I jumped ahead on reading my daily devotional, what I am sharing today is actually dated 11/26 and I sense it is appropriate for someone out there that needs to hear these words of encouragement. I was blessed when I read it and may you also be blessed.
"BOUND WITHIN"
If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ
Galatians 1:10 NIV
"Until you quit agreeing with those who've mistreated you, or the events that have crippled you emotionally, you'll remain locked in a prison of your own making. Too many of us have made it our life's work to change somebody else's opinion of us. We're determined to prove to them that we're valuable.
Never allow someone else's approval to become your goal. The truth is some folks may never like you. They may never see your good qualities.
Any time you agree with somebody who rejects or abuses you, you put yourself into bondage to them. By saying either in word or deed, "You were right to hit me, or leave me, or hurt me," you're tying yourself up with their opinion, rather than God's. Furthermore, when their opinion of you becomes your opinion, you've built a prison inside your soul with only one prisoner - you!
Are you prepared to accept that the person you've spent your life trying to impress may never be impressed? And are you prepared to accept that from God's perspective it doesn't matter? To deal effectively with others, you must be able to work along side of them without allowing yourself to be controlled by their moods, or governed by their opinion of you.
In all probability you don't need to be delivered from Satan or anybody else; you just need to change the wrong beliefs you have about yourself. When you can acknowledge that, you've taken the first step toward freedom."
Do not let others bind you up for in Christ Jesus there is freedom and liberty. Why would you settle for an old shoe when there is a brand new one that waits for you if you would only look up and look beyond your standing place to just a few inches away ahead of you, all wrapped up and presented as a most beautiful package. Waiting to be opened up for you to enjoy. Do you know how to attain this gift? It is simple...put your desires aside and assist others. Reach out to others and in the reaching out to help others you will find that someone out there thinks you are very valuable and full of wisdom, talent, creativity, kindness and the list could go on and on and on. Choose today to not listen to the negativity that may seem to surround you but step away from that garbage talk and words that you may have heard all of your life. Choose to extend your gifts to one in need and watch the wonder that God will do in your life for taking your eyes off of you and reaching out to others. It works it really does. Just today there were 3 separate opportunities to bless others. My mother and myself chose to bless them and God took care of our needs today in the blessing of others. First opportunity we we at a store, an elderly couple inquired of an object we had in our cart. We directed them to the location of where they would be able to find that item. Then they were in line behind us and my mother struck up a conversation with them. We discovered that they needed 10 of the same item and they were only able to get 9 out of the 10. We then offered to them the one we had so they would be able to have the 10 they needed. You see, 9 were to be for them and the 10th one was going to a neighbor of theirs. As we walked away my mother commented that God will take care of us today with our needs. 2nd opportunity at another store I struck up a conversation with an elderly woman as she was looking at the same item I was looking at. I mentioned to her that if she lived close in proximity to the store that the same item would be on sale for an ever greater discount the next day. I wanted to verify that for her so I inquired of management and they agreed that the info was correct. She was going to get this particular item for her grandchild and take with her to TX. 3rd opportunity leaving the grocery store I saw someone drop a large package of paper towels from their shopping cart and then a car pulled out of their parking space and with their bumper sort of pushed the package into the main aisle. I stopped my car and said to my mother "I think the person that may have dropped these was loading their groceries into their car one aisle over. An elderly gentleman assisted by picking up the package and I told him I think they were this woman's and we walked over to her and sure enough she did not even realize that she dropped them as she was loading her groceries in her car and thanked us. Hey, the cost of paper towels could be expensive and that could have been a hassle for her to have to drive back to the store and let them know she did not get her paper towels.
God did take care of us today. We got the items we needed and a much nicer value than what I let go of earlier in the day. You see, if I wanted to be greedy and not help out an elderly couple I would have missed what God had in store for me right down the road this very day. I chose to not keep my focus on the old shoe that was right there but to open my eyes to the brand new one that was down the road waiting for me to discover.
Try it tomorrow, do not listen to the negative words that have been instilled in you since being a child and extend your hand to one that may need what you have. Give it up to see the greater, much grand picture God has in store for you.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Back To Writing, That's What I Am Called To Do (until I am prompted to go in another direction)
Last night I was reminded while watching TBN to not get so involved in "busy work" that it distracts you and keeps you from doing what you are called to do in your life. I am called to write and forgive me that I have allowed "busy" things to hold me back from writing.
The other day I was driving and Holy Spirit just gently nudged my spirit and spoke to my heart that what He loves about me is that I share my heart when I write because I have a love for His people and how I share so you all may not have to go down a certain path and get off track in your life because I warn and encourage you to not go there.
