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It Is Not Good For Man To Be Alone

3/22/2020

Today while sitting with God, He gave me a revelation. He said that the way many of us believers in Christ feel in our flesh right now, being separated from our family, friends, church, routines, missions, etc. is the way unbelievers feel all of the time. Even when they are actively around people, there is always a sense of disconnection.

Genesis 2:18 New King James Version (NKJV)
18 And the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

Genesis 2:21-22 New King James Version (NKJV)
21 And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. 22 Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He [a]made into a woman, and He brought her to the man.

God created us to be in close relationship with Him. God created us to be in close relationship with each other. When Adam and Eve sinned, it disconnected them from God. It disconnected all of us from God. In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had the ability to have an intimate relationship with God. When they chose the tree of knowledge of good and evil, they got banished, having to depend on their doings to survive.

John 14:25-27 New King James Version (NKJV)
The Gift of His Peace
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the [a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

When Jesus left the earth, He promised to send our helper. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. It is not good for man to be alone. God knew that we could not have proper relationships without connection to Him. The only way the family dynamic and other relationships can fulfill their true purpose is through Him. Without Him, we experience a void, a disconnection in everything that we do. We have the Holy Spirit who connects us with God. Even in perilous times, we are never alone. Paul was able to encourage the church from prison, being isolated from people because he was not alone. He had a relationship with God through Jesus and help from the Holy Spirit.

Now is the time for God’s people to arise. We have to be the salt that preserves and adds flavor, and the light that illuminates direction and gives hope.
The plum-line is being revealed. It looks like a cross. It is being dropped from heaven to earth with our relationship with Him. It descends and ascends flowing with the exact measurement of perfect love with Jesus at the center. It is balanced on each end revealing the cross. We have been off balance. A wave of truth with no love that sounds like clanging cymbals, then a wave of grace without truth that leads to compromise. God is bringing balance to the Church. Relationship with God. Love that covers a multitude of sin by the blood of Jesus, truth that leads to repentance, and grace that forgives.

This is what His plum-line looks like:

This is how the church becomes balanced. This is how we become balanced. This is how revival starts. Revival starts through an honest relationship with God, that leads us to love like He does, and make disciples through relationship using His plumb-line. There is a hurting, lost world full of people that are scared and empty. We have the answer. The answer is Jesus. Through Jesus, everyone who asks can receive the Holy Spirit that is our helper. It is not good for man to be alone. I pray that you receive your help today!

Father I come to you in the name of Jesus, thanking you for not leaving us alone. I thank You for the Holy Spirit. I pray for each person that reads this to receive You into their heart today. I pray that they recognize that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour that died on the cross for their sins and was resurrected that they may have life and a relationship with You. May they repent for their sins and receive Your forgiveness. May they receive the Holy Spirit as their helper that leads them and guides them into all truth. May they confess with their own mouths that Jesus is Lord. I pray for the ones that already believe. Fill us with the help and peace that comes from the Holy Spirit so that our hearts may not be troubled nor be afraid. Give us strength and courage to be a witness to those around them that are lost. Help us live lives that mirror the image of Jesus. Let Your plumb-line be revealed in our lives. Let us be bold to tell the truth in love and humble to extend grace the way that we have received. Lord, we know that all things work together for our good because we love You and are called according to Your purpose. We are expecting revival to take place in our hearts, relationships, churches, neighborhoods, and all over the world. We believe that every knee shall bow and tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. We want to do our part in sharing Your love and everlasting life. Send us Lord, even if for now it is through emails, texts, phone calls, and social media. Help us freely give access to what You have given us. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

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Known by His Love

6/28/2019

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I have been in a state of thanksgiving for God’s goodness. While contemplating all that God has done for me in this season, I have realized that I have consistently prayed that I would be known by God’s love.

John 13:34-35 (NKJV)
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

I believe that the fruit of the spirit is the foundation of God’s character with love being the very essence of His being (God is love 1 Jon 4:8). I’m always evaluating my fruit and asking God to increase it. If we are not growing in His fruit, then we are not growing deeper into relationship with Him. His presence should make us want to become more like Him every day causing us to repent and submit on a new level.

