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What am I seeking for?

Matthew 7:7-8 (AMP) Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened.

What is it that we are to be seeking after? Is it health? “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; the punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, and by His stripes (wounds) we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). My health is secured in His work, I do not have to seek after it. The Apostle John even speaks about our health in 3 John 1:2, “Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].“

Is it that my needs will be met? Are my bills going to be paid? Are we going to have food to eat? Will we be able to fill up the gas tank this week? Will we have clothes for our growing children?

Matthew 6: 25-33 (AMP) Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow [seed] nor reap [the harvest] nor gather [the crops] into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by worrying can add one [l]hour to [the length of] his life? And why are you worried about clothes? See how the lilies and wildflowers of the field grow; they do not labor nor do they spin [wool to make clothing], yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory and splendor dressed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive and green today and tomorrow is [cut and] thrown [as fuel] into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Do I need to be seeking after relationships? “For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit]” (Galatians 5:14). In order to have relationships we have to be willing to meet people. I am a recovering introvert. I do know this, His Word is true. All of it! Since belonging to a church and actually getting involved (which is not the same as attending and walking in after it has started and leaving as soon as the service is over), I have grown to put into practice this commandment. When people know that you genuinely care for them, without seeking a benefit for yourself, then we have the type of relationship that produces for the Kingdom.

Hebrews 10:23-25 (AMP) Let us seize and hold tightly the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is reliable and trustworthy and faithful [to His word]; and let us consider [thoughtfully] how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together [as believers for worship and instruction], as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more [faithfully] as you see the day [of Christ’s return] approaching.

I do not need to seek after health, finances, nor relationships. They are all promises to me (not to say we do not need to pray regarding them). They are a part of the SOZO package. SOZO is the Greek word for salvation. It means wholeness. Wholeness in spirit. Wholeness in soul (mind, will and emotions). Wholeness in body. Seeking after would be where we are putting our focus.

Revelations 3:20 (AMP) Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Now that I have been made whole, what is it that I seek after? I seek to know Him more. I want to dine at His table. The banquet has been made ready. I walk in wholeness because those are the clothes He prepared for me. I do not need to seek after them. I need to recognize who I am securely in Him.

Philippians 3:10 (AMP)  And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]

This was the word that I heard yesterday in prayer. What is is that you are seeking after? I was praying over those that serve in our church, and this is was what He wants to know. What is it that we are seeking after? I want His heart. I want His face. I do not need to seek after His hand. He says that I can come boldly into His throne room of grace (Hebrews 4:16). There I can find His amazing grace to help in the time of need. This is not something I have to keep knocking for. He wants me to come after Him over and over again to dine in His Presence. He wants me to hunger for nothing but Him. This is what we need to be seeking after. Both of us are knocking. When He knocks will we answer? When I knock He always does. He wants me to come time and again. The door is always going to open. That is what it is like for friends. To quote Fuller House, “It’s always open!”

Here is a promise when we seek Him: “Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). “Whoever is of God and belongs to Him hears [the truth of] God’s words” (John 8:47). Those people are doers of the Word (James 1:22). His Word is our direction.

King of all, Creator and Adonai, we honor You with our praise and thanksgiving. We are ever so thankful for Your Son. We are thankful that because of His sacrifice we can walk in wholeness. We have been put into right standing with You. We are thankful for the Holy Spirit, the same spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now dwells within us. Wholeness is not something we have to seek after, wholeness is a part of the promise of being in Christ. We repent for worrying and striving for the areas that you have already provided for. We repent for seeking Your hand instead of Your face and heart. We repent for making our prayer time all about our needs and not about seeking after You. We desire to establish Your Kingdom here on earth. We are choosing to surrender to You. We are choosing to forgive. We never want to lead others away from You. When we come into Your throne room we know that Your grace and mercy is there. We know that whatever we ask in prayer, if we believe, we will receive (Matthew 21:22). We trust in You. We repent for striving to make ways that You never intended. We repent for taking advantage of Your goodness and trying to manipulate outcomes. We honor You with everything, because without You there is nothing. We choose love today. We choose hope today. We choose faith today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Is your delight conditional?

Job 22:25-26 (AMP) And make the Almighty your gold and your precious silver, then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God.

No one likes being miserable. If they do, then we have other issues. Some people crave drama and do not feel like they are valuable unless they are right in the middle of a mess. Some want to be the savior in life. We have a term down south called, “spilling the tea.” What does it mean to spill the tea? It is to share exclusive information about a situation or a person. Plain and simple it is gossip.

