The Greatest Gift EVER!!!

Yesterday I found myself reading through passages written in my personal journal. I came across the following written 12/2/15 and decided it was too good not to share.

The greatest gift God has ever given me is my life. Yes, he sent His son, but Jesus was sent so that I could live an abundant life. God desired so desperately for me to live my life abundantly that He sacrificed His only begotten son to see it happen. That's how valuable my life is. That's why I say it is the greatest gift God has ever given me. 

Since this gift is so precious and valuable, shouldn't I be doing something with it? Don't I owe it to God to produce something with this life He's given me? Going through life simply going to work, church, and back home....never stepping outside of my comfort zone, never sparking fire in the heart and mind of my neighbor, never giving birth to anything, never doing anything with the ideas I have...aren't these things like taking God's most precious gift, placing it on a shelf and forgetting about it? 

Now is the moment, now is the time for me to open my eyes and experience life. Now is the time to achieve abundance as it has been uniquely designed for me. The time is right now. I am creative and I hold the power to create the life I desire. Now is the time to take full advantage of this beautiful gift I have been given.

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. - John 3:16-17

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have  come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. - John 10:10-11

You Are Just the Vessel

I LOVE music with a beautiful message...regardless of genre. I enjoy the TV show Nashville, not just for the story line, but for the beautiful music that is showcased week after week. God often speaks to me through music and even more so through the story behind the music. Once particular song stuck out to me this morning as I watched my recording of the show. It is called, "It Ain't Yours to Throw Away". The part of this song that grabbed me... "What if you're just a vessel and God gave you something special? It ain't yours to throw away. It ain't yours to throw away. Every time you open up your mouth, diamonds come rolling out, It ain't yours to throw away..." Please listen to the song before continuing...

It Ain't Yours To Throw Away

Have you ever wanted to give up in the face of adversity? Have you ever had a moment so tough that it caused you to rethink everything you believed about yourself? Have you ever been told to stop dreaming about making it big and get a real job? Have you ever felt like what you are destined to do may just be too big for you to handle? When those moments of destiny homicide arise, remember this, you're just the vessel....It's not yours to throw away!!! Get up, dust yourself off, take up your cross and move towards your destiny! How can you give up on (throw away) something that is not even really yours?!?!? YOU ARE JUST THE VESSEL! The wine bottle doesn't say it can no longer hold the wine right? How then can you say you cannot carry something that you were created to hold until the appointed time and then release into the atmosphere!

That's what we are all created to do...hold, guard, nurture, protect our perspective destinies until the appointed time. When that time arises we MUST release that which we have carried! Just as in a natural pregnancy the final month is often the most uncomfortable. Expectant mothers are often anxious to give birth if for no other reason, they are excited to see their baby. Imagine the outrage at a mother that decides to "throw her baby away" in the 9th month! That's the equivalent of what we do when we throw away the seeds God plants inside of us when life gets difficult. Those seeds are precious and needed to impact this world! While we are the vessels, what is inside of us do not belong to us and therefore are not ours to throw away!

He Leads Me to His Best

"He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" - Psalm 23:3

Have you ever wanted something so badly that the idea of God not doing it for you never even entered into your mind? Have you ever prayed, fasted, and stepped out on faith only to have the door slammed in your face? Well I have, and let me be the first to acknowledge this one truth everyone seems to shy away from...IT HURTS! It hurts when you feel like God did not give you the one thing you so earnestly desired. But allow me to let you in on one little secret; if God shuts a door, He does it so that He can point you in the direction of another one. He blocks door number one because while what lay behind the door may seem like it's good for you, He knows this door is not His BEST for you! His ultimate desire is for you to walk in His perfect will and experience His very best in every area of your life!!!

We often think of God leading us as Him speaking every direction into our spirit, but sometimes His leading comes in the form of a denial. He didn't allow you to get the $15/hour job, because he knew He had already prepared the $30/hour position. Your first record contract fell through because He knew the record label was filled with crooks and thieves! Your first business failed because God saw the direction you were headed in was not His plan for your future. Even in God's denial or blockage of what appears right in our own eyes, He is leading us to the prepared place which contains the blessings He has stored up for us!

It's easy to recognize His leading when it comes in a way you can understand, so let's start by understanding this...in all things God is leading you towards the path that was designed for your greater good. He loves you and desires to see you whole and complete. Instead of shedding tears when the next door slams shut in your face, understand that is God's way of letting you know that door was not His best for you! I am learning to stop crying over closed doors that are at best sub-par, and start looking for the doors that God is trying to lead me to! In all things, He leads me!

This is not an easy process because it requires a re-programming of my brain. It requires a consist reminder that the pain and disappointment that often accompanies a closed door is a humanistic reaction to a spiritual decision. We know God's ways are not our ways, yet we often expect Him to prepare things the way we would prepare them. When we want to teach our children a lesson, we often sit them down and talk to them. We express what we want them to learn and expect them to just "get it". God however, understands that in order to truly learn a lesson there must be some sort of application of the knowledge gained. This means when you hear a word from God concerning your future, there has to be some sort of corresponding action to put that word into practice. When it is time to begin making the steps towards positioning ourselves to receive what it is that God has spoken, we try to act based on how we "think" the plan should go. We often forget His ways are not our ways. So instead of rejoicing when He leads us by closing all of the wrong doors, we listen to the negative thoughts and ideas presented by our limited humanistic understanding rather than relying on the truth of His word! Instead of rejoicing at the closed door, which by the way is a beautiful example of the process of elimination, we become sad and disappointed. I am  attempting to grow into a place of maturity that will enable me to recognize the closed doors as a sign of God's process of elimination. When the wrong doors are closed around me, eventually I will be left with the right door! As this lesson is learned (through practical application) I will then be ready for God to simply point to the door and I walk right through it!

If you are tired of the emotional roller coaster that comes along with closed doors, I encourage you to go to God and ask Him to give you personal revelation of how and where He is leading you. In all things, His desire is for your best life here in the earth and after you take your final breath. Following His leading even in the painful places, puts you in a position to live as He originally intended...perfect and complete, lacking nothing!!! Stay in the process. The closed doors do not feel great, but eventually you will learn how to be guided to the right door the first time around!

Sure!

Welcome to 2014! Oh, is my welcome a tad bit delayed? Well, here is my explanation...

In November of 2013, my husband and I began to walk through the most difficult time in our marriage. We did not have marital issues, but we had plenty of life issues. The death of a parent, diagnoses of an illness in a child, a job lay off, financial strain....the list piled high! In December the Lord spoke to us and told us to uproot our family and move from North Carolina to California. California is the one state I specifically asked the Lord NOT to send us to...I should have known it was coming! The move was orchestrated in a way that let us know... God is definitely behind this. Then we arrived and things got WORSE!