Galatians 5:22-23 (NKJV)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Believe me, I fail daily at operating in the fullness of these attributes. That’s why we all need a Savior! The point is that my heart is postured towards Him, seeking to be a reflection of His image to those that I come in contact with.

I have been on a rollercoaster of life events that have made me who I am today. I have been processed through some of the roughest seasons. I know I could have never made it through without Jesus. I have made many mistakes and have learned so much on my journey. I am still learning and am thankful that God’s mercies are new every day.

God has blessed me. I want to encourage you to delight yourself in Him no matter what you are going through. When you delight yourself in Him, your desires become the desires that He has for you and not those that come from your flesh. Once your desires line up with His will for you, then you can have the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV)
4 Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

My desire has been to be known by God’s love. I want people to know that I am a follower of Jesus by the way that I treat them.

Recently, I was praying to see if it were time for me to start working again. I have always thought that I wouldn’t work another traditional job, but be able to freelance write, do speaking engagements, and sell my books. I still believe that God will open up doors for this, but through prayer He led me to start looking for a job.

I applied for a job, by faith, without having been in the work field for over 5 years. My experience through random jobs, and even the hardships that I have overcome qualified me for the job, but I didn’t have specific experience or education for the job title. I was standing on Ephesians 3:20.

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NKJV)
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God did just that. By His favor, I received the job. I was told when I was hired, that God chose me. By His grace I will fulfill this great assignment that He has given me.

The part that tickles me most is that the name of the organization is Love INC of Greater Hammond. It stands for Love In the Name of Christ. It is a nonprofit organization that mobilizes churches to transform lives and communities in the name of Christ. To Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus!

Not only did I receive a job. I am the Executive Director. I went from stay at home mom to E.D. God did exceedingly, abundantly beyond what I could ask or think. I will be literally known by His love in name and deed.

I am so humbled and blessed to come in to an organization with so many awesome volunteers, board members, and workers. Each one has received me lovingly and has made me feel at home. The former E.D. has done an amazing job growing it to where it is and I look forward to building on to her legacy.

God is faithful. Stand strong in hope and keep believing Him for your promise. It is not too late. You have purpose and value. Ask God how you can be used to show His love. How can your gifts and talents represent Him in a way to give Him glory?

Father, thank You for Your love. Forgive us for not always acting in manner that people would know that we belong to You. Thank you that our mercies are new every day and that we have a Savior that delivers us from our shortcomings. Grow us in the fruit of the spirit. Show us the areas that we need to surrender in a greater way. Lord, we want to be known by Your love. Make us aware of how our gifts, talents, and purpose can be used in love to give You glory. Align our desires with Yours. We know and believe that You will do exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can ask or think. We faithfully wait for You to fulfill our desires as we grow in to our purpose. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Worthy Of The Calling

1/30/2019

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Nothing challenges my living worthy of my calling more than motherhood, with wife being a close second. I have a wide age range of children from 2 to 18, and each stage comes with its own challenges, but those teenagers can really test a mother’s character! Why do the people who we love the most sometimes bring out the worst in us?

Ephesians 4:1-3 The Voice (VOICE)
4 As a prisoner of the Lord, I urge you: Live a life that is worthy of the calling He has graciously extended to you. 2 Be humble. Be gentle. Be patient. Tolerate one another in an atmosphere thick with love. 3 Make every effort to preserve the unity the Spirit has already created, with peace binding you together.

The answer is in the question. We love them the most. We care about their opinions, their choices, and their overall well-being. We are comfortable with them and they see all of our vulnerability. They see our flaws. This gives them ammunition when there is disagreement.

I love the Voice translation of Ephesians 4. It says tolerate one another with an atmosphere thick with love. God knew that people would get on our nerves. He knew that the enemy would use people and their attitudes/circumstances to test our own character. He knew that sometimes we wouldn’t want to be around them, but we have to choose love.

I have fallen short so many times. My oldest daughter is much like me when I was her age (scary). I would love for her to learn from my mistakes, but I can’t make her understand what I’ve learned. Some things can only be learned through hands on experience.

