I wish you could see the inside of me right now and what I'm feeling....no this is not the blog on the list that of the four that He already started this week, this is the one He's writing right now.
God's been dealing with me a lot lately on seasons, moments, and appointments. Missing appointments at some doctor's offices can cost you if you miss the appointment. Missing an appointment with God can be costly too, but we don't always see the cost impact right away. Oh God help me to never miss an appointment, a moment, or a season.
When you feel that tug, follow through. When God says pray, pray right then. When God says send a text, send it. When God says write a note, write it. When God says move, move. Too many times we let our lists for the day dictate our day. How many times do we consult God about that list? How many times do we see His interruptions for the day as inconveniences or frustrations? Whew...let that one sink in. We live in a such a scheduled world that often times we schedule out the very blessings He has planned for us that day. No more for this Jesus girl.....
That urge in your heart is there for a reason...listen and let Him tell you what it is. Then go follow through...don't let the busyness of the day rob you of the blessing of the moment.
There have been many times I have told God I'll do that later, maybe tomorrow, or even surely someone else will take care of that right? Only you know what God is calling you to do, don't assume He is asking someone else to do it at the same time or that He is going to call back later. God gave you this moment...walk in it and sow the blessing you will reap tomorrow.
I'm over questioning things, reasoning it away, and coming up with an excuse. Listen when He speaks...you'll know when it's Him. If He asks you to speak, He'll take care of how it's heard. If He asks you to pray it, He'll take care of how it's answered. If He asks you to do it, He'll take care of how it's done. If He asks you to write it, He'll take care of how it's read.
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Tuesday Truths vol. 2
Truths today are from John 20
14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
How many times is He standing right there in front of us and we don't realize it is Him? Oh this one could preach....often times we miss Him cause we are too focused on what we wanted(or just plain busy).
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
He called her by name. Let that one sink in....When He called her by name, she knew exactly who it was.
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
This Jesus girl had a shout on the inside for this one! Yet another verse that I read with new eyes..Thank you Jesus!
Have a blessed week!
Saturday, July 25, 2015
The Minute Walk...
I almost typed I'm struggling today, but I refuse to give the enemy that foothold. So instead I'll say I'm pressing today. Resistance is here, but instead of letting it get the best of me, I am choosing to press back. I'm choosing not to stay in the cloud that feels like it's above my head and am choosing to walk forward even if it's minute by minute.
Sometimes this journey is a daily walk. We set out on our day with God and we move forward with Him knowing that it's His day anyway. Sometimes the journey turns into a minute walk. It's the end of summer, bear with me. I've had this incredible summer. The first month was on me the professional and the second month has been on me the Child of God with a call and a purpose. I'm determined not to go back. I would be amiss though if I said the struggle wasn't real. It's turned from a daily choice, to a minute by minute. I have found myself wondering if I'm strong enough for routine again. If I've walked forward enough for the change to stick. The questions though when I let myself wonder just reassure me of the truth that He has promised. Yes, I'm strong enough..not because I can do anything, but because He can do everything. Yes I've walked forward enough...when you taste what more looks like your heart longs for it to continue. Desperate doesn't go away just because you have one amazing encounter with God. It becomes your daily cry as you seek to live in the center of the will of the One who created you. Yes I'm strong enough for routine because the change is real....I can take that lying devil to the place where the chains fell off when he starts to throw his lies my way. I can take speak the truth back to him that God said He was doing a new thing....Oh change is never easy, but we don't grow without a stretching. Just as when you work out, a stretch is always important...so it is in this minute walk with Him. A stretching is a signal growth is about to happen, yes there may be some pain as well in the process, but the end result is a strengthening for the journey that continues.