I went through the toughest mental battle that I can remember in recent years. I wanted to lash out at my husband as the enemy threw thoughts and ideas at me that said he wasn't good enough, wasn't doing enough....basically nothing he was doing was right in my mind. In actuality my husband was doing everything in his power to hold it together, but the frustration of our situation was an open door for the enemy to toy with my mind. As I fuddled through my thoughts, God would whisper the truth to me which would keep me from going too far off of the ledge so I kept my mouth shut and my relationship with my amazing God-given husband in tact. But as the enemy often does...he would return a little while later to temp and torment me further. What makes the enemy's lies believable is the way he uses just enough truth to make you think everything he's saying is correct. Some of the thoughts he threw at me were rational and played to the weaknesses of my flesh. I allowed those things to stick and thus put me into a very negative head space.

Part of what led me to such a state was my desire to remain a stay at home mom. I prayed to God earnestly to remove me from my last job and fear made me believe going back to work meant going back into the same bondage and discontentment. My husband spoke to this fear and assured me it would be different this time, but all I kept thinking was, "Would God move me all the way to California just to go back to a job?" The idea both scared and infuriated me. I started to wonder if everything I'd heard from God concerning my career as a writer was my own wishful thinking. I cried and pleaded with God for guidance and reassurance, but He said nothing. I will share revelations I've learned regarding the delayed response in a different blog, but for now just know...that delay spoke VOLUMES!

When I felt I could not go on another day, a dear sister of mine asked me to call her. I'd avoided calling her because my own fear about going back to work made me think she'd judge me for my decision. In fairness to her, she's only shown me love and support in all of the years that I've known her, but again the enemy was playing in my mind. When I called her and told her about my job, she instantly said, "The Lord showed me a job for you, and I thought it was weird, but that's what He showed me." That's all I needed to hear to silence the fret inside of me that was consuming me daily over going to work. Let's be clear, I don't mind working, but I MUST first fulfill my duties as a wife and mother. It's difficult to work full time and take care of the home, but as long as I'm in the grace of God, I know I can do it. My fear was living outside of His grace.

Once I tackled the ridiculous fear of working again, God started to deal with me on other emotions that I was bottling inside; resentment, frustration, doubt...all were taking turns in my mind. When I realized it was starting to consume me I reached out to another sister and asked for her prayers. The very next day I heard God speak to my heart and I felt the spirit of torment BREAK! The prayers of my sisters found me at my weakest point and helped me over the hurdle of deep distress, sadness, and fear. I can't stress the importance of reaching out to like minded believers, but again...another topic for another blog posting.

The day the Lord spoke to me wasn't this huge event. I was driving and crying to Him saying, "Lord, I do not understand this. I know you, you know me. We talk. What's going on." In that moment the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "Yes, you do know Me!" I began to weep at that simple reply because He was right, I do know Him and to know Him is to know that NO MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, HE WILL ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF ME! I felt an assurance rise up in me that I have never experienced before. He comforted my soul and gave me peace! I know Him. He is ALWAYS in control! Whatever He wants will happen!

The very first scripture I learned when I came into relationship with God was Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord will all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." I never thought this scripture would speak so clearly to me all these years later, but it did! All I had to do was trust Him! I may not have understood everything, but I understood the One who controls everything! From that day to this one I have watched God fulfill promises concerning our lives and one word has remained alive and well in my spirit... SURE! I am SURE I know my God and He will always deliver!

The Desperate Place

I recently watched a video in which Vashawn Mitchell spoke about the young man that wrote the song "Nobody Greater". Apparently the young man was going through an extremely difficult time in his life. He turned to God and began to pray and worship. As he did, the lyrics to "Nobody Greater" began to flow out of him.

My point? When you go before God with a heart of pure prayer and worship you may find that what you need to change your situation is already inside of you. The young man had lost his job, but the song that is arguably one of the most beautifully sincere gospel songs ever written was inside of him. The song has touched people all over the world, and has assuredly changed his financial situation! Had he not been in a desperate place, would he have ever gone to God and heard those words in his spirit?

Often times we find ourselves backed into a corner and instead of going to God with pure worship we go in a state of panic and self pity. We throw "tantrums" and whine about how unfair life is when in reality this is the time to enter into worship. Its easy to worship when your heart is filled with gratitude, but can you worship when everything around you seems terribly wrong? Can you worship when it feels like God is no longer there? This is the truth of who you are. Are you a worshiper or a whiner? Can you learn to appreciate the process that will propel you into your destiny?

Time and time again we've heard testimonies of God delivering people out of tough situations just in a nick of time. The saying "He's an on time God" is well known all over the world. Why then do we fret when it seems as though the world is crumbling around us? Does He not know and understand your need? Is there ever a chance of Him failing you or not providing for you? No....not a chance! It's time to learn to appreciate the desperate place and use it as it was originally intended....as a springboard for your success!  God was a master plan for your life. If you begin to worship Him from the depths of your being, you may be surprised at what flows out of you. The next worship song that brings people all over the world into a place of peace so that they may experience the presence of God may be right inside of you! The next book that helps point millions in the direction of healing and wholeness may be waiting on you to open your mouth and worship your Creator! Don't get lost in the desperate place...worship there!

Watch the video I am referring to here

Living 101

John 10:10

New King James Version (NKJV)

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

I have read this scripture many times over and never had the level of understanding that I do now that I am finally doing that which I was created to do....write. When I began writing a few years ago I never imagined I'd feel the type of freedom and excitement I now feel when I sit down at the computer and complete a compelling chapter or blog post. I did not remember the young girl I once was that won literary award after literary award based on my writing ability. I forgot all about the applause and praise I received because of my raw ability to create story lines that entertained the reader. Now that the Lord has opened eyes I feel like I am living for the first time. 

The above referenced scripture means more to me than it ever has before. I feel like I finally have life. I've had my relationship with the Lord for years now, so spiritually I was fulfilled. My relationship with Him gives me great peace and freedom, but the natural side of me was lacking something I couldn't quite put my finger on. I had a decent paying career that I was very good at, but it never  made me feel like I was impacting lives to the extent to which I desired. I began to search within myself and question the Lord as to what I was really intended to do.

A few nights later I had a dream. In that dream the characters were having a heated conversation directly in front of me. I wanted to intervene and help through the conversation to come to a resolution. When I tried to intervene I woke up. I remember sitting straight up in the bed and realizing the dream could become a novel if I could dedicate the time it took to write it. I went to my desk in the corner of my bedroom, turned on the lamp and began to write in one of the many journals I store on the desk. That night was when it first hit me. I have the talent, to open up a whole new world with my mind. I can create a space for the reader to escape to when he/she wants to escape life. At that moment I began to live in a new way. My natural fulfillment began to match my spiritual one.

You may be wondering why I am sharing this with you...well, I'm inclined to believe I am not alone in the quest for natural fulfillment. How many times have you gone to work at a job that you hate? How often do you ask yourself what you can do to satisfy the creative side of yourself? If you were able to do anything for the rest of your life would you keep doing what you are doing? Most people are not doing what they love, they do what pays the bills. I submit that is not living life more abundantly. Jesus came that we would not only be forgiven for our sins, but so that we could live the best possible life while we are here on the earth. Often times fear holds us back and prevents us from ever creating the opportunities that will open the doors of our future.