Sometimes I lose my temper with my son during homework time because he turns 10 minutes of homework into 3 hours of torture (why is he punishing me). He can easily do the work; he just doesn’t want to. I must choose love by being patient as I seek God for creative help.

When my toddler throws a tantrum, I must be gentle. When I think that I am right in dealing with my husband, I must choose to love with humility. I could go on, but I think my point is made.

My greatest desire in life is to please God and fulfill my calling. I can only do this by living out His Word. I’m not perfect, but praise God that I’m not condemned either.

Romans 8:1-4 New King James Version (NKJV)
Free from Indwelling Sin
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who[a] do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

The key is realizing our flaws and surrendering them to Jesus. Our freedom from guilt was paid for by the blood of Jesus, but it is our jobs to be purposeful in trying to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. When we realize that we are off (the Holy Spirit always lets us know), then repent and do better.
Choosing love in all things…… This should be easy, I’d like to say it’s always my first response, but unfortunately I must choose. Love is a fruit of the spirit that was given to us as a gift. God cannot make us use it, but we will be known by how we use it.

This is why it is important to be slow to speak. We have to listen, without making our anger become sin. We have to choose our words wisely so that we may respond in love.

James 1:19-20 New King James Version (NKJV)
Qualities Needed in Trials
19 [a]So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

God is love. Love is our greatest commandment. Love is what will draw others to Christ. Love is what heals. Love is what saved us. Tolerate each other in love. Be purposeful in choosing words of love. Use patience, humility, and gentleness. This is what walking in the worthiness of your calling looks like. Love………

Father, thank You for graciously extending us a calling in You. We know that love is at the center of it all. Forgive us for not always choosing love in a way that glorifies You. Make us aware when we fall short so that we can repent and get it right. Help us tolerate each other in love even when we don’t feel like it. Let us keep peace and act in humility, gentleness, and patience. We want to choose love and walk in it in everything that we do. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!

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Minimalism For My Soul

1/28/2019

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Just like most of the Mammas that I know, I’m in in a purging season in my home. The Mommy group that I am in (MOPS), had a minimalist come in as a guest speaker to encourage us to declutter our homes and gain organization to our hectic lifestyles.

I love to purge because it makes me feel good to have everything in its spot, but the process is grueling. Before you can get rid of things, you have to dig it all out, evaluate it, decide if you need it, and either organize it, toss it, or give it away. It always looks terrible before it gets better. You end up with a big giant pile of stuff and it can sometimes be overwhelming. Most expert minimalists will tell you to do one drawer or room at a time.

As I go through my stuff, I can’t help evaluate what the condition of my spiritual house looks like. How cluttered is my soul at this point in my life? So as I purge, I also pray.

God wants our souls to be that of a minimalist. He wants our minds decluttered and our hearts purged from hurt. He wants us cleansed of toxic emotions and for us to freely give away the testimonies of what He has done. He wants us to throw away the lies from the enemy and only keep the truth of His Word. He wants us to organize it and keep order so that our minds can be focused and set on Him.
This can be even more overwhelming than dealing with our natural clutter. If we try to take on all the hurt and baggage at once, we could get stuck. Just as with our natural clutter, we should also tackle our spiritual clutter one thing at a time. As we dig out the stuff that we don’t need, it can get very ugly. But as we let God tell us what to do with it, we will begin to feel the weights lifted and our souls refreshed.

Matthew 11:29-30 (NKJV)
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

God wants us to give Him our burdens. We weren’t meant to carry all of the problems of this world. As we give our burdens to Him our souls can rest and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

Matthew 23:25-26 (KJV)
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

We can only cover up our mess for so long before it starts showing on the outside. Jesus told the Pharisees that if they cleanse the inside, then the outside will be made clean as well. They were holding onto excess clutter. They were holding on to things that Jesus came to free them from. Their insides were toxic, but they put on the mask of self-righteous goodness.

