I'll admit the last couple of weeks haven't been the easiest. I knew there was a battle I couldn't see going on....but it was wearing me down and in return I was fighting in the natural. So many times the enemy uses things in the natural (the seen) to distract us from things in the spiritual (the unseen). The enemy recognizes the threat we are more than we do at times. So needless to say I was carrying a few bags of my own "mess" last week. They were starting to get heavy...I knew that and God knew that I knew that. He had done His part by revealing what to do...my part was the release. God doesn't ask you to release something just for the fun of it. He's got a plan for that release and there is a power He is looking to send your way, but you can't hold on to what He has planned and all that you have planned. God is the author not the co-author of your story. He's not looking for you to edit, He's looking for you to read as He types the words.
God knows what we need before we even know to ask for it. He knows our hearts and He knows what will truly satisfy us.....the things of Him are the only thing that are going to fill that void. God knows how to get our attention and how to push us to what He has planned for us. Peter had to take the first step when Jesus told Him to come to Him on the water. He had to take the first step in order to get closer to the One who had called him to Him. What step is He calling you to take? What mess is He telling you to leave with Him? It's going to stay a mess as long as it's in your hands (just saying..) What words do you need to change to line up with what God says to speak? (yeah that was an ouch for me).
This would become a really long post if I were to recount everything God has spoke and done this past week...He's been more than faithful and enough for this Jesus Girl. The turn around that happened at the end of the last week still has me smiling. God is a redeemer of time and a restorer of all things broken and messed up. Hear my heart....if He's saying take the step as silly as it seems..take it. That step may lead you to the answer to the prayer you've been asking Him for. That step may be the location for the release you've been asking Him to make happen. In His presence is the fullness of joy...and it's hard to hold on to your mess with arms raised in surrender praising the One who made you. God's been more than faithful and I'm humbled and in awe of how He continues to speak into this heart of mine...His words and truth are louder than the enemy and longs to whisper to His sweet children.
This Jesus Girl experienced a new level of freedom to start last weekend and I haven't gotten over it since. He's done a turn around and I will keep giving Him praise....
I don't know your heart right now, but God does. He's faithful to keep pulling you back to your First Love sweet Child of His...He loves you that much. He loves you so much He wants all of you...not what you consider all, but what He knows to be all. Listen to the nudging on your heart...and take the step...Your breakthrough, your turn around...is one step away.
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Childlike Faith
Ask and you shall receive....It's a verse often memorized by children in some class at church. How often though do we let them put it into practice? How often do we stand back and let them lead? I've watched something unfold this year that has been incredible. God has taken a group of kids....and showed them nothing is impossible with Him. He's shown them what faith in action looks like....what asking for something in prayer and watching Him answer within minutes feels like. He's shown them more of who He is...and that has lit a fire in them that is inspirational. It's a fire that has spread...not because of anything an adult has done, but all in what He has done through His children.
If adults could catch the enthusiasm that these kids have shown, we wouldn't need to beg and plead for volunteers to help at church. There would be a waiting list for every department and the rotation schedule, well there wouldn't be one. If adults had the boldness these kids have to share Jesus, our churches would be full...more than that Heaven would be one day. It's not about filling a church, it's about filling a heart.
God sees us all as His children when we have entered into that covenant relationship with Him. That's why He says He wants us to come like a child when we ask Him something....kids don't doubt when they ask for things and honestly they are pretty bold at times. Kids never wonder if the one they are asking will do what has been asked, they know they have done their part by asking. Oh how we need to come as little children to Him...trusting that the One who says jump is going to catch us.
What's God asking you to do? and What's holding you back? Nothing is impossible with God....so dream Child of God with the One who made you to dream...because you see He knows how much your net can hold and He also knows what the catch is on the other side of the boat.
If adults could catch the enthusiasm that these kids have shown, we wouldn't need to beg and plead for volunteers to help at church. There would be a waiting list for every department and the rotation schedule, well there wouldn't be one. If adults had the boldness these kids have to share Jesus, our churches would be full...more than that Heaven would be one day. It's not about filling a church, it's about filling a heart.
