The God of the Do-Overs

Are you in need of a do-over?

How about a do-over of the do-over???

Well thank goodness we have an advocate with the Father that knows we not gonna get it right 100% of the time.  He knows we won't get it right not even 75% of the time. So our Father, the God that loves us as His own, gives us renewed mercies and a second chance.  Sometimes a third, and fourth chance too!


I found myself in need of a do-over and to be honest it wasn't my first. The enemy tried to make me feel bad, like a failure, like God would be too disappointed in me to help me.  But Satan is a liar, the bible calls him the father of lies. The God that we serve is faithful.  He knows that we won't get it right all the times, its one of the reasons we get a new mercy every morning (Lamentations 3:23).  I have to admit I let the devil talk for a while, so much so that I started to feel physically sick.  Then I was reminded of Ephesians 6, where it tells us to take on the whole armor of God.  Our Father has given us provisions to help protect us from the lies and darts of the enemy, we have to use them.

When life starts screaming at you, we have to learn not to scream back, but to take the authority we have in Jesus and make it sit down and get it together.  If you need a second chance to do it right, take it.  God didn't renew mercy in the morning for nothing.  He is not the out of luck God.  He is not the too bad, so sad God.  And he's definitely not the too little too late God.  He is Merciful, Compassionate, our Helper!  He is the abundance God.  Everything about Him is abundance and all that are in Him enjoy abundance.  So I encourage you to take your inheritance.  Live the life God has planned for you, and if you loose your way remember there is no condemnation in Christ.  All you have to do is repent, ask for forgiveness (1 John 1:9) and that grace and mercy is sure to come your way.

God Bless U 

By Prayer and Fasting

I have been praying for God to move on my behalf for a few things. At times I can see them being removed, but then another situation may come up and I'm presented with the issue all over again.  I was thinking about my circumstances all over again this morning, and the Holy Spirit brought to my remembrance Matthew 17:21.

"Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting". Matthew 17:21

 

 

The disciples could not cast a spirit out of a man's son and they couldn't understand why.  Jesus talked to them about unbelief and faith, but then He let them know that there are some things that will only be removed by prayer and fasting. 

 

I believe this is the answer to those issues of life that seem to have a foothold on us.  The things that no matter how hard we try, we can't shake it, or it lingers, or it seems to come up over and over again. When we pray and fast we are garnering strength from the spirit realm to help us overcome spiritual and earthly obstacles. when you fast you put the flesh under subjection which then causes your spirit man to rise up and have direct communication into the spirit.  The bible tells us to worship in spirit and truth because God is spirit. So the flesh that usually separates us has to take a seat and we draw closer to our heavenly Father for direction, purpose, and care.  I believe when we pray and fast the whole heavenly hosts takes notice.  The enemy then has to back down, the troubling spirits flee from us and God stands glorified in our lives.

 

 

I know I went a little deep there, but there is so much deeper to go.  But, in the interest of not losing not one soul, let's put it like this:  prayer and fasting removes obstacles out of the way, it gives the believer clarity, hope, and the determination needed to overcome. Most importantly God moves mightily on your behalf! So I encourage you to pray and fast for the following areas:

• closer to God
• spiritual enlightenment
• healing (physical, emotional, & spiritual)
• knowledge and discernment
• breakage of generational curses
• removal of sin and iniquity
• fruitful and productive ministries
• strong and loving family life
• financial security & prosperity
• safety
• etc. (anything that is on your heart)

 

I'm not telling you anything I don't know to be the truth.  God has moved in mighty ways, my thinking has been changed, and actual miracles have happen to ME as a result of praying and fasting.   You don't need to be in turmoil to fast, in fact it is better to go unto Him for nothing more than to be closer and to experience His love on a new level.  I pray this helps someone, I truly know what my next steps are as we go into November.  I will be praying for spiritual enlightenment, a deeper understanding, the healing of my family, physical healing for my husband and I, and financial relief.  If you would like to join me as I go forward in this season of praying and fasting, or if you would like for me to explain a bit more regarding the two, please feel free to leave me a message or email me and I will be sure to respond.

 

God Bless U

On A Personal Note...

I don't think I ever really write anything about myself. Today I want to share with you an area I am asking God to sharpen in me.  I need God and am believing for Him to equip me to believe in myself. 

I have enough self esteem to fool people most of the time, but never enough to fool myself any of the time.  What I mean is that lately I find self doubt a part of my thoughts more that I find self assurance.  This was once something I struggled with in childhood and I'm not entirely sure I've gotten over it.  As a matter of fact, I know I haven't.  I'm not talking about the kind of self esteem that gages how cute I am or if a boy thinks I'm worth talking to. That I have no problem with, and... well...that husband of mine is stuck with me!   I'm talking about the kind of self esteem that accepts I'm nothing apart from Christ, but also knows I'm everything in Him because of Him. I know that He didn't save me to leave me and forget about me and every situation that I will ever face.  But I find myself feeing unworthy and sometimes even helpless because of history.  On top of this comes guilt, because I know better.  I know that God loves me.  I know He has a plan for me.  I know it's not me that makes me worthy, but the grace and mercy that He gives me freely. 

