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You had a purpose...

90 more men executed

      My heart keeps breaking every time I hear of more Christians being executed by the ISIS. I read another report that 90 more men were executed and the women and children sold, not to mention the numerous reports of children being brutally executed as well. My heart hurts. This is our family in Christ.

      I've been praying for God to raise up prophets, apostles, evangelists and courageous leaders within these Christian communities. That angels would intervene and fight along side them - showing them there are more for them than against them. That God would give them super natural wisdom, strategic plans and resources to overcome their enemy. And for a way of escape to be opened from neighboring territories.

      It's so important that we pray. There is nothing else we can do. Prayer is powerful and effective. Prayer moves God. These are husbands, brothers, sons, lovers that are being carelessly executed. I can't imagine the horror these people are facing, and then the survivors being sold and raped. Lord help us. 

         Don't be overcome by the petty things and forget their are people who are losing everything right now and facing great evil simply for being a Christian. We need to pray like we've never prayed before.

Almighty - Chris Tomlin

Chris Tomlin will always be one of my favorite worship leaders. These lyrics are powerful! I can't even lift my hands and sing it without tears and the weight of His presence. Sing! Proclaim these words!

This is how you grow

Dream: Sister Wives

     Have you seen TLC's show Sister Wives? Well I've watched it several times through, thanks to Netflix. As I watched I began to wonder, "What's the big deal?". The Brown family seems like a healthy happy family. They love Jesus, they try to live a holy life. They aren't what most consider a polygamous family. They're probably living a more Godly life than most Christians nowadays.

      As I began to think about their life and the word of God, I started praying. Lord what is so wrong with their life? They aren't perverts or child abusers as some may think. They are trying to honor you and live a selfless life. As usual I spent days praying and rolling it around in my mind, heart and spirit. I mean, some in the Old Testament had several wives. Even though I don't think it's God's best plan, is it really that bad?

      Then one night I had a dream. In the dream the sister wives were devouring each other. It was gross and almost like a nightmare but without the fear and darkness. While dreaming the interpretation of the dream was shared with me. The Bible says we are to eat the words that come out of God's mouth (Matt 4:4). He is the bread and the wine (Matt 26:26). We are to eat His word (Jer 15:16). The Sister wives are eating man. They are eating their own thoughts and ideas. Spiritual speaking they are cannibals.

      Though they try and live a moral life, they are basing their life on the wisdom of man and not the word of God. It's not about what seems right in our own eyes, or our own striving for morality - we are to spiritual eat what God has provided for us and not the ideas of man.

       I was not going to share this experience, but I had another dream that encouraged me to share it. I think some may allow their hearts to compromise because the Browns are such a loving family. It's easy to allow deception when it comes so sweet and peacefully. But, hopefully people's random google search for "Sister Wives" will lead a few to my blog to see the truth from a scriptural perspective. Dreams have an amazing way of painting a picture. Just like children's books. :-)

Sons and Daughters

"Though our gifts are a beautiful part of who we are, they do not make up our identity. We are sons and daughters first, loved before we ever set our hands to anything, believed in before we even attempt prove ourselves worthy. When we come to that place of confidence and security, knowing that the Father loves us and is proud of us regardless of our abilities or success, we can create and explore without the pressure to strive or produce. We are set free as artists when we step into our identity as beloved children. "

 - The 18inch Journey - Allie Sampson, Writer for Cageless birds

Receiving is bless by God

      I believe God hides unique blessings in people that don't fit our first impression standards. First impressions are the first security check points - when we give people the benefit of the doubt, look at their hearts and not our assumptions, we pass and are allowed to move forward. When we look past our initial judgments of a person, we are allowed to move in and take part in what God has invested in them.

        The Bible talks about receiving a reward for accepting different types of people.When we receive a person we are rewarded as if we also walk in their gift. Matthew 10:40-41 ESV, "“Whoever receives you receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person's reward."

       THE MESSAGE,“We are intimately linked in this harvest work. Anyone who accepts what you do, accepts me, the One who sent you. Anyone who accepts what I do accepts my Father, who sent me. Accepting a messenger of God is as good as being God’s messenger. Accepting someone’s help is as good as giving someone help.”  

       It's not only giving, but receiving that God blesses. I think this is why He sometimes places people where they don't seem to fit - as a test to those He's brought them in front of. It's an opportunity to receive a blessing for receiving what He's sent. 