We have the spirit of the creator on the inside of us, that means we should be able to create opportunities that not only provide for us but also provide a little earthly happiness. I urge you to pull on that creative side and create your next opportunity. Begin to live in the destiny you were created for. Shake the fear that prevents you from starting that business, earning your degree, singing your original song, or penning your first novel. You were created with a purpose and ability to be able to create something out of nothing. Have the courage to live in the creative mindset you were born with! Go back to the child you once were and create an opportunity to live the dream life made you believe you could not achieve. As long as you're still alive, there is still time for you to wake up and begin walking in your destined place!

The Naked Place

Genesis 3:6-10 

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?" So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

Of course in modern day we do not sew together leaves to hide ourselves, but the principle is still alive today. When we do or experience things that we are ashamed of we hide behind our smiles, designer clothes, titles, jobs, etc... Even though we know our God already knows and sees all we still tend to try to "hide" those things we are ashamed of. We are afraid to be naked before our God because being naked means admitting our mistakes, pain, anguish, despair, and failure. We are afraid of the vulnerability our nakedness implies. When someone is naked, everything about their body is exposed. That is how God desires us to appear before Him.  Not physically naked, but emotionally and spiritually bare so that He can get to the root of our issues and heal us from the inside out. 

It's time for us to stop hiding behind our culture, education, money, designer clothing, nice homes, children, spouses, etc... and admit to our God that we are in need of His expert assistance to deal with the issues of our hearts. When we do not allow Him to clean our wounds properly, they do not heal properly. Just as a natural wound becomes infected when it is not properly cleaned, so does your heart. Our hearts have to be purged of every negative word ever spoken over our lives. We have to remain open before our King to allow Him to operate on the broken areas of our life. Our experiences catapult us toward our destiny and purpose when we allow Him access to every part of our being, but when we limit His access by hiding behind stuff, positions, and titles those same experiences begin to hold us captive.

God desires to make everything work together for our good, but He can only use what you allow Him to use. Before He can use it, you have to allow Him access so that He can help you process it properly. Yield to Him. Disrobe before Him (lay aside everything you use to cover your issues). Give Him every part of you so that He may free you and use you for His original intentions. Allow Him to take you back to whole place you were originally created to live in. The shame no longer belongs to you. Jesus took it away when He died on the cross. Give all of your issues over to Him so that you can live in total dominion in every area of your life!

Where Are YOU Shining YOUR Light?

 

 

 

If you walk outside at the brightest point of the day when the sun is completely unobstructed and turn on a flashlight, will that flashlight produce light?  Sure it will.  Will that light help you to see any better than you already do?  That's doubtful since it is already bright outside.  The light of the sun will more than likely prevent you from seeing the light that is being produced by the flashlight.



Now wait until its dark outside, a night where the cloud are blocking the moon so very little light is being produced from the sky, go back outside and turn on the exact same flashlight.  Will that same light help you to see better than you already do?  Yes!  Why, because you have now turned the light on in a dark place.  There are no other light sources competing for the spotlight (that will preach all by itself, but I won't go there in this post)

Matthew 5:16 tells us to let our lights shine before others that they may see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.

If we are only around places that are already filled with light (places where other Christians are gathered together), will our light still shine?  Yes, but like the flashlight, it won't help anyone to see our Father any better, because its already daylight in those places.  Instead, we should step into dark places, so that our light can be seen and draw people to the source of our light... Jesus Christ.  Have you ever watched insects buzz around a light at night?  They are drawn to the light.  During the day that same light can remain on, but there won't be any bugs around it.  Why?  Because the sun is out so there is light everywhere.  The single bulb gets losts in the sea of light being produced by the sun. The bulb no longer stands out!

To truly have an impact on our dark world, we (those of us that carry the light of the Lord on the inside of us) must begin to go into the dark places so that those that do not know Him, can become drawn to His light!  You are the representation of heaven on the earth.  If you aren't going into the dark places to allow your light to shine, those places will remain forever dark with no guidance into the light of life.

WHAT ARE YOU REALLY FEELING?

 

 

 

One of the 1^st things I tell every client I sit down with is that I’m not interested in talking about their anger.  Anger is the easiest emotion to feel because it does not require vulnerability or emotional nakedness.  It is a modern day fig leaf of sorts.  Just as Adam and Eve hid their nakedness from God behind fig leaves that they had sewn together, people often hide their pain, disappointment, rejection, fear, etc… behind a wall of anger.  When I’m angry I feel charged.  I feel like I could just run through who ever made me upset.  I don’t feel vulnerable at all.  I don’t feel scared. In fact, the person that I’m angry at should be the one that’s afraid.  Anger is the shield that helps protect our feelings….or is it?

I think anger is an excuse to remain a coward… YES, I said it!  When you constantly chose to become angry and lash out rather than deal with what is really bothering you, what you are really saying is, “I’m scared to let this person know I cared enough to be hurt.”, “I’m embarrassed to let you know how I really feel because I’m afraid you’ll view me differently.”, or “I’m afraid to let you see the real me.”

It takes a tremendous amount of courage to stand emotionally naked and let people see the truth behind your anger.  Are you really angry at the checkout girl that yelled at you, or are you expressing anger as a way to hide the hurt you felt from the verbal abuse of someone else?  As someone that formerly had an extremely bad temper, I have to constantly check the roots behind my emotions.  It’s not an easy process, but its one I am committed to.  I want to remain emotionally honest, not just with others, but with myself as well.  If there are triggers that cause me to become angry, I need to investigate those and seek God for healing in that area.  It’s okay to get angry, but it’s not okay to stay that way.  It’s also not okay to live as someone who angers easily.  Show me someone that can go from zero to one hundred over the least little thing and I’ll show you someone that has some deep pain that needs to be dealt with.

Stop taking the easy way out! Be courageous enough to deal with the real emotions!

No More Road Trips In Pintos!

 

 

One of the most beautiful things about humans is our ability to make choices. We are not purely driven by instinct, we can follow our hearts. The difficult thing about following your heart is sometimes the heart wants people/things that are not good for you. That’s where God's gift of free will comes into play. You can choose to connect with people that are going nowhere and taking you with them, or you can choose to let go of those people and connect with those that will help to propel you into your destiny. Choosing to remain connected to those that hurt, mislead, abuse, and misuse you and expecting to reach your full potential in life is like getting in a beat up 1970 Pinto and attempting to drive from coast to coast. It was a BAD idea to start with and you'll be lucky if you get five miles down the road! On the other hand, when your heart leads you to people/things that are in God's perfect will for your life, you must be willing to step out on faith and accept them. Examine your choices.....Is your heart leading you closer to Him, or further away? Do you choose what is right because it’s the right thing to do, or do you only do the right thing when there is an audience? Better choices= a BETTER LIFE! Stop being afraid of the big blessings.....step out and GO GET IT! -No more road trips in Pintos....they get you nowhere!!!

You Can Still Fight!!!

As a youngster it did not take very much to provoke me into a fight.  I fought with my ugly words first, and if the foe did not back down, there were two powerful fists waiting for some action!  As I grew in life and in God I did my very best to stop fighting.  The physical part came easy, but it took a while to tame this tongue of mine.  Truth be told, I'm still working on it, but it is nothing whatsoever like it once was.  And I truly believe that when I do maintain control of this tongue, God is pleased with the way I fight.