That is what I think of when I read the book of Job. He had friends around him that liked to “spill the tea.” He was going through some tough times. Take the above scripture and put it into context.

Job 22:23-30 (AMP) If you return to the Almighty [and submit and humble yourself before Him], you will be built up [and restored]; If you remove unrighteousness far from your tents, and place your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks [considering it of little value], and make the Almighty your gold And your precious silver, then you will have delight in the Almighty, and you will lift up your face to God. “You will pray to Him, and He will hear you,
and you will pay your vows. “You will also decide and decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And the light [of God’s favor] will shine upon your ways. “When you are cast down and humbled, you will speak with confidence, and the humble person He will lift up and save. “He will even rescue the one [for whom you intercede] who is not innocent; And he will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands.”

Job’s friend had made an assumption, that Job had turned away from God and that is why he was going into such calamity. My question is: why do I follow the precepts of God? Is it so that nothing bad will happen to me? Is that our assumption when someone in our church is going through hard times? They must have displeased God. Not true.

Yes, there are areas that we misstep. Here is one such area that we can be flimsy with: Malachi 3:16, “Bring all the tithes (the tenth) into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you [so great] a blessing until there is no more room to receive it.”

There have been a time that, although we tithe, lightning has struck our electronics and we had to spend $1000 to replace them. Then the next week the truck started shuttering and had to pay out another $650 to fix it. Was our allegiance to God questioned? Did we have a secret sin that needed to be repented of? Did we step out of His covering? Nope.

John 10:10 (AMP) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].

Do you know what we didn’t do? We did not stop tithing, we did not stop giving, we did not stop serving, and we paid those bills with joy. Why? When you delight in Him, nothing the devil tries to steal will effect your position in Christ. We do not give to get. We give because of who He is. We serve because we love Him. We delight in Him no matter what comes our way. We do not change that when things are going good nor when things are challenging.

Psalms 119:16, (AMP) I will delight in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. For I shall delight in Your commandments, which I love.

Philippians 2:17 (AMP) But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith [for preaching the message of salvation], still I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

Job had done nothing against God to deserve such a tragedy, but have breath in his lungs. As long as we have breath in our lungs we have an enemy. It is not each other. The devil wants you to question God’s love for you. He wants you to question the Word. He wants you to question the standard of Christ. He wants you to think that you delighting in God does not really matter. It matters, but not in the way that we often think. It matters to chase His heart and face and not His hands. Job’s devotion to God was unconditional. The enemy is not trying anything new.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (AMP) In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [draw your strength from Him and be empowered through your union with Him] and in the power of His [boundless] might. Put on the full armor of God [for His precepts are like the splendid armor of a heavily-armed soldier], so that you may be able to [successfully] stand up against all the schemes and the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Therefore, put on the complete armor of God, so that you will be able to [successfully] resist and stand your ground in the evil day [of danger], and having done everything [that the crisis demands], to stand firm [in your place, fully prepared, immovable, victorious]. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news]. Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.  With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.

Delighting in the Lord should not be conditional. We should not be asking for it to all end when we suffer. He does not punish us because of the low moments and He does not reward us in our highs. He is constant. He is immutable, never changing. He cares for us and loves us deeply. When we are deeply rooted in that love, the delight is unshakable. Our joy in in Him. Our satisfaction is in Him and not our conditions. We are to be inclined towards Him. Delight in Him!

Lord, You are our Creator and our Protector. You are our Banner of Love. Thank You for sending Your Son to set the standard of what it is like to delight in You. There is no one who suffered more without cause than Jesus, yet He kept His face towards You. Thank You for the power to overcome though the Holy Spirit. All is a gift from You because of Your Perfect Love. We repent for making our delight in You conditional. We repent for withholding our service, our relationships, our prayers and even our giving when we did not feel like it. We repent for making it about us. Thank You for Your Word piercing areas with fresh anointing oil. There is freedom in Your Word. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. We choose to glorify You today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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The Best

Genesis 12:2 (AMP) And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you [abundantly], and make your name great (exalted, distinguished); and you shall be a blessing [a source of great good to others]

Have you ever prayed this prayer? Some may ask, what reason do we pray this? Galatians 3:29 says, “And if you belong to Christ [if you are in Him], then you are Abraham’s descendants, and [spiritual] heirs according to [God’s] promise.” This is why you will hear the affirmations of the promises to Abraham. There are more, but I wanted to point this one part out, it was for a purpose of being a source of blessing to others. If I have this prayer and I am not others focused, as to why I desire greatness in my life, then I have become self centered. God never intended us to point to self. So whose kingdom have I been building?