I love writing for it is Holy Spirit flowing through me, there is such freedom in that. As I had a bit of time this morning I read Acts 1. I discovered that I must have taken good notes when I was listening to a preacher preach. Let me share with you the notes I put in my bible right between the printed lines of the scriptures. While on that subject let me share with you that it really is OK to take notes and write in your bible. Some of the best insights Holy Spirit gave to me throughout the years are the notes in my bible. So go ahead if a preacher, teacher & Holy Spirit inspire in you while you are reading your bible. Go ahead and write them down, one day someone may read your bible when we are raptured and in heaven and your very thoughts may save their life or soul for all eternity.
MY NOTES:
"He left behind a prayer meeting when He left, there's no visitation without preparation, along with prayer. True Prayer releases the anointing. Before every major miracle there is prayer. Prayer must be a lifestyle. Become mighty in prayer in tearing down major principalities. The Holy Spirit moving in us and through us, prayer the heart felt heart of God. It's God's heart that the people walk in the Spirit. Hear from heaven how to speak the truth now. It doesn't pay to walk in rebellion, it takes you out of the 'walk in the Spirit.' " These notes were written between the lines in Acts 1: 14-18.
Part II
Last week I wrote about getting a phone call that was not what I wanted to hear but I did not let it affect me and I moved forward. At the end of last week I received a text message that was the complete opposite-Great news-sweet news- wonderful news to a mother's ears. I will not go into details but know this much, it was the answer to a prayer of mine that I have prayed for a few years now. God is faithful and He really does take care of your children and hears your heart cry in their lives. Recently, this very prayer concern began to bother me I just know that I know that I know it was the prayers of another that broke through for me to get the victory.
As I was driving in my car after I spoke with my child it was then that Holy Spirit revealed to me who it was that prayed on my behalf for my child's situation. I remember that I began to get tears in my eyes. I was so touched by what Holy Spirit shared with me that I then silently responded to Holy Spirit "They just won 10,000 points in my eyes."
God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
The other day I was driving and Holy Spirit just gently nudged my spirit and spoke to my heart that what He loves about me is that I share my heart when I write because I have a love for His people and how I share so you all may not have to go down a certain path and get off track in your life because I warn and encourage you to not go there.
I love writing for it is Holy Spirit flowing through me, there is such freedom in that. As I had a bit of time this morning I read Acts 1. I discovered that I must have taken good notes when I was listening to a preacher preach. Let me share with you the notes I put in my bible right between the printed lines of the scriptures. While on that subject let me share with you that it really is OK to take notes and write in your bible. Some of the best insights Holy Spirit gave to me throughout the years are the notes in my bible. So go ahead if a preacher, teacher & Holy Spirit inspire in you while you are reading your bible. Go ahead and write them down, one day someone may read your bible when we are raptured and in heaven and your very thoughts may save their life or soul for all eternity.
MY NOTES:
"He left behind a prayer meeting when He left, there's no visitation without preparation, along with prayer. True Prayer releases the anointing. Before every major miracle there is prayer. Prayer must be a lifestyle. Become mighty in prayer in tearing down major principalities. The Holy Spirit moving in us and through us, prayer the heart felt heart of God. It's God's heart that the people walk in the Spirit. Hear from heaven how to speak the truth now. It doesn't pay to walk in rebellion, it takes you out of the 'walk in the Spirit.' " These notes were written between the lines in Acts 1: 14-18.
Part II
Last week I wrote about getting a phone call that was not what I wanted to hear but I did not let it affect me and I moved forward. At the end of last week I received a text message that was the complete opposite-Great news-sweet news- wonderful news to a mother's ears. I will not go into details but know this much, it was the answer to a prayer of mine that I have prayed for a few years now. God is faithful and He really does take care of your children and hears your heart cry in their lives. Recently, this very prayer concern began to bother me I just know that I know that I know it was the prayers of another that broke through for me to get the victory.
As I was driving in my car after I spoke with my child it was then that Holy Spirit revealed to me who it was that prayed on my behalf for my child's situation. I remember that I began to get tears in my eyes. I was so touched by what Holy Spirit shared with me that I then silently responded to Holy Spirit "They just won 10,000 points in my eyes."
God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
What Do You Do When You Do Not Receive The News That You Wanted To Hear But Receive The Opposite News?