Some get confused when I talk about fighting and God being pleased in the same sentence.  There was a time when I was also confused on this point.  I thought being a Christian meant not fighting anymore.  I metaphorically laid down and allowed, people, life, and the enemy to just beat up on me.  I hid the fighter inside of me, and allowed this timid person (that I still don't know) to come over me.  I did that until I got tired of being sad, hurt, and feeling all alone.  At that point, the woman that I was created to be stood up on the inside of me and said, "NOT ANOTHER DAY"!!!

I refused to be mishandled, misused, and mistreated.  I refused to lay down...I absolutely would not do it...not for another second!!!  I began to fight with the God given gift that I have been ordained to use.... MY PRAISE!  Praise in a weapon of warfare, it is a weapon of mass destruction!  It is the catch all end all in spiritual battles!  Every battle must first be won in the spirit realm before you can win in the natural.  Now, when opposition comes I go immediately to my weapon!  There are different levels of praise that fit each battle.  I just choose the level needed to win the battle.  I have heard too many Christians say, "he(the enemy) may have won the battle, but he didn't win the war".. NO, FORGET THAT!!!  THAT JOKER GETS NOTHING!!!!  He gets no victory over my life!  ALL I DO IS WIN, WIN, WIN no matter what!!!  When sad thoughts come, I praise!  When someone says or does something to try to hurt me, I praise!  When it looks like all hope is lost, I praise...because I know the outcome...I WIN!  My future is bright!  I fight with my weapon of praise and the situation turns around faster than I ever thought it would!

If you don't believe me, try it!  Really try it....try God for yourself!  Use your gift of praise when it seems all hell has broken loose in your life. Watch carefully and see what God does on your behalf!  Its time out for scared timid Saints... its time to fight like your life depends on it because guess what?  It does!!!!

 If the bible tells us that the angels do battle in the heavens, what do you think they are battling over?  When the messenger angel was going to deliver the message to Daniel, he got held up in battle and Michael (an angel of war) had to go to his aid.  If you have been praying about something and have not seen your answer....ask God to dispatch more angels on your behalf and while you are waiting.....FIGHT!

Open your mouth and shout unto God with the voice of triumph (Psalm 47:1)!  Praise Him with the timbrel and dance (Psalm 150:4)! The only way you lose any battle is if you never fight.

Its time to sop fighting dirty, and start fighting with the weapons given to us by the Almighty!  I am a living witness, when you take EVERYTHING to Him, He perfects EVERYTHING concerning you!  I have witnessed what an active prayer life combined with an active PRAISE LIFE will produce!  If you aren't sure whether or not you fight dirty, please see definition below.

Love you all,

Otescia

Dirty Fighting = Using physical violence or mean, hateful, hurtful, degrading, and discouraging words to willfully and intentionally make your point or obtain the object of your desire at the emotional or physical expense of your opponent

Watch YOUR Mouth!!!

2 Timothy 2:22-26

The Message (MSG)

^22-26 Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.

When I went through my divorce I decided being divorced meant I never had to argue again.  I refused to go into another marriage filled with those types of emotions.  Even though I said those things to myself, it took the Lord stepping in and speaking directly to me for me to really get it!  He first brought the most gentle, supportive, and loving soul into my life…my husband. When the Lord revealed to me that Lyndell was my husband He gave me some very specific instructions.  One of which was, “You must get control of your mouth.  He will not tolerate you speaking to him any kind of way, he hates arguing”.  Its one thing for a person to demand your respect, it’s another when the Lord tells you to give it!  Because let’s face it, speaking to each other properly is a form of respect.  I must confess this has been an easier area for me to watch my mouth because my husband ALWAYS speaks to me out of love and respect.

(Side Note: the saying, “make-up sex is the best sex” is dysfunctional!!!!!  What makes this more enjoyable is the raw passion the two parties share.  In the interest of saving you both a lot of frustration and/or painful words, I urge you to find a better, healthier way to express your passion and keep the spice in your marriage!)

The hard part for me has been learning to speak to others with respect even when they do not do so with me.  The scripture did not say only refrain from arguments when the other person is nice to you!  We must always conduct ourselves according to this passage no matter how rude or unpolite the other person is.  I will be the first person to confess  I don’t always pass the test, but I continue trying and with God's help I getting much better. 

When the Lord spoke to me about Lyndell I had no idea the above scripture even existed.  When I came across the scripture one day in my personal study time, I realized this not arguing thing went well beyond my marriage.  It’s His will for us to be “a gentle listener and a teacher that keeps our cool”!  That means even though you may be right, there is still a correct way to present what you are trying to teach the other person.  Who listens when they are being belittled, yelled at, or ridiculed?   Instead of listening to what you are saying (teaching), they go on the defense and now neither of you are listening!  Another thing to remember is, you are a living witness!  Everything you say and do reflects your walk with Christ.  Arguing with people affects your witness.  Will they hear you when you try to share the love of God if you just cussed them out yesterday? Will the unbelieving spouse come to Jesus if you are constantly yelling and fussing? Can you pass the test of not being argumentative?  Is it more important for you to express your emotions, or for you to show Jesus to a dying world?!?! 

We have to become better at showing His presence on the inside of us.  We are His ambassadors here in the earth.  When people see us, they have to see the love of Jesus.  If we are arguing, Jesus is not being seen in us.  Together, we can change this world!  We can make a difference in the lives of those that are lost, but it starts with watching what we say and how we say it!

Love you all,

Otescia

It Gets Even Better!

A couple of weeks ago, my (very profound and awesome) Pastor was teaching during bible study and he mentioned a scripture that really stuck out to me.  It was not a scripture that I had never heard before, but in that moment it became alive for me in a way that felt brand new!

Haggai 2:1-9 (Message)
On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Word of God came through the prophet Haggai: “Tell Governor Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak and all the people: ‘Is there anyone here who saw the Temple the way it used to be, all glorious? And what do you see now? Not much, right?
^4-5 “‘So get to work, Zerubbabel!’—God is speaking.
“‘Get to work, Joshua son of Jehozadak—high priest!’
“‘Get to work, all you people!’—God is speaking.
“‘Yes, get to work! For I am with you.’ The God-of-the-Angel-Armies is speaking! ‘Put into action the word I covenanted with you when you left Egypt. I’m living and breathing among you right now. Don’t be timid. Don’t hold back.’

^6-7 “This is what God-of-the-Angel-Armies said: ‘Before you know it, I will shake up sky and earth, ocean and fields. And I’ll shake down all the godless nations. They’ll bring bushels of wealth and I will fill this Temple with splendor.’ God-of-the-Angel-Armies says so.

⁸ ‘I own the silver,
I own the gold.’
Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.

⁹ “‘This Temple is going to end up far better than it started out, a glorious beginning but an even more glorious finish: a place in which I will hand out wholeness and holiness.’ Decree of God-of-the-Angel-Armies.”

The 9th verse in the KJV is the well known scripture I mentioned, "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of hosts."

