Play Time

Every young child loves play time. To go outside, slide down the slides, swing on the swing sets, play tag with friends, and pick flowers. It was a time to have fun with friends and connect a child with their parents.

I absolutely loved play time outside. It's one of my favorite memories with my old childhood friends in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, I didn't get play time with my father here on Earth. But thanks to God, He healed me of all wounds and hurts that were occurred from childhood. Now, my relationship with my dad is improving and great! God is really good at healing the brokenhearted and bounding up their wounds.

You know what? I still love play time. It's so much fun especially when it's with you and Father God. This morning during worship, me and Jesus interacted. I know, some reading this may not know you can interact with Jesus. Some believe that He is too distant, but He is closer to you than ever before. Jesus gave me a vision of me and Him playing and chasing each other. I was filled with so much joy and love. Talk about overwhelming. Then Jesus asked me a very brave thing. He asked me if it was okay if He took me to Papa God. I was apprehensive because of certain issues I had in my heart, but Jesus helped me by speaking truth and love. Then immediately Jesus took my hand and walked beside me to Father God. To my surprise God wasn't the big, mean man. He was gentle, loving, and kind. When He hugged me, I was overwhelmed at the love I felt. Father God spoke truth, love, and destiny over me. He helped me renounce lies and strongholds that I believed and held onto. Then, me and God interacted.

Some may think I am crazy for sharing something so personal and intimate, but I felt in my heart I needed to. You see, this small testimony of this beautiful interaction I had with Jesus and Father God, can encourage others who are not close to Papa God because of their hurts, wounds, and entanglements. I encourage you to ask Jesus to help you see what things in your heart are causing you to be distant from Father God. I know if God can set me free from 20 years of lies, brokenness, and heartache, then I know He can do it from you.

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Psalm 34:18

"I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound..." Isaiah 61:1

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm strengthen, and establish you." 1 Peter 5:10

I encourage each one who reads this to spend time with the Father daily and ask Him what His truth is. If that's too hard, ask Jesus to help you. Celebrate small victories of emotional healing and restoration. You can overcome the lies of the evil one when we speak truth, celebrate the victories, and encourage one another with our testimony.

"Lord, I thank you that you are a good daddy. I know your love for your children is so great; I ask that you would remove all hindrances that keep you from the hearts of your beloved. I command the lies of the enemy to cease and to go where Jesus sends them. I ask that an invitation would be given to enter into the hearts of those that need you desperately. I thank you for the victories, for the healing, and for the revelations that you will give so freely to your beloved children." Amen.

Failure

"For we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:23-24

Failure...a word that has instilled fear inside of me. Fear of failing God, fear of disappointing people, fear of failing at God's will, failure of miss what He has for me, fear of failing at not being enough, fear of failing people's expectations. Failure...it's a scary word.

I love Romans 3:23-24. It reminds me that when I do fail, when I do fall short, when I do sin, that God justifies me freely. He doesn't hold a debt against me, He doesn't hold a grudge. He freely and willingly justifies, forgives, corrects, and encourages me.

One of the enemy's greatest tools is shame. If we are shameful about our failures and sins, then that will hold you back from what God wants to give you. Shame causes you to remain in guilt, remain in failure, and remain in sin. But, God's grace redeems, sets free, invites you to sit on His lap and be loved...let me just stop there. Take this moment right now and sit on Daddy God's lap, let Him hold you, let Him just love on you a minute. Let Him speak to you. Just let God love you.

I am so thankful for Jesus Christ. Because of Him, I am able to live in God's grace, forgiveness, and love.

My Sin...His clothes

"And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord." -Hosea 2:19-20

Wow, what a beautiful promise from the Lord. He's faithful, He's loving, He's merciful. It brings me to tears about how He rescues us. I love the story of redemption.

The story of redemption is the most powerful testimony I believe that there is. I'm not saying other testimonies are not powerful. I'm saying that redemption gives hope to the most hopeless person or situation. Wow, isn't God good?

My story is the story of redemption. Me and God are working on a lot of issues I have, but tonight He gave me hope, love, forgiveness, and peace that I will overcome.

I just wanted to take a second and write this blog to encourage those who feel like they are too far gone for God to rescue. It's never too late.

God promises to betroth you to Him forever. Forever is a long time. That means we will never be separated from Him when we call His name and ask Him to rescue us.

Betroth: (verb) 1.to arrange for the marriage of. Or 2. to promise to marry

God wants us to be in relationship with Him forever. He promises to "marry" us in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy, and in faithfulness, and then we will know Him. What beautiful marriage vows the Lord sings over our lives.

But, why does God say then we will know Him after He speaks His vows? Because those vows He promises are His character. He is righteous, He is justice, He is love, He gives us mercy, He is faithful. That's who He is. We know Him because He shows His character to us.

So, when I sin, God does not give me divorce papers to sign. Instead, God clothes us in His love, in His forgiveness, in His mercy. Nothing separates us from Him.

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." -Romans 8:38-39

"It was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints." -Revelation 19:8

Psalm 46

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear through the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling, Selah. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress, Selah. Come, behold the works of the Lord, how he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!" The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah." -Psalm 46

In the midst of a trail, it is hard to utter the words, "God I exalt you. I will not be afraid. I know you're with me." I've experienced that today. Right now, my family is having to make a difficult decisions in the area of my dad's health. I'm going to be totally transparent, I am scared, overwhelmed, and now I'm trying to get through the day.