Did you ever have a day when it went so smooth and you just seemed to be flowing the way God intended you to flow. You know praying silently on the way to work, then silently praying in the spirit on your lunch hour as you were resting. At work it just did not seem to be a challenge but it flowed almost easy if that makes sense. You do the same routine daily at work but for some reason today it just flowed with ease. Well, that is the kind of day that I had today. I guess I had expectation inside of me to hear the news I wanted to hear in the back of my mind. Waiting with expectancy for the phone call that could change your life. The phone rings and destiny is waiting on the other side of the phone just for you. The moment you were waiting for is now here and you are ready for it. Unless you hear the words you did not expect to hear. In a moment that feeling of "I can do anything" seems to melt away (not totally) just not in the forefront anymore. You take the news with a smile on your face and pleasantry in your voice and you graciously thank the person, then the disconnect. In that moment following the end of the conversation you seem to be perplexed...I did everything right; I said the right things; I know that God was with me when we met and I was led by Holy Spirit. I think it then hits you that reality sets in ever so quick and you begin to question yourself and the hearing from God when He spoke something ever so clear to you just weeks prior.
You even have a brief conversation with Holy Spirit in which you question hearing what you heard and what about God's will for my life; what about sending the angels out to go after what is suppose to be, to get me to where I am suppose to be in destiny. If you want to be really honest like I am sharing with you you then say to God, "I do not want to converse or talk about this right now" I just do not want to when you hear the words that He speaks to me to TRUST HIM. I know about trust for that is how I walk my daily life with the Lord and have done so for many years now. When the only word I hear at times is TRUST that is all I can do because that is all I only know how to do. There comes a time in your life when I believe it is OK to say to your heavenly Father "I just do not want to talk about it now it is too raw to deal with." He never forces Himself on you and He waits for the time when you will say to Him, OK it is time now to discuss.
In the meantime you do not begrudge anyone, family/friends that it seems they are getting all the great breaks and doors opening up for them, prayers that you may have prayed for them on their behalf and happening in their very life. Then the truth comes out and you cry out to God "When is it my turn" I do not have anger just disbelief in that moment. You see this one and that one and their breakthroughs and you begin to doubt if maybe you are not suppose to be where you are right now and how do you back track and get out of it when there have been commitments made. You then say to yourself why am I here right now why am I at the very address you have me living at.
When is it my time to shine for Jesus and let the whole world see what He has done in my life? There just comes a time when you have fasted, prayed, yielded, sacrificed, anointed yourself with anointing oil, done ministry, wrote the blog you were called to write, made the "in faith" phone calls, sent letters of encouragement, gave words of encouragement, set the captives free in ministry, ushered in the presence of God not just at church but even in your own home or while driving in your car. The list could go on and on forever and I suppose there is only one answer. TRUST and that is the very word one must hang onto for God knows the tomorrow's, the future and when the exact timing is just right so He truly will get ALL OF THE GLORY. In the meantime you just learn to deal with hurt and disappointment and continue to know that God has a plan for your life and He knows the ins and outs of this plan for He created it and when the time is just right it will happen so sudden that there will not be room enough to catch your breath for it will swiftly come upon you and one moment you are here doing this and then the next moment destiny opens the door and all you have to do is walk through and step into it.
Do not lose hope or find yourself full of despair for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son to us and then had to let go in the moments that were His death on earth but then there was the glorious day of resurrection when He rose from the dead and death will no longer hold back those that believe in Jesus and call upon His name for salvation. Where would you rather live forever, heaven or hell? I choose heaven and to live with My Father in heaven and all the saints that have gone before me for all eternity. So, what do I have to do now to remain in this? I have to ask God to forgive my stubbornness and tell Him I am willing to discuss this day with Him. Did He ever leave me NO. Did He ever turn His love away from me NO. Did He stop telling me that He loved me NO so why am I acting like a spoiled child that wants to pout when I do not get my way in my timing? Pretty foolish when you really think about it huh.
You may say to yourself why is she sharing all this stuff with me? It is to show you that I am human and I do feel and find disappointment in my life but I am also sharing with you to hopefully keep you off the wrong path. To not allow a day like mine to bring anger into your heart when all you have to do is share your hurt and disappointment with God. He created you and He already knew what you would be experiencing far in advance of it actually happening. Do not base your life on feelings for they will lead you down a path of destruction, lead your life on FAITH and watch in wonder what God will do and continue to do in your life.
I would not be pleased without ending this writing with something beautiful to share with you. From what I understand the beautiful colored leaves on the trees in the region where I use to live
have already fallen off the trees from the rain that they had. Well, where I live I am still experiencing the beautiful display of God's creativity wherever I drive or walk for the leaves are still on the trees. This is one of my favorite trees that I get blessed to see daily when I arrive at work. May you enjoy it also. Hang in there and keep trusting in the Lord and He will keep directing your path. Don't forget to enjoy the journey on the way too.