For anyone that has ever had to start your life over, experienced what seemed to be a major setback, or an extremely painful loss, I want you to read these next few lines VERY CAREFULLY!

Think back to what you feel was the best time of your life.  Go ahead..... you have permission to really think on it.  Remember how happy you felt?  Remember how well you were doing?  Relish that good feeling for just a moment.

Now look at today.  Are you in a "not very much" stage?  Do you wonder why God would bless you so, and then allow you to lose it...especially through no fault of your own?  Seems unfair, huh?  I know...I've been there.  I wondered how God could allow my marriage to fail when I worshipped Him so completely and did everything in my power to please Him and Him alone.  I'm not claiming I was perfect, but I had a heart that loved God, so I did the very best I could to walk uprightly before Him.  Yet, I lived through a long and HARD "not very much" season.

Now, its VERY easy to get depressed when going through a "not very much season", BUT if you continue reading, God assures us that this season is but for a moment! (re-read verses 4-9)

IT IS TIME TO GET TO WORK! GOD IS SPEAKING!  PUT INTO ACTION THE PROMISES HE WHISPERED TO YOU WHEN HE DELIVERED YOU OUT OF YOUR MISERABLE PLACE!!!

Before you know it, God will shake up your surroundings!  He will give you wealth! He already owns it all anyway!  That good place you thought about a moment ago will not be able to compare to glory of the place you are about to walk into!  After all He has already done for you, think about how much greater He is going to have to do to top what He has already done!  You shall have a glorious ending and God will grant you wholeness and holiness!!! 

I don't know about anyone else, but I get excited everytime I think on this!  God has done some miraculous things for me in the past, but the best miracles are in front of me!  My longing for former glory is over, today I press towards tomorrow's glory, and tomorrow I will press towards the following day's glory!  Everyday is a new opportunity to move closer to my glorious destiny!  Make today the last day you long for the old (house, man/woman, job, car, etc...)!  Your future holds more promise than your past ever could!  Stop dreaming of what could have been, and start expecting what is to come!  You can't drive forward looking at what's behind you!  Likewise, you can't expect to LIVE in your future glory while yearning for what was only meant to be for a season!

Otescia R. Johnson

He's Looking For Me!

2 Chronicles 16:9

"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him..."

This scripture has been dear to my heart since the very first time I read it.  I pull on it often, especially when I am in need of a particular thing.  For so long I heard people preach about how the enemy is looking to devour someone, but I NEVER heard anyone preach GOD is looking too!  God is looking for those of us who are committed to Him because He wants to flex (show Himself strong)on our behalf! 

Now, I can't speak for anyone else, but I find much more power in knowing GOD is looking for me! 

If you read the entire chapter, you will see that Asa king of Judah was facing Baasha king of Israel.  Baasha started an attack against Asa by fortifying Ramah so that Asa could not leave or enter. In other words....Baasha backed Asa into a corner.  Asa, determined not to be defeated turned to another king for assistance.  Ben-Hadad king of Aram came to Asa's aid and Baasha stopped fortifying Ramah. Seems like a win right?..... WRONG!

What did Asa do wrong?  He sought the help of man and not God! Because Asa went to the king of Aram for help, he now owed a debt to that king.  By this line of reasoning Asa would have had to return that favor (debt). This was not God's plan for Asa!  Previously God delivered both the Ethiopians and the Lubims into Asa's hands.  Why?  Because Asa trusted and relied on God alone!  God wanted to bless Asa again in the same manner, but Asa messed it up b relying on Ben-Hadad instead of God!

Fast forward to present day....How many times have we turned to other people for help instead of relying solely on God?  How many times have we allowed fear and panic to interfere with our trust relationship with God?  When backed into a corner, do we call on God for help or a friend?

God desires to show Himself strong on our behalf!!!  He's only waiting to be invited into the situation!  He will not impose Himself into your life!  You must invite Him in to help you!  He's search the whole earth looking for someone to bless.  Why not be the person He finds!!!!  Keep your heart pure and your hands clean before Him, invite Him into your situation and watch how He shows out!!! 

If you read the rest of the chapter you'll see that God was displeased with Asa's choice to rely on a man instead of Him.  How many times have we displeased God in this manner?

The choice is clear!  Chose to rely fully on God!  He's looking for those whose hearts are committed to Him!  Be that person!  Allow Him to find you and show Himself strong on your behalf!  When you are faced with your next difficult situation, pull on this scripture!  Remind Him of His word!  He already knows it, but remember you have to invite Him into your situation!  Refrain from calling friends and family members!  Next, time call Him and allow Him to prove Himself to you!!!

He's looking for you!  Position yourself so that you may be found!!!


God bless you all.  I pray you are strengthened and encouraged by reading this blog!
Otescia R. Johnson

Your Testimony is Under Attack!

Ever wonder why it seems that when you take one step towards your destiny you get pushed two steps back?  Have so-called friends turned their backs on you and said hurtful things to or about you?  Have you been hit with disappointing news?  Do you wonder if you're really called to the destiny you see for yourself?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions this post is for you!

We all know we have a common enemy.  One who sets out to discourage us from reaching our full potential in Christ. 1 Peter 5:7-9 states: "Be sober, be vigilant; because our adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour".  I believe there are many reasons why the enemy would like to devour mankind, but the one I'd like to focus on today is YOUR TESTIMONY! 

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death"- Revelation 12:11

Your testimony is three fold. 

1.  It strengthens your faith in God.  From the moment God delivers you from one thing you will always be able to go back and say, "God I remember when You...."

2. It strengthens others whose faith is not quite as strong in a given area.  The first time I needed a major healing I did not have a "remember when" to pull from, so I pulled on someone else's.  I thought to myself.... "If God delivered so and so, I know He'll deliver me!"  Thinking on His past works whether they are in your life or someone else's will strengthen your faith!

3. It helps to defeat the enemy. Revelations say they overcame him by the word of their testimony!  Any and every weapon that can help defeat the enemy is powerful!

With the power that your testimony holds, you better know the enemy desires to destroy it.

Thankfully, we already know that He is a defeated foe with no power except what we give him!  Regardless of what is thrown at you, if you stay connected to God, His perfect plan will manifest in your life.  There are situations that arise to strengthen you.  Its important to recognize those will never overtake you!  When something comes before me, I have learned to ask God..."What is the purpose of this? What are You trying to teach me?"  Once He reveals those answers my prayer changes to one of gratitude. "Thank you Lord for teaching me....., please help this lesson to always remain at the forefront of my thought process."  Now that lesson becomes a part of my testimony! 
Don't immediately get discouraged when rough patches come.  Storms are always allowed to make you stronger and to strengthen your testimony!!! 

This is why your testimony is under attack.  The enemy does not want you to have a testimony.  He wants you to become discouraged and throw in the towel.  He wants you to basically "curse God and die".  Do not allow a defeated foe to steal what God is giving you.... a powerful testimony to be used for His glory! Fight the good fight of faith!  Stand tall in the victory Jesus gave us all when He died on the cross!  Never give up... push on until your destiny is fulfilled, and then push some more after that!  Its not over until you are standing before the Lord!

