The Blessings of God

This morning I was reading about Jacob in the book of Genesis.  He had come to a place of desperation.  He was returning back to his homeland, and he was fearful of the reception he would receive.  He had fled twenty years earlier because he deceived his father into giving him, his brother's blessing.  His brother, Esau, wanted to kill him.  Now God had spoken to Jacob telling him to return home.

Jacob sent word to his brother that he was coming home and hoped that his brother would receive him.  The word that returned to Jacob was that his brother Esau was coming with 400 men!

Jacob was terrified and in great distress!

After dividing his people and animals into two groups and sending gifts to Esau, Jacob was left alone.  He had done all he knew to do, now he turned to God.  On that night, he received the response to his cries.  A "man" appears and wrestles with Jacob all night.  During the course of this wrestling match, the "man" tells Jacob to let him go, but Jacob refuses to let him go until the "man" blesses him.

And the "man" does.

As I read the statement, "Then he blessed him there," I pondered the thought, "What was the blessing?"  Here are some thoughts.

• He had an intimate, face to face encounter with the living God, and lived.

This "man" was God himself.  Jacob recognized the significance of this encounter.  It was not everyday that a person was able to see the face of God and live.  In fact, later God talks about the friendship that he has with Moses.  He spoke face to face to him, not in dreams or riddles, but clearly. Numbers 12:6-8, deut 34:10.  This special friendship was reserved for a select few.  Abraham was also called a friend of God.  James 2:23 God spoke directly to Abraham, face to face, revealing his plans and purposes.  And  let us not forget that Adam walked with God every day, in the cool of the day.

Jesus calls his followers, not simply servants but friends.  

John 15:14-17 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Let us follow Jacob's example and cling to the living God, DON'T LET HIM GO.

• Jacob received a new name--Israel

Jacob's name meant deceiver.  Deceit was his way of living.  He obtained his brother's birthright and blessing that way.  He also left his father-in-laws's home through deceit.  This was how Jacob operated, through his wit.  Now God changed his name to Israel which means "he struggles with God."  Now Jacob's way of living and thinking was changed.  God was saying, "No more deceit, come to me. "

This story reminds me that I don't need to use wit, manipulation, or any of my devices to bring God's plans to fulfillment in my life.  I need only to look to God and fully obey Him.  It also reminds me that often my thinking is ALL WRONG, and God needs to completely change my thinking.

Humans live "trying to figure things out" for themselves.  We do what we think is right, or at least what we think will bring about the outcome we want.  God calls for a completely new way of living and thinking.

Romans 12:2 Do not conform 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 you know the rest of Israel's story, you know that God brought his plans and purposes to pass.  Israel was blessed and the entire world has been blessed through Israel.  God plans are always immeasurably bigger than we can fathom, and he gladly fulfills his plans if we will allow Him do his great work.  

Cling to God today and receive His blessings:

a special friendship

and

A new way of thinking and living

Living in Love

I am in my Father's care
I have entrusted myself completely to the Father
I know His love
I trust His love

You are in my care
I have made myself intimately known to you
I have entrusted you with all that I have
and all that I am
My life and my love are completely yours in FULL measure
Entrust yourself to me
completely
vulnerably
Open your heart to me
and I will fill it
I will satisfy you in ways
you've never even imagined
Do not fear for even a moment
I will never fail you
I am able to care for you
I am able to protect you
I have EVERYTHING you need
just give me ALL  of you
and I will give you ALL of me
Give me your hopes
Give me your dreams
Give me your children
and all that you hold dear
Give ALL to me
You can trust me
I won't withhold any good thing from you
Let me love you
fully
perfectly
Let me pour my inexhaustible love through you
Join in my beautiful, wonderful work
For it is my plan to love you as you love others
GIVE
and ALL will be given to you
The more you give
the more you will be filled
the more you will be satisfied
Just imagine yourself as a perpetual fountain
That fountain is my love and my life in you
You will experience All
in excess
in abundance
in huge and generous proportions
in such great measure
as you've never seen or imagined
My supply can NEVER be diminished
and neither will  yours
as long as you stay connected to me
vulnerably
openly
honestly
submitted completely to me
You never need to worry that you won't have ALL you need
The one who supplies for your physical needs
also supplies for your spiritual needs
I will keep you near me
You need only to say “Yes” to me
You need only to give up your way
And take my way
I also supply enough for you to meet the needs of others
in generous proportions
I am also the one who INCREASES
I MULTIPLY your giving
and I abundantly supply for you in EVERY WAY,
Any time a need arises
you will always have MORE THAN ENOUGH to give
even when the need seems far beyond your ability to meet the need
Remember, no need is beyond my ability to fully satisfy it
I can.
I will.
Just make yourself available to me
and I will supply
AS YOU GIVE
I will satisfy you
AS YOU GIVE
Just entrust yourself to me
Believe my words
for they are truth
I will do it.

from Jesus.

