God Knows

How can Christ be seated in the throne of our hearts, if we do not make room for Him?

My dear sister, if you are struggling with any types of issues today, don’t try to resolve them on your own, don’t hide behind a mask and try to fit in with the “normal” crowd (Remember, things are not always what they seem). Surrender your hurts, your weaknesses, and disappointments to the Lover of your soul! “Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” He will give you “beauty for ashes”, will lift-off your burdens, and cover you with the “garment of praise!” If you will just pour your heart out to Him, He will listen. He knows every tear you’ve shed and every hair that has fallen from your head. He called you out to be “separate” and to reflect His Glory on this earth. You will never fall out of His sight! Your times are in His hand. What could possibly separate you from your Father’s love?

…He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs…” {Psalm 107:35}

Broken into Restored

We live in a broken world with broken people. Inside us, we all have areas of brokenness: Broken Dreams, Broken Spirits, Broken Hearts, Broken Relationships, even a Broken Sense of Self Esteem. A Broken Heart can hold us back from taking part in an authentic and loving relationship, Broken Self Esteem can stop us from exemplifying a positive and productive personality, and a Broken Spirit finds it virtually impossible to experience real joy.

The question is, how are we going to deal with the brokenness in our lives? Will we put on our polished Sunday Faces and pretend all is well with us, or will we deal with it? Realize that in dealing with the reality of brokenness, it requires truth. We must admit that we have messed-up-broken-down-heaps-of-lives. We scurry from one relationship to the next without allowing ourselves time to breathe. In our search for Mr. Perfect, we compromise our integrity, yet compounding additional brokenness.

Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Through the brokenness of our lives we can become the vessels that God intended us to me. God gave us Wisdom which is in His Word. Through His Word brokenness can be repaired. Maybe that Broken Dream was your dream that did not fit His plan for your life. That Broken Relationship was never ordained by God and never destined to be, because it was never part of His plan for your life.

As long as we rely on our own foolish pride and selfishness, lusting after the flesh, we will continue to live a broken life, filled with frustration and loneliness. Brokenness stops at the point where our spirit yields to His Will. God uses our brokenness to reveal to us our need for Him and to prepare us for future service. Let Him perfect your brokenness. God’s ultimate goal is spiritual victory.

Let us look at a glass that has fallen to the floor and broken into many pieces. We can easily sweep the pieces together and discard them in the trash. But God takes those broken pieces and fits them tightly together in such a manner that they will never be broken again. We just have to surrender it all to Him. God Bless!

In 2012

{Zechariah 2:5}… For I,’ says the LORD, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

I pray that in 2012 God will be a wall of fire all around you and your loved ones and may He be the glory in your midst. I pray that He will be the glory in your home, your family, your marriage, your job and all that concerns you. May you be elevated to a higher place spiritually, mentally and physically and may the favor of God locate you for greater things. No matter what challenges you may face in 2012, may the Lord surround you with a wall of fire and may He give you the strength to stand and be victorious in all that you do. May God use all the trouble and hardships to elevate you and may you soar like an eagle as you embrace the storms of life.

This new year coming , don't be in a hurry to do things, for the Bible says in Isaiah 28:16, "... Anyone who trusts in it will never be disappointed." Be patient and still before the Lord. Seek His face and ask Him for wisdom in all your decision making. As you wait upon the Lord in 2012, I pray that God shall renew your strength; you shall mount up with wings like eagles, you shall run and not be weary, you shall walk and not faint. Remain blessed and hold steadfastly to His word. In Jesus Name, AMEN !

I'm Not ...

All throughout our lives we give ourselves reasons to why we can’t do things. When we get really honest with ourselves, most of these reasons are actually insecurities, creeping in to break us down.

1) “I’m not tall enough”
2) “I’m not smart enough”
3) “I’m not fast enough”
4) “I’m not pretty enough”

Although some of these points are things we can’t avoid, God has given us the power to conquer all things in which He has called us to…Just because you’re bruised and broken, doesn’t mean it’s time to give up on your passion. Keep fighting the good fight, and don’t allow Satan to distract you from what Christ has called you to.

God will open up every opportunity, for you to flourish in what He has called you to accomplish. Don’t let anyone tell you that you aren’t good enough. With Him, you are MORE than enough.

{2 Peter 1:3} His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Getting Rid

Getting rid of friends who are horrible to you is never a good feeling. Especially when you know it has to be done, even though you have shared a long past together. Some things aren't worth fixing. It's not worth fixing if the people you care about hurt you all the time and then somehow manage to turn it around onto you, if they leave you out of everything they do together, if they look annoyed when you bump into each other. It's these things that hurt the most, and then you realize they aren't your friends anymore. And I think in the long run that makes it easier to let go, because if they hurt you that much they can't have cared about you all that much to begin with.