John 15:13 (AMP) No one has greater love [nor stronger commitment] than to lay down his own life for his friends.

How about this one? 1 Peter 2:9 says we are a royal priesthood and a special people for God’s own possession. I love this affirmation, but it also has a purpose. Read the full verse: But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Let us speak to fear for a moment. Being a blessing to others and proclaiming His love to others is an outflow of love, the opposite of fear (1 John 4:18). What? Am I saying that if I do not proclaim the Gospel, that I do not love? My question to you is why do you not want to proclaim the Gospel? Why are you trying to find excuses not to?

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (AMP) Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him]

Matthew 22:35-39 (AMP) One of them, a lawyer [an expert in Mosaic Law], asked Jesus a question, to test Him: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others].’

While in prayer yesterday I was focused on “The Best.” God, I just want us to be a church that sought the best to glorify you, to see the best in others, to desire the best for each other. Then my prayer went into “if I have been the focus, that is not the best. I desire to see others grow stronger in their relationship with You. If I am hindering that do a work within so that I am not the focus, whatever that my look like.” We can be prideful in our prayers, it is easy to do. It can be all about self whether we fill it with affirmations through His Word, or we become so self deprecating that do not see the value in ourselves.

I want to come back to love. When I realize my position in the love of Christ, I can start to behave that way. It will change my perspective from self, to others. Whose Kingdom am I building? I often ask that of myself. Another way is, whose Glory am I seeking? When I lead in love, I am doing it best. We should always bring the best offering when we gather in His place of worship. He gave His best when He sent His only Son. What is holding you back from seeking the best for others? Why would you not want the best, Jesus, to be revealed to others? The best is the ministry of reconciliation. He made you the best (a new creation) to bless with the best! Love others like yourself, unselfishly seek the best for others. So share His goodness and His Gospel!!

Jehovah Nissi (the Lord is my banner), You are Holy and to be admired. You set the standard of Love. You are the definition of Love. Thank You for the Love You gave with Your Only Son. Jesus is the best Love we could ever receive. Thank You for the Love gift of the Holy Spirit. We can walk in the fullness of Your Love through the revealed knowledge of Your Love. Forgive us for seeking only for ourselves. Your Love was meant to be shared. Forgive us for wanting everything and not looking out to see how our seeking has affected others from seeking as well. In our selfishness we forget our calling to the ministry of reconciliation. Forgive us for making excuses. Forgive us for not obeying. We repent for making it all about us. We desire Your Kingdom. We desire Your will be done. Thank You for seeing the best in us, even when we do not deserve it. You have called us to be a great people, so we will share of Your goodness. Give us opportunities to bless and glorify Your Name. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Spirit AND Truth

John 4:23-24 (AMP) But a time is coming and is already here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit [from the heart, the inner self] and in truth; for the Father seeks such people to be His worshipers. God is spirit [the Source of life, yet invisible to mankind], and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.

My word for 2023 is “Presence.” There have been many times this year where we have seen in the news the call to prayer. On January 2nd, during the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals game, Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during the game. The game was stopped and everyone knelt in prayer. Then you saw prayer begin to show up in areas where it had previously deemed offensive. Prayer was televised and talked about nationally.

While on our trips this summer. There were two other incidents in the news that people were eliciting prayer for. On June 19, the Titanic tourist submersible went missing with five passengers. Parts of the submersible was found days later. The lives were lost to an implosion. Then, on July 13, a woman went missing in Huntsville, AL. Within hours it was made national news. Two days later she returns and it is discovered to be an elaborate hoax.

Prayer is so very important. We should be praying about such things, no matter the outcome. Ephesians 6:18 says, “With all prayer and petition pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people.” There is no reason given not to pray for someone. It is not up to us to decide who is worthy.

Can we pray and not worship God? Yes. Can we love Jesus and not worship Him? Yes. How? Jesus said, “spirit and truth.” Truth is not about facts. Truth is knowing the character and nature of God as revealed in His Word. How did Jesus teach us to pray?

