God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. Do you have the gift of speaking? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Do you have the gift of helping others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God through Jesus Christ. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11) NIV
Gifts are God-given, grace-based, and essential to your divine assignment. When we embrace the gift God has given us, we step into the fullness of who God created us to be. You stop comparing yourself to others because you realize your gift is unique to your purpose. I have fought long and hard to achieve this. I worried what others would think especially if I was very bold in my gift. I have written a couple blogs that people may cringe at because of that, but I know I was led by the Holy Spirit and for that reason, I’m okay. Every time before I write, I pray, asking that not my words, but Yours’ Lord. Also, the Word in 2 Timothy chapter 1 speaks to us about; the surrendering of our entire self to God with confident trust in His power, wisdom, and goodness. We are reminded to fan the flame that is already within us. God didn’t give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but power, love and sound judgement. So, we are not to be ashamed to testify about our Lord. How He has saved and delivered us and called us into a holy calling-a life of purpose, not because of anything we have done, but because of who He is and what He has done. And because of that, we/I can boldly profess publicly all that He has done for me, without condemnation. I believe that God’s gift to me was to share of His mercy, grace and ever-present help in times of need through the many obstacles, hurts and life-lessons I’ve endured. He has shown me that I am loved, valued, cared for, protected, forgiven, and I belong to Him. He is my Father and He is over-joyed that I am His child. So, why would I hold all that in? I have been given so much from the Father and I know my life has purpose and that purpose is to stir up that gift inside of me and share it with others.
The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16b)
This is me when I was a baby. I don’t know who was the first to begin praying for me, whether before I was born, after or even now I don’t know everyone that prays for me. What I do know is there has always been someone praying for me. I also know my life would have turned out very differently had they not been. There is real purpose in prayer, if that were not true why would God tell us to pray for each other? Here are a few reasons why we pray for others: Protection, strength when they are weak, to know God’s will and to grow in wisdom, for boldness to share the Gospel. I just received a message today from a friend, asking me to pray just that for her. She wanted me to pray for opportunities as well as boldness & clarity as she entered the streets to spread the Gospel, we call it “Street-ministry.” The Word says in, (Colossians 4:3-4) “At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison-that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.” That scripture makes it clear to me, I had a responsibility to pray the prayer of agreement in that area for her. We should also pray for missionaries and church leaders, our government official’s, our President, all who have been given charge over us. The Bible calls this kind of prayer intercession -a responsibility, a command, and an act of love. I can say now, I was loved from the beginning of time, my time that is. First, God loved me enough that He thought it was necessary for me to be born. Side note to self, “I have purpose.” Then He gave charge or the responsibility of those who loved me to intercede on my behalf. My life was not a fairy tale by no means. I was not a planned pregnancy and to hear my mother tell me how I was conceived was very sad. I would have liked to believe my life began as a love story, but not so. I have heard both sides of the story from both my parents and neither side is one anyone would want. There were attacks on my life right from the start, beginning with a tumor that they were having trouble diagnosing, praise be to God for discernment on the doctors part that determined what it was and surgery was a win for me. I lived through some really tough times as a child of an extremely young mother and a stepfather that was rather hateful towards me most of my childhood, which I will not go into details, but I will say, I ended up in foster care for a period of time. My biofather was sexually abusive to me so that caused a whole other set of issues for me then, as well as later in life. By 15, I was trying to end my life. Obviously someone was praying, someone or someones had been praying all along. So, you see even though people are praying for you, doesn’t mean you won’t go through things in life. What it does mean, God is hearing those petitioning Him on your behalf and He is making a way for you to get through it. This is important, I believe, in my sharing of my childhood; when I was 12 I received Jesus into my heart, obviously I did not know Him then like I do now, but He was with me everyday from that day forward. I have heard, 12 is the age of accountability, so it looks like my first right choice in life had been made. Meanwhile this I do know, my step-grandfather was the first person to my knowing that was praying for me, that is considered an act of love; and a responsibility, being he was a Minister of a Church, which by the way I was spending the week with him and my grandmother for Vacation Bible School when I gave my life to Jesus. Quick summary of the next 20 years; after attempted suicide, I got hooked on drugs and alcohol. I’d be here all day if I went into all the places in life that took me, but I will share more of that at a later time. “People are praying!” Fast forward, I’m now 32 and about to rededicate my life to the Lord. See He never left me, not one minute in those 20 years, He was closer than a brother, I just wasn’t aware of that, though I’m about to be. Next, I’m Thirty-three, I’m down on my knees surrendering ALL not knowing how I made it this far, when I am reminded by an aunt, all the days before this, that my family had been praying for me. Today I am 63 years old and I pray for everyone. I have come to know the importance of prayer in a persons life first hand. Prayer is a powerful tool and like I said before, an act of love. If you love someone pray for them, If someone you love hurt you, pray for them, there is power in that prayer. You will open the door for restoration, deliverance, reconciliation, so many other things through fervent/heartfelt prayer. Food for thought: Imitate Christ, who is continually interceding for us who believe, and carry each other’s burdens through prayer.