Living a life of Faith--This is deep!

Recently, I was meditating on God's word, and man did He show me some amazing things!  Not necessarily new, but He took me to a deeper level.  I want to share just a bit.  Often I've been hesitant to FULLY trust what I've heard from God or to completely obey God, because I'm not sure that I've heard Him right.  It is so important to me to speak truth, and not my own opinion.  His words bring life, mine don't.  I've lived with so much doubt in my life, because I'm not sure I completely understand what God is saying.  The Holy Spirit has been rebuking me BIG TIME for this.  I like to have it ALL 100% right first before I make a move.  That'll certainly keep you paralyzed, because ....get this... I'm not perfect! (well, I am because Jesus gave me His perfection)  But what I'm saying is I make mistakes.  I fail.  I goof-up. I sin.  I misunderstand.  Have you noticed a pattern here?  I... I....I...I...  I can't trust God's words because of "I".

So here's the amazing revelation!  It's not about my ability or lack of ability.  It's about His ability.  He is ABLE to do exceedingly, abundantly MORE than I ask or even imagine.  My God is able to communicate so that I can hear and understand Him.  Think about it.  He spoke to the wicked and they heard and understood him.  He spoke to people just like us, with weaknesses, who were always misunderstanding, who were uneducated...  He spoke, and they heard.  (Many of those people wrote what we call "The Bible".  People like us wrote the Bible.  Amazing, Huh?  We hear, because He speaks.  We can trust His words to us, because HE IS FULLY TRUSTWORTHY.  GOD IS ABLE to open our minds so that we can understand.  GOD IS ABLE to open our eyes so that we can see.  We don't need to be timid.  We can trust that HE IS ABLE. 

And even if we still manage to misunderstand Him, (yes we certainly will), HE IS ABLE to redeem our mistakes, correct our course, and protect us. 

So with ALL that being said, I can put my complete trust in Him. in Him.  In HIM. He's great enough to overcome ALL my insufficiencies.  So I can be bold and confident in Him.  I can live my life fully trusting and obeying His every word to me, to the best of my ability, and as I understand it today. 

And He promises to greatly reward those who choose to trust HIM. 

No more "I".  It's all about HIM.  No more doubt. (Help me Lord)  I believe because your words are true and you are ABLE!

Enjoying a Feast in the Midst of life's Difficulties

The journey to the higher places (the  place where we enjoy greater intimacy with the Father) often leads us face-to-face with our greatest fears.  As we experience His protection in these difficult places we learn, that our shepherd doesn't need to remove our enemies (or problems)  in order for us to be secure.  We can enjoy  perfect peace, security and abundance because the Good Shepherd is near.  We can enjoy the feast prepared for us by our Great God, while our enemies look on with utter contempt.  What sweet victory that is!

I've witnessed this with my own eyes.  I've had the blessed opportunity to meet a new friend this past weekend--Linda Giebelhaus.  She's experienced several devastating blows in her life:  losing her wealth, colon cancer (and overcoming it) and now terminal cancer.  According to the doctor, she has about 30 days to live, but you'd never know it if you're around her.  You'd think they've given her 30 years!  She is enjoying the magnificent feast that the Good Shepherd has prepared before her, relishing every choice morsel of her life.  She speaks of the love of the Shepherd and how He daily satisfies her and provides abundantly for her needs.  She is such a delight to be around!  I just love her!  She is one who dances before the Lord.  She truly LOVES the Shepherd.

Please join me in praying that our Heavenly Father would completely heal her and give her many more years to proclaim His goodness here on earth.  If you'd like to follow her journey, see:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/Lindagiebelhaus

 
May each of us proclaim along with the Psalmist and  Linda:

PS 46:1 God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.