        This really encourages me to not only be a giver to people, but a receiver of people. :-) It's easier to give than to receive. When we give we have control, we can throw our giving as a person would to the dogs and keep people at an arm's length. But when we receive we pull inward, we draw near. That can be scary, but it's blessed.

Nursing School Testimony

     I'm starting to share my testimonies because a testimony says, "If God can do it for me, He can do it for you" because He is not a respecter of persons - He doesn't play favorites.

      It's Testimony Tuesday! I'm not committing to post every Tuesday, but when I do post a supernatural testimony I'll tag it under "testimony Tuesday" so they are easily found.

       Today I want to share how my mom was healed of the anxiety and stress that almost caused her to drop out of the nursing program.  After being laid off my mom decided to make a career change and enrolled in nursing. She was doing really well and was nearing graduation when she began having panic attacks and extreme stress. They got so bad she almost dropped out even though she'd invested so much already. 

      She cried out to the Lord in desperation day after day. One day laying on her bed, crying out to God she ends up passing out. While passed out she hears someone call her name two times. She looks up and see a picture of an orange CD with a sun floating in front of her. She immediately wakes up and tells me this has to be an answer to her prayers. I was happy for her but wondering how we'd find an orange CD at the stores with nothing else to go on. I prayed and knew some how God would show us. 

      That night while asleep I had a dream. In the dream I hear the most beautiful worship music. The music consisted of one word, "Jesus". All the lyrics, bridge, chorus etc was one word, "Jesus" it was the most glorious sound I had ever heard. I know in the dream it's a CD my dad had given me years ago but never opened. As soon as I wake up I go to my closet and dig for the CD, not even thinking of my mom's vision the day before. After I find it, I run to the living room to play it, hoping the glorious music is on the CD. As I'm doing this my mom walks out and I hold up the CD and say enthusiastically, "I had this amazing dream about this CD I didn't even know I had" she just stares at the CD I'm holding up and I see the color go from her face and she tells me that's the CD she saw in her vision. I turn and look at the CD and realizing that, yes, it's orange with a sun. Awesome! She said it felt like cold water fell over her head.

        I was disappointed to find out there was no music on the CD. It was a lady quoting scripture for anxiety and stress. But I was extremely thankful my mom found her "medication" for her issue. The CD truly blessed her. Scripture is powerful! She successfully completed her nursing program and has blessed many as a nurse over the years.
      This testimony reminds me that God always provides a way out when we cry out to Him, and if He doesn't it's because we are where we are suppose to be for His purposes. If I could attribute supernatural experiences and answers to prayers to anything I'd say it's sincere desperation. When our back is against a wall and we know all our hope and help comes from the Lord. He is so faithful.

CD cover reads,  "The healing word of God - Audio Scriptures to soothe the soul: Comfort, Peace & Hope when you're dealing with feelings of panic, anxiety and depression."

Give me Faith

We all think we know

        I've been a Christian long enough to know that everyone thinks they know the right interpretation of scripture - with facts to back them up. Everyone else is either deceived or out right evil. But I've had a relationship with God long enough to know that everyone has a little truth and a little deception and God surprises us all. None of us have God figured out.
           It's arrogant to think we know scripture perfectly. And to boldly say someone is "not of God" or "evil" is self-righteous, as if we know all, with no room for error.  I've heard self-assured leaders speak against this person or that book over and over just to change their opinions years later. What happens to the trail of division they've left behind?

         Recently I've been hearing preachers come out against the "Heaven is for real" book and movie. I don't know if the book is a true account or false. But I do know it's not causing harm to the Church. It's actually encouraged many weary people, got people to start reading their bible, lit a fire in some and brought countless unsaved to the Lord. So why are we wasting time arguing over it? We should stick to things that are hurting the church like, Fifty Shades of Gray. 

         I find it annoying when leaders want to argue about everything. I've heard many views from educated people and they all have degrees to back up their  different interpretations, and yet God keeps surprising us all. It seems some want to discredit anything supernatural and rob people of faith. I refuse to live that way. God has supernaturally intervened in my and my family's lives countless times. I can't put Him in a box designed by a group of overly educated people. Some people get so deep they drown and bring confusion.