God sees us all as His children when we have entered into that covenant relationship with Him. That's why He says He wants us to come like a child when we ask Him something....kids don't doubt when they ask for things and honestly they are pretty bold at times. Kids never wonder if the one they are asking will do what has been asked, they know they have done their part by asking. Oh how we need to come as little children to Him...trusting that the One who says jump is going to catch us.
What's God asking you to do? and What's holding you back? Nothing is impossible with God....so dream Child of God with the One who made you to dream...because you see He knows how much your net can hold and He also knows what the catch is on the other side of the boat.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Upper Room Power
The devil does not want this blog posted. In fact, I had almost forgotten that God started writing it this morning because of all of the distractions thrown in the way this afternoon. All this is doing is making me MAD (motivated against the devil).
Can you imagine what the disciples must have been feeling when they were in the upper room? The things that had just witnessed, the things they had just heard....The disciples had just witnessed the death, burial, resurrection, and accession in to Heaven. I'm sure they may have felt afraid, hurt by the world, and not sure what the next step would be. They knew what God had told them to do, but yet they knew that they were going to have to take the next step on their own. Yet they gathered together and prayed....They ran to the people who God had called them to walk through life with and they took their concerns to Him. (That's a blog in itself)
Oh but when they prayed....the power fell and the Holy Spirit showed up and showed out. Today I found myself thinking and praying...Lord let the fire fall like it did in the Upper Room. Set the fire in us like you did in them back then.....may it not be something that only exists in the walls of the church, but may it be something that we can walk out. The disciples didn't keep the power up in that room but they took it to the streets, they took it to the people. When God pours out...it's not meant for you to keep it bottled up. People won't always understand it, but that didn't stop them back then and it shouldn't stop us now. The same God that poured out His power then....is pouring out His power now...are we praying for it to happen? God's not looking for us to pray the same old prayers anymore, He's looking for a boldness that comes with wanting more of Him. God honors it, I've seen it. I remember where I was almost 11 years ago when looked at a friend and told her I wanted what she had. Hear my heart for a minute....when you want more of God...it stretches you. When you seek more of Him, it means an emptying of you. The stretching and emptying are painful at first....but nothing is without a purpose for a Child of God safely in the hands of their Creator.
Think about turning on a remote....the power only comes on after you press and release. There is a power on the inside of every Child of the Most High. Often times we have only begun to tap into what God says we can do and to be who God says we can be. The world gets in the way by telling us who we are and what we can and cannot do. Sadly we listen for longer than God ever planned for us to and we end up in chains instead of free. God is patient though...and He will get our attention. When we have walked as far as we can in those chains, He yells a wake up call. When there is an anointing on the inside of us that needs to come out....He allows a pressing. His word promises we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. It may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and that nothing you can do seems right, but God says that He knows the way you take and you are coming through this as gold. Press through it and release it all (yep ALL in His hands....He wants you which means feelings, thoughts, hurts, insecurities...all).
The word says you have not because you ask not, but it also says to come boldly before the throne of God. Turn up your prayers....start taking back what the enemy has stolen from you and claim it redeemed in Jesus Name. God's waiting to pour out more of Him....ask Him to do it and then get ready knowing that He will!
God thank you for being who you are....and for hearing our hearts even when we don't say a word.