Remind Me

Lord, please remind me at all times that Your ways are higher than mine and that I may not always understand Your way of doing things. Help me to trust in all Your ways for they are the best and only way to truly prosper my life. Teach me to rest in You where I will gain strength to dance to soar.

Lord, I truly thank You for you take care of me in every aspect of my life including all my dreams and desires.  Remind me to inhale deeply when I’m in Your presence just as I would inhale the beauty of a flower. Let Your smell…Your essence fill the inner most part of my being…let it dig into the crevices of every hidden and what I consider undesirable places until I am transformed into what You already know me to be. In this place of intimate receiving is where Your strength fills and heals me. 

Thank you for continually transforming me into Your image until I know as I am fully know until living waters of Your essence flow as living waters on a moment by moment basis from my life. I breathe You in.

Weeping At His Feet

In Luke 7: 37 "When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them."

People around her did not understand but Jesus seen her repentant heart, her love & noticed every tear she shed at His feet. Jesus never looked at her condition and accuse her. He did not say, "Hey sinful woman, don't touch me." He looked at her with mercy & compassion. He looked past her sin and shame at her repentant heart. Today let's take all that burdens us to JESUS in prayer. Let's cry out to Him and He will listen to us and He will help us and give the desires of our hearts

Let’s Pray
Dear Lord, Thank You for calling women out of the shadows to receive healing! Thank You for noticing me, loving me, calling me, and using me to bring glory to Your Name!! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Two Hearts

If two hearts are meant to be together, no matter how long.....it takes, how far they go, how tough it seems, faith will bring them together to share love forever !!

Inner Confidence

There are few things more attractive in a woman than inner confidence. A woman who wears confidence in a non egotistical way radiates strength, conviction and passion. And it can be contagious. A confident woman knows who she is. A confident woman knows herself, through and through, and isn’t afraid to appear vulnerable. She understands her purpose, and she uses her god given gifts to her advantage. A confident woman isn’t afraid to be herself. Confident women are often women of action. It’s the feeling inside that no matter what it is that ignites you, the urge to follow your passion is so strong, and nothing and no one can hold you down.

I Can Only Imagine

O' Lord, I can only imagine what it will be like when I walk by your side. I can only imagine what my eyes will see, when your face is before me, O' surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel? will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still; will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall? Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all?

O' Lord, I can only imagine when that day comes and I find myself standing in the Sun, when all I will do is forever, Forever worship You my GOD! MY GOD, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE!! I CAN ONLY IMAGINE !!

The Doctor and the Prostitute

{Writer Unknown} An amazing story...Please read

Today was unlike any other. I spent a big chunk of the day in Surrey Memorial… that hospital makes me sad. I got to see and experience a different part of the brokenness of our world than I usually do. The brokenness of this part of our world is quite apparent. The outsiders from this subculture, looking in, can usually very quickly identify what they feel are the evidences of brokenness. In fact, a lot of times, outsiders looking in will say that this subculture IS the problem with our culture. They ARE the fractures of creation.

but just as much as there is brokenness and pain and sorrow, hopelessness, helplessness, and despair in these places, there is truth, loyalty, compassion, honesty, grace, brotherhood, family, relationship, community, hope, and some of the very things that I believe are required to overcome the fractures of creation!
And I sat there and listened as the prostitute poured out story after story of a long and broken life. . . of child abuse, sex trafficking, forced prostitution, and ultimately, a struggle to find self-worth. I listened as the prostitute talked about looking in the mirror and not seeing a person, but rather a piece of meat. Of how, day after day, worthlessness overshadowed existence.

And on the other side of the emergency room walked a doctor. This doctor does amazing work, on the front lines, working with people from all kinds of broken situations… from broken bones, to broken homes. This doctor comes from a world where people would look in from the outside and say “this is good”. And I thought about how, just days before, this same doctor had confided with almost the same words, the struggle of looking in the mirror and not seeing a person worth anything. This same doctor looked in the mirror and saw worthlessness, shame, depravity, scorn…

The doctor, and the prostitute… with more in common than they could possibly imagine. The same need to be loved. . . known. . . respected. . . and a different form of validation. And here we were, this juxtaposition… Two people whom our culture tells us can have nothing in common… and one is just like the other.

and this juxtaposition is framed against a backdrop of an overcrowded emergency room, where there’s a guy and his arresting police officer waiting to get treated for his gunshot wound, next to an elderly woman with kidney failure beside a teenager with blood alcohol poisoning, across from a baby whose cough has worried her mother, beside a soccer player whose broken his foot, beside a woman with appendicitis, down the hall from a former cult member whose knee has come out of place, outside a small room in which a man is babbling incoherently and screaming…and each person comprising this background has a body with the same basic physiology. Regardless of where they come from or why they are there, they are in a place where they all have one thing in common. their human bodies have some form of physical brokenness that needs treatment.

**please note that the identity of the two main characters in this juxtaposition have been altered slightly to protect their identities

“Dear woman, here is your son” and “here is your mother”....one of the last seven phrases we have recorded that Christ said while on the cross.