Guard your TESTIMONY!  Its a weapon... KEEP IT LOCKED AND LOADED!

Is Your Baby Fully Developed?

While sitting in bible study last night the Lord laid something on my heart that I know needs to be shared, so here goes.....

When a woman is impregnated, before the baby can be born it must go through many different stages of growth and development.  At the point of conception the egg becomes a zygote.  Its barely more than a single cell, but within days it grows into many cells and becomes a morula.  A morula grows into a blastocyst.  The blastocyst then becomes and embryo.  The embryo grows until about 8 weeks when it becomes a fetus.  A fetus grows through out the remainder of the pregnancy until birth when it is born as a newborn infant.  According to most states, the fetus has to be born breathing, meaning taking at least one breath outside of the womb before it is legally recognized as a baby.  What is the relevance of this science lesson?

GOD GROWS OUR SPIRITUAL FETUS THE SAME WAY!

IF YOUR SPIRITUAL "BABY" HAS NOT GROWN IT IS NOT READY TO BE BORN!

It can be so difficult to wait to birth the baby God plants on the inside of us, but as with a natural baby, if your baby is born out of season (prematurely) the chances for survival are greatly diminished in fact, it may not live at all!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 says: "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born and a time to die..."

So while waiting may be difficult and you may be anxious to get out there and help all those God has called you to help, if you try to begin outside of your season you may prematurely expose your baby to a world it is not ready for!  The "lungs" may need a little more time to develop.  The "stomach" may not be ready to accept food!  As with your natural baby, your spiritual baby is precious and fragile!  It needs the full gestation period to grow inside of you!  Nurture your baby on the inside of you with the correct food (The Word)!  Exercise while you are carrying your baby (focus on things that keep you close to God) so that after the baby is born you are not carrying around extra "weight".  Drink plenty of water to keep your system cleansed (keep your hands clean and your heart pure).  Taking these steps during the gestation (waiting period) will ensure your baby has the best chance of survival after birth!

Well you may be thinking, I've been waiting for a long time.  When will I give birth?  When is God going to open the door so that I can walk out what He has placed inside of me?  Or the realest, most frightening thought of all, "What if I am not called to do what I desire to do?"

Isaiah 66:9 (NIV)
"Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?" says the Lord. "Do I close up the womb when I bring to delivery?" says your God.

God will NEVER plant a pure desire inside of you and NOT bring it to pass!  He will not plant something inside of you that He does not intend to birth!  The thoughts of "what if I'm wrong" or "what if it never happens" are tricks of the enemy designed to get you to abort your baby because abortion is the only way to stop a God implanted baby from being born.  Abortion in the spiritual sense includes all things that separate you from God.  Thankfully, God makes allowances for our mistakes... that's why He sent Jesus.  So I don't want anyone to read this and think, "I sinned yesterday so I aborted my baby".  No, that's not what I am saying.  To be very clear, You abort when you walk away from God, when you turn your heart away from Him. Even then, God is so forgiving that if you ever come back to Him, He will forgive you and re-implant you with that same seed!  Of course, you will have to "carry" the baby again, but in the end no matter what you've done in your past, if your heart is pure and your hands are clean God will "break your water" and cause your baby to take it's first breath!

No matter what,  remember your baby has to grow!  Rarely does God show us the entire picture the first time He speaks to us concerning our purpose.  He gives us glimpses according to what we are able to handle at that point.  As we grow and mature in Him, the spiritual "fetus" grows inside of us and He reveals more of what the "baby" will look like at birth!  We must wait patiently for God to "break our water"!  We know once a woman's water breaks in the natural birth is imminent!  The same is true in the spirit!  Wait for God to give you the FULL YES!  Wait for Him to say, PUSH!  Give your destiny the gestation it deserves!  If you are getting tired of waiting (as every natural mother does toward the end of the pregnancy) remind yourself that your baby needs the FULL gestation period!  A baby born at the beginning of the third trimester has a 90% survival rate.  90% is pretty good, but don't you want you baby's guaranteed success?!?!  Wait until your season has fully come!

Love you all,
Otescia R Johnson

~As always, thanks for reading and I pray you are encouraged and strengthened after reading this blog!  Please leave your thoughts/comments and share this blog with anyone you know that may benefit from reading it!

Just Jump!

Have you ever had the feeling that you just suddenly "woke up"? Not from actually sleeping in the natural, but in your spirit. If not, keep living its bound to happen. Some people call them "aha moments" or light bulbs turning on. Call it what you like, but to me it feels like I just "woke up". Like an area of my mind and spirit have been resting waiting for this very moment. The point of this blog post is actually not about waking up, rather what I woke up to.


Its like I opened my eyes and I was standing on the edge of a cliff. A huge mountainous cliff, and as I tilted my head forward to see what was beneath me there was utter darkness. Nothing but darkness all the way down to depths unknown. In front of me there is another cliff, but the gap is too wide for me to safely jump. I can see the sun shining on the other side, and there is a storm behind me so I can't turn around and go back. In that moment panic began to rise in my chest, but just as quickly as it rose, I felt the peace of God and heard Him whisper, "Its okay, jump". The natural response is "Heck, no. I'm not jumping off of a cliff!" But when God is saying jump fear has a way of taking a back seat... IF YOU TRUST HIM!

At that point I began to realize what God was showing me. I'm on the edge of the next phase of my life and I have absolutely no foresight as to how I will get from where I am now over to the next chapter. Its not as simple as turning the page when there is darkness between you and the next step. Its not easy to just step out on faith when it looks like there is only darkness beneath you. What I have to remember and what you have to remember is when we are obedient to God and jump, He will not simply steady your feet or extend the Earth for you to walk on, HE WILL GIVE YOU WINGS TO FLY!!!

Before entering a new chapter in my life I have always gone through a trust exercise with God. He's nudged and I've honestly been a little hesitant each time. I've gone back to Him and asked, "God are you sure?" As if He would ever speak something to me that didn't already exist. (smile) What has always caused me to fall in love with Him all over again is how He gently reminds me of the previous times when He's told me to jump.

It started out with little baby steps, like a baby learning to walk from the sofa to the coffee table, but as I've grown over the years the surface between the steps has gotten less and less sturdy, and the distance has grown wider and wider. Yet through it all, He's always there and I've NEVER fallen when stepping out on faith.

As believers we are constantly challenged to trust God more. Today's trust level will not suffice next year, for some not even next week. You're going to have to get to the point that you jump every time He says jump! The more risky the step of faith, the bigger the reward on the other side! I may have only seen darkness beneath me, but my concern should not been the darkness. My focus should have been on His words. HE said jump. He is my ultimate saviour. I have absolutely nothing to fear when He is with me and He is always with me, even unto the ends of the Earth! I am never alone! God is always there encouraging, supporting, pushing, and propelling me to the next chapter! Therefore, no matter what the surroundings suggest, IT IS ALWAYS SAFE TO JUMP!!!!!

