Love on Purpose

John 3:16   For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not parish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:16  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:19-20 We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-13  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


God has a LOT to say about LOVE!  LOVE is the most important because GOD IS LOVE! 
We can do nothing without LOVE.  We are called above all else, to LOVE.  The only way to receive this LOVE is from LOVE HIMSELF!  And if we do not have it, we cannot give it. 

Receiving God's LOVE is not some mystical thing that happens in a dim lit room with praise music and an emotional heart.  Not that you can't receive it under those conditions, but my point is that LOVE is a CHOICE!!!  We have to choose, on purpose to accept God's LOVE! 

Once we have received God's LOVE we are told, by God, to then share it with others.  But be reminded that, you cannot give (or share) something you do not have!  God's LOVE has the ability to take root deep inside of us.  It's supply is limitless!  And unlike a "feeling" or emotional love, with God's LOVE, the more we share it with others, the more of it we receive!  Think of yourself like a vessel.  We are God's vessels.  We carry His LOVE inside of us.  He fills us up and we pour ourselves out on others and He keeps us filled up!  The secret to the continual filling and pouring is HIS WORD!  The Bible is God's Words to US!  He encourages us through His Word.  He instructs us through His Word.  He corrects us through His word.  He LOVES us through His Word!!! 

Satan is the total opposite of LOVE.  He is anger towards others.  He is jealousy of others.  He is fear of others.  So we have a choice!  We either choose God's LOVE or we choose the way of the enemy. 
It is not always easy to LOVE others, but it IS possible!  Sometimes it comes easy and sometimes we just have to LOVE and trust that God will take care of everything else! 

I am not saying that we have to agree with a person demonstrating a wrong behavior.  Even if that wrong behavior is towards us.  But we still should choose LOVE.  Even when The Lord reveals to me when I am in the wrong, He still LOVES me.  He does not condemn me.  Sometimes the LOVE is simply in our hearts for a person.  We may never see that person or talk to them, but in our hearts, we have LOVE and we can pray for them with that LOVE.  (for example, I do not see or talk to the man who raped me, but because of the power of forgiveness and God restoring my wounds, I can LOVE him and pray for him to accept Jesus).  And trust me when I say, THAT was a CHOICE that could only be made because of GOD'S LOVE!!! 

I really hope I am making sense!    hahaha  I do not want to just ramble on and on!  Oops, may be too late!  =)  

I hope you are encouraged today!  I really do LOVE you, but more importantly, GOD LOVES YOU!!!  And He give us all the ability to LOVE!!  So today I challenge you (and myself)  to LOVE ON PURPOSE!!!!

God's Choice

You are God's choice!  He has things that are set for YOU to do!  He has things set for ME to do!  We are all called to walk a path that is prepared just for us.  Want to know what God's Will is?  God's Will is His Word!!!  We find His Will when we know His Word!  When we know His Word we know HIM!!!!

Romans 12:2 says, Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will. 

If we yield our hearts to Daddy God, His desires and our desires become the same!  TRUST ME, it is very exciting when you begin to desire the things that God has called you to do!  You do not fear or dread the call.  You look forward to walking it out!!! 

We are precious to Daddy God and He has nothing but the best for each of us.  The enemy will try and come against us but PRAISE JESUS we walk in FAVOR!  As we continue to renew our minds with the Word of God our Spirit man is strengthened!  BELIEVE STRONG!  BE STRONG!  YOU ARE GOD'S CHOICE =)

Who is in charge here?

So, the devil has been a chatter box today!  I woke up with him all in my face!!!  Oh yes, the insults started bright and early.  I just kept busy and tried to ignore him.  I have so much going on this month and I think my brain hit overload!  Then it hit me.....I CAN talk back!  So with all my authority I told the devil, OUT LOUD, to SHUT UP!!!!!  Yes, I'm 42, but Daddy God is using me!  Yes, it's a work bigger than me, but there is NOTHING that God can't do through me!  Then when he couldn't get me that way, he tried to get in the middle of my marriage!  Before I even knew what was happening Max and I were arguing over CAKE!!  (the argument was over who was going to call about Hunter's graduation cake)!  Max walked out and went to mow.  I went to taking back some authority!!!!!  I told my enemy that he was NOT going to mess with me or my husband!  Within about 5 minutes Max called to apologize and and we put that little fight behind us!  Then my publishing company called to say that the adjustments to my book that were going to take 2-3 weeks was DONE!  Well, the text is done, the final cover should be emailed to me tomorrow!!!  Satan is NOT in charge here!!!!!  God has my life and everything in it! =) 