The good news is that we don’t have to keep pretending. All we have to do is bring our concerns to Jesus. Every hurt and trauma can be purged one compartment at a time. Every mistake is forgiven through Him and every wrong is made right by Him. He is all sufficient and carries the answer for all things. Let the Father declutter your soul. Become a minimalist where it matters the most.

Father, we thank You that You Take our burdens and cleanse our souls. Forgive us for pretending to be okay and collecting clutter in our souls. Show us how to cleanse our insides one compartment at a time. We give you our hurt and trauma. We break the yoke of bondage that has held us captive and take on your yoke that is easy and your burden that is light. Thank you for being all sufficient. Purge us from the inside out. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.

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Almost Ripe

1/23/2019

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My children come home from school hungry, like they haven’t eaten all day. They have multiple snacks to choose from, but love when I have fresh fruit available. I bought some pears upon requests, but they weren’t quite ripe yet. They had been sitting on the counter for a couple of days and the children became impatient. I didn’t think they were ready, but I gave in to the pouty faces and sad eyes and let them have what they were begging for. My son ate his quickly without complaint, it was gone before I even saw him bite it. One of my daughters ate hers struggling to bite into it because her front teeth are wiggly and about to come out. She didn’t say a word because she knew that I warned her that I didn’t think they were ready and didn’t want to waste food. My other daughter took a bite and left it. She is strong willed. Although she was the one who persisted the most, she abandoned the fruit quickly once it didn’t taste like she knew it should.

God began to speak to me. He told me not to try to eat the fruit of my promise before it’s ready. Although I see it and know it’s for me, if I go before it’s time, I will be disappointed.

Some of us eat whatever is placed before us because we are so hungry and don’t care if it is fully mature.

Some of us realize that we have responded too quickly, but don’t say anything because we are prideful, don’t want to disappoint or waste what we have started.
Some of us will know immediately that we have made a mistake and abandon the entire promise.

Patience is a fruit of the spirit that we have to choose to use. Waiting on God’s timing can be gut wrenching, but allows Him to mature the promise into a tree of life that will bear fruit in every season.

Proverbs 13:12 (NKJV)
12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.

When we trust God’s process, He will fulfill His promise and it will always taste good! He promises that our trust will never end in lack.

Psalm 34:8 (NKJV)
8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

I encourage you, as you begin to see the fruit of your labor begin to produce, wait patiently on the Lord. Pray for His timing and maturity to be revealed that you may know when your harvest is ripe and ready. God is the one who gives increase and we want Him to multiply our fruit to the largest capacity. Don’t settle for what seems good on the outside, but is still hard and bitter on the inside. Don’t abort the promise because you couldn’t wait any longer. Don’t take in an immature crop because you want to please man.

Continue doing the good that He has set before you and your harvest will be ready soon! Your promise is almost ripe!

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Father, we thank You that you are Lord of the harvest. Thank You for every promise that is a tree of life producing fruit that will remain. Forgive us for being impatient and going ahead of Your time. We want to taste Your goodness. Show us how to wait and continue to push forward without giving up. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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God Is Not Coming For A Divorced Bride!

1/14/2019

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I heard the Lord say, “I hate divorce.” As it is written, I know this verse all too well. Divorce causes violence to our souls.

Malachi 2:16 (MSG)
16 “I hate divorce,” says the God of Israel. God-of-the-Angel-Armies says, “I hate the violent dismembering of the ‘one flesh’ of marriage.” So watch yourselves. Don’t let your guard down. Don’t cheat.

When we marry, we become one flesh. Not joined with a perforation, but melted together without seam. Divorce causes a tear that must be violently ripped to be separated. There is not a clean cut, but a jagged edge that can only be truly healed by Jesus.

As I thought about my own divorce and the damaged it caused to myself and my children, it made me think about how I hate divorce too. But, this was not what God wanted me to think about. I have been healed and delivered from my past and there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus!

As my spirit began to stir, I started seeking God for what He was truly trying to tell me. I started to think about the body of Christ and the Kingdom of God. In a natural marriage, divorce usually takes place after sin has been committed, or simply because there is lack of the fruit of the spirit, which is the character of Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23 (AMP)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.