The choice to walk forward is yours. God didn't say it would be a daily walk all of the time. He knows what each day holds and He knows some of them are going to require minute by minute choices. Choices to stay focused on His truth, to stay focused on the positive despite the negative, and to make the choice of what takes root and what is deleted from your thought bank. Those are choices that are ours. He whispers what to do, but in the end we make the choice. I know what the feet glued to the floor choice feels like and I know what the choice to step out in obedience feels like. Right atmosphere in both, choice was still mine...(and yes that is a blog for another day...wow didn't even see that picture coming until just now). In the world we are living in right now, time with Him is crucial to survival and to living this abundant life. As I felt the walk slowing to a minute step instead of a daily step...I did a couple of things. I've made a playlist simply entitled Take that Devil and I've started a prayer wall not just a prayer journal. I need a visual reminder daily...I'm stepping in to what He has for me, He knows what that looks like in a big picture sense, my choice is to trust Him each day and to listen.
It's your choice when you feel the walk starting to slow, it can discourage you and fear creeps in, or it can encourage you because why else would the enemy be trying if you weren't a threat to his plan. That in itself is an encouragement to me.
Sometimes this journey is a daily walk. We set out on our day with God and we move forward with Him knowing that it's His day anyway. Sometimes the journey turns into a minute walk. It's the end of summer, bear with me. I've had this incredible summer. The first month was on me the professional and the second month has been on me the Child of God with a call and a purpose. I'm determined not to go back. I would be amiss though if I said the struggle wasn't real. It's turned from a daily choice, to a minute by minute. I have found myself wondering if I'm strong enough for routine again. If I've walked forward enough for the change to stick. The questions though when I let myself wonder just reassure me of the truth that He has promised. Yes, I'm strong enough..not because I can do anything, but because He can do everything. Yes I've walked forward enough...when you taste what more looks like your heart longs for it to continue. Desperate doesn't go away just because you have one amazing encounter with God. It becomes your daily cry as you seek to live in the center of the will of the One who created you. Yes I'm strong enough for routine because the change is real....I can take that lying devil to the place where the chains fell off when he starts to throw his lies my way. I can take speak the truth back to him that God said He was doing a new thing....Oh change is never easy, but we don't grow without a stretching. Just as when you work out, a stretch is always important...so it is in this minute walk with Him. A stretching is a signal growth is about to happen, yes there may be some pain as well in the process, but the end result is a strengthening for the journey that continues.
The choice to walk forward is yours. God didn't say it would be a daily walk all of the time. He knows what each day holds and He knows some of them are going to require minute by minute choices. Choices to stay focused on His truth, to stay focused on the positive despite the negative, and to make the choice of what takes root and what is deleted from your thought bank. Those are choices that are ours. He whispers what to do, but in the end we make the choice. I know what the feet glued to the floor choice feels like and I know what the choice to step out in obedience feels like. Right atmosphere in both, choice was still mine...(and yes that is a blog for another day...wow didn't even see that picture coming until just now). In the world we are living in right now, time with Him is crucial to survival and to living this abundant life. As I felt the walk slowing to a minute step instead of a daily step...I did a couple of things. I've made a playlist simply entitled Take that Devil and I've started a prayer wall not just a prayer journal. I need a visual reminder daily...I'm stepping in to what He has for me, He knows what that looks like in a big picture sense, my choice is to trust Him each day and to listen.
It's your choice when you feel the walk starting to slow, it can discourage you and fear creeps in, or it can encourage you because why else would the enemy be trying if you weren't a threat to his plan. That in itself is an encouragement to me.
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Seasons, Praise, and Moments...(Three short thoughts)
He's working on three longer blogs right now, but the writing is still in the process. These could all be a status update on FB....but then I have to pick how and when to post them. Oh my God's pouring out on His Children that are seeking more of Him and sharing that with everyone they can....Light shone in darkness reveals what is really there, but not only that it shows a path to fix, heal, and move forward.
It's time to start thinking about the new school year, even though it doesn't feel like summer should be ending. (Other than it is still incredibly hot, it's just been a short summer). How many times do we have that in the spiritual realm as well? As we walk forward in the new season God has called us to, it may still feel like the old season, but press on knowing He is doing new things and eventually your feelings will catch up. (Oh how this about made me shout earlier this week....)