I am so excited to share the final cover design!  My excitement grows every time I think about how God is going to use me!  Yes, ME!  He has given me the confidence to talk back to the devil.  To take my place a a daughter of THE MOST HIGH! 

It is very important to recognize that there is warfare going on and we have all the ammunition we need through God's Word.  Satan is going to come against us, that is just a fact.  That is why it is so important to keep our minds renewed!  First, so when Satan does launch an attack, we recognize where the attack is coming from.  And secondly, so we have fresh on our minds (and heart) WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE HAVE! 

I feel like I have rambled but it is my hearts desire to encourage you. 

Love on Purpose

John 3:16   For God so LOVED the world that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not parish but have eternal life.

1 John 4:16  And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:19-20 We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

1 Corinthians 13: 4-13  Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. . .And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.


God has a LOT to say about LOVE!  LOVE is the most important because GOD IS LOVE! 
We can do nothing without LOVE.  We are called above all else, to LOVE.  The only way to receive this LOVE is from LOVE HIMSELF!  And if we do not have it, we cannot give it. 

Receiving God's LOVE is not some mystical thing that happens in a dim lit room with praise music and an emotional heart.  Not that you can't receive it under those conditions, but my point is that LOVE is a CHOICE!!!  We have to choose, on purpose to accept God's LOVE! 

Once we have received God's LOVE we are told, by God, to then share it with others.  But be reminded that, you cannot give (or share) something you do not have!  God's LOVE has the ability to take root deep inside of us.  It's supply is limitless!  And unlike a "feeling" or emotional love, with God's LOVE, the more we share it with others, the more of it we receive!  Think of yourself like a vessel.  We are God's vessels.  We carry His LOVE inside of us.  He fills us up and we pour ourselves out on others and He keeps us filled up!  The secret to the continual filling and pouring is HIS WORD!  The Bible is God's Words to US!  He encourages us through His Word.  He instructs us through His Word.  He corrects us through His word.  He LOVES us through His Word!!! 

Satan is the total opposite of LOVE.  He is anger towards others.  He is jealousy of others.  He is fear of others.  So we have a choice!  We either choose God's LOVE or we choose the way of the enemy. 
It is not always easy to LOVE others, but it IS possible!  Sometimes it comes easy and sometimes we just have to LOVE and trust that God will take care of everything else! 

I am not saying that we have to agree with a person demonstrating a wrong behavior.  Even if that wrong behavior it towards us.  But we still should choose LOVE.  Even when The Lord reveals to me when I am in the wrong, He still LOVES me.  He does not condemn me.  Sometimes the LOVE is simply in our hearts for a person.  We may never see that person or talk to them, but in our hearts, we have LOVE and we can pray for them with that LOVE.  (for example, I do not see or talk to the man who raped me, but because of the power of forgiveness and God restoring my wounds, I can LOVE him and pray for him to accept Jesus).  And trust me when I say, THAT was a CHOICE that could only be made because of GOD'S LOVE!!! 

I really hope I am making sense!    hahaha  I do not want to just ramble on and on!  Oops, may be too late!  =)  

I hope you are encouraged today!  I really do LOVE you, but more importantly, GOD LOVES YOU!!!  And He give us all the ability to LOVE!!  So today I challenge you (and myself)  to LOVE ON PURPOSE!!!!

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

FREE

John 8:36  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed!

There is power in saying out loud, "I AM FREE!"  When the enemy throws daily junk in my face all I have to say is, sorry devil but I AM FREE!  I do not have to ingest the lies of my enemy because the TRUTH lives inside of me =)  Sound too simple?  Well, God did not create us to jump through hoops and live confused.  He created us to LOVE HIM and LOVE OTHERS!  YES, it is THAT simple!