We are the bride of Christ. God is not coming for a divorced bride! Unfortunately, we separate ourselves from Christ in our sin. He is coming for a bride without spot or wrinkle.

The bride has suffered violence by separation. The body of Christ is dismembered. We have sinned in our anger and have not treated one another in love.
I began to think about the violence that the bride is suffering. The pain, the deception, the lack of Christ’s character. As I prayed, I heard this scripture.

Matthew 11:12 (NKJV)
12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

This has often been a warfare scripture for me. It would make me feel radical and cause a righteous indignation to rise up in me as I pray. This time it was different. The Lord gave me fresh revelation.

The kingdom is inside of us (Luke 17:20-21). The enemy of our souls is after the kingdom. This is why it is so important to walk out our salvation and guard our deliverance. If the devil can bother us enough to act outside of Christ’s character (fruit of the spirit) and sin in our anger, then he can do violence to the kingdom which is on the inside of us.

God has given us His weapon of choice.

LOVE!

Matthew 5:43-44 (NKJV)
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 [a]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

I realize that none of us are perfect, but we need to be quick to repent and intentional about the way we treat others. The bride is separated. We are dismembered and competing against one another. We gossip and backbite. We act puffed up and think more highly of ourselves than we should. We should be building each other up, encouraging one another on our individual journeys and helping each other in ways that we can. How can we go out into a lost world to be salt and light when we can’t even treat our own body with love?
Forgive us Lord!!!!!

Love conquers all. The kingdom and the bride can only flourish and advance if we choose to use love. Love will heal the separation. Love will fill every void. Love will bring the body back together. Love will violently take back the kingdom!!!!!

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NKJV)
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

Lord forgive us for acting like a divorced bride. Forgive us for not using the fruit of the spirit that You have given us. Help us guard our deliverance and the kingdom inside of us from the violence of sin. We take the kingdom by force with Your love. Show us how to walk in Your love in everything that we do. Make us a spotless bride. Help us be salt and light and draw the multitudes to You by Your loving-kindness. We are one flesh, we in You and You in us. We receive You as our Bridegroom and glorify You as our King. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!

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Sukkot, A Season of Joy

9/23/2018

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I’ve been reading Ecclesiastes for the last 30 days. It’s interesting how the Holy Spirit will give so much revelation at the appointed time. I always have been confused reading the book of Ecclesiastes in times past. I thought, wow, we can’t do anything, it’s all bad…. Reading it now I realized that my perspective has been off concerning this book. It was written by the wisest, richest king that will ever live. Solomon had everything that a person could ever desire, but he realized that all of it meant nothing without God. We are to enjoy our life and not worry, but most of all reverence God. Nothing we have or establish here on earth can go with us when we leave, and we have no idea how those we leave it to will take care of it. Our only purpose is to honor God with all that we do. We do our best and He will take care of the rest.

Today is a Holy Day called Sukkot in Jewish tradition. During this time Ecclesiastes is read. This is a time where they celebrate their harvest. They live simply to remember when God took care of them for 40 years in the wilderness before they entered the promised land. They call this their season of joy. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this holiday follows Yom Kipper (a day of atonement). Repentance is necessary for God to shift our seasons.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

When we repent and seek God, He hears us. His forgiveness leads to healing. He has the power to heal anything that is broken in our lives. What are you suffering in your promised land? Is it relationships, health, finances, or something else from an extensive list of issues? Whatever it is, God wants to heal it. If you are human, then there is always something to repent for. Thank God that He is merciful!
God is waiting for us to enter in to a season of joy. A season where we can experience life on earth to its fullest while still giving honor to God in all things. There is a time for everything under the sun.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)
Everything Has Its Time
3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

Ecclesiastes 3:4 (NKJV)
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

Many of us have experienced a long season of weeping and mourning. That season is over. It is our appointed time to laugh and dance. He wants us to celebrate our harvest and enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Philippians 4:4 (NKJV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