‘Our Father, who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
‘Give us this day our daily bread.
‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].
‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’ (Matthew 6:9-13)

We can memorize this and recite this or we can use it as our model as Jesus intended. Always start with honor and reverence for the Father. This is what God is seeking after. Why? He is Holy and nothing can do away with that truth. His Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as in heaven. Father, expand Your territory through me. Let me walk in the calling of the ministry of reconciliation. Give me food to eat as I read Your Word. Your revelation is the Bread of Life. I repent for the things that I made foolish. Let me have a heart of forgiveness. I choose not to keep a record of wrongs. I choose not to keep others in bondage to how I was disappointed (that is putting my focus on the created). I choose truth, that is to think on whatever brings peace. Let me not be led into temptation, deliver me from the evil of my imaginations. Nothing will exalt itself above You for Your is the kingdom I serve. You will get the glory forever in my life. My dedication is to You. Amen.

Is this done in spirit? Yes. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). Do you not know and understand that you [the church] are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells [permanently] in you [collectively and individually]? (1 Corinthians 3:16). When we accepted Christ our spirit was made alive (Ephesians 2:1). That is one part. The truth we worship Him with is not “my truth” but THE TRUTH. How do I know if it is the truth? Does it line up with His character and nature as found in His Word. Not the made up version that get passed down. We cannot define who Jesus is outside of the Word. My Jesus and your Jesus are the same. When we start to define Him outside of the Word then we are out of truth. God is seeking those who worship not only in spirit but also in truth. Am I saying He is chasing after? Maybe. He is definitely looking for them. What happens when I look for Him to? What happens when I seek His Presence over His presents? What happens when I worship Him in spirit and in truth? I don’t have to worry about anything. Perfect peace.

Matthew 6:33 (AMP) But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.

Father, You are Holy. You are wonderful and mighty. We do not want to be anywhere You are not. Thank You for Your Son. Thank You for His example. Jesus, there is no way to Life and Truth than through You. Thank You Holy Spirit for the revelation You bring through the Word. We want to focus on the Truth rather than all the distractions. We do not want to rehearse our hurts any longer. We want freedom in every area of our lives. You said that You are the Prince of Wholeness, so we are laying down our rights so that You can be that to us. We take Your Word as literal. This is not a fantasy, so that means we have a part to play. We choose Your Truth instead of our truth. We choose forgiveness instead of holding onto grudges. We choose to bless and not curse. We choose hope and to never give up on Your people. We repent for focusing on people and what their going on more than Your Kingdom. We say ‘yes’ to your calling of the ministry of reconciliation. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Vacation Mode

Psalms 23 (AMP): The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, to guide and to shield me],
I shall not want.
He lets me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still and quiet waters.
He refreshes and restores my soul (life);
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the [sunless] valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort and console me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You have anointed and refreshed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell forever [throughout all my days] in the house and in the presence of the Lord.

It has been four weeks since I have written and published a blog. What have I been up to? A lot!! I took a group of youth to camp for five days. Then, I turned right around and did a twelve day trip with just my husband and me. We came home so we could pick up our youngest and take him on a little trip on his summer break. What does all this have to do with a scripture when David was running for his life? Can you find the God moments?

We are a group of people that go on vacation but want to jam pack it with all the activities and adventure to create memories. I have gotten better about that. I do plan, but not so full that there is no time for rest. Do you know that rest in necessary for our growth? Rest is not the absence of doing anything, it is the peace during.

Can we focus on God in the moments? I was able to have some God moments during these four weeks. The next few blog posts I want to share them with you.

Psalms 51:6 (AMP) Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part [of my heart] You will make me know wisdom.

A key to the moments is to turn your focus from your circumstances, and from the noise of everything around you, and look for Him. Instead of focusing on my truth and on myself, I want to know His truth. My mind can take me into some dark places of loneliness, regret, shame and even depression in the midst of being surrounded by others. I do not want that, I want what He has for me. He can restore me in the midst of anything if I would just stop struggling for me.

The last four weeks were amazing. My time with my husband was perfect. Find the rest in the midst of the noise.

Father, thank You for creating us. Thank You for loving us so much that You sent Your Son for us. We desire to know Your Truth. We repent for not seeing You in our day to day. We want to know You more. We want to see Your Face. We want Your Presence more than your presents. Thank You for Your grace and mercy. We honor You as Holy. Thank You for the revelation into Your goodness as we seek You throughout our days. We choose hope today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Shrinking Feeling

Psalms 34:5 (AMP) They looked to Him and were radiant; their faces will never blush in shame or confusion.