The deeper I love Him, the easier it is to love others.  I am amazed at times when I look back over my journey and see just how deep His Love has taken root in me.  I can almost physically feel it. 

I have come to a place where I give myself completely to God and I trust that The One that created me, knows me, and loves me, will cover me and provide for me.  He goes before me and prepares my path!  THAT IS FREEDOM!  I do not have to worry or try and work things out because He has already done it for me.  All I have to do is TRUST Him!  He tells me to renew my mind with His Word.  I replace every lie of the devil with His TRUTH about who I am and WHO I belong to =)   The same God that CREATED ALL OF HEAVEN AND EARTH favors ME!  That is all I need to know!  I do not have to worry about how others treat me because I am favored by Daddy God!  I just love, (and the more I love the more I love!).  Receiving justice when I am treated unfairly doesn't control me, I only crave GRACE!  HIS GRACE! 

I am a Daughter of The KING OF KINGS!  I walk in His favor!  He is my DADDY GOD!!!!!
Nothing is too big or too small for Him.  I can trust Him for everything, and I do! He has never disappointed me =)


Tomorrow I will be sharing another excerpt from my book that is soon to be released!




BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

False Hype

So yesterday got pretty interesting in our area in the way of weather!  We had some storms a couple of days ago and yesterday morning the media started building up all these storms and warning of strong tornadoes.  By early afternoon there were reports of 3 teams of storm chasers headed to our town because we were the "hot spot"!  One of the storm chasers said he was predicting that the storm and it's damage was going to be EPIC!  Local media predicted we were going to have the worst outbreak of tornadoes that we have seen in years! 
All the while, the sun was out and the wind was mild.  It lightly rained of and on during the day. 

We had to take our boys to get haircuts after school.  A few local schools sent the kids home early, and businesses were closing early!  All to go and prepare for these EPIC storms!  I had to take a couple of my kids to the dentist after lunch and all the talk at the dentist office was about the storms that were coming and the storm chaser that were arriving.  I had taken scripture to read while waiting on the boys and I tried not to listen to the other parents talking. 
Later, after school, we all headed to get haircuts and the weather still looked fine.  No dark clouds our heavy rain.  Waiting on the boys to get their hair cut I started looking up the weather.  I kept noticing that I couldn't see anything on the weather map!  The line of storms had not even formed yet and all this hype had put us all on high alert!  Max kept telling me to stop focusing on the news reports.  We came home and lost electricity but the EPIC storms never hit us!  We had been calling them down and claiming Psalm 91 throughout the day and evening.  We cooked outside and played cards using the light from a lantern.  The lights came back on around 10 pm but all the kids had already gone to bed and Max and I went to bed soon after. I  had a really good nights sleep, too =) 

It was so interesting to me how all that hype cause so much fear!  It had not even formed yet but we were putting our faith in the weathermen and other media!  I am certainly a work in progress, growing stronger everyday but I saw first hand yesterday that I do not have to put my faith in man!  I have a knowledge that supersedes this world.  I have God's Truth and all I have to do is stand on that and believe.  God says that He has given ME all authority over the enemy and his destruction!  I do not have to posses fear when I stand up to the enemy!  I have the authority to call for protection over my family and property!  Now, that's some truth that I can build up and it's not just "hype"!  IT IS REAL!  God it real and His Word is real and true =)

Thank You Holy Spirit for living on the inside of me! 

Satan wants to take us out but I for one am going to continue to renew my mind and build my Spirit man STRONG!  I strive to be on guard and ready at all times!  So, when the devil comes to try and destroy I will stand up STRONG and boldly say, "NOT ON MY WATCH!!!!!" 

PSALM  91

¹HE WHO ^[a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power NO foe can withstand].
    ²I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
    ³For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.
    ⁴[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.
    ⁵You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,
    ⁶Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.
    ⁷A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.
    ⁸Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.
    ⁹Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,^{(A)
    10}There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.
    ¹¹For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].
    ¹²They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.^{(B)
    13}You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.^{(C)
    14}Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].
    ¹⁵He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
    ¹⁶With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.


BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!

PAID IN FULL!!!

