You Want Me

Throughout the day I always type little messages on my phone between God and I. Thought I'd share one I found this morning. He wants us! There is a place you belong, and it's in His presence. Let's give Him our focus today, and everyday. :) :)


You want me God
Oh, how You've always wanted me.
So easily distracted I become,
so foolish not to see
how much You beckon and pursue me.
You want me
You've always wanted me so desperately
To give you my time, my love, my FOCUS
To You Jesus I commit my days, my minutes, my seconds!
Oh, how I love You!
You've always loved me.

True Five Fold

I want to see the true five fold come into their proper role in the church Jesus is building. But when some do not fit the definition of compassionate, vulnerable, broken and functional, in true humility, there is a big die-connect. Those who claim five fold positions but don't have the fruit, make it more difficult for the real ones to emerge. - Don Nori Sr.

My Charm!!

         I finally got the "proposal" charm added to my bracelet! Yay!

              

Reformer

Love it, have you felt like you don't fit in? Are you not secular enough to fit in with other Christians? Is this you? Listen to this video! 

Most of the modern church is living in compromise, using Jesus to make themselves famous, BUT there is a remnant that's been breaking away. A new wave of people returning to the basics. They have pure devotion, loyalty, and fire to run the race to WIN. Their eyes are on Jesus, not money or fame!

Be encouraged! You are not alone! There's an army of people rising up just like you!! :) :)

Dream 5/ 9/11 "Fellow-ship Sinking"

I was in a huge ship in the ocean with lots of people (like the titanic). Then I hear someone say the ship is sinking, and when I looked it was half way under water already. Someone told me that since we (the people I was with) were at the bottom level (class wise, not the cool people) there wouldn’t be any life boats left for us, and that we should jump out and swim while we were close to an island shore, since some could still touch the bottom. I began to wonder if there were wild animals on the island of land we’d have to swim to, or if we’d have to float in the water all night, but what about sharks? All those things popped into my mind but the dream never got that far because I woke up.

I think I know what this means, but I'm open if anyone has anything.I never really blog my dreams here, but I might start  sharing a few of the interesting ones. I miss blogging my dreams! Right now I type, and save all my dreams in Word. (no fun!) 

Speak

What’s your gift?

When you’re full of the Holy Spirit to overflowing how do you release it? Painting, writing, singing, teaching, preaching…what? Figure it out, and SPEAK! Use the expression He’s given you to point back at Him!

He Asked Me To Marry Him

Last night was amazing! My best friend of 12 years asked me to marry him after dating off and on for 4 years.  I knew this day was coming!! YAY! 

The evening began around 8pm, when Newman called and asked me to come over to his place. As I walked up the stairs to his front door I could smell candles all the way outside. I began to wonder, “hmm, what’s he up to?” I knocked on the door, and when he answered I saw such a beautiful display of rose petals and candle light everywhere. It was beautiful, pictures don’t capture it. 

As Newman continued to lead me inside I heard soft music playing and his table set for dinner.  He had warm bread laid out just like the restaurants and served me so eloquently in the candle light. To my amazement he prepared "Miso Salmon" for our romantic dining, my favorite dish from the Cheesecake Factory.  It was so special, and meant that world that he remembered it was my favorite.

After we ate, he asked me to dance with him to the soft music playing the background.  We slow danced for a little while, enjoying the moment and the time we had together.  The dim candles glowing and the smell of flowers were perfect.  

Some time went by, and I told him I had to go to the restroom for a moment. When I came back out he had rose petals leading from the bathroom to the table and our favorite love song, “My Best Friend” by Tim McGraw playing. I followed the roses to find candles forming a heart on the table with a huge bouquet of flowers, and a gift bag. I opened the bag, and found a box with a heart charm inside. Engraved on the heart was, “Will You Marry Me?”. I LOVE the charm! Anyone who knows me, knows I wear my charm bracelet EVERYWHERE! So, it's perrrrfect!! After reading the charm I turned to look at Newman, and when our eyes met he dropped to one knee, and proposed.

 I said, “Yes!!” 

 When that was finished, he brought out dessert! Mmm-mmm! He had a red velvet cake cheesecake, and ordered a banana pudding cheesecake for me, which I find pretty neat because all day long I was thinking about banana pudding. So weird! I believe it was only confirmation for what was about to happen. Why else would I see pictures of that in my spirit all day long? Crazy!