Rooted and grounded in love. I have been having to speak that and renew my mind in that these past couple of days. Something I said was not interpreted how I intended to present it. Presenting a message to a group is a very difficult thing. If something can be misinterpreted in a small group, just think about how much it happens on a larger scale. That was my thought. Did I make a mistake? Is it a mistake for me to even be speaking? I wanted to shrink back and hide again. The voice in my head was saying, “see, this is why you do not need to be up there.” I really don’t want to be up there anyways so that is good enough, right? Nope. My hiding place is not to withdraw, but to sink my very self into Him. He is my hiding place.

Matthew 5:14 (AMP) You are the light of (Christ to) the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.

Hiding in Him does not mean I am hidden from my calling. The Light was never meant to be hidden. Radiance is what you will continue to see. I will continue to work in the ministry of reconciliation. Whatever capacity He wants me to do it.

Did it shrink my confidence? Yes. I have a holy fear of leading others away from His heart. That was my question to myself? Did I draw anyone away from Him? Or did I get them to draw deeper to know Him more? Since it was the later, He calmed me. He put me into His rest. That is what hiding in His Presence will do. I have to continue to be Christ minded, not me minded.

This is a pretty short blog, but I felt like that I needed to share some vulnerable moments. In the moments that you are rocked and feel pushed down, keep your focus on Him. He is your hiding place, so that you can continue to let His Light shine through you.

Father, You are more than we can imagine. You are the creator of the universe. You hold everything in the palm of Your hand. Thank You for sending the Redeemer, Jesus.Thank You for the gift of infilling me with Your Presence with the Holy Spirit. Forgive me for doubting myself like it was all up to me. Forgive me for making it about me and wanting to shrink back. All I want to do is be close to You and bring others closer to You. Continue to knock off the rough edges. Continue to renew my mind and my tongue. I choose Your glory today. I choose to hope in You today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Rock Steady

Isaiah 26:3-4 (AMP) “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”

Every Tuesday we have corporate prayer at our church. We have four ladies who faithfully attend (including myself), and occasionally we will have someone else or a few more show up. The week before I was asked by my team to pray loud enough so they could come in agreement with me. Talk about getting out of your comfort zone. We pray for an hour. I spend the very first part in worship to God and end in worship to Him as well. Why? Jesus told us to.

Matthew 6: 9-13 (AMP) “Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. ‘Give us this day our daily bread. ‘And forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment]. ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. [For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.]’

Prayer is a conversation we have with God. So why did Jesus tell us to acknowledge Him as Holy? You might have heard, “We are suppose to talk to Him as if He is my friend. I do not talk to my friends like that.” Your friends are not God. He calls us friend when we obey Him, not because we show up (John 15:14). Remember God’s ways are not our ways. We still have to honor Him.

Jesus modeled prayer like this so that we would not go in with the expectation that our self-centered prayers is all He needs to hear from us. If we keep our minds on Him throughout, anxiety passes, the need for getting our way passes and we can focus on those areas of His Kingdom expansion. He says He will give us the desires of our heart (Psalms 37:4). My life center should be Him (Matthew 6:21).

I have two handsome sons and a hunk of a husband. I love them dearly. I love spending time with them. Our home is filled with laughter. They cannot be my life center. If they were, our home would not be as joyful as it is. I whole-heartedly believe the Word. My joy is not from those who surround me, but the God who is within me. A life of daily worship and surrender to the Father is my joy and peace source. Do I have anxious thoughts? Yes. What happens when I do? I turn my focus on Him. I do not have to have my Bible out all day to focus on Him, but I do need to know His character and nature (which is found in His Word).

Deuteronomy 32:4 (AMP) “The Rock! His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness without iniquity (injustice), just and upright is He.”

Do not just say He is your Rock then go out into the world systems and measure your happiness/success based on their standards. My name does not need to be made known to anyone other than Him. When my thoughts wonder onto where our church will be and who will be there in the next year, I have to get back to thinking on Him (Matthew 6: 25-34). Do not compromise His Word or His precepts. Think on Him and all your thoughts will be what is confirmed by His Word (Philippians 4:8). Peace is your promise with this. Not just a little peace either, CONSTANT peace!! When I surrender my peace and focus on myself, someone else or circumstances that will not matter in the eternal, I have to put my focus back on Him and line it back up with the Perfect Peace.