Can you imagine what the disciples must have been feeling when they were in the upper room? The things that had just witnessed, the things they had just heard....The disciples had just witnessed the death, burial, resurrection, and accession in to Heaven. I'm sure they may have felt afraid, hurt by the world, and not sure what the next step would be. They knew what God had told them to do, but yet they knew that they were going to have to take the next step on their own. Yet they gathered together and prayed....They ran to the people who God had called them to walk through life with and they took their concerns to Him. (That's a blog in itself)
Oh but when they prayed....the power fell and the Holy Spirit showed up and showed out. Today I found myself thinking and praying...Lord let the fire fall like it did in the Upper Room. Set the fire in us like you did in them back then.....may it not be something that only exists in the walls of the church, but may it be something that we can walk out. The disciples didn't keep the power up in that room but they took it to the streets, they took it to the people. When God pours out...it's not meant for you to keep it bottled up. People won't always understand it, but that didn't stop them back then and it shouldn't stop us now. The same God that poured out His power then....is pouring out His power now...are we praying for it to happen? God's not looking for us to pray the same old prayers anymore, He's looking for a boldness that comes with wanting more of Him. God honors it, I've seen it. I remember where I was almost 11 years ago when looked at a friend and told her I wanted what she had. Hear my heart for a minute....when you want more of God...it stretches you. When you seek more of Him, it means an emptying of you. The stretching and emptying are painful at first....but nothing is without a purpose for a Child of God safely in the hands of their Creator.
Think about turning on a remote....the power only comes on after you press and release. There is a power on the inside of every Child of the Most High. Often times we have only begun to tap into what God says we can do and to be who God says we can be. The world gets in the way by telling us who we are and what we can and cannot do. Sadly we listen for longer than God ever planned for us to and we end up in chains instead of free. God is patient though...and He will get our attention. When we have walked as far as we can in those chains, He yells a wake up call. When there is an anointing on the inside of us that needs to come out....He allows a pressing. His word promises we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed. It may feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders and that nothing you can do seems right, but God says that He knows the way you take and you are coming through this as gold. Press through it and release it all (yep ALL in His hands....He wants you which means feelings, thoughts, hurts, insecurities...all).
The word says you have not because you ask not, but it also says to come boldly before the throne of God. Turn up your prayers....start taking back what the enemy has stolen from you and claim it redeemed in Jesus Name. God's waiting to pour out more of Him....ask Him to do it and then get ready knowing that He will!
God thank you for being who you are....and for hearing our hearts even when we don't say a word.
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Being real.....
I'm in a reflective mood today....just thinking back over the last couple of weeks, all that God has done, all that He has spoken in.....and all that is still to come.
I'm learning to be real...I'm learning to be the me He made me to be and all that entails. I've lived far too long in a box listening to everyone but Him.....the box breaking is life changing. It's not easy swimming in the deep waters with Him, but the plan and purpose He has prepared are worth taking the jump. I'm not a swimmer in the natural. In fact if I'm not on the edge holding on to the side or with a float, you won't find me anywhere near that end of the pool. In the spiritual we can't walk around the deep end holding on to the edge. It works for awhile, but it will wear you out. When God has called you to swim in His plan, His purpose....and His promises you won't be satisfied walking around the wall. That being said....I found my way to the wall last week.....I know what it's like to swim in the spiritual deep, but I found myself tired in the natural and walking around the wall. My natural wanted to be comfortable ....and it wanted to be in the easy waters again. If there had been a tape recorder in my head last week.....let's just say His voice was not the loudest. The enemy was shaking the anxiety, fear, and depression chains loudly......Chains that God broke off last year were laying right in front of me. The word I used in a text was stuck.....I was stuck between picking up the chain again or stepping over it and moving forward.
There are moments when we have a choice to make and it's one only we can make. We can stay stuck...or we can reach out knowing that when we can't push ourselves in that moment, we have friends who can pray and push us forward. The enemy knows how powerful your testimony is, how purposeful your steps are, and how your praise and prayers are impacting lives....if he can convince you to stay stuck you begin to lose sight of the race God has called you to run. Running the race isn't going to be easy, but running with Him means running with purpose. Sometimes you just need a friend to remind you know how to fight and to push through to Him......There was a shift that took place last week. I actually remember the exact spot and moment where the God I just want to sleep for the next two weeks turned into quoting scriptures as He brought them to mind. Devil you don't win.....The struggle will only defeat you if you choose to let it. God has every step ordered and every moment is under His control as a Child of God. He doesn't waste any of them.....and even when you feel on empty God is working through the emptiness to a place of overflowing. That place where you feel like you can't do anymore is truly an amazing place to be (even when you don't feel like it is)...you see when you reach the end of all you know that you can do, God steps in and shows you all that He can do.