He came to show us that she is just like me. that they are just like us… that we are just like them. That we are all family, and in need of each other. We have been given to each other to minister to the needs of one another.

What would happen if, when we looked at the person with whom we “couldn’t have less in common” we started to see ourselves reflected? what If we saw the image of Christ in them-and in us?...What if we realized that our adoring Father knows her name too, and adores her too?.....Would then, the new life… the new humanity… the new creation that Christ came to earth to bring us… the redemption of creation… would then we see it usher in the Kingdom of heaven?

See Yourself

I think as females, most of us have struggled with body image lies, especially this one.

“If I can change something about my body, others will finally accept me and I will be able to accept myself.”

I think you can either see yourself and define yourself through others and what they think of you or by what God thinks of you. You can only attract the people, things, and events that match the quality and intensity of your beliefs about yourself. You can visualize and affirm all you want, but if in your heart you aren’t worthy, you aren’t receiving.

You must be able to validate yourself if you want to thrive in a physical reality where people and things are constantly changing. Needing others to validate you is exhausting and it never works for very long. You have to see yourself as worthy of what you want, by virtue of who you are, before you can have what you want.

God is A Lamp

God is a lamp to light my path when I cannot see. He makes the darkness turn to morn, My God is leading me. His comfort with the rod and staff,  He gives courage along the way. God is a lamp to light my path, I need to trust, obey. And when it seems the darkest night, And I cannot find my way, I hear Him whisper, "It's all right, Just look to Me, and pray." Soon 'twill be morning; the sun will rise. Night will be no more. God is a lamp to light my path, 'Til I reach that shining shore. {Author Unknown}

Ugly Duckling - Beautiful Swan

Sometimes, people who are aware of your past will use it to remind you of your past situation, and keep you in bondage but you don’t have to let them. As long as you know your walk with Christ, and that he will never stop loving you. Don’t let others change your character.

They may view you from the outside, but God may be working some issues, situations or wounds on the inside. You may be that UGLY DUCKLING,
on the outside to others, but God is remolding you into that BEAUTIFUL SWAN, on the inside, which will blossom on the outside for all to see His glory and great works!

The Love of God

The Love of God is Awesome!!! His Love is much greater than we will ever be able to fully comprehend during your physical existence. Once you begin to understand the reality of the Love of God, you will never cease to be amazed at how much greater His Love is than you thought you understood it to be.

That most important miracle is that God loves us! And he loves us with that tremendous and awesome never ending unconditional love. If you think about it, his love for us is the answer to everything.

Burn Old Memories

How often do we allow ourselves to “Burn Old Memories”? I realize we have both “good” and “bad” memories. Of course I am speaking more of the “bad” ones we tend to hide in our hearts that loom over us like a black cloud ready to rain destruction anytime they choose. “Burning Memories” should be a fire we seek when so much hurt and pain has “filled our souls, minds, and hearts with drama”.

Like looking into the “fiery” furnace we should literally throw those old memories into the flames and purge our memories of what continues to reek chaos over our relationships, in our lives, with our families, and with us causing pain, depression, fear and sadness too often and to the point it can spoil, break down and rot all of the incredibly great memories and life we have right in front of our faces. We spend too much time living in those old past memories, allowing them to reign over us like a dictator.

What we often do not see, by not Burning Memories that haunt us, they consume us and eventually can leave us standing all alone, with no one but just old memories to be with, until it is too late. You must sever the ties, and allow all of the bad memories to go into that fiery furnace and leave your mind, heart and soul renewed, refreshed, and purged. That way you have space for the future, new memories and the good things that shall come your way. Deal with whatever made that bad memory happen, then let it burn.

Thirsty

“Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them {John 7:37& 38} For I will pour water upon them that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground; I will pour out my spirit upon their seed and my blessings upon their offspring.” {Isaiah 44:3}.....Jesus is the source of the living water . The flow goes from him to us, and then out from us to others and it is a refreshing, thirst-quenching oasis of life.

We thank you and praise you, O God, that however we may thirst, whatever we may need to satisfy our souls, you offer it freely and abundantly in Christ, so we drink deep of the living water and, as we draw from your wells, we seek to pass the cup to others who, like us, who are thirsty for your grace.

Confidence

There are few things more beautiful on a woman than confidence; Women who wear it radiate strength, passion and conviction. It contributes more to a look than a designer label or the perfect diamond. When a woman knows who she is, why she is and what she’s supposed to do, she may be dressed in thrift store specials and be absolutely gorgeous.

Confidence is not clothes or a haircut or expensive jewelry, it’s an "Attitude". At the same time, something that makes you feel fabulous, may do wonders as an accessory to your confidence. She knows her style. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer zebra stripes and pink fur, or to be dressed in grays and subtle greens. Whether you like flats or Stilettos shoes, shopping or working out. Or all of the above. What is most important is to be you.