Father, You are our Creator, our Rock and our Peace. You are the One who puts the breath in our lungs. We want to honor You today. We want to see Your will be done today. Thank You for sending Your Son so that we can be reconciled to You. In Your Son we received Your Love. We are rooted and grounded in Christ. Let us seek ways to bring glory to Your Name. Let us see Your created the way You do. Let us love Your created the way You do. Let us find creative ways to seek the best for others. Forgive us for not putting You first place in all areas. We thank You for Your grace and mercy as we turn our hearts back to You. We repent for harboring unforgiveness as a sign of mistrust in your justice. We want to align our thoughts with Your thoughts. Renew our minds with Your Word today. Thank You Holy Spirit for teaching us the things we may not have known to walk in His goodness. We choose hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Hello Sunflower

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (AMP) “Blessed [with spiritual security] is the man who believes and trusts in and relies on the Lord and whose hope and confident expectation is the Lord. “For he will be [nourished] like a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out its roots by the river; and will not fear the heat when it comes; but its leaves will be green and moist And it will not be anxious and concerned in a year of drought nor stop bearing fruit.

What happens when we go through the tough parts of life? Can we still have joy? As I was preparing for this past Sunday’s message, that was my hearts desire for those that would be listening. May is Mental Health Awareness month. Lately I have been listening to Neil T. Anderson and some of the things he placed on YouTube in his Freedom in Christ channel. A lot of it had to do with the mind and the battle of depression that many believers have to overcome.

Four and a half years ago I was rocked. I had already been going through some things at work. I was promoted, demoted, talked down to, shunned…then terminated. My character was tarnished. How could I put myself out there in the community? Our vision for Connect Church is to touch the world through our community. I am constantly encouraging the body to look for opportunities to glorify God.

Our first gut reaction is to hide. I did, but I did it differently. I hid in the Word. I did not occasionally open my Bible any more, I really set out to get to know the Word. I ran to the Word. In doing so, I did not hide myself for protection from the hurt. I was able to stand free and with confidence of who I am in Christ. When I stand up and speak in front of people it is not to share how much I know, but who I know.

So when I was walking the track, listening to worship music a couple of months ago, God spoke to me about what I needed to share for Mother’s Day. He told me that I needed to share why I am so passionate about His ways. Why do I speak with such boldness and conviction when it comes to His Word? The secret comes in what you are rooted in.

John 15:5 (AMP) I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him bears much fruit, for [otherwise] apart from Me [that is, cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

Ephesians 3:16-19 (AMP)  May He grant you out of the riches of His glory, to be strengthened and spiritually energized with power through His Spirit in your inner self, [indwelling your innermost being and personality], so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through your faith. And may you, having been [deeply] rooted and [securely] grounded in love, be fully capable of comprehending with all the saints (God’s people) the width and length and height and depth of His love [fully experiencing that amazing, endless love]; and [that you may come] to know [practically, through personal experience] the love of Christ which far surpasses [mere] knowledge [without experience], that you may be filled up [throughout your being] to all the fullness of God [so that you may have the richest experience of God’s presence in your lives, completely filled and flooded with God Himself].

To abide in Him means that I have replaced my roots in Him, I give Him first place. When I looked again at the parable of the sower in Mark 4, He spoke to me that we have placed ourselves in the story that was not what He intended. We wanted to be the good soil, but He is. When we allow ourselves to be in the love that He is, everything changes. Do branches have roots? No, the vine does. Where do the nutrients to grow come from? The soil. We have called the soil our hearts for so long. We are responsible for allowing the Holy Spirit to remove the rocks and the thorns. All soil has potential. Just like all of us do. There is only one that can be called good, and that is Jesus. Do not limit your perception of “in Christ” as a follower or just a position, BE in Christ. We are loved by Him and nothing can take that away, you are in that position, but we have put it on. We have to abide in that love. When we do, we are truly abiding in Christ.

I love sunflowers. They would have been the flowers for my wedding if a farmer did not give us 1000 gladiolas. I had chosen sunflower bracelets to give away that day. Sunflowers show their seeds. Sunflowers are sun worshipers. They need 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day. They actually track the sun (desire His face). A single seed planted in the spring can produce many seeds. They grow so fast that they will choke out weeds. Sunflowers droop when they are not drinking enough water. The sunflower is a tap root. It is an elevator of nutrients. It brings water and other microbes from deeper soil layers closer to the soil for subsequent crops to have better access to. Sunflowers produce oil, and lots of it.