I don't know what your week holds, I'm not even sure what my week holds. I know this though, my steps are ordered by the One who does. There are moments that may make me feel stressful, discouraged, and even anxious....but God is working through those moments to defeat the enemy. He is the lifter of our heads when we feel discouraged. He knows we may feel anxious at times, but He says to be anxious for nothing but give it to Him. In other words, He knows you are going to feel it, but He says to let Him do it. God knows the purpose, the plan, and the anointing that He said was mine....(and He also knows how mad it makes the enemy). Pushing through the struggles doesn't mean they get easier, it means you get stronger because you learn that true strength comes form Him. I'm still such a work in progress, but I look back at how far He's brought me this past year and it makes me want to shout. The enemy is going to be louder at times, but it's in those moments...when we have to take ourselves to Him. He already knows we feel a mess about things, but He needs for us to bring that mess to Him. He knows how loud the enemy has taunted, how real the anxiety felt again, and how weary you have felt....He knows, but look back over all that He has done for you and know that He's making a way now even when you can't see it...and He will do it again!!
(Different kind of blog....but this is me) The last couple of weeks have worn me out in the natural. My spiritual understood what was going on, but my natural was wearing out day by day. The enemy was after my joy, my praise, and my focus....he knew that if I focused on what all was going on around me in the natural I would miss the need to fight in the spiritual and oh what a fight there has been. I reached a moment last week when I hit the autopilot button.....I knew I didn't want to go back to the chains of last year, but I was stuck. God and I are working on this being real thing. I'm still a work in progress...I tend to run to the mask of everything's fine and stay so busy to keep the tears at bay. God's faithful....I'm thankful for the reminders He sent last week, the truths He spoke in....and the moments of revelation. He's already been giving me a list of verses for this week....He knows...the steps that He has planned out and He's already gone before covering each and every one of them. He knows when you don't feel like you have enough, but your enough in His hands...turns into more than enough with some left over.
I'm learning to be real...I'm learning to be the me He made me to be and all that entails. I've lived far too long in a box listening to everyone but Him.....the box breaking is life changing. It's not easy swimming in the deep waters with Him, but the plan and purpose He has prepared are worth taking the jump. I'm not a swimmer in the natural. In fact if I'm not on the edge holding on to the side or with a float, you won't find me anywhere near that end of the pool. In the spiritual we can't walk around the deep end holding on to the edge. It works for awhile, but it will wear you out. When God has called you to swim in His plan, His purpose....and His promises you won't be satisfied walking around the wall. That being said....I found my way to the wall last week.....I know what it's like to swim in the spiritual deep, but I found myself tired in the natural and walking around the wall. My natural wanted to be comfortable ....and it wanted to be in the easy waters again. If there had been a tape recorder in my head last week.....let's just say His voice was not the loudest. The enemy was shaking the anxiety, fear, and depression chains loudly......Chains that God broke off last year were laying right in front of me. The word I used in a text was stuck.....I was stuck between picking up the chain again or stepping over it and moving forward.
There are moments when we have a choice to make and it's one only we can make. We can stay stuck...or we can reach out knowing that when we can't push ourselves in that moment, we have friends who can pray and push us forward. The enemy knows how powerful your testimony is, how purposeful your steps are, and how your praise and prayers are impacting lives....if he can convince you to stay stuck you begin to lose sight of the race God has called you to run. Running the race isn't going to be easy, but running with Him means running with purpose. Sometimes you just need a friend to remind you know how to fight and to push through to Him......There was a shift that took place last week. I actually remember the exact spot and moment where the God I just want to sleep for the next two weeks turned into quoting scriptures as He brought them to mind. Devil you don't win.....The struggle will only defeat you if you choose to let it. God has every step ordered and every moment is under His control as a Child of God. He doesn't waste any of them.....and even when you feel on empty God is working through the emptiness to a place of overflowing. That place where you feel like you can't do anymore is truly an amazing place to be (even when you don't feel like it is)...you see when you reach the end of all you know that you can do, God steps in and shows you all that He can do.