Bare, Naked, & True

This is the first blog post I've written in nearly a year. There are many reasons I've slacked in writing, but the biggest and catalyst for the others is the move from Germany back to North Carolina. That move took so much out of me emotionally, but even more than that required much faith and reliance on God. I tend to retreat from the world when faced with situations that require more reliance on God. I don't know why I do, I just do. I've learned over the years that if I am going to make it through without hurting others in the process I have to go away and simply be alone with God. It matters not that others don't understand it. I'd rather be accused of being a recluse than constantly having to repent for being short, irritable, or even worse hurting other people because I am hurting.

I've attempted many times I start new blog posts. Every time I tried to share what was in my heart, but found myself struggling to finish because I couldn't find the right scriptures to line up with what I knew God was saying for me to share. The words were there but they were just words, no soul, spirit, or even feeling behind them. I'm very serious about my writing. I have absolutely no desire to be just another Christian writer putting empty words out there and calling it ministry, so instead of publishing a post that I would later have to recant, I simply posted nothing. I received numerous questions about the blog and when I would resume writing and each time I replied the same...soon. Well days turned into weeks and weeks to months and here I am totally naked and unashamed!

What's in my spirit to share? Ladies, be yourself! Plain and simple. There is someone so remarkable and unique on the inside of you that has the power and potential to shake this entire planet for the Kingdom of God! You do not need to be eloquent of speech, look and dress like a beauty queen, be able to quote the bible backwards and forwards, or even have a large platform to speak from. You simply have to open your mind and spirit to the voice of the Lord and follow the instructions He gives you. Each of us has been crafted for a different mission in the Body of Christ. I may only touch the life of one woman in my life time, but who knows how many she will touch? The ripple effect goes much further than you or I will ever know.

I know it can be difficult to believe that you can literally change the world just by being who you are in the presence of one individual, but its true. I've seen it in my own life. One woman just watched me for a year. Didn't talk to me at all, just watched. One day she asked me a simple question and that opened the door for me to share Jesus as I know Him; my friend, my provider, my healer, my confidante, my defender, my protector, my everything. I didn't preach to her or drag her to church. I didn't start reading the bible with her, I just talked to her about God and HE did everything else! So often we feel like we have to DO something in order to be effective for the Kingdom. The only thing you have to do is be YOU! The you He has created you to be! Yes we have to yield those dark, ugly, painful areas of ourselves to Him and allow Him to repair them, but that is more of a yielding, listening, and compliance process rather than actually doing something. This life is not about who can do the most, or who can quote the most scriptures. Its about how we live yielding to Him, separated from the world without excluding those in it. If we really want to make our mark; if we really want to please Jesus while we are here, we must live as He has called us to live, plain and simple. I must be the ME He had in mind when He created me. I must not focus on what is wrong, but all that I am that is right (all of those things being what He placed in me in the beginning).

So my time away from you has led me to this place:
I only desire to be ME. The definition of me changes with every word the Lord speaks concerning me, but I have to be true to me at all times no matter what HE asks me to look, sound, and act like. I have no bible quotes for this post, because as I mentioned earlier, they were just typed words (obviously I know the Word is alive and well, Jesus is the Word). But I feel like I have often used bible scriptures as fig leaves sewn together for me to hide behind. Like if I quote enough scriptures maybe no one will realize what is really going on. So in the interest of keeping it 100% (to use a little slang I've picked up recently), I'll tell you exactly what is going on.

I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend, and more. I maintain a busy schedule with very little down time. I often forget to stop and smell the roses. I have to constantly work on speaking to people in the correct tone of voice when something hurtful or mean is said to me. I don't always make the right choices, and I have very different views of church and religion as a whole. There was a time in my younger days when I cursed like a sailor and would actually fight anyone who crossed my path. *I'm inserting my own personal praise break here. Only God could have delivered me... trust me!* These days I often weep and plead with God for the lives of those that don't know Him. It hurts me to think that some will needlessly die and go to Hell. God and I have pretty in depth dialogue about the state of the world right now and He always comforts me before the end of the conversation because it simply is not a pleasant one. I make mistakes, He forgives them. I have no desire for a title and/or platform. In fact I rather like being unknown. My heart longs to see women whole and living in the constant promises and provision of God. I love people even though they've hurt me. I take no credit for that last statement, only God has healed those wounds and taught me to love from His perspective instead of with this corrupt natural heart. I love my husband and children more than words can say, and my heart beams with gladness just thinking of them. My husband is deployed to Afghanistan right now and Jesus helps me walk this year out daily. Deployment sucks and while I am proud of my husband for his sacrifice and service, I will be more than happy when this is over. Even through a deployment though, we are truly a blessed family and I take none of God's blessings for granted.

So this is my post; bare, naked, and true. I hide behind nothing today for in hiding there is an element of shame. My ultimate desire is to live naked and unashamed not only before God but also before man. This life gets tough, but I've been in this walk long enough to know that there will always be a rainbow after every storm. I live looking past the storm and into the rainbow. Sometimes I take baby steps and sometimes I run, but all that matters is that I make it to the other side with as little trip ups as humanly possible.

I believe everyone that reads my blog has some experience walking with God, but if you don't I beg of you to get to know Him. This life will not last forever and I promise you if you do not know Him you will regret it on the other side. The fact that I am here is a testament to His absolute faithfulness, love, and provision. My life is an extension of the bible, the 67th book as I like to call it. I have many stories of healing, restoration, provision, enlightenment, and LIFE to share. I can relate to God on a personal level because He has granted me access to Him just as He has done for you. Take advantage of that access. If you find it easy to hear God while in service, but difficult when you are alone, that is a clear indication that you need to get to know Him on a personal level. He speaks to the hearts of all of us, not just Pastors, Preachers, Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, and Teachers. He loves no one person any more than He loves another. His desire is for us all to experience His love and glory in our own personal way. If you only hear the word of God through the lips of someone else I urge you to dig deeper. Allow Him to speak to your heart in your own quiet place....away from the noise! He's after YOUR heart. He wants you, all of you; flaws and all. Allow Him into your heart and those things that were once hard for you to give up will no longer matter. He changes your perspective and it becomes easy to live a life that pleases Him. If you don't know how to yield to Him and you've already asked Him how but didn't "hear" a response, email me and I will be more than happy to talk with you. Even with my imperfections I know that there is a lady out there somewhere that I can help. The same is true for you! BE YOU and you will be surprised how many lives you will impact! Live daily as you are called. Don't just quote from the book, be the book! Be His representative in the Earth one life changing moment at a time!

In the Midst of a Tsunami

Below is a fictional short story that fell in spirit a few weeks ago. I pray that as you read it you will be able to take hope and encouragement away with you! Know that Jesus is always there carrying us through, even in the midst of a tsunami!!!