This morning at church, the worship band sang this song "I will Exalt You" by Hillsong... here's the link >>
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QFNIScevFc

God broke me and He took me to Psalm 46. In this song, there's a few lines that go like this:
"Because you're with me, because you're with me, because you're with me, I will not fear."

Throughout today, I have constantly have had to give my worries, fears, and pain to the Lord. Because God is with me there is no room for fear. No matter how painful things are God has reassured me today He is with me, He will take care of me, and He will heal. I can't let a bad doctor's report break me. Just like Psalm 46 says God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. He's there! When the waters roar, when the mountains tremble, I am to pause because God is there. Right now it's very hard, but God tells me to be still and know he is the Lord. He is to be exalted through every circumstance. No matter if it's a bad doctor's report, no matter if it's financially, no matter if it's a heartbreak, or hurts from relationship, God tells me to be still, lean on Him, know He is in control and that no matter what He is to be exalted.

It's extremely hard to write this blog, but I felt like I needed to. I really believe I need to declare that no matter what God is here, I don't have to fear, and that whatever situation He will be exalted over it.

He is Patient

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9

Right now, I am in a season where I am frustrated, I feel stuck, and I ultimately do not feel like I am obtaining the call God has on my life. 

I know full well that where God has me right now is exactly where I need to be. He's told me to stay faithful, trust Him, because His way is not going to look like the way I picture it, nor it is the way I think it is going to happen. That's the exciting thing about God; we cannot put Him in a box. 

2 Peter 3:9, stated above in red, has been a constant reminder to me so far this week that God is not slow to fulfill the promises He's made to me. But that's only have the good news, He is patient toward me. I do not know about you, but that encourages my heart so much. I fuss, complain, get frustrated, and I try to take things into my own hands, but God is patient. 

Let me give you a picture. Think about a small child. You go to the store and they see candy they want or a toy they want, and you tell that small child they cannot have it. The child throws a fit because they hear no. Or maybe it's just not the right time for them to have it; however, you may react in a disciplinary way by punishing that child for their behavior. In other words, put yourself in the position of the small child. You are behaving in a way that is not necessary; however, God is so patient with you. He sits and waits for your tantrum to be over and then tries again with us. 

However, there is a third part of 2 Peter 3:9 and that is repentance. God doesn't want anyone to perish, that is why He offers a time for repentance. We get up from our tantrum we throw towards God because His way may not be how we want it to look and we pursue His way that is hard, narrow, but in the long run so rewarding. 

Do not be discouraged if the path God has you on doesn't look like every one's path. It's suppose to be different. Keep the faith, keep the courage, repent if you fall, get up, and run faster then you ever have before. Don't worry I am preaching to myself too. 

"He is patient towards you."

Land of the Living

"I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" Psalm 27:13-14 (ESV)

This has become one of my all time favorite scriptures. This is basically my life in a nutshell. I always wondered where I would be if I never saw the goodness of God, if He never rescued me, if He never showed Himself faithful. 

I love how the Amplified version puts this scripture: 

"[What, what would have become of me] had I not believed that I would see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living! Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord." Psalm 27:13-14 (AMP)

God has really been challenge me on the idea of endurance, perseverance, and expecting Him in all things. 

It is so simple: seek the Lord, and you will find Him. Expect Him, and He'll show up. He is faithful. 

We so often let our minds defeat us. We wonder, "Is God actually gonna show up?" or "Where's God now?" or "God isn't gonna bring this promise to pass." But let me tell you sir/ma'am, God is so faithful and good. You will see the Lord goodness and see life, but only if you expect the Lord, wait on Him, and put all your hope in Him. 

Let your heart be still, throw on courage, and wait for the Lord. He won't stand you. HE is a good daddy.

But it also takes action on your part...

"So I say to you, Ask and keep on asking and it shall be given you; seek and keep on seeking and you shall find; knock and keep on knocking and the door shall be opened to you." Luke 11:9 (AMP)

You keep asking God, keep seeking Him, you keep showing yourself faithful, and God will open up doors to do. Just ask Him, expect Him, hope in Him. 

It's not easy, it's hard, it takes endurance, effort, and perseverance, but it is the way to life. It's a life that is worth living.

I am known

Have you ever felt so close to someone that you know every little detail about them? You know when they are happy, sad, upset, angry. You can just look at their face and know exactly what they are thinking.

That is exactly how God is in our own lives. He knows our failures, our secrets, our sin, our desires, our thoughts, our dreams, our visions. He knows EVERYTHING about us. That is such a comforting truth.

I am so thankful I have God that knows me so well. He knows how to comfort me, talk to me, spend time with me, and pour out His love on me.

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it." Psalm 139:1-6

"My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them." Psalm 139:15-16

The amazing thing is, even when I don't know what my future holds and what the next step in life is, God knows. As long as I keep pursuing His heart, He will direct my steps. When you think no one knows you, or you are not important, let me tell you that you are known by God, and you are a big deal to God.

Eve