The Bible

The Bible is God's love story for you, and every time you read it, allow it to unfold in your heart as a love letter written by God to you. In just such a light of open expectation, the revelation of His love and His plan for you will jump off of the pages and into your life every time you turn the pages of the Greatest Love Story Ever Told!” - T.D. Jakes

Your Roses

I thank you Lord, Lord for the roses and thorns you have placed in my life...

His Roses are so beautiful but the thorns in my life make me feel like I just want to hide...His Roses smell so sweet though I’m crying from the thorns Lord, your love keeps me right by your side.

My Plea: As I walk through the garden, I stumble and fall, Lord, give me roses, with no thorns at all, I want only the blessings Lord please find a way..Then your love picks me up, and faith helps me say…

Praise Refrain: Your Roses are so beautiful and your thorns in my life, Keep my heart overflowing with praise Oh Lord, how great, how marvelous ----
I’ll walk with you all of my days

HIS Answer: Then He smiles at me, my child can’t you see, My cross and my crown have just set you free You want only the blessings, child, I hear you pray
My love lifts you up, my grace helps you say…

My Response: Let me praise you, O Lord and answer your call I’ll carry your roses, thorns and all As I look at your face, Lord, please help me bring all my love to the cross, my voice raised to sing…

Incense of Roses

Let my soul rise to You, my God, like the incense of roses as a morning sacrifice. Dear God, You have given me a new day in which to begin, a new time to grow, new opportunities to love, new people to care for, new crosses to bear. I dedicate these moments of time You have blessed me with and give thanks to Your Name for Your Love and faithfulness; Let my roots go deeper into the soil of Faith that Hope may ever rise higher and higher and reach your throne so I can see Your power and glory.

Say I Love You Everyday

Today and every day is a day of love. Today is the day that world takes to tell someone special that they love them. But we need to make sure that we are telling people every day that we love them. That we are there for them. That we need them. That they have value.

Don't ever let people feel as though they are only valuable to you on one special day. Do you feel as though their value diminishes after one day? Of course not. So be sure to tell those that you love that you love them every day. That today you celebrate the love you have. Let it be like the Father's love .... unending and unchanging. Let your actions line up with your words. Let your confession be that of I Corinthians where we see what love is and what love is not. Let the love of God be your guide.

Know that the love of God goes beyond any and everything else in your life. Know that it sees all....knows all....and covers all. Know that the love of God covers you and comforts you. Take time to reflect today on what true love is. You have a perfect picture when you look at the love God has for you.

Today is the day that God has made. Let's rejoice and LOVE in it.

Praise the Lord

In {Psalm 146} says “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, O my soul. I will praise the Lord all of my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live"

My Lord,

I lift up my hands and my voice to praise and worship You, for You are beautiful beyond description, Too marvelous for words, Too wonderful of comprehension. You are like nothing ever seen or heard. Father, who can grasp you infinite wisdom, who can fathom the depth of your love. You are beautiful beyond description, Majesty enthroned above!! And I stand, I stand in awe of you, Holy God to whom all praise is due...I stand in awe of you.

Remember that from a steadfast heart will come music from your soul to the Savior.

Our Words

Our words release the power of faith to create our world. Use your words to bring life and victory.

In Your Presence

Heavenly Father, 

I come into Your Presence where there is wisdom beyond compare. I come without pretense and You will open the door and I will sit still and inhale your love.

In Your presence is peace, profound, no where else can be found. My turmoil will cease as You touch me to make me sound, I stay, pray, and wont stray, I sing a song of praise to You.

In Your presence is prosperity to help me leap over walls, there I also find security so I can stand strong and tall. I will reach for it, press for it, follow after it.

In Your presence is great pleasure to make my face radiant until You beyond measure give me life super-abundant.. I will go for it, I will fight for it, I will content in it; I delight in Your presence, where there is anointing, power for my defense, My whole being igniting because I crave you and need you and I will press on to be in your presence.

The Latter Rain

The latter rain is coming. Joel says: Be glad, people of Zion, rejoice in the LORD your God, for he has given you the autumn rains because he is faithful. He sends you abundant showers, both autumn and spring rains, as before. {Joel 2:23}

Dear Father in heaven. We know we’re living when the rain is due. The signs are evident all around us, and the latter rain is about to fall. We pray that our hearts would be softened so that when that happens, we can absorb the Holy Spirit's power into our lives. Clear the way for the beautiful manifestation of your Holy Spirit in our lives and hearts and homes. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

To Everything there is a Season

It is a time to weep, a time to rejoice, and a time to mourn. We don’t always understand the seasons that we find ourselves in. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “To everything there is a season.” God has a purpose in what comes into the life of the believer. In Romans 8:28 it teaches us – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”The battles that we engage in are not in vain. God uses them in our lives to prepare us to minister to others. Don't despair because you are in a place of tears. Just remember that "weeping endures for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Let's Pray...