So why can't I get it together?  Because sometimes even I;  the person that takes care of everyone else, that prays for others, that's always discarded until somebody wants a word from God; needs to be encouraged and reminded that God's grace is sufficient and that it's okay for me to matter.  Also, that every promise that God has made to me will come to pass.  I also need to be reminded that Satan wants to bring me down and ruin the relationship that I have with God.  But, I'm also reminded that he's a liar and a thief.  God has the final say and He's there to help his children along the way.  He won't even suffer one of us to be lost. (Thank you Jesus)

I thank God right now for this.  I wasn't sure what I was writing when I opened my computer, but I see now that God wanted to minister to me.  I needed to be able to see what He has been speaking so clearly in my ear.  I do believe that God has great things for me, my family, and my ministry.  I also know that if I can hold on a little longer it will come to pass.  If anyone reading this finds themselves attacked on every side, finds that the old things that used to plague you have shown back up from out of nowhere, I encourage you to take it to God in prayer right now.  Remember that the bible calls Satan a worthy adversary, because he plays dirty and he will do everything to deceive you and have you focused on the wrong thing.  Just remember to always enquire of the Father and He will direct your paths.  Tell the enemy, no way, he's a liar, and you refuse to play his dirty games.  Start to call out the promises of God in your life, speak life, health, favor, and blessings over yourself daily. Believe that you are as precious as God says you are.  That you matter to Him, so you better start mattering to yourself .  Know that there is nothing wrong with knowing who you are and whose you are.  You are a better person for it.   This advice I write is to myself first.  And I plan to walk in it right this moment!

After writing this I feel so encouraged to run on in the faith,  I hope you do too!

~God Bless U

Don't Give Up

I just want to quickly encourage you all to not give up.  So many times we are right on the edge of our breakthrough and because we loose steam, loose the fight, or stop pressing, we never get what God has right around the corner for us.  Ecclesiastes 9:11 says:
 "The race is not given to the swift nor the strong but he who endures until the end."

God would not admonish us to have endurance if we didn't need it.  He doesn't want us to give up!  If you just hold on a little longer, the blessing of the Lord is sure to overtake you.

Here's what I want to share with you today.  Do you know that the enemy gets busier as you get closer to God and what He has for you?  His number one priority is to keep you from getting there.  He wants to keep you depressed, oppressed, discouraged, downtrodden, impoverished, and useless. This keeps you from realizing who you are in Christ, who you are to God, and who God is to you.  Don't let him win.  Keep fighting! Keep believing!  Keep striving!  Don't give up!!!

Think of what would have happened if Abraham had given up, or King David, or Elijah, or most of all Jesus.  But they did not.  Jesus did not throw the baby out with the bath water, He suffered and endured for us.  As a matter of fact, He did it just for YOU!  So I encourage you to endure the sufferings and persecutions a little longer. Withstand the attacks of the enemy.  The Apostle Paul said  ^"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us", in Romans 8:18.  In other words nothing can compare to what God has coming up for you.  Believe that, stand on that, proclaim that, and don't give up!

~God Bless U

Proverbs 15

"A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit."

  Proverbs 15:1-4 (NKJV)                

 

This scripture really came in handy this last week, let me tell you why.  I am enrolled in a biology class this semester with the focus on human sexuality.  The class has been very rewarding in regards to learning different aspects of the body, the changes it goes through, and the different circumstances that effect men and women.  The class is taught by two instructors; one for the biology portion and the other for the psychology portion.  I am now on the psych part, and one of my assignments required me to do a discussion board with the rest of my class on the topic of gender roles and sexual orientation. The instructor wanted to know if I believed a person could choose their sexual orientation (whether they liked men or women or both) and also if it could be proven that people had no choice over the matter, should gay people be able to marry.

 

I hope you've caught on to my dilemma and frustration at this assignment.  I know some of you haven't. I know you're thinking this is a great opportunity to tell my professor and all my classmates what I believe God has to say on the subject.  To retell the account of Sodom and Gomorrah, to talk about the creation of Adam and Eve, and to argue the moral, spiritual, judgment implications the believer knows about this very topic. But, I did not do that.  I believed more than ever it was a time for me to be silent.  And I mean very quiet.  So much so that I had considered taking a 0 for the assignment.

 

I know you are asking the screen why right now, but it is because of this very scripture that I gave the following answer:

"Respectfully, I have no opinion I wish to share at this time."

I did not feel there was anything to profit from answering those questions and I highly suspect that someone in my class would have been offended with my answer. God is wise and he wants us to be wise too.  First of all, it's a science class, so there is a predisposition to believing what you can prove as opposed to my position of faith.  Secondly, I was not ministering to someone at that moment, so there was no need to throw my beliefs all over the place if it would not profit the Kingdom of God to do so.  Moreover, I go back to the scripture about casting your pearls before the swine; the Word of God is very precious to me and I'll never put it out there to be debated or examined just because.  Thirdly, I have a spirit of discernment and I never want to offend who God may allow me to draw one day.  So it a nutshell, now was not the time.

 

This scripture really helped me not to skip the assignment.  I felt God wanted me to give a soft answer and maybe this would help the instructor remove this assignment for future classes and show my classmates that just because you have the opportunity to speak doesn't mean we should always take it. We should always be led by the Spirit (Romans 8:14) and follow peace (Hebrews 12:14) as much as we can.  I pray this helps someone and blesses you real good.