This was my summation: the seed (Word, Jesus is the Word John 1:1) from the sower (us), is planted in Christ (the soil) and we allow the roots (love in Christ) and the fruit we bear become more seeds because we are abiding on the vine (in Christ)…but they will have to be continued to be watered by the Living Water (Jesus, His Word).

I have more to this message, but for you to even get to the part of being free in every area of your life, you first need to know that depth of His love. To be in that love because you are in Christ. You have to realize that Jesus came for more than to save you from hell, that He came to restore you. Then you will no longer allow the things to shatter you and cause you to go into a cave of hiding. We are in Christ, He is all we need.

Dear God, our Creator, You are so full of majesty. We honor You today with our thanksgiving. Thank you for Your Son. Jesus took on every part of our lives so that we can walk in fullness. We are sorry that we have not walked in the fullness of that love. Let us be rooted in grounded in the love of Christ. We choose to abide in Him today. Holy Spirit, lead us to the areas of rocks and thorns that we need to be set free of. Renew our minds. We submit to You today. Let us be sowers of the Word. When we sow in Christ all of the ground is good ground and all that we sow is good. The Word is always good. Thank You for the Word. Thank You for the Word becoming flesh. Thank You for being the vine. We desire to bear fruit that glorifies You. We choose Love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Sisterhood of the wounded

James 3:10 (AMP) Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].

Gossip is a hard thing not to do, especially among hurting people. I have done it, even within a week. What happens when two people get together that have been hurt by the same person. They share the hurts. Why do we think it is okay in the moment? It is because we think we are not sharing what the person does not already know about the other individual. It is a hard cycle to break, but I want to be better. I have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects the fear of God regarding His created.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP) Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].

I did not release why I was hurt, until they released why they were. How can you forgive what cannot be forgotten? I am here to tell you it is hard, but forgetting is not what we are commanded, it is the forgiveness. It does not sting as much. I have learned to pray blessings over that individual. I pray that the Word becomes alive to them.

I know that the hurt was an attack of the enemy. Why? It came from the twisting of His Word. As leaders we should not feel that it is up to us to build the church. He does. When we use tactics to grow our churches, even though it may cause hurt (premeditated), we are wrong. Why? My growth should not see you as a stepping stone or a casualty to kingdom building. Notice it is not a capital K in kingdom here, because that is not His Kingdom we are building.

Philippians 2:3 (AMP)  Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves.

This is just an example of how easy it is to rehearse it again. It is hard to forgive when you cannot forget. The enemy used a perfect tool here, another who has to respond to the Father just like you do (James 3:1). This is not the only hurt, but it was the most recent. I never wish that on anyone. I have to put my trust in God and who He calls, even if. I have hurt people, but instead of saying that it is part of ministry (which is not true, it is part of my imperfectness) I want to do better. I want to glorify Him. To hurt each other and call it ministry is false. We are to sharpen each other, not wound (Proverbs 27:17). It is to bring is closer in relationship to the Father.

Hebrews 4:12 (AMP) For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Let me always be sensitive to the Word. Even though I was hurt and was wrong it still does not give me the right to repeat the matter. It still does not give me the right to rehearse the matter. Why? I fear God more than my rights. I do not want to displease the Father, not because of fear of punishment, but because I honor Him. I honor His precepts. I honor His Word. I do not want to be so prideful that I exempt this area from His correction. I am looking for the best in those and speaking blessings over them. Praying for a deeper relationship for the Father. Praying for forgiveness for them as they will have to stand before the judgement seat, just like I will. Repenting and asking God to bridle my tongue when I start to rehearse (ultimately cursing with my mouth). Woah, to me when I do such a thing. Instead of creating a sisterhood of the wounded, let us be a sisterhood of the hopeful. Let us hope again! Let us praise again!

Abba, You are the Glory that we wake up and sing to every day. We long to be in Your Presence. Thank You for sending Your Son to be the Light and to restore us. We are sorry for making things about us. We repent for every time we rehearsed a wrong, whether it was for our gain or someone else’s. We are sorry for gathering together as wounded. Help us be to speak blessings over those who have done us wrong. We want to love deeply because You love deeply. Our awe of You compels us to follow Your Word. Holy Spirit Your voice to be louder than the voice of deception. The voice of deception will tell us to fight against flesh and blood. The voice of deception will tell us that because we do not forget that we will never forgive, therefore, never being pleasing to God. The enemy want us to stay walking wounded, but because Jesus overcame, we are over-comers. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose hope today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Joy and Strength

Jeremiah 15:16 (AMP) Your words were found and I ate them, and Your words became a joy to me and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

Jeremiah, in the midst of his sorrow, recognized that all He needed was the reminder of what God had said. This is why I carve out a piece of my day to get in the Word. I am not able to do it at the same time every day, nor for the same amount of time each day. Some days I get to be in the Word longer. There are days that I listen to a sermon while I am at the gym. Then there are days where I keep worship music on while I am doing my daily tasks. There are others that I will meditate on a scripture that I had read. The important thing is to find a way to keep the Truth of His Word at the forefront of your mind. Why?