Praise The Lord!!!  As of this morning my book is COMPLETELY paid off!!!  God has worked in and through people to accomplish this task.  I am excited for the release (still do not have an exact date).  I hope to have more information on that when I speak to the publisher today or tomorrow =) 

As I stood drying my hair this morning I reflected on this recent journey and with each miracle came strength and assurance that our God is GOOD and He is LARGE AND IN CHARGE!

He reminded me this morning about speaking TRUTH!  His Word is truth and His promises are REAL!  I have several confessions that I speak over myself from God's Word.  I'm going to share the one I confess the most!!! 

Psalm 91

1HE WHO [a]dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
2I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

3For [then] He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.

4[Then] He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge; His truth and His faithfulness are a shield and a buckler.

5You shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day,

6Nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

7A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you.

8Only a spectator shall you be [yourself inaccessible in the secret place of the Most High] as you witness the reward of the wicked.

9Because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place,(A)

10There shall no evil befall you, nor any plague or calamity come near your tent.

11For He will give His angels [especial] charge over you to accompany and defend and preserve you in all your ways [of obedience and service].

12They shall bear you up on their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone.(B)

13You shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall you trample underfoot.(C)

14Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore will I deliver him; I will set him on high, because he knows and understands My name [has a personal knowledge of My mercy, love, and kindness--trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never forsake him, no, never].

15He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16With long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.

Then I SHOUT;  TAKE THAT DEVIL!!!!!!!

My message to the devil is this; I'm going to winning; even when it looks like I'm losing I'm WINNING!!!!!!! 

I encourage you to SPEAK to the mountain in your life! Confess Psalm 91 OUT LOUD!  There is power in speaking The Word out loud.   SPEAK to the enemy, remind him WHO you belong to! 

I am falling in love with the Blog world and all the wonderful people =)  I absolutely LOVE the messages, emails and comments so keep them coming!  I am a stay at home wife and mom so I don't get out much!  hahaha    Now bless someone with your WORDS today!

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!

I'll Take The Best Please!!!

Have you ever thought about why we sometimes just accept less than the best?  I was really thinking about this the other day.  I know that God wants only the very best for me yet I have found myself accepting less because I feel selfish taking more than my share!!  The closer I grow in my relationship with my Daddy God, the more Satan is exposed!  See, it is our enemy that wants us to stay beaten down, not receiving what God wants for us.

 I can remember when I started the journey through facing my attack and all that went with that, I would journal every day.  Most days would consist of, waking from a nightmare, realizing it was real, trying to NOT think about it, having flashbacks, writing them down, trying to work, be a mom, be a wife, hold down my job.  Then at the end of the day I would look back and think, is THIS my life?  I allowed the enemy to get a lot of talking in through those days.  And the killer is, I BELIEVED HIM!  I believed that somehow it was all my fault.  I believed him when he told me I was so damaged that I just needed to find a way to live with it because it wasn't going to get any better.    When he told me my husband despised me and everyone around me didn't want to hear or help me.  I believed him when he told me that this was what I deserved!  Satan would always bring up my past and all the hurt that went along with it.  BUT GOD!!!  My hero, my Savior, my protector, my healer!  He is my TRUTH-TELLER!

 It was only when I started listening to God that I began to heal and move forward.  He replaced all the lies with THE TRUTH!  He created me to love and be loved and that is all I need to know!  Yes, I have been hurt.  We all have!  But HE loves bigger that the hurt!!!  I no longer have the need to be fed by lies!  I am worthy of receiving the VERY BEST!  God sent His son, Who knew no sin, to be sin, so that through Him we might become the righteousness of God (from 2 Cor. 5:21).  It pleases the Lord when we confess that we are His righteousness, because we are laying hold of what He suffered and died to give us!!!  I for one am going to graciously ACCEPT what He died to give ME! I am His righteousness!  There is still an enemy that continues to throw things up in my face but God loves me with a love that is above anything the devil and dig up!!!

 I hope that you are encouraged today!  Make THIS the day that the voice of Christ becomes louder that the voice of our enemy!

 Tomorrow I am going to post an excerpt from my book!!!  This is another biggy for me so be kind!!  hahaha

 BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!!!