And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. (Jeremiah 29:13)
I have often spent hours and at times days looking for God. “Where are You, Lord?” “I can’t see you anywhere” “Have you left me? Do you not care what I’m going through?” That is some of the questions I would find myself saying, all the while knowing He is there, He hears me, He loves me, He cares what I am going through. But I really wasn’t focused on finding Him, I was in panic mode. At times I would be looking at my problems like that needle in the haystack, they were so BIG that was all I could see. Instead of looking at God, who is even BIGGER than that. That scripture in Jeremiah speaks that to me; when I search for Him with all my heart, I’ll find Him. Not when I’m so focused on my problem or situation I’m going through, NO, when I am whole-heartedly seeking after Him, FOCUSED on finding Him! God is always waiting on us to cry out to Him, but with our whole heart, trusting Him, not just hoping He will hear us or show up. I can’t tell you how many times over my life span, I’ve worried about finances. Before I was a believer well of course I was my own god, so I’d just try to figure it all out and if it worked great; if not I’d try something else, but when I became a believer in Christ, that made the real change. Not saying I didn’t get off kilter at times, but I now knew who was my source and who to go searching for over my finances. Can I just say, EVERY time I have searched with my whole heart, God has shown up. I’m not saying every time my finances where in dire straight did He bail me out immediately, but He did give me direction as to what to do and what not to do anymore, if I didn’t want to go through that again. Ya know, He’s a Daddy, just tak’n care of His girl, daddy’s have to do a little correcting at times. So, God is not a needle in the haystack, if He were He’d be like the one in the picture above. God is accessible, he desires to be found, and a rewarder of those who diligently seek His presence, strength and righteousness. Here are just a few other scriptures you can refer too; (Deut. 4:29): “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Hebrews 11:6): …he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”. and one more I’ll share, (Matt. 7:7-8): :Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will opened to you.” So remember, it is your “whole heart” He is after and if you will search for Him with that, you will find Him.
“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7)
Casting is intentional relocating of something; in this case it is relocating where we put our anxiety. I’d just like to point out the word intentional, that is my word this year for learning how to better walk in the direction & instruction of the Lord. Our first response to what has us feeling anxious should be in removing it off our mind and casting it on Jesus. As soon as we sense that anxiety welling up inside of us, cast it in Jesus’ direction, immediately. Be intentional about not holding on to that feeling. Look up scriptures regarding anxiety so you know how to say, “You said” Examples: “You said you would walk me through the waters” (Is. 43:2) “You said you would lead me through the valley” (Ps. 23:4) “You said that you would never leave or forsake me” (Heb. 13:5). Find a promise that fits your problem and build your prayer around that. Faith touches the heart of God, and it activates the angels of heaven. Your answer may not come over night, but it will come. And you will overcome. Remember God did not give you a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a sound mind (2 Ti.1:7) He is Love. There is power in being anchored in His Word. Do not let the enemy come in and manipulate you by fear, confusion, or panic. Fear is a liar. Anxiety is a liar. “Peace, I leave you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn. 14:27) Yep, He said it! Believe it.