          Maybe the whole "Heaven is for real" story is made up, maybe it's not. Whether good or bad, God is using it for good. The people that argue of such things argue over everything. They are so "by the book" they miss the entire point of The Book. Everything does not need to be dissected and labeled, "true or false", especially if it's leading people to the Lord. I'd be ringing a different bell if the book was causing people to fall away, turn to other gods, sin against one another and such, but this is not the case.

        I will say I have not read the book or watched the movie. I've been in a season of detoxing from all outside voices but my Bible. It's a refreshing season tuning everything else out. But I do catch a few articles here and there from Facebook, that's how I saw a video of a pastor telling people how non Biblical all heaven encounter books are. It's so ridiculous. We should focus on speaking against things that actually hurt the body of Christ. I've never heard a Heaven testimony that didn't beckon people closer to God. As for those that may be lying for money, they will have to answer to God one day.

Hands of the healer

House Hunting Testimony

           My hubby and I have many testimonies that I want to slowly start sharing to edify and encourage whoever may read.  I know that during my seasons of brokenness I clung to such testimonies. A testimony says, "If God can do it for me, He can do it for you" because He is not a respecter of persons - He doesn't play favorites. I will start with the testimony I shared this weekend with the young couple visiting us (as mentioned in the post before). 

          After my hubby and I had been married a year our apartment rent went up. Fear and anxiety filled my heart as I read the slip of paper listing our options for renewal. What were we going to do? None of the options listed were going to work for us. My husband and I began searching for another apartment, but nothing - every door kept closing. We knew God could speak to us and continued to pray and started planning a time to fast. Fasting as always been a powerful spiritual weapon for us.

        When my hubby first moved out of his family home he faced the same situation and called out to the Lord, who spoke to him in a dream, speaking the name of the apartment three times. Being a dreamer my hubby knew to obey and went to the apartment offices. They were having a special. It was perfect. He happily lived there for several years. God led him to the right place at the right time! So, we knew He could do it again. 

         I forget how the idea of looking for a house came to play but we began talking about it. We called several lenders but the phone would get disconnected or they wouldn't answer until finally the third one we called picked up right away. With all we've been through we know not to question God, we figured we weren't meant to talk to the other lenders. Our lender ended up crediting us a couple thousand for closing costs. Yay! But I'm getting ahead of myself.

        We got pre-approved by our lender and got a realtor. I was so stressed out a patch of my hair started falling out. I have pictures if you want to see the bald patch that was hiding under my long hair. We continued to pray. We had to find a house before our lease was up. 

       After talking with our realtor, she lined up some houses for us to see. As hubby and I walked to our car to meet our realtor to look at houses for the first time, I receive a call from an unknown number. While pulling out I play the voice mail and it's a man. The man tells us he's a prophet and for us not to worry because God is going to provide for us. OMGOSH! Are you kidding me? We are in the car about to go see houses for the first time and we get this call?!?! Through the stress and fear we had a super natural peace. God is with us! We are heading in the right direction! Thank you Daddy for looking after us. 

           Shortly after we started house hunting we found one that seemed to fit our needs, but I was not thrilled about it. Hubby was insistent so I agreed and went with it and we put an offer. We prayed and asked God to open or close doors according to His will. I didn't want the house but knew we needed it. I asked God to give us clarity. I told God my emotions are to rapped up in the situation and I couldn't trust myself to hear Him. Hubby agreed and we prayed that God would reveal the truth to someone who was out of the loop. Someone who had no idea what was going on with us. He did.             

       While waiting to see if our offer was accepted hubby gets a phone call from a friend who didn't know what we were up too. His friend said he had a dream and I didn't like the house we were dealing with. I see hubby's face get sad as he's on the phone listening to the dream and my heart sinks when I hear. I know it's true. I tried to deny my negative feelings about the house because we were in desperate need of a house. We agree to let it go in our hearts since our prayers were answered. Our friend found it fascinating because he never dreams. God used someone who least expected it. A few minutes later we get a call from our realtor and our offer wasn't accepted. Turns out the lady doesn't even want to sell her house anymore.  We continue to pray and encourage one another with the divine phone call we received when we first started the house hunting journey. 