You even have a brief conversation with Holy Spirit in which you question hearing what you heard and what about God's will for my life; what about sending the angels out to go after what is suppose to be, to get me to where I am suppose to be in destiny. If you want to be really honest like I am sharing with you you then say to God, "I do not want to converse or talk about this right now" I just do not want to when you hear the words that He speaks to me to TRUST HIM. I know about trust for that is how I walk my daily life with the Lord and have done so for many years now. When the only word I hear at times is TRUST that is all I can do because that is all I only know how to do. There comes a time in your life when I believe it is OK to say to your heavenly Father "I just do not want to talk about it now it is too raw to deal with." He never forces Himself on you and He waits for the time when you will say to Him, OK it is time now to discuss.
In the meantime you do not begrudge anyone, family/friends that it seems they are getting all the great breaks and doors opening up for them, prayers that you may have prayed for them on their behalf and happening in their very life. Then the truth comes out and you cry out to God "When is it my turn" I do not have anger just disbelief in that moment. You see this one and that one and their breakthroughs and you begin to doubt if maybe you are not suppose to be where you are right now and how do you back track and get out of it when there have been commitments made. You then say to yourself why am I here right now why am I at the very address you have me living at.
When is it my time to shine for Jesus and let the whole world see what He has done in my life? There just comes a time when you have fasted, prayed, yielded, sacrificed, anointed yourself with anointing oil, done ministry, wrote the blog you were called to write, made the "in faith" phone calls, sent letters of encouragement, gave words of encouragement, set the captives free in ministry, ushered in the presence of God not just at church but even in your own home or while driving in your car. The list could go on and on forever and I suppose there is only one answer. TRUST and that is the very word one must hang onto for God knows the tomorrow's, the future and when the exact timing is just right so He truly will get ALL OF THE GLORY. In the meantime you just learn to deal with hurt and disappointment and continue to know that God has a plan for your life and He knows the ins and outs of this plan for He created it and when the time is just right it will happen so sudden that there will not be room enough to catch your breath for it will swiftly come upon you and one moment you are here doing this and then the next moment destiny opens the door and all you have to do is walk through and step into it.
Do not lose hope or find yourself full of despair for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son to us and then had to let go in the moments that were His death on earth but then there was the glorious day of resurrection when He rose from the dead and death will no longer hold back those that believe in Jesus and call upon His name for salvation. Where would you rather live forever, heaven or hell? I choose heaven and to live with My Father in heaven and all the saints that have gone before me for all eternity. So, what do I have to do now to remain in this? I have to ask God to forgive my stubbornness and tell Him I am willing to discuss this day with Him. Did He ever leave me NO. Did He ever turn His love away from me NO. Did He stop telling me that He loved me NO so why am I acting like a spoiled child that wants to pout when I do not get my way in my timing? Pretty foolish when you really think about it huh.
You may say to yourself why is she sharing all this stuff with me? It is to show you that I am human and I do feel and find disappointment in my life but I am also sharing with you to hopefully keep you off the wrong path. To not allow a day like mine to bring anger into your heart when all you have to do is share your hurt and disappointment with God. He created you and He already knew what you would be experiencing far in advance of it actually happening. Do not base your life on feelings for they will lead you down a path of destruction, lead your life on FAITH and watch in wonder what God will do and continue to do in your life.
have already fallen off the trees from the rain that they had. Well, where I live I am still experiencing the beautiful display of God's creativity wherever I drive or walk for the leaves are still on the trees. This is one of my favorite trees that I get blessed to see daily when I arrive at work. May you enjoy it also. Hang in there and keep trusting in the Lord and He will keep directing your path. Don't forget to enjoy the journey on the way too.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
I Have Been Extremely Busy For Several Weeks Now. Do You Know What Holy Spirit Has been Dealing With Me About? The Importance Of Not Meddling And To Not Take Offense.
