The enemy can't steal your light, but he can (through choices you make) put a bucket over that light. The light inside of you can't reach those around you if it's covered up. The more God is working on the inside of you, the more the enemy is going to throw discouragement and doubt your way. Fan that flame reader, get in the word, listen to music that is food for your soul and Spirit, and take care of your physical body. Physical muscles become weak over time if you don't use them....spiritual muscles are the same way. Strength develops over time, be patient with yourself. God didn't say it wouldn't ever hurt following Him, but He did promise it would be worth it all.