I don't know what your week holds, I'm not even sure what my week holds. I know this though, my steps are ordered by the One who does. There are moments that may make me feel stressful, discouraged, and even anxious....but God is working through those moments to defeat the enemy. He is the lifter of our heads when we feel discouraged. He knows we may feel anxious at times, but He says to be anxious for nothing but give it to Him. In other words, He knows you are going to feel it, but He says to let Him do it. God knows the purpose, the plan, and the anointing that He said was mine....(and He also knows how mad it makes the enemy). Pushing through the struggles doesn't mean they get easier, it means you get stronger because you learn that true strength comes form Him. I'm still such a work in progress, but I look back at how far He's brought me this past year and it makes me want to shout. The enemy is going to be louder at times, but it's in those moments...when we have to take ourselves to Him. He already knows we feel a mess about things, but He needs for us to bring that mess to Him. He knows how loud the enemy has taunted, how real the anxiety felt again, and how weary you have felt....He knows, but look back over all that He has done for you and know that He's making a way now even when you can't see it...and He will do it again!!
(Different kind of blog....but this is me) The last couple of weeks have worn me out in the natural. My spiritual understood what was going on, but my natural was wearing out day by day. The enemy was after my joy, my praise, and my focus....he knew that if I focused on what all was going on around me in the natural I would miss the need to fight in the spiritual and oh what a fight there has been. I reached a moment last week when I hit the autopilot button.....I knew I didn't want to go back to the chains of last year, but I was stuck. God and I are working on this being real thing. I'm still a work in progress...I tend to run to the mask of everything's fine and stay so busy to keep the tears at bay. God's faithful....I'm thankful for the reminders He sent last week, the truths He spoke in....and the moments of revelation. He's already been giving me a list of verses for this week....He knows...the steps that He has planned out and He's already gone before covering each and every one of them. He knows when you don't feel like you have enough, but your enough in His hands...turns into more than enough with some left over.
Monday, April 11, 2016
Taking the day back.....
What battle, what war, what mission is God calling you to that the enemy is trying to distract you from in the natural? What fight is on your heart to take to Him yet the cares of this world are wearing you down and draining you? God has so much more planned than just what you can see in the natural...so we fix our eyes on what is not seen. There is a shift going on...are you going to walk in it or be distracted from it?
When the day hands you more than your natural can handle, when it leaves you feeling discouraged, drained, and just plain worn...what do you do? You may take a few minutes to do something that is relaxing (i.e. adult coloring book...), you may your favorite treat, you may even take a short nap.....but all of these are things in the natural. What do you do when none of those seem to be the answer? You do what God asked you to do earlier....but you didn't feel you had the strength to do...You take yourself to the King. You find that spot, that place, that moment and you focus on Him...you meet Him where He is at cause He's been right where you are. You find Him with arms wide open....going hey come here for a minute child, let me show you My view. For you see, any other view...is exhausting, tiring, and just plain draining. Any other view makes what you are doing in the natural seem like you are spinning your wheels and not making a difference when in reality you are covering a territory that God entrusted you with. Any other view leads to feeling discouraged when truth says Be encouraged for I have overcome the world....and this day didn't take me by surprised. Oh how I wish He would have slapped me upside the head with this reminder about ten hours ago...before the day did it's best to beat me up. God knows what we need even before we say a word...sometimes He needs our full attention, not 99.9% of our attention, but all of it. He knows when He has all of us. Oh how quickly we need to learn this.....We can think we have given God 100%, but God knows if it's all of us or not. He knows... let that sink in for a minute.