Father, thank You for a season of joy. Forgive us for worrying and not enjoying the moments that you give us. Forgive us for being so focused on the future that we miss our now. Forgive us for not honoring You in everything that we do. Lord we seek you in this new season and ask You to heal our land. Heal whatever has been keeping us from enjoying our promise. We boldly enter in to a season of joy. We rejoice in You and thank You for everything that you have brought us through. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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He Wants to Make Us Better

9/20/2018

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My four-year-old daughter was freaking out screaming that she needed medicine for her eye. She had already gotten a paper towel and covered it, trying to fix it herself. She wouldn’t let me look at it. She kept screaming for medicine. I assured her that there was probably an eyelash stuck in it and that I could get it out, but she persisted that it wasn’t an eyelash and that she needed medicine. Finally, the irritation bothered her enough to let me see. She removed the paper towel and opened her eye just wide enough for me to see the eyelash poking her. Even though I saw it, she didn’t want me to touch it.

I reminded her of 2 weeks prior when she had a painful splinter in her finger. I had her think about how bad it hurt but I was able to take it out quickly and the pain immediately went away. I said, “You have to trust me. I don’t want to hurt you. I want to make you better.” Just as I said those words, it was like God was speaking them to me.

Oh, how many times have we tried to fix things ourselves? How many times have we wanted a quick fix? How many times have we denied the real issue, thinking that it was something else? How many times have we seen the real pain, but didn’t want God to touch it because it seems too excruciating?

Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 3:5-6 New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall [a]direct your paths.

God reveals our hurts not to cause us more pain, but to purge them out of our souls and to bring healing and deliverance. Once we realize what’s truly bothering us, He will give instructions and direct us on how to overcome.

I had her splash water in her eye over the sink. I got her a wet washcloth to put on her eye. I let her know where it was poking and finally she got it out. Suddenly, the pain was gone, and there was no more irritation. She was able to go about the rest of her day as if nothing ever bothered her.

God wants us to be made whole. He wants to heal our hurts so that we can move forward into the next season. He doesn’t want to hurt us. He wants to make us better! In His tender mercies, He gently reveals our issues a little bit a time, allowing us the grace to bring it back to Him so that He can heal it. We are being perfected everyday as we pick up our cross and follow Him. As long as we are following Him, we are going in the right direction.

Father, we Thank You that You don’t want to hurt us, but only make us better. We thank You that You direct our paths and lead us into wholeness. Forgive us for not completely trusting You. Forgive us for trying to fix things in our own strength. Show us the areas that are hindering us and give of instructions on how to deal with them. We put our trust in You as you give us a future and a hope. Help us pick up our cross as we follow You into our next season. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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Slow and Steady

5/30/2018

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For those of you that don’t know, I am running (term used loosely) the Chicago Marathon this year. You can read my story here:

https://www.teamworldvision.org/participant/Bonnie-Rimpson

I believe that the process of training and actually running the race is going to be one that transforms my life naturally and spiritually. I have personal goals set and have decided that there will be no excuses. I have started to go to the track to get some training in daily. Yesterday, I walked the curves and ran the straights. The air was so thick and I felt I could hardly breathe, but I pressed through. During the course of the day, my knee began to hurt. I realize that I am out of shape and overweight. I am going to experience pain on this journey to build the strength and endurance I need for this race.

Although I know that I will experience pain, I don’t want to injure myself trying to do too much too fast. The word that God gave me while running that day was consistency. I need to be consistent to see the results that I need to succeed.
So the next day, my knee is still bothering me. I refuse to give into excuses. I get up early, go to the track, and walk. I use this time to pray. I’m feeling pretty bad for only walking. I commit to do more time since I can’t go as fast. As I’m praying God assures me that it’s okay, but I can’t loose the feeling of disappointment that I have in myself (dumb devil in my ear). I go around the track another time and when I reach the other side, there is a turtle on the tack. I real live turtle! I laugh thinking I must be the distracted hare from the storybook. Then I hear slow and steady wins the race. God has a sense of humor! I had to stop and take a picture. I knew no one would believe me

After my encounter with the turtle, I walked another 15 minutes. I got home, elevated my legs and iced my knee. I might not be the fastest on the track, but I WILL FINISH!