Father, We pray as we all step into the next phase of our lives, into our new season, that we will embrace all that You long to do in our lives. Father, give us grace to let go of the old things that have hindered us in the past, and may You give us wisdom to embrace the new things that You are doing.

Worship out of Brokenness

We all have brokenness in our lives, and we can choose whether to allow the brokenness to remain bitter, or to allow it to be released as sweet incense. Incense is made out of bitter ingredients, but when it is offered before God in worship, it becomes sweet incense, and what’s more; everyone present can smell the sweetness. When the sweetness of that fragrance rises out from your lives, the people around you can see it and that is what that attracts people’s attention.

It is definitely not easy to worship out of brokenness, but it is not impossible to do so. In fact, it is this kind of worship that really attracts God’s attention. God wants to give us beauty for ashes. He will not reject you because you have been broken by life’s circumstances, for the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. {Psalm 51:17}

Running Back

If you keep running back to the person that you need to walk away from you will never create space for better things to arrive.

Your Mess into a Message

And we know that all things worked together for good for those who loved Him and are called according to His purposes.” {Romans 8:28}

Looking at my life, I’m beginning to see God turning my mess to a message. I can never understand what others go through unless I’ve been there myself. The enemy loves to tell us that we’ve messed up and things will never be the same again, that we cannot get back on track and so we had better give up. He wants us to be so consumed with guilt and pain and bitterness that we cannot get out from the heap of ashes.

But God says otherwise. No matter what you have done, no matter what has happened in your past, you still have a future. God can restore your life and put the pieces back in one piece, but you must allow Him to do so. Yes, it may seem as if you have lost half of your life, but do not waste the other half mourning over it and not doing anything else. Instead, be determined to let God use the half that was seemingly lost into a brighter future.

One way that God can do to redeem your past is to turn your mess into a message. And you will be surprised at how that message is going to minister to people facing that same problem. You can look back at your life one day and thank God for redeeming your past, or you can look back in regret that you have given up because the devil tells you that the choice is yours. You have to decide.

God loves you and to him, your future is so bright. In God’s eyes nothing has been wasted, nothing that you have gone through has been in vain. He is willing to turn your mess to a life-changing message, but are you willing to let Him have it? Let go and LET GOD!

The Condition of the Heart

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” {Ezekiel 36:26}

In this verse, God describes two different conditions of a man’s heart; one is a hardened heart of stone; and another, tender and soft heart of flesh. A heart of stone is obviously a hard heart. A person with a hardened heart will not allow herself to be hurt. She builds up protective walls and is very defensive against people who will try to move beyond the ‘boundaries’. She cannot receive love from people, and at the same time, she cannot give love also, because she has got no love to give. A stony heart is a very lonely heart. You may think that a stony heart is a protective one, but you are actually missing out a lot of good things as well. They have a very strong character, and can at times be very hurtful and harsh.

A heart of flesh is one which is capable of giving and receiving love. Yes, it is vulnerable to pain as a person with a heart of flesh is willing to take chances to cultivate friendships, but it is a receptive heart. A heart of flesh is a healthy heart. They are willing to take the chances to expose themselves to the uncertainties of relationships. God has given us an ability to feel and respond to feelings; not to be overcome by our feelings, but emotions is a gift. A compassionate person is an emotional person. A fleshy heart can express its emotions freely towards God. If you are an intercessor, you need to be able to feel and hurt for the dying world. If you are a counselor, you will need to have a heart for the hurting world. All these cannot be done if you have a heart of stone.

God wants to exchange you heart of stone for a heart of flesh. Do not be afraid of being hurt, because often we miss what God has given to us by being defensive. We need to receive the gift of emotions once again and allow ourselves to enjoy the emotions that God has given.

Being Your Own Kind of Beautiful

Being our own kind of beautiful consists of being who we are from the inside first, and then translating that onto the outside of our bodies secondly. Being your own kind of beautiful requires you to develop your inner you. Do you know what you like? How heavy of an influence is everyone else on your life and style? These are two important questions that you can help you determine if you are trying to live under someone elses definition of beautiful instead of your own.

In order to be our own kind of beautiful we must do things regardless of how they will make us be perceived by our peers and society around us. Being our own kind of beautiful is living life the way that you know you should live it, without any worry of who will still be around when you do. Simply put, being your own kind of beautiful is being yourself daily!

When we take a deep look at our lives, we realize that where we are now is a make up of the choices we have made in the past, and what we learned from those experiences. Those of us who may have been scared to take chances in the past may find ourselves wondering what could have been if we had taken the chances that we were scared of choosing.

The Storm is Over

Your storm is now over, but to get through the storm
First the wind came (trials and tribulations)
Then came the rain (tears)
Then came the lightening (pain)
It began to thunder (depression)
Then all of a sudden the wind, rain, lightening, and thunder stopped
The clouds began to separate and the sun began shining through (your new life)
The sky began to turn a beautiful blue (peace of mind)
The birds began to sing (joy and happiness)
When you let God take control of your life,
Even though you may go through a storm,
God is there before, during and after

The storm is over!!!