Try me now says the Lord, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing, that there will not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10)
There is so much to be taken from this testimony, but what I really want to hit on, why I believe God brought it to my mind this morning, “Radical Obedience.” In 1998 my husband I made a move from Texas his home state, to Arkansas. We came here on a job transfer which at the time the pay was only $8 an hour and I was going to be taking a job at the minimum wage of $5.25 an hour once we got here. We came here with a lot of baggage as well and not just the kind you take on vacation, if you know what I mean. Times were tough, for what seemed like a very long time, but we loved God, we trusted Him and we were being obedient to His Word in Malachi. There were days we literally had to believe God for our next meal, via the cousin who was retired and now a vegetable peddler, who would be coming by our home that we were renting at the time with his left-over veggies that he didn’t sell that day at the market. Neither of us had ever lived so scarcely before, yet so intently about our finances and our faith that God would provide just what we needed at just the right time. Standing on the verse (Phil. 4:19) “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” We truly were relying on divine provision through our faith and trust in His Word. Because we were new Christians and we still didn’t really KNOW God, you know, really know Him! Was His Word something we could actually take to the bank? It wasn’t long now until we were about to find out and we found out, through “Radical Obedience.” One of the troubles we had been facing during those tough times was vehicle issues. We had two and they both went out of service at the same time and left us stranded for transportation, how were we going to get to work now? With what money do we have to purchase another vehicle while we fix these? Just like how God is using me right now to share about Him and His goodness, little ‘ole housewife me, he provided a person who we would not have seen coming, to loan us the money for another used vehicle. We are now back on the road because of His provision and our faithfulness and trust in His Word. Now my husband would spend countless hours and hard labor to fix these broken vehicles on his off hours from his job. I thank God for the gifts that He has given each of us, because one of the many He gave my husband was the ability to know the mechanics to fix the vehicles. Money saved is money earned! Now we begin to move forward. We have three vehicles all running and we only need two, but we want to purchase a home of our own and we are going to need some money for a down payment. So, naturally we had the idea we would sell the car we purchased to hold us over while fixing our other two and that would give us “some” of the money we needed. Meanwhile, a lady from our church and her two daughters were going through the same situation we just came out of with three of them, no way to get to work, church, store, etc. I remember it was a Wednesday night and during fellowship hearing their story, I could definitely relate being we had just gone through this same thing. The next day I heard this voice saying, “give them your car.” What? Surely, NOT. We need that money to buy a house. But all day it just kept nudging at my heart, so finally I said, “God, if this is REALLY You, then tell my husband the same thing you are telling me and then I will believe you.” A little time passes and I am getting antsy, I ask my husband, “hey, have you been hearing anything from God?” His reply was, Yeah, I have. I have been thinking about the lady at church, and I know it sounds crazy, but we have this car…. yep, he said it! So, I asked him, “so what do we do?” he replies with, “give her the car.” We really didn’t know what we were doing at the time, all we knew was, if God said, do it! So that next Sunday we went to church with title to the car in hand and gave it to her. First, watching her and her daughter’s reaction was grander than anything I could have imagined. I thought my heart was going to explode. Then, suddenly, the windows of heaven were about to open up and pour out a blessing! We received a check in the mail for three times the amount we were going to sell that car for, and it was EXACTLY the amount we needed to put down on the home we wanted to purchase. Might I add, the money also came from a source only God could have orchestrated. This testimony, like I said in the beginning has many different facets of God that I could touch on, but today I believe it was all about “Radical Obedience.” I would like to add as well, “You cannot outgive God.” You know the Israelite’s once said in (Exodus 24:7)”We will do everything the Lord has said, we will obey.” “Whatever God commands we are in!” that was repeated twice because they finally knew God. Even if we don’t completely understand what the Lord is doing, if He speaks it, just do it. Small acts of obedience are just as important; they will bring your soul satisfaction by knowing you are pleasing the Lord and don’t ever think little things don’t matter to God because nothing goes un-noticed by Him. He delights in His children’s obedience.
The fear of God will result in Obedience to God (Haggai 1:12)
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. (John 10:27)
Jesus refers to us as sheep. If we are His sheep, meaning saved through the washing of His blood on the cross, then we will hear His voice. Over the past year and half, I have found myself with a finer tuning in my hearing regarding the things He is saying to me. I spend more time ruminating on those things I hear more than before, not so quick to make a rash move forward. Yet I am also being more obedient than ever as well. It was at this same time of the year that I had a six-day encounter with the Lord like NEVER before. On day seven I was ready to do what I had heard Him saying to me, I was learning obedience in the richest form. In the book of (Jeremiah 7:23) God commanded saying, ‘Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways I have commanded you, that it may be well with you.’ Surrender & Obedience rose up in me in like NEVER before. Not only that, but I had been emptied completely and filled with new wine just as in (Mark 2:22) there was a new covenant of grace. I was SO full of the new wine (Holy Spirit) that is, I was overflowing, I literally felt drunk. I continued saying, I can’t take anymore, but then, I would immediately gasp for more, there was no way I was not going to receive ALL that the Lord had for me. Again, this was a new thing. I had only experienced something to this magnitude one other time in my 30 years of living for Him. When God calls you to obedience, follow where He is leading you, I promise just like He said, “that it may be well with you.” That overflow I spoke of was revealed to me by the Holy Spirit that it was important that I receive it because it wasn’t for me, but for others. I soon was to find out what He meant by that. A lot happened over this past year and half that proved every word I heard. This BLOG is now just another part of the process of; Hearing, Surrender & Obedience, with a bit of INTENTIONALITY!
Bread and Water 