The beautiful thing that I’ve learned while running is that nobody is really competing against each other. Everyone is just trying for their personal best. The people that I meet while training are some of the most encouraging people out there. While passing by, all I hear is “keep it up, looking good, your awesome, etc.,”. Imagine if we all encouraged each other like this in other areas of our lives without competing, but just running for our personal best. I believe many more people would be walking in their purpose.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
The Race of Faith
12 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I encourage you today to run the race in front of you. Don’t worry about what others are doing. Shoot for your personal best. Be consistent. Slow and steady is okay as long as your moving forward. When you’re ready, pick up the pace. It might hurt, but it won’t break you. YOU ARE AWESOME!

Father, we thank you for giving us the strength and endurance to move forward. Forgive us for looking at what others are doing instead of focusing on our personal best. We know we can do nothing without You. Teach us how to run the race of faith laying aside everything that is not like You. We want to look towards You as we run so that You will get all the glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!

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Snails and Leeches

4/7/2018

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In desperate conversation with the Lord, I began to ask Him what kind of spirit was making me sick. I immediately heard snails and leaches…

I’ve been on a long path of seeking and believing God for my healing. While pregnant with my first child I gained 100 pounds. At the time, I had no idea what was happening. My OB gyne, that I just met for the pregnancy, kept telling me that I was eating too much. While my diet changed slightly during pregnancy, it definitely wasn’t enough to gain that much weight so quickly. After having the baby and returning to my primary care Dr., he took one look at me and asked “What happened”. Don’t get me wrong, I have never been stereo-typically skinny. I always had to work hard at staying within a certain weight range. Anyways, he tested my blood and I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. It has been an uphill battle since the year 2000. I have recently had 4 babies in a row and my symptoms increased. Last year I finally went to a specialist and found out that it is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis which is in the autoimmune category. My thyroid produces hormones but my immune system attacks them. I have currently been at a point of complete fatigue and exhaustion. I have to pray and push through everything!

I’ve been on several different types of meds. I have studied all different types of natural treatments. I have researched functional medicine. Through all of this, God has giving me instructions and wisdom. Through all of this I’m still believing God for complete healing by the full power of the cross.

What does this have to do with snails and leaches? Well, our fight is in the spirit. I believe all of these diseases look like something in the spirit. If we know what they look like, then we will also know how to pray and what we can do in the natural.

So snails are slow which explains the fatigue and slowed metabolism. They also feed off of waste (maybe processed stuff/sugar and also garbage that feeds our souls). Leaches suck blood/life out of you and they are hard to detach. Again exhaustion, depression, and trying to take away your life source. You have to burn them to make them detach. Come on fire of God! Two different people confirmed what God had been speaking to me. They said that I must start taking communion. I used to do this daily. I believe it was key in my deliverance, soul healing and growth. The Bible says take it as often as you want in remembrance of Jesus. It is His body that was broken so that we can be made whole and His blood that was shed so we can be cleansed, completely healed and forgiven. It’s the full power of the cross!

Now I know how to pray. I have to come against these snails and leaches. I also have to get rid of the sugar and processed foods that the snails feed on. I have to burn anything/distraction/false burden leach that is sucking my life source.
Faith without works is dead. I believe that as I do my part, God will completely heal me. Not because He can’t do it miraculously now, but because He gave me this revelation to obey. Sometimes we miss our miracle because we don’t follow instructions. Don’t believe me, read 2 Kings 5. God shows his mercy and gives us grace, but it is better to just obey!

For my friends with autoimmune challenges in their bodies, this strategy is for you as well. I pray that every snail be starved of every toxin that is feeding it naturally and spiritually. I call our immune systems to line up with God’s DNA and every mutated cell be removed and replaced with cells from the blood of Jesus. May every leach burn by the fire of God. Remove all things depleting our life and energy that belongs to You Lord. Continue to give us instructions and lead us to the truth of our healing. In Jesus’ name. Amen!

To those suffering from other things in your body and soul, there are answers for you too. Continue to press into God and ask Him what it looks like in the spirit. He will surely give wisdom to all that ask.

Be blessed on your journey to wholeness!