Fixing Up

Heavenly Father, 

We’re so thankful that when we mess things up You don’t throw up Your arms, shake Your finger at us and say, “You made the mess. Now you fix it.” Plenty of others might do so, but Your compassion far exceeds Your judgment, for You did send Jesus to condemn, but rather to save us from our own sin and mistakes. We do lots of temporary “fixing up” in our lives that comes unraveled again or needs ongoing repair. But when we lay our broken hearts before You, You pick up the fragile pieces and restore us spiritually and emotionally. Thank You for binding up our wounds and pouring in Your ointment of healing for our sin sick soul. Only You, Father, can heal the body and spirit. Once we are touched by Your healing hand, we can’t help but reach out to others who need that touch as well. You call us to spread Your love and comfort to others in pain with the same comfort we ourselves receive from You when we are undergoing pain, suffering, or loss. May we be faithful in doing so. Amen

Journey of Life

As we travel the journey of life God gives us the choice to become clay in his hands. As we invite him into our life he lovingly begins his work of molding us and making us into a vessel of honor and blessing. We can come with our cracks and brokenness and he will make something beautiful out of our life. Even when we have made a mess of things, maybe by making wrong choices, God can repair and bring healing so we will display his glory. How encouraging to think that with God we are never too spoiled, too cracked, too broken. With him there is always hope. With him there is always a another chance.

My Name is Gossip

I have no respect for justice. I aim without killing. I break hearts and ruin lives. I am cunning and malicious and gather strength with age. The more I am quoted the more I am believed. I flourish at every level of society....My victims are helpless. They cannot protect themselves against me because I have no name and no face. To track me down is impossible.....The harder you try, the more elusive I become. I am nobody's friend.Once I tarnish a reputation, it is never the same. I topple governments and ruin marriages. I ruin careers and cause sleepless nights, heartache and indigestion.
I spawn suspicion and generate grief. I make innocent people cry in their pillows....Even my name hisses.....I AM CALLED GOSSIP.

This very eye-opening poem from an unknown author, says a lot about the damage done through gossip. What about the famous phrase we all have heard: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"? Though it may be a useful attitude to take when insulted by others, in our hearts, we know this is not true. Somehow reciting those words does not take the hurt away. Use powerful positive words to heal when confronted with destructive, negative words. Respond to gossip or criticism with encouraging words about the person being talked about. As Ephesians 4:29
explains, "Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear". Let us all strive to use the power of our words for healing.

My Name is Jesus

I will be closer to you than a brother; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
When you ask ME for forgiveness, I will forgive you and I will not throw your past mistakes in your face.
I will not stir up confusion or gossip about you.
The secrets you speak in MY ears stay with ME, never heard by anyone else.
I am with you until the end of time.
When you are weary and burdened, you can count on ME.
I will give you rest, I will strengthen you.
I am not a man that I should lie. If I spoke it I will accomplish it.
MY love is everlasting.
You can always count on ME being on time.
I am not selfish, for all that I have heard from MY FATHER I have made known to you.
I am your friend. My name is JESUS

A Gentle Breeze

A relationship with Christ requires more than just asking him to take care of your needs. It includes knowing and appreciating who he is and spending time with HIM and HE with you. I was thinking about my relationship with Christ and my best way of communicating with him through prayer and I came across this peaceful poem written by Laurie Swartzfager: Please enjoy!

A Gentle Breeze

As I sit here all alone admiring the view of an early sunrise
I tilt my head back and close my eyes.
A soft gentle breeze crosses my face,
I look around and enjoy the quietness of God's peace and the soft gentle pace.

The trees are in full bloom, the leaves ready to fall.
God's beauty of earth, I admire it all.
As the sun comes up and begins a new day,
I sit here quietly and begin to pray.

Dear God, I begin to say, please watch over my life and keep me safe.
Give me hope and show me faith.
Guide my path and let me know you are near.
Allow me to be strong and filled with love, for love conquers all fear.

A gentle breeze crosses my path, and gives me a slight chill
God answers and says: I am with you still.
I've never left you alone, or threw you aside,
I am in your heart, I will be your guide.

I will show you the way to master life's difficulties, and trust your heart,
For I am with you now and forever, I shall never part.
A gentle breeze I feel again, I know my prayers are answered, God has heard my plea.
He has pointed this out for me to see.

Life has many surprises each and every day. We cannot live on regrets and sorrow.
Once again I feel a gentle breeze which means God is saying:
My child there is a tomorrow:
The sun will shine once again, the birds will continue to sing.
Memories will last forever, and enjoy life a new today, and all that it may bring.