The children of Israel walked around the walls of Jericho for 6 days before they saw their breakthrough. They held on to the promise, walked in obedience, and stayed true to what He had asked them to do (even as crazy it may have seemed). They waited for the word and then began to praise Him with a shout on the 7th day. The walls began to crumble. Oh what a picture this is....The walls in our own lives will begin to crumble with our praise. Not just the praise of a clap in church, a hand raised when the song says I'm gonna lift my hands, but a praise because of the promise He has given you. A praise because of the mess you know He's bringing you out of or a praise because of where He has already brought you from...a praise that comes up from your toes and comes out of your mouth. Are your walls just waiting for your praise?
God started this picture with walls coming down earlier this week and then I watched Restoring Hope last night......oh my what a word. (As I have said in the last couple of posts...download Periscope if you can and follow them. )
Mary and Martha....oh how I love both of these women and what they stand for. I've had many days as a Martha and not as many as a Mary. I had Mary moments, but not Mary days until this summer. I'm moving into the Mary days that lead to Martha moments. When we have our time with Him, let Him do the filling, there will always be a flow that comes out. Other people will try to poke holes and drain, but for every hole the enemy tries to poke to empty you....God will send a plug to keep filling you back up. His grace, His word, and His truth are constant and the tap never shuts off. Tap into the power and water the seeds He planted so long ago. Seeds need constant water and nourishment to grow. This day here, day there...leaves a dry ground and seeds can't grow into roots. Once the root starts, the fruit is soon to follow....You know your heart, you know what He has said to do....tap into what is filling and not draining....busy with good may not always equal fruit with God.
Have a blessed week!
~Melissa
It's time to start thinking about the new school year, even though it doesn't feel like summer should be ending. (Other than it is still incredibly hot, it's just been a short summer). How many times do we have that in the spiritual realm as well? As we walk forward in the new season God has called us to, it may still feel like the old season, but press on knowing He is doing new things and eventually your feelings will catch up. (Oh how this about made me shout earlier this week....)
The children of Israel walked around the walls of Jericho for 6 days before they saw their breakthrough. They held on to the promise, walked in obedience, and stayed true to what He had asked them to do (even as crazy it may have seemed). They waited for the word and then began to praise Him with a shout on the 7th day. The walls began to crumble. Oh what a picture this is....The walls in our own lives will begin to crumble with our praise. Not just the praise of a clap in church, a hand raised when the song says I'm gonna lift my hands, but a praise because of the promise He has given you. A praise because of the mess you know He's bringing you out of or a praise because of where He has already brought you from...a praise that comes up from your toes and comes out of your mouth. Are your walls just waiting for your praise?
God started this picture with walls coming down earlier this week and then I watched Restoring Hope last night......oh my what a word. (As I have said in the last couple of posts...download Periscope if you can and follow them. )
Mary and Martha....oh how I love both of these women and what they stand for. I've had many days as a Martha and not as many as a Mary. I had Mary moments, but not Mary days until this summer. I'm moving into the Mary days that lead to Martha moments. When we have our time with Him, let Him do the filling, there will always be a flow that comes out. Other people will try to poke holes and drain, but for every hole the enemy tries to poke to empty you....God will send a plug to keep filling you back up. His grace, His word, and His truth are constant and the tap never shuts off. Tap into the power and water the seeds He planted so long ago. Seeds need constant water and nourishment to grow. This day here, day there...leaves a dry ground and seeds can't grow into roots. Once the root starts, the fruit is soon to follow....You know your heart, you know what He has said to do....tap into what is filling and not draining....busy with good may not always equal fruit with God.
Have a blessed week!
