Mustard Seed

Matthew 13:31-32    He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³² Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”

We hear a lot about having faith as small as a mustard seed but I think we miss what is beyond that small seed.  We get a bit comfortable with that small faith.  A seed doesn't stay a seed forever!  You plant the seed and it either grows or dies!!!  It all depends on how it is cared for. The mustard seed is the smallest but when it grows it becomes a tree large enough to be a shelter!!!  That is amazing to me!  That is what WE are to do...become so strong in Christ that we are shelter!  We are not small and meek, clinging onto the smallest of faith.  We allow Daddy God to GROW us up big and strong in all that He is!  ALL that He created us to be!!! 

What is seed?  The "seed" is the Word of God!  It is planted in us when we read it and it is rooted in us when we KNOW it and BELIEVE it!  Once we receive this seed we are given opportunities to then plant into the lives of others!  The seed of The Father is eternal!!!!! 

When I welcomed God, Jesus AND The Holy Spirit to dwell within me, a great life started growing!  I was filled with HOPE!  I say to the Kingdom of God, come invade me like the mustard seed!  Grow tall within me, so that my life, my faith, through Your grace might be enough to become a shelter for the birds of the air!  I do not fear the invasion of the Kingdom- I pray for it (like the mustard seed) to GROW within me!!!!

It is suggested that Jesus could have chosen a genuine tree for the parable, and that the mustard plant demonstrated that, though the dominion appeared small, it would inexorably grow into something large and firmly rooted and become shelter for those who need it!!! 

Thank You Holy Spirit for revealing this TRUTH to me!  I strive to GROW in my FAITH, to BE SHELTER!  While it is only required to have faith as small as a mustard seed, may we all THIRST  for MORE and find that we can quench that thirst with THE LIVING WATER!!! 

The Stranger in Chruch

So today is Easter Sunday and the people I invited to come today came!  The house was packed out this morning so we were all sitting close =)  Service had started and we were all standing and worshiping when someone tapped me on my shoulder and asked if there were any open seats on our row (I was sitting on the outside).  I looked down the row and every seat was filled but I asked everyone to scrunch up so we made room for a young man who was by himself.  After a few minutes one of the ushers came and added a chair for the young man at the end of our row.  I felt drawn to him for some reason so I asked God to speak to my heart regarding this young man.  We finished singing and sat down for the sermon.  I knew the Lord was drawing my heart to this guy and my heart started to race.  I didn't know what I was supposed to do but I knew there was something.  (I did minister to him but I'm not going to post it for his privacy and because I didn't do it for any recognition).  I only post about this because I believe it encourages others when God moves people in His Name!  And because It was so exciting and I want to share ALL that God is doing in and through me!!! 

Our pastor went on to teach a life changing truth on POWER!  He talked about how we have the power and authority over fear, sin, sickness, satan, and our past!  We have the power to receive and become all that God has created us to be!!!  The number 1 on the list, fear, has always been a big one for me.  In fact, I am a work in progress in the area of fear.  I have to continually renew my mind with what God has to say about me!  (2 Timothy 1:7 and Hebrews 2:14-15).

Just as I heard Daddy God telling me to minister to the stranger sitting beside me today I had to speak to my fear.  I was afraid of saying something to him, would he think I was weird?  I just said to my fear, "You do not control me"! 

After the service I hugged the stranger that had become a part of my journey and told him to be blessed!  I trust that the Lord will complete the work He started.  I trust that God is moving and changing this young man.  I don't know if I will ever see him again but my life was very blessed today for the short time he was in it and my life will be forever changed by the POWER of sowing seed into the life of a stranger =)

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

A Kept Woman!

Ok, so in one of my first blogs I talked about the process of getting my book published.  I knew from the very beginning that I would not base any decision on money but on what God told me to do.  He told me to publish my story (really it's "our" story because He has everything to do with it!).  I didn't consider the cost and took that first step of faith.  I remember the very first "seed" that was sown into my book.  It was $100.00 and the day it was given to me I had to meet my grandmother for lunch.  We had a waitress that day that was very pregnant and after talking with her found out she also had 3 other small children.  I wanted to give her the $100.00!  I asked the Lord and just didn't have an settled feeling about it, so I kept the money.  The next morning as I was ironing school clothes and watching Joyce Meyer I heard her say something that changed my thinking.  She was talking about sowing seed and that we always think of it as money.  Not all seed is money.  It can be our time, our prayers, our words, ect.  Then I heard the Lord tell me that the $100.00 was for my book and that my story IS my seed!  I am sewing my story of healing and freedom into lives and that God will use my story to change, heal and comfort others! 

As the days and weeks went on God called more people to sow seed into my book and my life!  I have received money and prayers, and encouragement!  God always comes through and provides everything I need to do this work He has called me to! 

Yesterday I woke up and as I was laying in bed collecting my thoughts for the day, I heard the enemy speaking to me.  He was saying, "Where's your money?"  "You know you have to have $430.00 in 2 days and you don't have it?"  "Your bank account is going to be overdrawn!"  "When the publisher sees you have no money they will not publish your book!"   I am being very transparent here so I am thrusting that you understand my heart in sharing this.  You see, we had $8.00 in our account and the publisher will draft the LAST PAYMENT for the book ($420.00) on Thursday!  I pointed my finger at the devil and said, "STOP IT!!  You LIE!!!  My Daddy God has already provided my needs!!!!!"

I thanked God for being my provider and for loving me above the lies of my enemy!  I took a shower and as I stepped out of the shower I had a text message asking me to call when I could talk.  I made that call and as I hung up, I had $200.00 for the book! I praised God and thanked Him all morning!  By the afternoon I had another $100.00 seed money!!!!  MY DADDY IS THE BEST!!!!!  How could I NOT trust Him????? 

I was reminded of the verse
“What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things?” Romans 8:31-32

His plan for me is so good and so big!!!  He is for me and He has given me all authority to cast the enemy off of me!  I do not have to accept the lies of the devil! 

As I end today I have to say that on the way to town this morning my husband got a phone call and when he hung up he looked at me and said, "YOU BOOK IS PAID FOR!"  All praise and glory go to the KING OF KINGS!  It's another day in the blessing and living the miracle that is, life with Jesus =)

I am believing that you are encouraged today!!!!  I am challenging you to encourage someone else today!!!  If God has placed instruction on you to give money, time, or just a word to someone...DO IT!  Do not count the cost because what you receive will be more that you could ever imagine!!!!!!

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!