I pulled myself into my spot this evening and God and I had an honest talk. Honest about how I felt about the day, the week, my do, but most of all my who. See God knew the day was going to drain me...before I even got up. He knew what the day held and He knew what I held. You see God knows what we can push through even when we don't feel like we can. Let that take root...even when we feel like we have done all we can do, dealt with all we can,...God knows our true ability, but more than that He knows His ability through us. Feelings will say I can't do anymore, but God says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Let's get real for a minute....there are going to be days that just flat wear you out, make you want to cry, and leave you feeling overwhelemed and exhausted. God knows that...He also knows that in His arms...He can restore what the day has taken from you if you let Him. So choice is yours....you can let the day take root and walk in what you can see, feel or you can let Him take root...and walk in what He can see, feel.
Why stay in the boat when He said you could walk on water?
I don't know what your day has held or even what your week has laid out, but God does. This is a blog that has stepped all over my toes because well....It came from a heartfelt honest conversation with Him. I'm still working through not feeling my way in the natural through some of my days. I'm still learning on being overwhelmed with His list instead of My to-do list...it's a work in progress. I still have days when if I slow down, I will end up in tears saying I can't do this anymore. God gets that though...and He's using the pressure to make diamonds. There is an anointing coming from the squeeze...but for that to happen I've got to not give up in the middle. (that one was an ouch...). Leave your day in His lap....and let Him sort out truth from feeling. He truly is the restorer of what the enemy has taken....how do I know because I'm typing this with a smile on my face and an unexplained peace.
Monday, April 4, 2016
When you are running on empty.....
Monday I knew pulling into work today that I was going to have to get gas after work. My light wasn't on, but the screen in the middle of my dashboard said 74 miles to E. I knew with running the air conditioner, that wouldn't take long. Oh how the natural reflects the spiritual more than I realized....
There is not a battle without a fight, a victory without a struggle, or a shout without a promise. I finally got still...I finally heard what He's probably been trying to tell me all day. The word He spoke through a friend yesterday, connected to the day I've had today (draining as it was), all leading back to a picture from His word.
The enemy knows the impact we are making, he knows our reach more than we do and does what he can to keep our eyes focused on everything but what we can be doing for God. It's not about feeling, if that were the case..I would have taken a half day today, ran to my bed, and declared no more adulting today. It's not about feelings though...while it's important to recognize how we are feeling.....it's not who we are. Empty happens, the enemy does that on purpose....he must forget about how far we can go on the gas light while finding the filing station.
I started this blog on Monday and I honestly was hoping God would just fill my tank and not finish it. Empty is a hard place to be...it's at empty that you realize one of two choices have to be made...trust or doubt. Trust that God is going to keep you going even when you don't feel like it or don't want to anymore, or doubt that paralyzes you in place. Your reach and impact are at a standstill when you are standing still.
The disciples on the boat didn't realize they were headed into the storm, but Jesus did...and He chose to sleep. He knew He had control of the storm because of Who His Father was. Guess what child of God, the same goes for you? Focus on Whose you are when the world wants to tell you otherwise. Greater things are still to come. ..He promised.
The widow woman baked a cake for Elijah even though she knew she was on empty. Empty happens....but it's what you do on empty that determines how long you can keep pouring. Obedience may not make sense...but it's one step in front of the other knowing He's a Good Good Father and has your steps ordered.
While this week has had some amazing God moments that have made me smile, cry, and shout....there have been moments of wanting to crawl in bed and just pull the covers over my head as well. This time of the year is overwhelming. ...it just is. At one point today, I said if I slowed down I would cry because there just wasn't enough of me to go around. The truth in all that was God knew it all along....He knows when the tears need to happen and when He needs to whisper you are more than enough. In the midst of the moments of discouragement God has whispered encouragement and truth....He is the restorer of our souls. So many times we want Him to answer our prayers in a certain way, but He has more planned than we can even imagine. My natural may be exhausted, but my spirtual can see that God is doing what He does best and pouring even when I am on empty.
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