~Melissa
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Tuesday Truths volume 1
Blogging is becoming more of a passion than a hobby or past time. I've never really had a "set" schedule for the blogs, I've always gone with when He said write..write or when I needed to just write, I wrote. The latter times are becoming fewer and fewer as He's not letting me publish when it's a pity party blog. (Yes I read back through some of my old ones and yeah well I was stuck in a rut and going around a mountain enough times to make me dizzy). My quiet times lately have been eye opening. Scriptures I have read countless times before, I'm reading now going where was that all of these years. Tuesday Truths is going to be just that. I'm posting some verses and some of what God has been revealing during that time. He's been pouring out so much(my Bible margins are full), that I have to share it some how. I will still post on topics and as He leads, but look for at least one new post each week on Tuesdays with some scriptures and a look into my quiet time. I started taking notes in the margins of my Bible a couple of years ago. For me I need the notes, the revelations, the truths right there and trying to match up in a journal format doesn't always work. You do what He leads you to do for your study time...but just have the study time. Books are great, but there is NOTHING like just reading His truths.
John 16
v.11: 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
I immediately thought back to Romans 8:1 when I read this verse. The enemy is the source of condemnation. Oh if we could just grasp that when the feelings start....he wants you to feel like he does since he is condemned. Rebuke it, speak truth as a Child of the Most High.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
There was a shout in my Spirit when I read these verses. This was one of those moments when I said, okay God where was that before. He has to take the blinders off though for us to be able to fully understand what He's trying to speak. The blinders are off...my notes for these verses say : Discernment, Prophecy, Tongues/Prayer Language, and Revelation....The gifts are real and He is still giving them today.
17 At this, some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what he is saying.”
He was working for them even when they couldn't see Him. Oh how that is true for us today. Sometimes we can't always "feel" Him, but He speaks peace to our Spirit to let us know....I've got this because I have you. He's working on our behalf as Children of the Most High...always. I love verse 18....what a great question. God gets the questions, He understands our search for more of Him.
More next week....
I didn't want these to be too long. Have a blessed one!
~Melissa
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Distractions
Distractions was a word God put in my Spirit yesterday. I actually tried to write the blog last night, but it just wouldn't come. I've learned that is God's way of saying not yet Child. The word is not finished yet, the story is still being written on your heart. Thank you Lord for whispers and for knowing that you are faithful to finish what you start. Thank you Jesus for being louder than the feelings, stronger than the distractions....and for speaking peace to an otherwise weary and give out soul.
God is moving, I'm walking it out, obedience step by step (even if some of them are baby steps), It's not a perfect walk, it will never be this side of heaven....but God is faithful. He knows the intentions of our hearts, the desires of our hearts, and what we are truly seeking after. He knows what desperate looks like(newsflash...desperate is something that only He can fill). He is longing for a people to put desperate before opinions, a people that want the fire despite the cost, a people that will forge ahead when everyone else it can't be done. Normal isn't okay anymore, the events of today are requiring more than normal. Lukewarm isn't okay anymore, pick a side....either be hot or cold but quit trying to walk the fence. As a Child of the Most High, we have been given a seed to share....are you still holding on to yours or are reaping the harvest?
The enemy loves distractions. They come in all forms and fashions. Some have a voice, some are a thought, food, a TV show, a FB post, and some are well meaning people. Some can even be a good thing, but they take you away from what God has ordained for your life. Distractions are anything that causes you to lose focus and take your eyes off of the One walking on the water with you. Distractions can cause you to sink when you have taken the step out of the boat. Distractions can lead to discouragement, despair, doubt, and a pretty good pity party. None of these are from God...they are all tools of the enemy to keep us from living the abundant life of joy, peace, and purpose that Jesus died for.