         Shortly after we find another house we want to put an offer on, but first we wait it out and pray it out for another day. My dad calls us the next morning and says he was tossing and turning all night. He couldn't sleep because he was conflicted and didn't have peace about this decision we were about to make. God has spoken to my Dad in dreams before so we respected what he said and heeded the warning. Especially since we were passionately praying for God's direction. Come to find out the house had major foundation issues. Again, God was leading us when our emotions hindered us from hearing.

          The searching continued and the end of our lease continued to get closer. To add to the stress, the apartment sent us a letter saying they were painting our stair railing the day we were moving out from the third floor. Can you imagine trying to move furniture down with wet paint? I was freaking out, BUT God - they changed the date!

       There was one house we looked at early on that hubby said he couldn't get out of his mind, but because of the natural wood floors and other things we passed it up. We decided to look at it again with fresh eyes and a fresh heart. Hubby said that was the house, something in him just knew, but we move forward slowly. We even decided to walk away from it. Hubby said he felt a ripping in his spirit when we walked away and was  grieved all night and prayed continuously. When he finally fell asleep he had a dream. In the dream he walks into an office and sees balloons and party decor with a huge banner that says "Case Closed". When he woke up we knew the house was ours. It was a done deal. 

          The sellers ended up calling us and giving us what we wanted. Come to find out the house was on sale for 20k more the year before and someone was interested but it fell through on the buyers end. The seller wanted to hurry and sell and dropped the price, making it within our budget. As we finished up the deal our lender credited us to help with closing. 

       As for the natural untouched wood floors, hubby's coworker volunteered to refinish them for us as a gift. We ended up getting the keys to our house the day we were to be out of the apartment. We had the uhaul packed and ready. And the new season began. 

James 3:17-18 AMP

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure (undefiled); then it is peace-loving, courteous (considerate, gentle). [It is willing to] yield to reason, full of compassion and good fruits; it is wholehearted and straightforward, impartial and unfeigned (free from doubts, wavering, and insincerity). And the harvest of righteousness (of conformity to God’s will in thought and deed) is [the fruit of the seed] sown in peace by those who work for and make peace [in themselves and in others, that peace which means concord, agreement, and harmony between individuals, with undisturbedness, in a peaceful mind free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].

Opening Up

      I'm somewhat a closed book. It takes me a long time to open up and share what's in my heart. I didn't realize how closed off I come across until recently. In order to open up, like most people, I have to feel safe - that my stories, experiences and perspective wont be judged, condemned or laughed at. Sadly, it's been really hard for me to find that safe place - a sense of community.

         One area I've been learning to open up with is hubby's and my supernatural experiences. Again, I didn't realize how close off I was with sharing. I guess I learned it's safer to stay quiet. One of the reasons  is the drastic differences in opinions within the church. Another reasons, when you've been around church people long enough you realize it's not safe to be who God created you to be. There is so much push and fight for power and position that if you share true testimonies of God moving in your life the jealous ones will cut you off, sabotage you, and make sure you are isolated. It's sad, but trust me. They look at your like "God did that for you? Who are you? It should be me!" You learn it's best to keep your head low, especially if you don't want attention, like ME. I admit I've had seasons where I cared to much about the opinions of others, but I'm leaving that behind me as I enter my 30s.

        Well last night a younger couple in their early 20s came over to visit with my husband and I. They mentioned how they'd want to get married after college, get a job, buy a house and this or that, but had no idea how it would happen, which led to my hubby and I sharing our testimony about God moving in our behalf. We've been in that place.

          America's glorification of independence rubs off of church people to a fault, but God does not want us independent. He wants people dependent on Him. The challenges in my hubby's life have made him dependent on God and me suffering with an anxiety disorder and hormone issues most of my life have left me dependent on God. Things that seem easy for others are not easy for me, BUT God. Maybe it's this sincere dependance that opens us up for supernatural intervention? The Bible tells us that if we acknowledged God in all our ways that He will direct our steps. When we are dependent on God, we acknowledge Him in all our ways, and He responds by directing our steps. He wants control. It's in our best interest to give it to Him. He only wants good for us. :-)

          As we began sharing with the young couple their faces lit up and mouths drop in shock. The young man said in amazement that he didn't know we were "prophetic" type of Christians. Which in return shocked me a little, because dreams and supernatural experiences is what drew my hubby and I together, we had this unspeakable bond. I didn't realize how private I made this part of my life, and how many people perceive us differently. I guess I'm not intimate (into-me-see) with many people. It's something I really want to work on - being intimate with more people, but only if I find safe places.