The beach was beautiful that morning as Evelyn made her way out for her usual morning walk. It had been her routine since being diagnosed. Something about walking barefoot in the sand alone with her thoughts helped her to escape the painful reality that was her life. After walking for a few moments Evelyn noticed that while things looked the same, something was missing. The sea was calm, the sun warm, and the early risers were beginning to venture out onto the sand, but something was off. She wasn't sure why, but Evelyn got a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. She stopped walking for a moment and turned to face the water shielding her eyes from the bright reflection of light coming from the water. All of a sudden it appeared as though the sea was receding. "What in the world" thought Evelyn. She'd never seen such a low tide before and better yet, where were all of the birds. That's what was missing. Normally the shore is full of birds every morning. Large beautiful white birds normally entertain Evelyn as she walks. This morning however the birds were missing, and that realization gave Evelyn a clue that something was about to happen. When she was just a little girl her grandmother used to tell her, "If you wanna predict the weather, watch the animals. They are much better at telling you whether or not a storm is coming than any old weather man." Remembering her Grandmother's words, Evelyn decided she better head inside. She was not in the mood for an early morning soaking. It seemed that rain always came down harder around the sea. Before she could follow through on that last thought, she noticed what seemed to be a large wave heading right towards her. "Dear Lord its a tsunami" thought Evelyn.

Instantly her heart began beating violently inside of her chest. Knowing full well she couldn't outrun the wave, Evelyn broke out into a sprint. With her heart beating in her throat and her lungs struggling for air Evelyn ran until she felt her feet could no longer carry her. Her legs felt like noodles and her t-shirt was soaked from perspiration. Just when Evelyn thought she could no longer move and the sheer panic would overtake her she felt someone place their hand on her shoulder. Despite the turmoil around her, Evelyn felt peace resonate through her as she turned to look into the eyes of Jesus. She knew it was impossible, yet she was standing face to face with her Creator. She couldn't make out the details of His features, but she knew it was Him. Only Jesus could give the kind of instant peace she felt when He touched her shoulder. With her eyes locked onto the face of the giver of life, Evelyn felt herself being lifted into his arms. She lay her head on His bosom as he began to carry her back in the direction of the ocean. When she realized he was going toward the storm panic began to rise inside of Evelyn again. "Do not fear" He said, with His voice barely above a whisper. "I am here". At the sound of His voice Evelyn began to relax. She lifted her head and looked around. There were random pieces of furniture flying through the air, water and debris had formed a standing wall of sorts. Everywhere Evelyn looked nature was behaving violently, but nothing was touching her. Her clothing wasn't even wet aside from her own sweat. There was even an instant when a huge tree limb was heading straight towards them and Evelyn felt her stomach begin to do flip flops. Jesus simply turned to the limb and said "Be still", and the tree limb that had only moments before behaved as though it 10,000 pounds of force behind it fell hard to the ground with a loud thud. With confusion in her brow, Evelyn turned to face Jesus.

"What's happening?" she asked.
"I've come to show you." He replied.
"Show me what?" Evelyn asked.
"That no matter how severe the storm, no matter how hopeless the situation seems, I am here. I control all, and I carry you through all. In Me, there is infinite safety. Now rest, for morning is coming."

Evelyn felt all tension once again leave her body as she tilted her head toward the beautiful blue sky. Though everything around her was in complete chaos, the sky was beautiful and serene. There wasn't a cloud in sight and Evelyn felt as though she could live in that moment for ever. She closed her eyes and enjoyed being taken care of so completely. Nothing mattered to her besides that moment. No cancer, no financial problems, nothing. It all left her thought process as though it didn't even exist. She enjoyed the silence they shared, saying more to each other in the silence than could ever be shared with words. Evelyn had found perfect peace in the arms of Jesus.

Just when she thought she would fall asleep Evelyn heard a faint sound. Like a phone was ringing somewhere way off in the horizon. The ringing began to get louder and louder until it snapped Evelyn out of her dream and into reality. Evelyn squinted her eyes to counteract the bright sunlight that was beaming through the blinds and into her bedroom. "I can not believe someone is calling me and waking me up from the most beautiful dream I've ever had at this time of the morning" Evelyn said aloud. She had a good mind not to answer it until she looked at the caller ID and realized it was the oncology clinic. "Dear Lord, she prayed. "Please let that dream be a sign of things to come."

"Hello"
"Hi Evelyn, it's Dr. Peterson."
"Good morning Dr. Peterson."
"No Evelyn, it's a great morning. I got your lab results back and wanted to call you personally."
"Don't keep me in suspense!" Evelyn yelled.
"Your blood is cancer free. Evelyn, you are in remission!"

God bless you all. Please leave comments to let me know what you think of the story.

Know the Members of Your Herd!

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. ~Matthew 18:20

One day while absently flipping through the television channels I came across a show on the National Geographic channel. This particular special followed the hunting patterns of hyenas. Due to a decrease in their food supply, the pack of hyenas was forced to hunt close to a pride of lions. Night after night the hyenas came up empty handed because the lions were hunting in close groups and dominating any prey they came across. Often times the hyenas would sit on the side lines waiting for the lions to slip up just once so they could get a taste of the prey. After nights of waiting, the perfect opportunity came for the hyenas. A lioness had wandered away from the pride in search of food. She found an animal, quickly killed it, and began to eat her dinner. Just as quickly as she had taken down the animal, a pack of hyenas swarmed her and wrestled her kill away from her. Knowing she was outnumbered, the lioness retreated with little resistance.

While watching this, the Spirit of the Lord spoke to me, "See that's exactly how Satan works. When you are with your fellow sisters and brothers in Christ you are strengthened, so he tries to isolate you so he can devour you!" {Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour ~ 1 Peter 5:8} Do not be fooled by this trick of the enemy. There is always safety in numbers! When you feel hard pressed on every side, run to Jesus and ask Him to reveal to you the members of your herd for that situation. While we recognize Jesus is our source for all we need, we also recognize that He often works through people He places in our paths. When you come together with the members of you herd; the herd God has joined together for your edification, you will find safety! When the herd comes together (Matthew 18:20), Jesus is there in the midst of them! The hyena (satan) knows better than to attack the entire herd, because he is defenseless against Jesus!

It is imperative that we as believers recognize our "herd" and stick together. Just as the hyenas preyed on an animal they would otherwise be afraid of when they saw an open opportunity, so does the devil attempt to prey on us when we do not seek support from one another. We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ~Romans 15:1 Today I may be strong and you weak, but next week the roles may be reversed and I may need you to bear my infirmities. If I pull away from you during my "weak" season and try to "handle" things alone one of us would be lacking in either giving or receiving support. I know there will be times when the Lord will instruct us to speak to Him alone regarding the issues of life, but even then, know He has placed you on the heart and mind of someone in the herd and they are bearing you up in prayer. Know your herd (not necessarily members of your local church body, but often times will be), love your herd (love with the love of Christ, not from your emotions), run with your herd (stick with the people God leads you to stick with)!

It is also important for us to remember in our "strong" seasons not to forget about the weak. God does not strengthen us just for us. He strengthens us that we may strengthen others. In Luke 22:31-32 Jesus said, "Simon, Simon, behold, satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not; and when thou art converted strengthen they brethren." When you are experiencing your mountain top, do not forget about your herd members that are still in the valley. Carry the burden of prayer for them (as the Holy Spirit leads) until they see victory or until the burden lifts. In all things, be led of the Spirit of God!

God bless you!