Thank you Lord for the strength to push past the distractions of the enemy this weekend. It happens after an encounter from the Lord, a time of renewing, a refreshing. Moses had to deal with the mess at the bottom of the mountain when he can down from the 10 commandments. He had just had an encounter with God and when he came down, it was obvious the people were going about their own way. The enemy wants to keep us distracted and staying the course of norm. If he had it his way, we would never find freedom....but thank you Lord for your way. The enemy knows that if he can keep your mind going on what other people think, what they say, what they do, how a situation is going, or even how you feel at the moment....then the whispers God wants to send your way aren't going to be heard. The enemy knows those weak spots for you (side note: we have got to quit speaking when something bothers us, aggravates us, frustrates us etc. because he is taking note). There is power in our words and they can bring life or death. The enemy also wants to keep us from letting the word God has for us to take root. Thank you Lord for intervening and moving even despite moments of weakness and for bringing back the word. The day may not always go according to plan, but walk it out. Grace is there with outstretched arms to pick you back up. God knows your heart, He sees that part of you that no one else can see. Trust Him to take care of it and you. You know what God has spoke to you....just do it. The word wasn't given to someone else, He gave it to you. Quit worrying about who you make upset, they don't know where God has brought you from or why you shout, raise your hands etc. When you find freedom, when the chains of tradition, normalcy, of doing things the way you have always done is finally broken, lifted....it will make you want to shout, run, and tell everyone about it!
Moving forward into this new week..the enemy wanted to distract me over the the past couple of days....but that's because he knew God had a word. Thankful for remembrance, for grace, and for technology that feeds my Spirit and my soul! (Download Periscope app and follow Restoring Hope TN...you will be BLESSED!).
It's a new season...its a new day...step by step with Him leading the way.
God is moving, I'm walking it out, obedience step by step (even if some of them are baby steps), It's not a perfect walk, it will never be this side of heaven....but God is faithful. He knows the intentions of our hearts, the desires of our hearts, and what we are truly seeking after. He knows what desperate looks like(newsflash...desperate is something that only He can fill). He is longing for a people to put desperate before opinions, a people that want the fire despite the cost, a people that will forge ahead when everyone else it can't be done. Normal isn't okay anymore, the events of today are requiring more than normal. Lukewarm isn't okay anymore, pick a side....either be hot or cold but quit trying to walk the fence. As a Child of the Most High, we have been given a seed to share....are you still holding on to yours or are reaping the harvest?
The enemy loves distractions. They come in all forms and fashions. Some have a voice, some are a thought, food, a TV show, a FB post, and some are well meaning people. Some can even be a good thing, but they take you away from what God has ordained for your life. Distractions are anything that causes you to lose focus and take your eyes off of the One walking on the water with you. Distractions can cause you to sink when you have taken the step out of the boat. Distractions can lead to discouragement, despair, doubt, and a pretty good pity party. None of these are from God...they are all tools of the enemy to keep us from living the abundant life of joy, peace, and purpose that Jesus died for.
Thank you Lord for the strength to push past the distractions of the enemy this weekend. It happens after an encounter from the Lord, a time of renewing, a refreshing. Moses had to deal with the mess at the bottom of the mountain when he can down from the 10 commandments. He had just had an encounter with God and when he came down, it was obvious the people were going about their own way. The enemy wants to keep us distracted and staying the course of norm. If he had it his way, we would never find freedom....but thank you Lord for your way. The enemy knows that if he can keep your mind going on what other people think, what they say, what they do, how a situation is going, or even how you feel at the moment....then the whispers God wants to send your way aren't going to be heard. The enemy knows those weak spots for you (side note: we have got to quit speaking when something bothers us, aggravates us, frustrates us etc. because he is taking note). There is power in our words and they can bring life or death. The enemy also wants to keep us from letting the word God has for us to take root. Thank you Lord for intervening and moving even despite moments of weakness and for bringing back the word. The day may not always go according to plan, but walk it out. Grace is there with outstretched arms to pick you back up. God knows your heart, He sees that part of you that no one else can see. Trust Him to take care of it and you. You know what God has spoke to you....just do it. The word wasn't given to someone else, He gave it to you. Quit worrying about who you make upset, they don't know where God has brought you from or why you shout, raise your hands etc. When you find freedom, when the chains of tradition, normalcy, of doing things the way you have always done is finally broken, lifted....it will make you want to shout, run, and tell everyone about it!