Hello, I did not forget about you I have been extremely busy for several weeks now. Transition can take up a lot of time in your life. One thing that Holy Spirit has been teaching me for several weeks now is to not meddle and concern myself with things and areas that I have no need to have concern about and take on that burden. You may say to yourself I think she needs to explain further. This is it...I am learning to not concern myself and step over boundaries that are not to be my concern. Example I am one that is all about doing things with order and following directions to the T. When I see others slacking or not abiding by this I want to say something to them so we are all on the same page. If I am not a supervisor it is to be of no concern of mine and I have to trust that management will take care of it. It is so my nature to want to say something to bring order to the situation. Holy Spirit is teaching me to not step into arenas that are not my concern and He will take care of them. The enemy will try to distract you with circumstances around you that will cause you to think about wanting to step in and handle things but I am learning in those very moments I silently say to myself 'No I will not meddle or take offense at that either." I will also silently say to the enemy that Jesus told me you would be coming and that I have the peace of God and the joy of the Lord is my strength.
I am finding out that it works it truly does. When you are operating in your arena or territory God has given to you you have the authority to step out and make corrections to make things flow. When you try to take things into your own control in areas that you are not assigned it really causes you to be waylaid and to step out of destiny's timetable does that make sense? You see, when you are out on your own trying to fix things that are not to be of your concern that is just a tactic of the enemy to throw you off guard and spend all of your energy/effort in correcting something that you have no business correcting to begin with. Wasted time, thoughts, and plans you are spinning in your mind that will cause you to miss true direction. When you finally learn this lesson you will realize when the enemy is planting situations in your life to cause you to side track. Be sensitive and do not fall for this trap. It is so much easier to say I Don't Think So and go forth with destiny and not be pulled back with deception.
Offense comes in to play when someone may say something to you or about you that is not so or undeserving. The enemy would like to see you get all riled up and want to lash back at them in defense of yourself. Let go of it, walk away from it not just in body but in your mind also. Do not let it eat away at you but let it go and let God handle it and His judgement will be upon that person or group of people. Life is so valuable that there is no time to be bogged down with the cruel and cunning words that others speak to you or about you. The safest place to be is to not open the door to offense in your life and let God handle it, He is your defender. When you learn to overcome this, again you can silently say to yourself I do not receive this offense I have destiny that needs to be fulfilled and I do not have time to take offense and tie up my time that can better be utilized for the things of God that I am called to do.
Lessons learned in the past weeks, do not waste your time in areas where you are not suppose to be and try to fix them; and do not let others offend you. Fluff it off and remind yourself that your time can be better spent on important things rather than dwelling on petty, mere words that are spoken in ignorance by others. Try it it really does work and each time you say no thank you to meddling and accepting offense you get closer to destiny and a great peace you have as you choose to walk away from these distractions or better yet, traps placed before you to try and knock you off the path that God has you on. What would you rather have in your life...wasted time on trivial things or advancement in territory that you gain with God's hand upon you as He leads and directs your footsteps? The choice is really yours. Choose wisely.
I am finding out that it works it truly does. When you are operating in your arena or territory God has given to you you have the authority to step out and make corrections to make things flow. When you try to take things into your own control in areas that you are not assigned it really causes you to be waylaid and to step out of destiny's timetable does that make sense? You see, when you are out on your own trying to fix things that are not to be of your concern that is just a tactic of the enemy to throw you off guard and spend all of your energy/effort in correcting something that you have no business correcting to begin with. Wasted time, thoughts, and plans you are spinning in your mind that will cause you to miss true direction. When you finally learn this lesson you will realize when the enemy is planting situations in your life to cause you to side track. Be sensitive and do not fall for this trap. It is so much easier to say I Don't Think So and go forth with destiny and not be pulled back with deception.
Offense comes in to play when someone may say something to you or about you that is not so or undeserving. The enemy would like to see you get all riled up and want to lash back at them in defense of yourself. Let go of it, walk away from it not just in body but in your mind also. Do not let it eat away at you but let it go and let God handle it and His judgement will be upon that person or group of people. Life is so valuable that there is no time to be bogged down with the cruel and cunning words that others speak to you or about you. The safest place to be is to not open the door to offense in your life and let God handle it, He is your defender. When you learn to overcome this, again you can silently say to yourself I do not receive this offense I have destiny that needs to be fulfilled and I do not have time to take offense and tie up my time that can better be utilized for the things of God that I am called to do.
Lessons learned in the past weeks, do not waste your time in areas where you are not suppose to be and try to fix them; and do not let others offend you. Fluff it off and remind yourself that your time can be better spent on important things rather than dwelling on petty, mere words that are spoken in ignorance by others. Try it it really does work and each time you say no thank you to meddling and accepting offense you get closer to destiny and a great peace you have as you choose to walk away from these distractions or better yet, traps placed before you to try and knock you off the path that God has you on. What would you rather have in your life...wasted time on trivial things or advancement in territory that you gain with God's hand upon you as He leads and directs your footsteps? The choice is really yours. Choose wisely.