I’m so blessed to be engaged to such a kindhearted man of integrity! The best part is, we are BEST FRIENDS! We love spending time together! It’s been that way for 12 years, and I don’t see it changing! I love how he knows me so well. He knows I hate surprises and crowds. He didn't ambush me in some crowded place. He knew to do such a special thing in a quiet mellow place just for me, even though he is more extroverted and likes the theatrics he toned in all down just for me. :-)

Thanks for the beautiful night, Newman! I love you! I can't wait to see what God has in-store!

Why I love Independent Authors

I'm going to make it a priority read more books by Independent Authors. It's the 21st century, and you no longer need a big publisher backing you up to do what God has asked you to do. In the past our creativity was stifled because artists would have to change their message to fit the "big man" financially backing the project, but times have changed. Plus, I find Independent Authors have a lot more fire and edge. They create only to please God, not man. That's a huge thing for me. I'm going to search online for some quality Independent work. When I find something worth reading! I'll share it with all of you!

Until then, be free with what God's put inside of you. Give it away. Don't wait for man to cheer you on, just do it and God will open all the doors as you go!

It's worth it! 

Give Thanks

Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the Holy One, Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His son. And now let the weak say, "I am strong". Let the poor say, "I am rich" because of what the Lord has done for us. Give Thanks.

Faint Not

When we feel hurt, mistreated or ignored long enough our heart can begin to harden. The things we once cared about don’t matter anymore. Our once sensitive heart toward others slowly changes into an, “I don’t care” type heart toward people. We become careless with our words and deeds, and often injury others the very same way we were injured. 

I have struggled with this myself, recently. I had collected some hurts from a few people and developed the, “I don’t care” attitude towards them. I was on the verge of acting-out this “I don’t care” attitude when I did a self-check.  Did I want an ugly heart? Of course not, and that convicted me. I told my friend I was worried that all this pain we had walked through was hardening my heart, and I didn’t want to develop the ugliness I had experienced in others, in myself.  I was at a crossroads. I could go in the way of the flesh or the way of the spirit. 

Often when other s hurt us, we lash out, “I’ll show them.” When we act from such an ugly place, truly we are “fainting”.  The Bible says in Galatians 6:9 KJV, “let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Do we want to reap the rewards of “well doing”? If so, we must catch ourselves before we faint. I believe when we manifest ugliness from a hardened heart we have taken our eyes off the prize. We have forgotten what we were fighting for. As Christians we fight differently than the world. We fight with love, kindness, and forgiveness. When someone wounds us, we are called to forgive them each and every time. 

I heard it once said, “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison and waiting for someone else to die”. Isn’t that the truth? Let’s trust God to deal with those that have hurt us, while we focus on pumping the poison of unforgiveness out of our own veins, lest we faint and forfeit our prize.

This is how the Lord encouraged me. He reminded me that those who REAP, are those who don’t FAINT. And allowing these negative feelings to fester was fainting, because those feelings take root and lead to actions.  Even if those actions aren’t HUGE, they are still issues of the heart and God looks at the heart. 

You see, if we read the verse before, we will see why the enemy wants us acting-out from a hardened heart.  Galatians 6: 7-8 NIV says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.”  

All sow and all will reap something. The question is, are we sowing to the spirit or sowing to the flesh? 

Continue sowing the spirit and in due season we will reap!

I can't pick!!!!

I've been trying to work on a blog that will encourage those who have been hurt over and over again. I want to inspire them to let go of the pain, so their hearts remain soft, and pliable. I know from experience that once we've been hurt to many times we can easily allow our heart to harden. Anyways, I haven't been able to complete this blog because of the creative freedom on Blogger!!

Omgosh! I've been looking for a new blogging site forever, one with creative freedom, but I never found one that fit me well. I finally ended up BACK here on blogger. I figured I already planted some roots, and might as well stay. The thing is, I NEVER knew about all the creative options allowed by Blogger. I discovered the "html" templates and backgrounds this week!

Now for someone like me who LOVES web design, and making beautiful spaces online, the same as some love making them in the home, this is insane! I can't pick! There are so many options that my creative juices are going bonkers, which leaves my blog a bit disjointed and messy, UNTIL I can settle on something! I'm so excited!

Creative freedom! What could be better!! Yay!

OH and don't worry! I wont forget to post my inspirational blog for the brokenhearted!

Rejuvenate

In prayer I got the word, “rejuvenate”. Then was lead into the worship song, “Running”. If we’ve been distracted by the cares of the world, earthly pleasures that are fleeting and lost our once intimate relationship with God then return today. Sing out to the Lord, “I’m running after you”. There is NO SHAME in returning. He will rejuvenate (make fresh & new again) our relationship with Him.

