Don't Be Satan's Assistant

First of all I am NOT talking about anyone specific in this blog!  hahaaha   After several messages from people this message came up in my spirit.  I have spent time with Daddy God on this subject and He has settled it in me through His Word!

Jesus replied, " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-39). 

God is LOVE and we have to accept LOVE before we can give love!  You cannot give what you do not have.  The command He gives is simple, Love Him and because of that love we can love others.  Because of that love we DESIRE to love others!  God Love desires to put others before ourselves.  It's first instinct is to protect the reputation of each other!  To guard them from the attack of the enemy! 

Jesus is our example in that He desires for us to be successful.  The best leader is a good servant!  (I always tell my boys that) One who will assist and do all that they can to make someone else successful.  They are not concerned about how THEY look but about coming along side others to insure the best outcome for all.  You cannot bully others into following your lead!  Well, maybe for a little while but it is not lasting!  Jesus does not intimidate his children so why would we think this tactic is ok?  The secret to all of this is to have a teachable spirit!  None of us have attained perfection, therefore we all have room for improvement.  Each of us can learn from someone else and we all have something others can learn from us! 

I love photography as a hobby!  I love to take unique photos and I really love the editing process.  I do not have a lot of knowledge, I just point and shoot!  I do, however, have several friends who are professional photographers.  They have God given talents in the area of photography (as well as other areas).  I am in awe of their work, but I am most impressed with the fact that they share what they have learned with others in their field!  They do not look at each other as competition but as Sisters in Christ!!!  They have shared not only their expertise but their equipment with me when I needed it!  They have a genuine desire to see the other succeed.  THIS IS WHAT JESUS IS TALKING ABOUT!  Come along side, hold one another up!  Build each other up so that we are ALL strong and can go out and BE CHRIST in this world!  When we do this Daddy God is PLEASED!!!!

I hope that this is not only a reminder but a challenge to look inside our hearts and evaluate why we do what we do.  Are we putting others first?  Are we loving others with the love of God?  Are we speaking to each other in love?  Get real with God because HE IS REAL and He knows the intentions of our hearts!  We may have others fooled (usually not though) but we cannot fool God! 

Our desire should be to protect the integrity of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ!  The world attacks us everyday and tries to tear us down.  Let us stand guard for each other against the attack of the enemy!  Don't be Satan's assistant!!! 

Big Steps!

So today I took some big steps!  I went into book stores and promoted my book!!!  On my way I called my mom and told her where I was going and she encouraged me so much =)  In fact, I asked her if she had taken an encouragement pill this morning!  hhahaha  As I sat in the parking lot of the first store I reflected on all the messages I have received form people who have been affect by the book already and I felt strong in my spirit and walked in the store!  I was filled with the knowing that there are still so many more people out there that are desperate to hear this message and receive healing and restoration.  So as I spoke with the lady in charge she encouraged ME!  I left there with the possibility of not only have my book in their store but also a book signing!  I am now just waiting and EXPECTING my call inviting me to participate in the book signing =)  It is an invitation only book signing.

I got back in my car and called my mom again!  I had gained even more strength in my spirit to go far and wide!  I made my way to the big worldly store!!  Books-A-Million!  hahaha  Again, the person I spoke with was so encouraging!  About halfway through the meeting he said, "Years ago you took care of my little girl"!!!  WOW!  He then said he would do what he needed to in order to get my book in their store..AND he wants me to set up a book signing in their store!!!!  I am telling you, Daddy God went before me today and had just the right people in place and prepared for me =)  I have never felt so taken care of in my life!  HIS LOVE has embraced me and HIS FAVOR covers me!  I am so excited it is impossible for me to use a period!!!!!  All I can use it exclamation points!!!!!  hahahaha 

I love the "God journey" that I am on =)  Now I am going to focus on building my stock so I can have books for speaking engagements and  other book signings that are to come!  NO LIMITS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!

The Power of Encouragement

Wowsers!!!  I have to tell ya, when I started this blog I had no idea what to expect, but the response has been amazing!!!  My email and Facebook message box has never seen this much action!  By the way, if you are not already my "friend" on Facebook, I would love for you to connect with me there =) 

I have been privileged to read stories of women who have struggled with some of the issues I have blogged about and it inspires me to see that so many are breaking free!  The overall response has been nothing but encouragement!  From people I have know my entire life, to strangers and all those in between!  I started thinking about just how important encouragement is. 

The Bible says in 1 Thess.  5:22,  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.   There are many verses in the Bible where God encourages others, and we are called to do as He did!  I'm going to be completely honest and tell you that with each word of encouragement I receive I can physically feel a change in my spirit!  It feels stronger and more confident.  Encouragement feeds our inner man and makes us stronger for the task at hand! 

I remember back years ago when I was first invited to give my testimony at a Ladies Retreat.  I was scared to death!  I thought I was going to throw up or pass out, it was really bad.  I went outside by myself and tried to talk to God, but I didn't even know what to say.  A friend found me and gave me a rock that she had found.  She had put a verse on the rock.  She encouraged me to press on and  tell my story to help all those ladies that were there.  I collected myself and went inside, spoke in front of those ladies and I had that rock in my hand the whole time!!!  I dare to say that has been 10 years ago (maybe longer) and I STILL have that rock!  I always have in either in my purse or in my car or maybe sitting on my bathroom counter!  ENCOURAGEMENT is a very powerful gift that we ALL have!

(My rock of encouragement!)

We all benefit from an encouraging word.  The story that I am sharing with the world is so personal and I have to be honest and tell you that it is not always easy but God makes it possible =)  And He places people around us and uses them as His vessels.  Let me tell ya, I have some beautiful vessels in my life!  Those vessels keep it real and keep me going with their words of love, support and instruction! 

I'm trying not to make my blogs so long that it takes forever to read!  My husband asked me last night if it was hard for me to come up with something to blog about each day!!!!  Hahahah, I told him it was taking everything in me not to blog 10 times a day!  I just have SO MUCH inside of me and I find it difficult at times to just pace myself!  hahaha  So with that, I will end for now.  Please know that while I may not know who you are I am praying ENCOURAGEMENT over each person that happens to read these words!  God is so good and He is faithful to hear and deliver!  Encourage someone today....you may just find that it bounces off of them and smacks you right in the face =)

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING!