Thursday, February 21, 2013

Fabulous at Fifty


Fabulous at Fifty  ....

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”    Proverbs 31:30
Ladies, do you understand that you were fearfully and wonderfully made by God? You are loved lavishly and accepted by Him, and He has appraised you with a worth which exceeds by far, that of rubies!
I have a picture of a very attractive, sophisticated “mature” woman in her dining room  She is posing in front of her fabulous birthday cake and is wearing a huge smile and it says: “Honey, you couldn’t pay me to be twenty, again!”   I am by far a much better woman today than I was in my twenties. I also have so much more to contribute at this point of my life.   Fifty years may seem like a long journey...but it is nothing compared to what I have left to conquer for Christ. I have a promise from God that if I continue to pursue His Kingdom, even in my old age I will continue to bear fruit.
What I have learned in these 50 years of my life…
  • That true happiness and fulfillment cannot come through anything or anyone other than through a relationship with your Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ.
  • That your past does not determine your future.
  • That faith can move mountains.
  • That God answer prayers.
  • That our words are extremely powerful.
  • That you should love everyone but only share your dreams, your vision and your heart, with certain people.
  • That if you give Him time, God can really work out anything for good.
  • That time does not heal wounds but His love does.
  • That sometimes the worst thing that can happen to you is to get your way.
  • That to truly live a life with passion you need to use the “gifts’ you’ve been given.
  • That everything in life is subject to change, except for God and His Word.
  • That God’s grace can carry you through the most difficult of times.
  • That no matter how much you cry today, joy is just around the corner.
  • That you are never too old to dance, fall in-love, or laugh out loud!
  • That it is not the age or the beauty of a woman that makes her desirable but her soul and how she sees herself!
I am now walking in this new fabulous journey, knowing that at whatever moment or season things will change but I understand that I serve a God who does not change but his methods do and those changes will make me become a better woman to serve Him and also to serve others.  
She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. Proverbs 31:25



Happy Birthday (Disco Version)

Written by Maribel O'Neill Castillo 




The Lion of Judah and the Bride


The Lion of Judah is worthy! {Jesus Christ} His voice roars out of Zion as He reclaims His Bride {his church}. Follow the roar to find your way home.

Father, I ask You to open the eyes of our hearts to understand the scriptures. This is such an awesome image. Our minds cannot conceive of Your majesty, Your holiness. Thank You, Lord for giving us a glimpse, a taste of that glorious Day when You come to take Your children home. Lord, You are beautiful beyond description, more wonderful than words. We love You, Lord and give You praise.




Lion Of Judah by Jason Upton with Lyrics


Written by Maribel Castillo 

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Bible Series on the History Channel


The Bible will air on the History Channel beginning March 3, with the last episode in the series airing on Easter Sunday.

Roma Downey & Mark Burnett
Producers of the miniseries The Bible,a 10-hour docudrama to premiere on The History Channel March 3, have announced the upcoming release of a companion Bible app which will be hosted by YouVersion. Mark Burnett and Roma Downey hope the app will encourage viewers of the miniseries to read the Word.




Burnett has had a string of reality TV victories since Survivor, including The Apprentice and The Contender. He’s also well known as a producer for live award events, like The People’s Choice Awards and the MTV Movie Awards.


The Bible — an epic 10-part miniseries retelling stories from the Scriptures for a whole new generation. Breathtaking in scope and scale, The Bible features powerful performances, exotic locales and dazzling visual effects that breathe spectacular life into the dramatic tales of faith and courage from Genesis through Revelation. This historic television event is sure to entertain and inspire the whole family.













The Spirit of Deception



The Spirit of Deception

Take heed that no man deceive you – Matthew 24:4 And Paul made clear that in the latter times believers would give heed to 'deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons' 1 Timothy 4:1.

About 2 years ago, God spoke to me - several times in the book Deuteronomy "to remove the sin among you" I didn't understand why it ministered to me so I brushed it off and soon after that "All hell broke loose in my life" I understand now that when the Holy Spirit tugs at our hearts, we need to search deeper into His word, pray and fast for revelation. As God is preparing me to serve again, he also tugged at my heart to re-read this scripture and to guard myself and avoid those things that one time caught me off guard. I want to share this experience with you so you can ask God to help you understand and to prevent the things or the people that are lurking in sin and is affecting you to prosper in your divine calling.  These scriptures are in the book of Deuteronomy, chapters: 13 through 24 --I now understand of the people, the places and things that God was trying to prevent my downfall. I know that I am not the only one that God disciplines for in Hebrews 12:6 tells us:  the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son/daughter." Also I read in Deuteronomy 23:14 For the LORD your God moves about in your camp (heart, mind, spirit) to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp (heart, mind and spirit) must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you.

It was for me to understand this now, but two years ago, I didn't see past the chaos that was stirring up around me.  That is why it is so important, I emphasize crucial that we keep our hearts and minds clear from all sinful distraction, praying at all times for God to reveal the hearts and intentions of all those that are in your circle of friends, its unfortunate that even family members have to be removed, at least for a season or even for a life-time but always keeping them in prayers.

When we interact with others, a person’s appearance doesn't tell us how a person thinks and feels. What’s inside a person is what God sees. Many are good in hiding their true feelings and intentions. The Bible tells us in Romans 8:27 that God searches the hearts of men and women. That means that God looks deep inside of us instead of evaluating us by the way we look on the outside. God knows every thought of ours. God knows us the way we truly are, not just the way we seem to be. People are like books, you have to look inside to know what is really there.

Was I that gullible for trusting and believing those whom I thought were walking right with God?  I believe that when we encounter this first love with God, we want to serve, we want to pour of ourselves to others and bring them in and embrace them with the same Love God poured unto us.  We want to fix other peoples’ problems, heal their brokenness, set them free from bondage, we work so hard in doing those things and we are so busy wanting to be used by God that we think we are doing the righteous thing and we don’t guard our hearts, and we lose the mark to hear God when he is trying to warn us.  “Remove the Sin Among You” and that is when the spirit of deceptions comes in.....The spirit of deception will use partial truths to get you to believe a lie. The spirit of deception never gives you the whole truth; it only gives you enough truth to get you to buy into these lies.

We become an easy target for those who are being used by this spirit, its intention is to corrupt your mind; to poison and lead others astray from the truth and use the very WORD of God to distort your thinking, to stop believing in those that God put in Authority to lead you to the truth. The spirit of deception works to divide you from others by isolating you. You are picked off by this spirit much like a predator looks for the weakest animal in the flock and isolates it from the rest of the flock. There is protection in numbers and this spirit wants to get us by ourselves, away from everyone else. The spirit of deception always seeks to divide us rather than bring reconciliation on the contrary of God's plan is always restoration and reconciliation. However, many of us are seduced by the spirit of deception often times,we quit walking with the believers we once had incredible relationships with.

Once deceiving spirits have a hold - once you are believing something , you received  from them  - they will feed it and lead it on to other areas of control in your life in order to isolate you. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy any part of the abundant life God has for you (John 10:10). It attempts to blind you to the truth by veiling your eyes - the Bible becomes a hard book to read - anointed teaching is dull to your ears.  You life becomes their lies, your mind starts to think like them, Your behavior starts to walk like them, you start to speak like them.  The spirit of deception walks  you through intimidation that locks you in a prison of lies, it manipulates the Word of God. By the time you realize, it is too late, you are caught in a prison of deception.   This spirit doesn't like confrontation, it doesn't like to be corrected, and it refuses to be under authority. It loves power and yearns control; it will stop at nothing because the very core of their heart is rooted in sin. WOW!  In Ecclesiastes 12:14: God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.  This very thing happened to me, but because of God’s Grace, he pulled me up from the pit of deception and from this controlling spirit and removed ever y residue of every person in my life that has had any connection with this spirit. But unfortunately, I was left with the feeling of its deadly venom and many were hurt and affected because deception doesn't like to go down alone; it has to bring others down with it. But in Jeremiah 4:18 tells us: Your own conduct and actions have brought this upon you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart! When covering the sins of others, there comes a multitude of  consequences.  God forgives us but the consequences of covering sin is a price we have to pay. The spirit of deception is depressing, discouraging, and destroying many of us Christians today.

Today I would like to encourage you to beware of the spirit of deception. Don’t entertain it in your life, in thoughts, words, or deeds. Don’t allow the spirit of deception working through others to influence your walk with the Lord. Lie plus lie equals lie. Truth plus truth equals truth. If we sow seeds of deception, we’ll reap a harvest of corruption. But if we sow seeds of truth, we’ll reap a harvest of blessings. We need to stand against this spirit or we will fall. Don’t agree with anything that doesn't line up with the Word of God. Walk in the light and walk in truth. Walk in the Spirit and walk in the Word. Walk in truth and your soul shall live.



Set me Free by Casting Crowns with lyrics


Written by Maribel Castillo
2/12/2013

Thursday, February 14, 2013

A Friendship Not Easily Broken


A Cord of Three Strands is Not Easily Broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12) 

I want to share how this scripture ministered to me  about this amazing friendship  of these 3 beautiful young ladies. 

I meet all three of them at the church I attend. Recently, the middle one passed to eternity after a  long battle with cancer. I wrote about her recently in my blog "Lenis, The Victorious and Faithful Warrior"


We were all part of the single mothers ministry. As single mothers, we all feel a connection one way or another to each other. We all had different needs, whether we struggled more financially, or more emotionally,  in society alone it is a struggle being a single mother, but it is more comforting to know that you have friends that will be there for you no matter what.  As we continued to share the same circle of friends and attended small groups, birthday parties, game nights, scrap-booking nights, we were all able to know each other in a more personal level.  I witness how much love they had for each other, a love that kept them strong till death do us part. Jackie, the one in the top picture with the super cool blue lace skirt knew Lenis since birth, they were not only friends but sisters in spirit, their bond was unbreakable, along came Patty years later after meeting Lenis through Jackie, it then became "A Cord of Three Strands Not Easily Broken" friendship. 



Whether life experiences took them to other routes or meeting new friends, their sister-hood was never affected but stronger. As I learned more about them, it seems that their confidant, confronter and mentor was Lenis.  Lenis was like their mother hen, always giving them advises, correcting them with love and embracing their flaws and always making them feel no different from each other, she loved them both the same, but with Jackie she did experience many more beautiful memories, not only strengthen their bond but they were each others sister-keeper. Their memories of growing up seeing and feeling many family deaths and many new births, especially when they both became mothers their bond became stronger. The happy memories of their secrets and all the mischief's they did along the way, the tears and pain of broken hearts, their dreams, their hopes were all connected with each other. There were times nothing had to be said, but they knew what each was thinking about. Even at times throughout their friendship, I imagine, they did have misunderstandings and they must of not agreed of certain people in their circle and even disagreed about certain decisions they made. That is absolutely normal for friends to have their own opinions but still in all the disagreements, it didn't change the way they felt for each other.  I really admired to see this bond between these girls, that even through their unpleasant experience, they were able to move on from it and continue to grow in their friendship.  




The most heart-filling of unconditional love was the time when their sister Lenis was diagnosed with Cancer. You can not have experience a much immense pain, brokenness and a sense of  fear of one day losing their beloved sister Lenis. More than ever they stuck together, they embraced every moment and turned them into ever-lasting memories that will live in their hearts forever. Through much pain, endurance and hardship, they took care of her, night and day along with Lenis's mom and many others that came and embrace this young woman who taught them the love of Christ. Then the most dreadful day became a reality, Lenis departed to be in eternity. The tears, the joys, the happiness, the set-backs, their dreams, their hopes are all wrapped up in these beautiful memories of a sister who was strong, fearless, faithful, genuine, courageous, loving, caring and most of all compassionate. A sister who taught them to believe, to have faith and to trust God no matter what. She kept their hopes alive and will continue to live in their hearts and in the memories that will keep reminding them to live, to laugh and love each other as she loved them, that they will continue to live the legacy of a sister-keepers and most all to spread the love of Christ to all those who didn't have what they had a "A Cord of Three Strands Not Easily Broken"  friendship. 




Written by Maribel 
2/14/2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Lenis, A Victorious and Faithful Warrior












Lenis, A Victorious and Faithful Warrior
November 20, 1975 – February 8, 2013 

On February 8, 2013, our beautiful radiant warrior princess went home to be with her King. Lenis heard the words "well done my good and faithful servant" while God placed all the glorious heavenly crowns of life, righteousness, glory, rejoicing and incorruptible rewards on top of her beautiful head.  Lenis fought the good fight of faith until the very end and cancer NEVER took her radiant exuberant Christ loving spirit. Christ's love radiated through her and all she did. We pray that the extraordinary way she chose to live and believe will be an open invitation to living your life for Jesus and his Kingdom. 2 Timothy 4:7. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith.

Let me just share a little of how I met Lenis. Lenis and I attended The Cityline Church, {which I still attend} We became friends through other women that we both knew when she was in her first cancer remission. Several months later, the bad news was told to us that Lenis had to again receive chemo,  because the cancer had returned. I believe God set me up to be part of this young girls life as an answer to one of her prayers. {as you read along, you will understand why I say this}. Going forward and making this long story short, one day on my way to the beach, I felt the Lord tugging at my heart about Lenis, he said to me in my spirit - Lenis is going to need help and you will attend to her needs. I caught myself questioning God and saying - LORD, ME?  How?what can I do?  and he said, just obey and I will take care of the rest.  Immediately after that, I sent out several texts to some of the women that we both knew, responses started to flood my phone and every response was "count me in."  Several days later, still questioning God, "God did you really put this in my heart, this girl doesn't even know me, we just know of each and just spoken several times. After going back and forth with doubt, I decided to pick up the phone and call Lenis and invited her to the park so the girls can play, I also told her that I wanted to share something with her. She agreed and we met up.  As we walked along the park, I finally got the courage to share with her what God had put in my heart.  Lenis, stopped half way the walk and started to cry and said, these very words to me" MY GOD, Maribel - I have been praying to God for this, to bring into my life godly woman to help me through this" My mom can't do it alone. We  both hugged each other and cried thanking God,  for me - a confirmation and for Lenis, an answered prayer. 

With much preparation and with the help of the Pastoral Care from our church and all the women who volunteered, seeing Lenis with much perseverance to conquer this disease was an amazing Faith Builder for all of us.  I was blessed to be in many gatherings with her and share our lives and hold each other up.  We shared our hearts and joys.  Lenis had fought cancer and was in remission for a about a year, and we all stood with her through her journey to remission.  She was stronger in spirit and faith and soared through it with amazing Grace.  Just when she was declared in remission… she was experiencing sharp pains,  a few short weeks later she was given the news that the cancer had returned. She knew what she was up against but she had confidence that her Jesus would take care of her.  Lenis’s faith was part of the armor she dressed for this battle. I learned so much from her. I learned more about the Spirit of God from her than I ever learned anywhere else. I saw where true faith resides and where it advanced. I learned that it does not come from intellect; Lenis was in the middle of the biggest fight anyone ever has to go through; cancer. She knew exactly what that meant and what would be required. But she knew how to find her center, her spirit, her JESUS and to “BE STRONG.” She kept the faith in the midst of hard questions and was a model for seeking peace in her soul in a difficult time ... she focused on making a difference, and hopefully we will remember that about her and try and focus on the difference we can make.

And to think that we all were being used by God to help Lenis, but in reality it was Lenis that was being used by GOD to help built our Faith even while death awaits us.   Many of us were not there when Lenis was ushered to eternity, but our Pastors and many family and friends were there by her side, praying and interceding. They were able to testify of her zeal for God, she lifted up her hands to praise God and surrender her spirit. The way I look at it,  Lenis, ran the race, she stood firm in her faith, regardless that anyone didn't see God in the midst of her pain, she fought hard, won the battle and gain Victory over death.


Even though Lenis is no longer with us, she will continue to be a legacy in those of us who will honor her name and will continue to celebrate her as "A Woman of Great Faith". 

Written by Maribel 
2/10/2013










Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Uplift Each Other



We need to choose to uplift women as opposed to tear down women. We will live by the motto; “If she is a woman she is my sister - even if she does not want to be mine.” This means that we must be careful about how quickly we pass judgment about other women. We need to watch what we say about her, or what we allow to be said about her in our presence and her absence. This calls for honesty, a quality that often lacks "big time" in female relationships. If something about her attitude bothers us then we need to be honest and address it with her.  Gossiping and spreading rumors about the downfalls of other women gives us a false sense of power. It is false because life is uncertain and we might find ourselves in similar if not exact same circumstances. 

A Season of True Surrender



A Season of True Surrender

As I looked over all the writings in my journal and my walk with God, I realized that my life has been like a puzzle that God allows me to put one piece at a time.  As the Word of God tells us in:  {Ecclesiastes 3:1 - To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven.}   This is how our life is. If you read the entire scriptures from 1-8, you will identify many of your seasons and many are probably not yet revealed because God has a purpose through every season.  One particular season in my life, I want to share was back in November 2011 that ministered to me while I was reading the book of 2 Chronicles 1:1-12. 

While I was reading the book of 2 Chronicles 1:6-12: I was intrigued by what Solomon responded to God. Let me rewind just a bit of what I imagined why Solomon responded for Wisdom to God’s offer.   I imaged Solomon as a little boy growing up seeing his father David reigned as King for many years and being successful in all he did, seeing his father King David victorious in many battles against his enemies, having the respect of others and having that role of a powerful King that ruled for many years and lived a very comfortable life and also seeing King David in a way many didn’t see him,  “alone” in his secret place, where Solomon saw his father singing songs of adoration and lifting his hands up to the heavens and dancing unto God pouring out a fragrance of burnt offering as a way of showing his gratitude of God’s faithfulness, recognizing God as the living God.  This led me to read the scripture {John 4:23: Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks}.  I also imagined King David speaking to Solomon of God and imparting in him the values and the obedience that comes from trusting God. Solomon realized and also identified himself like his father, having the true meaning of worship and seeking God, it tells us in {2 Chronicles 6:  Solomon went up to the bronze altar before the Lord in the tent of meeting and offered a thousand burnt offerings on it}

As the Word of God tells us, Solomon did not offer just one or two offerings of praise to God, it was thousand burnt offering, it was an ongoing offerings of praise and worship, giving God all the glory and honor, a mind recognizing the Kings of Kings, the one who held his life in his hands, his future, his legacy, his salvation. Wow, this wasn't just fifteen minutes or an hour of burnt offerings; this was an out-pour and overflow of hours of gratitude that reached the heart of God. This led me to scripture in {Romans 12:1-2: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God which is your spiritual service of worship.”}

In spite of all the power that his father King David processed and the lifestyle that Solomon had, it seems to me that Solomon was unsure of himself to take on the responsibilities that one day was going to be handed over to him from King David.  Solomon recognized his weakness and feared in his own strength, but when God asked him in {2 Chronicles 1:7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.}  This brought me to the scripture of {1 John 5:14-15 this is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him}.  So as I read on in 2 Chronicles 1:7, what ministered to me also was those 2 words “that night” which means that Solomon would seek God’s presence in the midst of quietness, when no one was around, no interruptions, no business, and that brought me to the scripture in {Matthew 6:6- But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.} Solomon knew he can do nothing with his own strength but with the strength whose power accomplishes all which is in and through God.  This brought me to the scripture in {2 Corinthians 12:9- But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.} so Solomon’s response to God was {2 Chronicles 1: 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of your?} which brought me to the scripture in {James 1:5- If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.}  I believe that Solomon knew that God was Wisdom, All Power, All Authority, Ruler of Heaven and Earth and everything in it. Which brought me to scripture in {Proverbs 24:5-6- A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength. For waging war you need guidance, and for victory many advisers.} So God responded to Solomon in {2 chronicle 1:11-12 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king,12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.} This lead me to scripture (Matthew 6:33--But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.)