Great Cloud Of Witnesses

Hebrew 12 ESV has been rocking my world the last few days. There is so much in such a small chapter.

Here are a few of my favorite snippets:

“…Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” 

“…that we may share his holiness.”

“…it yieldsthe peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”

“…lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, andmake straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.” 

“Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.” 

“This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicatesthe removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain.”

“…let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thuslet us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

If you have time check out the entire chapter! I’m pretty sure I’ll be stuck here a while longer :)

Isn't She Lovely?

Last night while driving home I couldn't help but pray for women. I was so pressed to pray that tears flooded my eyes. I began praying about how women long to be lovely, cherished, and valuable. Yet, the world has taught women to act unlovely in order to get cheap, fast love. I don't think men realize how many things women encounter daily that chip away at their self-worth. The world has failed men as well because it's shown them how to lust after women, but not love them. So many women are living life with their love tanks half full and many times completely empty at that.

It's like trying to fill your car up with water, or olive oil. It may fill the car up, but the car wont run, unless you put the right kind of fuel in it. Same thing with women. There are a bunch of dysfunctional women roaming around with broken down minds, spirits and emotions. Lord bring healing! Awaken a generation of people who love. And cause every broken and hurting soul to come in contact with these awakened people. That their joy may be full. That they'd be rich in EVERY way, as your word says.

We love you Lord.

The King's Way

This song has to be one of my favorites! It's been in my heart all day today. The lyrics take me back to the basics. Jason Upton's music carries such a sweet, sweet, intimate anointing. When we decide to follow Jesus, our will can no longer be our priority. It's about His word, will and way. This song is a beautiful reminder. I pray it blesses you. Love you.

"There is a road that leads to peace, that leads to life, but few will follow. We're at the crossroads, which way will we go? There is not today a more holy way than the steps that lead me to the cross. Where my will can't be the priority, and these crowns I gain I count"

God Is Greater Than Our Hearts

"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this, we shall know that we are of the truth and can reassure our hearts before him; whenever our hearts condemns us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, and whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep His commandments and do what pleases him.” – 1 John 3:19-22 ESV


When we love in deed, we are not only blessing those whom our deeds are extended to, but we’re supplying our hearts the confidence needed to go before God. The Lord knows that our hearts will condemn us because we are with ourselves 24-7. We know when we’ve behaved poorly, when we’ve done something for selfish gain, and when we’ve hidden evil in our hearts toward others. We know it all, for we cannot escape ourselves. Others may not see our poor judgment outwardly, but we see and hear our own hearts.

Because we are so conscious of our own internal motives and hidden deeds that others may not see, our hearts continuously bring those things to our attention, causing us to feel unworthy to approach God with confidence. Yet, it's confidence that we need before God, if we want to receive whatever we ask for in prayers.

THE MESSAGE translation says it like this, “My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of, and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him.”

Even if we do good deeds, some of us know that our hearts will still find things to “accuse and condemn” us for. My heart seems to be a pro at that! It’s a trick of the enemy to keep us feeling lowly and undeserving of God’s goodness. Plus, some days are just bad days, and we act as fools. It’s the truth! Some days our flesh wins, and our spirit-man starves. What are we to do then? Not pray? Kick ourselves out of the game, and sit on the side lines? NO WAY! We have to remember from whom our righteousness comes!

I remember a dream I had many years ago. I had just been told, by someone I respected, that I wasn’t good enough, and the dream I had later soothed my soul and changed the direction I was headed in. In the dream, two of the homosexual men I was ministering to in that season, began manifesting demons. They began shouting and screaming at me in such chaos. In the dream, I shrunk back in fear because I kept hearing what that person told me about not being good enough. My heart kept saying, “You’re not worthy”, “You can’t do this”, “You’re not good enough”, “You have too many issues to help anyone”, and on and on with all sorts of lies to make me feel less than God’s best. Then, finally, the Holy Spirit rose up within me, and I stood up and said to the demons, “GO! In Jesus' name! Not because of who I am! BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!!”, and the dream ended.

This brings me to my next point. Our righteousness comes from Jesus, not by our works. While our deeds may silence our “accusing and condemning” hearts, our ultimate peace should come in knowing WHO HE IS in us. For, “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.”