Prayer - Full Armor of God

I would like to share the following prayer that has helped me visualize putting on the Armor of God. These are not words to simply say, but to believe to live by.

Dear Lord, 

I come before you today to put on the spiritual armor that you have so graciously provided for your daughters. First, I put on the Belt of Truth, buckled securely around my waist, for it is Your truth that sets me free. I then put on the Breastplate of Righteousness that covers my heart and emotions and shows I am in right standing with You. My feet are shod in the preparation of the Gospel of Peace, and I take those feet and I bring peace and love, not anger and discord where I walk this day. I take hold of the Shield of Faith and use it to quench every fiery arrow the devil may fire at me, and I take the Sword of the Spirit, which is your precious and powerful Word and I use it to pierce through the enemy’s wicked plans. For Your Word states, all I must do is submit myself to You, and tell the devil to flee, and he must go. I choose to follow You this day and everyday of my life, my Heavenly King. May I serve You with joy and perseverance, living boldly and lovingly as Your faithful daughter. In Jesus’ Mighty Name, I pray, Amen.

Ladies, we can be victorious. Let's us raise our swords and stand for our King

Believe It, Receive It & Achieve It

We live at a unique time in history, and God has placed each one of us in a unique position. The opportunities for Christian women today are immense, and it’s time for women to arise. Young or old, whatever your race, whatever your upbringing or background, whatever your ability, whatever your present circumstances, the Lord Jesus Christ wants to raise you up, equip you, and release you to advance His Kingdom, in preparation for His return. God does not always choose the most likely, or the most talented to bring blessing to the body of Christ.

So where are the Deborah’s and Esther’s? – The women who are prepared to make a difference in our generation? They are here! You are a, potential leader like Deborah, intercessor like Esther, prophet like Huldah, Godly mother like Mary, Godly grandmother like Naomi, evangelist like the Samaritan woman at the well, a person with a servant heart like Phoebe, or a Christian business-woman like Lydia. I could go on and on, yet the truth is that God has designed your ministry just for you, although it will have similar qualities to these women of the Bible. Whatever place you are in now, whether you know the Ministry that God has called you into, or you are still uncertain, whether you are functioning in your ministry, or are wondering how to get started, or even if you are still running in the opposite direction like Jonah, God wants to speak to you and move you forward.

♥ CONCLUSION...♥

Are you prepared to allow God to speak to you and show you the ministry He has prepared for you? The word minister means servant God is preparing us for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be build up.

Your ministry is like a seed, full of growth potential . He wants to call you, enable to recognize that call, and equip you so that you can function well, and grow. Remember Esther was a young woman who recognized the call of God on her life, there has never been a better time for us to arise, as Deborah’s, Esther’s, etc. etc. God wants to speak to you, He is building His Kingdom, and the doors are opening. Arise! Arise! Arise! for “Yet who knows that you have come to the Kingdom, for such a time as this!” {Esther 4:14}

Not My Will

So what do you have planned for tomorrow, an hour from now? Is God in on your plans? Have you consulted Him? If not, call out to Him right now and ask that He lead the way. You'll be amazed how much better the journey is. God bless you princess warriors.

Let us Pray:

Dear Heavenly Father, You are the best of the best Leaders. You are our Creator and know each of us intimately. Because You know everything about us, You understand exactly what steps we should take and what roads we should travel. Please, help us keep our eyes focused on You, for You have our best interests in mind and can clearly see our futures. Your Word says that You have plans to prosper us and give us a hope and a future. May each of us trust in Your goodness and grace and turn to you throughout our days, allowing you to direct our next steps. Help us make decisions that are glorifying to You and that benefit others. Give us wisdom to make choices that honor You and edify those around us. What a relief it is to turn our will over to Your capable hands. In Jesus' Name, amen. ♥

The Glass Slippers

What do the glass slippers in Cinderella symbolize? Cinderella is given the glass slippers by her 'god mother', a representation of the divine teacher in all of us.

She goes to the palace , the heart of the kingdom, and meets the prince, where she enjoys her time but remembers to return to the earthly realms at the time she was told. The slippers vanish with the gown back to whence they came.

The second time she leaves the ball late, and a slipper remains for the prince to find, while the second is with Cinderella. The slipper is neither of this world or of the palace but a representation of the unique qualities of Cinderella herself. It fits her and only her, no one else can fill her shoes. The prince who is the complement of Cinderella recognizes her as his mate, and uses this piece of her uniqueness to lead him to her.

Although others try to fill her shoes, only she can fill them, only Cinderella has the True fit.