Wow!!   I had to read these scripture several times in order for me to get the full understanding of how this affects me now in my walk with God.  God told Solomon and tells us today in (1 Chronicles 28:9 "And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.) This lead me to the scripture (Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.)  I was than stopped in my tracks and re-read the scripture from Deuteronomy 4:29 – “with all your heart and soul” so I went and looked up this scripture (Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?) I was then led to (Proverbs 4:23--Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.)

Conclusion:
I understood that our heart is the central of our emotions and will. Our mind, emotions and will is our soul, which through teachings and reading on it, they all constitute in “Free will” God gave us the ability to make our own decisions, he gave us the ability of thinking, feeling and speaking and finally making our own decisions and acting upon it. The soul can be very deceitful also compared to the heart which keeps us in the veil of darkness and separating us from God. I meditated on this for a while and prayed on it and I knew that God was leading me to the root of what was hidden in my soul and what captivates my heart to lure me to go against seeking God first. I summed it altogether and I understood what God wanted me to have a Heart of True Worship, True Obedience, True Submission, and  a True Relationship with God. God wanted me to surrender my mind, my emotions and my will and my heart completely for him to restore and remove all that was hidden within it. I knew that I also had to pray for wisdom, Wisdom to fix the mess I created because of my decisions and actions that almost cost me my marriage and many others things that lead to brokenness. I know that there is much more restoration, much more healing and much more revelation God has in store for me. As I seeked him, I found him. In my brokenness, he has healed me. This is a journey that will continue until the end of time. I know that everyday I wake up, I have to die self and allow God to take control of my body, soul and spirit.  God has equipped me through his Word how to restore my relationship with HIM and the more obedient and submissive I was to him, the more he gave me back all that I had lost.

I embrace everyday knowing that my life is in God’s hands and that nothing or no one can take away from me this LOVE that had a beginning but has no end. Now with much expectation, I take His Word waiting for a new revelation for me to write about. It is a journey of a new insight of all that is and will be manifested through my writings. I pray to God everyday that I can be able to minister to others with my writing with much truth of my experiences in this life and to let those who read my writing understand that God’s glorifies himself through a transparent heart.



In Brokenness, I Come to You (Christian Praise Worship Songs with Lyrics)


Written by Maribel Castillo

Friday, February 1, 2013

My Prayer




Heavenly Father, 

I have chosen the way of your truth. I have set my eyes towards the heavens where you sit in the Glory of your Majesty.  When I speak of your Word it comes out like a torrent of light burning within me an out-pour of worship. Your presence submerges my spirit to surrender at your feet with tears of joy while your hand cleanses me of all impurities of sin.  As your Glory is upon me, it is no longer me but YOU in me. My heart feels the greatness of your love, a love that covers all of my transgression. Your manifestation removed the blindness in my eyes, to see beyond the human eye; it unveiled my mind and filled me with understanding; it released my voice from silence to speak Your truth that would set others free.  

As I kept my eyes closed, You called me by my name and said do not fear, for your process has not been in vane. I have prepared you to be by my side to fight in the battlefield in the heavenly realms. The trumpets are sounding; the angels are calling out the armies from the north, south, east and west, from the top of the mountains to the bottom of the valley. There is no more time to waste, look around you, look to your right and to your left; my people are perishing for lack of understanding. It is time for my church to wake up and stand against the ruler of this world, against the power of darkness in the heavenly realms. My Word is your Sword which is in your spirit, my Truth is your belt around your waist, my Righteousness is your breastplate, my Gospel of peace is already fitted under your feet, my Salvation is the helmet that covers your mind; My faith is the shield that will cover you from doubt.  
In My name I have given you Power and Authority, use it for I will be with you until the end of time. 

Written by Maribel
February 1, 2013