Now, when I pray and my heart begins to whisper lies about my “righteousness”, I simply say, “Not because of who I am, BUT because of who YOU ARE. You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord, my Righteousness. I’ve been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You said if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).”

So "let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth", as a blessing to others, ourselves, and to God. But let us not forget that if our “accusing and condemning” hearts are not silenced by that alone, that Jesus is our source of righteousness. He died so we can live. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

It’s because of HIM.

He is greater than our hearts!

In a vision

Are you a prophet? It's really not that complicated to find out. The Bible says in Numbers 12:6 , "Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream." Many people take this verse to mean that if you're a prophet you will experience dreams and visions but that's not what this verse means at all. Many have dreams, visions and angelic encounters but not all are prophets.

Through our relationship with Jesus we are privileged to be able to communicate with God and that can involve dreams and visions. To be a prophet God will make Himself know to you in a vision. Has He come to you?

It's quit simple but the church makes it complicated. I think this is because people who are not prophets want to be counted as prophets, so they make their own list of requirements, but the Bible is pretty straight forward. We are spiritual beings with a momentary human experience, so we will experience super natural and prophetic things, but that doesn’t give us the mantel of a prophet.

Now my friend Newman had a vision of Jesus appear to him one day while resting. He's also had other interesting things that place along with that lately. He is more likely to walk in the role of a prophet because the Bible says, "I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision" which has happened to Newman. He also hears and sees God speaking to him in dreams. Whether or not it is time for him to walk in that mantel is not yet known, but he is a more likely candidate than some of the people walking around calling themselves prophets, just because they have a big mouth or strong opinion about something.

If God has not made Himself known to you in a vision you probably are not a prophet but that's okay. No need to be discouraged. Every part of the Body of Christ is important. You can still be prophetic and understand revelation for those things come from the Holy Spirit and are connected with your intimate relationship with Jesus. Why would you want to spend you life believing you were something that you are not? God clearly tells us in the bible how He identifies His prophets. You have strengths, gifts and talents. We all do! Don't you want to walk in your true role in the Body of Christ? I know I do!

The next time someone slaps the title of "prophet" of themselves look at their fruit and see if God has made Himself known to them in a vision. It's really that simple.

Willingly Submitted

"The command of Jesus was to capture the hearts of all people, not to military capture nations as did the Crusaders and the explorers from Christian nations in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The command was not to enforce Christian law on a group of unwilling subjects, but to love each person as God loved them, so that all willingly submitted to God's love" - Core Christianity by Elmer Towns

Which flow?

As spiritual beings, we need to be a little bit more discerning about a few things. For instance when we find, “hatred” in our heart toward a person, it might be because that person is struggling with hatred which is death. I’ve seen this several times especially with Muslim people. Someone could have a root of hatred and death because of the lifestyle they grew up in and that root can cause others to actually hate that person without knowing why. I know this may not make any sense to some readers, but think about the spirit of rejection. If someone walks in rejection because of past hurts and pain, it will actually cause others to reject them, which will in turn confirm to the rejected person that they are rejected, giving that spirit more power in the person’s life.

We have to be ever mindful of the streams we flow in. We hear a lot of people saying today, “just go with the flow” which is fine if you know what “flow” you are “flowing” in. We have to start listening for the voice of God and how the Holy Spirit speaks to us and to be aware of the schemes and plans of the enemy.

The enemy wants you to reject someone struggling with rejection so he can keep that person in bondage, but when you recognize what is happening, you can shower that person with acceptance and love; shining light in their darkness. The enemy wants you to fight and argue with those that have a root of hatred to prove to that person that the world is against them, but when you recognize what is happening, you can show mercy and grace instead of entering into whatever they are “flowing” in.

I hear something

I heard the Holy Spirit say just a second ago, “You can’t move forward, because you hear something” and then Kim Clement’s quote came back to me, “Speak what you hear, so you can see what you said….”

Wow! The reason I can’t settle for just anything is because I hear something diffrent in my heart but I haven’t spoken it, because I didn’t know I was hearing it until the Holy Spirit brought it to my attention. I thought it was just a desire of mine or wishful thinking that kept twirling inside of me.

What I’m hearing makes me expect something different then what I’m seeing. If I want what I’m seeing to change, I must speak out what I’m hearing. And now that I know it’s God’s desire for me I’m going to open my mouth and begin speaking this thing that I hear and THEN I will see it.

So simple, so basic, so elementary but it went straight over my head hahaha! Thank you Holy Spirit.