Moving forward into this new week..the enemy wanted to distract me over the the past couple of days....but that's because he knew God had a word. Thankful for remembrance, for grace, and for technology that feeds my Spirit and my soul! (Download Periscope app and follow Restoring Hope TN...you will be BLESSED!).
It's a new season...its a new day...step by step with Him leading the way.
Thursday, July 16, 2015
Greater things are still to come...
I've tried to put into words the last few days and on this journey with God and I'm only slowly now getting them out. God truly honors our desire to seek more of Him, our desire to step out of our comfort zone, our desire to seek truth above doctrine or opinion. Oh sweet readers, He is rising up an army that is seeking truth, not truth as others see it or say it, but truth as He says it. It's time armor up, and walk in obedience. It's time to get off the fence as Christians and start living like He said we could. Oh my the joy, the abundance, the provision that is at our fingertips if we'll just tap into the power He said was within is. Why do we not? Often times we are too afraid of stereotypes, of what other people may say, of what our church may say. Listen up....God is moving, the waters are stirring, He is pouring out His Spirit on those hungry and thirsty for more of Him. Not more of what He can do, but more of who He is. Far too long we have had it backwards, we have sought after God for what we can do for Him, what He can do for us etc. It's not about doing, it's about being. It's about being so full of the One who called you, saved you, and loves you that you can't help, but pour out to others. It's about moving when He says move, doing when He says do, speaking when He says speak, and praying when He says pray. It's about being so close that when He whispers, you don't excuse it away...you listen. Oh don't you see..it's about freedom! It's about hear the chains finally break, the mountain that was round and round be no more, and the breakthrough finally come.
For me, it's about being a Jesus girl and knowing greater things are still to come. (He promised in His word...see John 14:12-14). It's about a power that says I can move mountains, a faith that says I can do anything through Him, and a love that says I can intercede. It's about letting God out of the box that I excused Him away to and only let Him out occasionally. (That's a blog for another day.....but just know God doesn't like boxes of any kind...even the ones our best intentions as Christians may put Him in). His word is still the same, let Him loose.
God honors desires to seek Him more. If you aren't ready for more, don't ask. But if you are sitting there going there has to be more, I laid it down Sunday and picked it back up again on Monday.....there is a freedom. It's a process, but it's possible. God called you to an abundant life and that means trusting that when you give Him your heart, commit your life to Him, and accept His gift...He has your back. He gets your stuff, understands the tears, and knows what you need and even what a few wants. It's a relationship and far too long people have made it about religion. Salvation is just the beginning of the journey, the start of the race. It's time for Christians to get moving....there is a world out there that needs to know about our Jesus. Turn on the news today....we are truly in the last days. Let's get busy about the things He cares about and sharing His word.....this is what will last for eternity. On that other stuff, ask yourself the question....does it really matter?
For me, it's about being a Jesus girl and knowing greater things are still to come. (He promised in His word...see John 14:12-14). It's about a power that says I can move mountains, a faith that says I can do anything through Him, and a love that says I can intercede. It's about letting God out of the box that I excused Him away to and only let Him out occasionally. (That's a blog for another day.....but just know God doesn't like boxes of any kind...even the ones our best intentions as Christians may put Him in). His word is still the same, let Him loose.
God honors desires to seek Him more. If you aren't ready for more, don't ask. But if you are sitting there going there has to be more, I laid it down Sunday and picked it back up again on Monday.....there is a freedom. It's a process, but it's possible. God called you to an abundant life and that means trusting that when you give Him your heart, commit your life to Him, and accept His gift...He has your back. He gets your stuff, understands the tears, and knows what you need and even what a few wants. It's a relationship and far too long people have made it about religion. Salvation is just the beginning of the journey, the start of the race. It's time for Christians to get moving....there is a world out there that needs to know about our Jesus. Turn on the news today....we are truly in the last days. Let's get busy about the things He cares about and sharing His word.....this is what will last for eternity. On that other stuff, ask yourself the question....does it really matter?
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