What does God tell Joshua right before he crosses the Jordan? Joshua 1:6-9 (AMP) Be strong and confident and courageous, for you will give this people as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers (ancestors) to give them. Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do [everything] in accordance with the entire law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper and be successful wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be terrified or dismayed (intimidated), for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

What kept Jeremiah going? The Word of the Lord! What weapon did God give to Joshua so that he would be strong, confident and courageous? The Word of the Lord! What will keep us at peace? The Word of the Lord!

John 1:1 (AMP) In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 

John 15:4 (AMP) Remain in Me, and I [will remain] in you. Just as no branch can bear fruit by itself without remaining in the vine, neither can you [bear fruit, producing evidence of your faith] unless you remain in Me. 

John 14:6 (AMP) Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 17:15-17 (AMP) I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but that You keep them and protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth [set them apart for Your purposes, make them holy]; Your word is truth.

How can I abide with Jesus (the Word) if I will not get to know the Word (character and nature of God)? The Holy Spirit draws us to the Word (the Truth)…Jesus. Someone asked me about abiding the other day. My response is that I hunger for the Word.

I do have a prayer life, but a prayer life without knowledge of the Word is full of emotions, which are not bad, but not grounded in the Word can be dangerous. Our prayers that are not rooted in the Word can lead to division, isolation and unintended rebellion. Why? They have not been filled with the Truth. There is a difference between my truth and THE Truth. Often times we base our walk and our prayer lives on our truths and in return the “Be strong, confident and courageous” is done in our own power (which is lacking) and not in His Power which is grounded in THE Truth.

One of the first parts of the Bible I will tell a new believer to read is the Book of John. John reveals that we are His Beloved. John reveals all the areas of our lives that Jesus came to be a part of. Then there is Ephesians, Ephesians reveals who we are in Christ. Reading Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther tells me about the character and nature of God during the time that the Israelites had once again gotten themselves into captivity. Psalms and Proverbs are popular to read. I do make a point to read them once a year at least, but I cannot get stuck there. I have to see the Word of God as a gift and not just pieces for me to take apart because I like them best. It may be easy to just stay in one book like Psalms, but we could be limiting our prayer and devotion life to the emotion part only. The same as if we only read the New Testament.

2 Corinthians 11:3 (AMP) But I am afraid that, even as the serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning, your minds may be corrupted and led away from the simplicity of [your sincere and] pure devotion to Christ.

The enemy, the devil, is cunning and will try to twist the words like he did with Eve and like he attempted with Jesus in the wilderness. His goal is to get you to question the Word and to question the character and nature of God. We may not understand everything that is in the Word the first time we read it, or even if we read the same passage 10 times, but can we trust God? Jeremiah did not understand why he was going through such hardships, but he trusted God at His Word, and joy returned to him. You cannot be strong and courageous without the Word. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the Truth. Therefore, the Word is Truth. I cannot abide in Jesus separate from the Truth of the Word. I am strong and courageous because I am now in Christ, standing firm on the Word of the Truth. Everything pointing back to Jesus. He is the source of our joy and our strength.

God, You are worthy of honor and praise. We are in awe of Your majesty. Thank You for sending Your Son, the Word made flesh. Your Word is a light to our lives and we trust in You. Forgive us for not spending time in Your Word and giving Your Word first place in our lives. We have allowed the busyness of life to keep us from meditating on Your Word and have chosen to mediate on our worries. We repent for allowing deception to come into our minds when it comes to allowing our truths to override the Word of Your Truth. Thank Your for reminding us in Your Word that You love us, that You desire us, and that You want us free and whole. Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem us and restore us into that relationship with You. Your Word is Life. Your Word is Truth. Your Word is Power. I choose today to abide with Jesus, the Word, the Truth. You are the source of our joy and our strength. In Jesus name, Amen.