Thus the slippers function on a number of levels:

* representing our own unique qualities that belong only to us

* the slipper remains in the world, because it has been separated from its mate, representing that piece of greatness that exists in all women, and if kept safe, nurtured & protected (as Cinderella keeps the shoe) will eventually lead back to her true origin

* Cinderella can dance in the heart of the kingdom because she is wearing HER shoes, the shoes that are her unique qualities...these allow her to shine & sparkle like no other....for she is not pretending to be something she is not, nor is she inflicting suffering on others in order to reach the kingdom, like her step sisters

* when Cinderella's step sisters try to fit the shoe, they are trying to be someone else for the sake of winning the kingdom...but because they are not being who they Truly are, they ultimately fail

* Cinderella wins the kingdom and the HEART of the kingdom because she accepts her roles patiently & doesn't compromise who she is ...she quietly slips into the shoes without display, but because she has wholly accepted who she is and gracefully wears her shoes, others celebrate her victory & ultimate union, while some cannot do anything but be envious/jealous as they do not understand true happiness comes from accepting things as they are, and accepting ourselves as we are.

Removing the Masks

When circumstances have destroyed our lives, we try to put on masks to make us appear strong and OK on the outside. We try our best to drown ourselves in others to cover up our pain. We try to laugh, work, talk, and even go to church like other people. But deep inside our hearts, we’re breaking. When that hard shell is broken, the yolk inside will flow out.

So many of us are perfect in acting like we’ve never been hurt. Some feel ashamed of their pain, while there are others who simply do not want to bother other people. However, no matter how much you can try to hide and deny your suffering, your eyes will always show it, for your eyes are the windows of your heart. The first step to receiving our healing is to remove that mask. Stop hiding and acting as if you’re OK when you are actually not. Admit to God that you are hurt and you need His healing. Allow the Lord to begin that process of restoration.

I understand that after putting on that mask for so long, it will be difficult for us to remove it and expose our true conditions. We may feel vulnerable. We may be afraid at what other people will think, or rather, what God will think. But God will never despise our pain, nor will He reject us when we hurt. In fact, the Lord is closed to the broken-hearted, and He binds up their wounds (Psalm 34:18). And from Isaiah 61:1-3, most of what Jesus is anointed to do is to minister to the brokenhearted.

Remember, God is not surprised by what we tell Him because He already knows what is happening; He just wants you to bring them before Him.

I Choose to Feel Calm and Confident

How many times do we keep from being the woman God had intended for us to be because of our lack of confidence? We stop believing in our abilities and allow fear to master our thoughts. Fear is an emotional virus that usually beings with the way you think about yourself.  Allowing fear to override your mind stops you from reaching your true potential that God has planned for you. Fear keeps us in our comfort zone and when something new or different arises, we tend to panic.

Without confidence we never experience true peace and joy in our lives. The enemy loves whispering thoughts of self-hatred, rejection, fear of failure in our head to keeps us in bondage....Remember that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Each of them had to press forward into the unknown. Many successful people had to try and try again before obtaining success. It's not how many times you get knocked down, but how you get back up that defines you.

Stepping out in faith doesn't mean the fear will leave you, it means that you will preserve to move forward until you accomplish what God has intended. It's never too late to get back up again. Don't live your life never knowing if you might have been....Make a decision today that you will live boldly and confidently knowing that God is on your side cheering you all the way.

The Best Beauty Comes from the Worst Pain

The past year or so has been one trial after another. It's a battle that rages from day to day. Although I do feel like I am getting better when I look back at the past year....it still is so hard to not be what I used to be,and I ask God would I ever be the same. Many roadblocks have seemed to find their way into my path, but deep in my heart I knew there was no hurdle that I could not pass. God had gotten me this far and I knew He just wouldn't leave me here. So today, I pick up some of the small pieces of who I used to be and I begin to gather what pieces God wants me to gather to form the new me-one with a Heart Like HIS.

Pain and hardship builds character.....but I'm wondering how much character building was I needing. Had pride stepped in the way of my ministry? Had my ability to accomplish everything on my own strength yielded God to take me to a level that my dependence was totally on his strength? What lesson am I to take from this and in what way Lord do you want me to use this?

I know God has a story to tell through this. I know that everything that has happened in my life God has used to give glory to himself. I also know that throughout scripture everyone that God used had difficulties along the way. Character builders!! I am ready for that time. I'm ready to have the strength and energy and feel good enough to get back out there and be an inspiration to the gospel that I stand upon. I feel like I'm trapped right now in a world that doesn't use my ministry gifts. I pray daily that God would remove this thorn and my ministry can resume. I ask for wisdom and discernment on what God's plan for my life is and I ask for strength to endure so that through this I may bring glory to him.

Jesus....What a Beautiful Name

The Bible says — “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - (Philippians 2:9-11)

Jesus, the most beautiful name of all names, Jesus, the only name that brings healing and strength...When I speak Your Name, mountains move, chains are loosed...When I speak Your Name, darkness flees, it has no hold on me.

Jesus, the most beautiful name that I know..You're the exalted One...Jesus, You have the power alone..You lift the lonely one, Jesus..

Jesus, the most wonderful name of all names, Jesus, the only name that brings freedom and hope... Jesus, the most beautiful name that I know, You're the exalted One!!