         For many years I believed the lie that sharing our testimonies was frowned upon because people think you are showing off,  or whatever it may be. When you start sharing about God's power and His ability to interrupt our reality the demons start throwing mean and hateful words your way. But after seeing how encouraged this young couple was I wanted to try and start sharing more since this is normal life for us.  I can't let a few spiritual bullies stop us from sharing what God does for us. Our (you and me) testimonies encourage the ones with hearts after God. Evil people in the church hate the testimonies of the saints, but the true church, the children of God, rejoice over them.

He knows my name

Dreaming Rose Creations

 Besides writing books, I've picked up candle making. I've actually been at it for over a year and find it very therapeutic. I love the creative process. I even opened an online shop, though most of my sales are in person. Who knew I'd sell out so fast! New scents coming out mid May!!

Feel free to check out my shop: Dreaming Rose Creations 

 

 

God is always your friend

 God is always your friend.

 People are finicky - for you one day, against you the next,

 BUT GOD is always your friend - no matter what! 

He meets you where you are every time you call. 

He's never far away
 He never makes you pay for your mistakes.

 Even if bad decisions lead you down a rough road,
He faithfully walks with you. 

God is always your friend. 

He will never abandon you, even if you think you deserve it. 

Nothing can separate you from His love.

God is ALWAYS your friend.

Discernment

          Many of us take pride in our ability to discern truth from deception, but if we examine ourselves a little closer, we'll see,  most of us are only discerning our own skepticism of a person or situation -it has little to do with actual truth. We shouldn't trust  judgments that come  quickly without overview or doubts. Most likely those judgments are based on our opinion and carry little spiritual backing. 

            In my first book, Notes For The Goats, I write about Prejudices vs Discernment. Very little of the church walks in true discernment. Discernment is humble. Our opinions and prejudices carry a self-assurance and are quickly stated and lifted high. When we walk in true discernment we are looking for the best in people, and even if God reveals a red flag we keep praying and hoping that maybe we heard Him wrong. Discernment brings brokenness. Our opinions and prejudices bring pride, arrogance, self-righteousness filled with boastful talk. 
         When true discernment is exercised in the church it has the ability to change the spiritual atmosphere, not fuel gossip circles. True discernment is a spiritual gift that helps protect the church, the weak, the leaders, and any plans God has set in motion that the enemy may try to derail. It's a a wonderful gift given to us. But we must learn the difference between our own inner voice and the true authentic leading of the Holy Spirit. 
            One of the easiest ways to tune your spiritual ears into God's divine voice, is to admit when you've missed it. There have been countless times when I've missed it. My own ideas and opinions trumped His still small voice. I was self-assured.  But my sincere desire to hear God left my heart open to hear His correction when He proved me wrong. In that moment, you repent, and ask God to help you hear Him better. Unfortunately, many continually justify what they hear and end up training their spiritual ears to hear themselves.

Dying to Live

      Life's challenges have a way of breaking us down, especially if they last. It's easy to feel discouraged, even broken. I've learned if we embrace the process of dying, that those things will arise in new life. God promises us that, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11 NIV  But we have to be willing to leave our plans behind. Many of us don't know what we pray when we pray "Lord have your way in me.", "Lead me Lord" etc. We are asking to die. The pain we feel is all part of the process of dying, so we may live the life He's chosen. Our flesh does not lay down easily. It's painful. 
          Next time you are in a season of pain, ask yourself, "Am I dying?" you may be having to lay a part of yourself down. Knowing the source of the pain always gives us a little more endurance on the journey. Brokenness is the key to do great things in God. 
       Of course being prideful and self-assured can get you places in this life, but that's not what you prayed. You prayed, "Lord have your way", "You lead me, Father", "I'm following you" and Jesus leads us to the cross daily. In death, we live. Don't look around and compare your life with those who are not dying, even Christians, not all Christians go through the spiritual journey of death. That's why all Christians don't raise the dead, heal the sick, cast out demons etc. There is a process of dying to live in the spirit. It's not a process we have control over. It's a process we surrender to. A process prepared for us before we took our first breathe. A process that requires us to trust our friend and King, Jesus.