  PS 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

  PS 46:3 though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.
        Selah

Searching through the Ashes

Today as I prayed with a group ladies, God gave me a very powerful revelation that I'd like to share with you.  One of the ladies was praying for the victims of the recent fires of Central Texas and recounting the miracle of a couple finding their wedding ring in the midst of the ashes.  It was as though her words were spoken from the Heavenlies themselves.  This couple needed to search among the ashes, the ruins of their lives in order to find that which they treasured and through supernatural intervention, they found their prized possession--a wedding ring.

Fires are raging everywhere.  In our homes. On our jobs. In our churches. In our finances.  In our families.  In our bodies.  And for many there is little left, except ashes.  There seems to be no hope.  Everything.... is....gone. Maybe you're ready to give up.  All that's left is empty promises and unfulfilled dreams.  But our God, our Great Redeemer has this word for you:


Search among the ashes, and find your treasure.

What have you lost?  Intimacy in your martial relationship?  Have you lost everything financially because of a recent layoff?   Has your child walked away from God?  Have you lost your joy?  Seek, as one searching for a Great Hidden treasure.  Persist.  Get dirty--really dirty.  Deal with painful memories.  Dig past the rubble.  Do the hard work.  Search for the hidden treasure.  And if you persist, you WILL FIND it.  God promises that those who seek will find.  I also want to encourage you to solicit friends who will seek with you.  It is much easier to find a hidden treasure with help.  Friends will encourage you when you want to give up, and keep you from getting sidetracked.  Searching for treasure among the ashes isn't a work to be done alone.  And don't forget to dress properly for the occasion.  You don't search through ashes with flip flops and a tank top. Put on your armor--the FULL armor of God so you will be able to take your stand against the Enemy.

I believe that as you search you will discover that your treasure is God Himself, for He said that He is our inheritance.  In Him you have ALL.  God is a compassionate and generous God.  He delights in giving His children good gifts.  Expect that He will bless you in ways you cannot begin to imagine.

Don't give up.  Don't walk away.


Keep looking.  Keep searching.
                                                        Through the ashes

Psalms 119:57 You are my portion, O LORD;
    I have promised to obey your words.

  Luke 11:9 "So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. [10] For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

Collaboration

   
I was recently blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with some wonderful artists on some art projects.  I've never done anything like this before.  When Kathy first asked me about being a part of the collaboration, I was excited and honored that she would ask me.  But as the time approached for us to begin the collaboration, I began to get nervous.  This was totally out of my comfort zone!  I didn't know what to expect.  There was no plan.  And I had no control over what would happen. I had to trust that God had a plan.
     The first day we met, I remember the anxiety I felt.  I was like, "I'm here.  Now what?"  We prayed.  And God did a marvelous work through us.  We brought our scraps, and leftover pieces and over the course of a month, we're created 6 beautiful works of art.  I'm amazed!  Each piece is so different.  We each contributed in some way, to each piece.  And each person's contribution was absolutely vital to creating that final product.

Interestingly, we are each very different.  We come from different ethinic and cultural backgrounds.  We each work in different mediums.  Our styles are very different.  Even our methods of creating art are different.  But you wouldn't believe how much harmony we've had.  The Spirit of God has worked through each of us enabling us to work with oneness of mind.  We committed ourselves to be servants, listening to the Spirit and being sensitive to the ways that He was moving.

     Did we agree at every moment?  No.  But we always came to an agreement in a peaceful manner.  Sometimes it took time to hear what the Spirit was saying.

     I can honestly say that I could never have created anything like these pieces alone.  Now it almost feels strange working alone in my studio on my personal pieces.  I miss that interaction and feedback.

It's been fun!  And I've learned so much and grown through the process.

I have been given a small glimpse of what God wants to do in His people on a larger scale.  He wants us working together, each bringing our little bit to the table in order to create a Great Feast.  We can't do it alone.  We must be willing to give...and receive.   And in the process each of us will be changed.  Paul says in Ephesians that we become more whole, for you supply what is lacking in me, and I in you.   The church becomes a fuller expression of the Magnificient Glorious Infiinite God.  The knowledge of His glory becomes more complete and more fully displayed.  How exciting!

We need each other.  God wants to use us working together to do something beautiful for Him.

Let's collaborate.

the blessing of confessing

Recently, the Holy Spirit led me to have a devotional with my kids on how to deal with sin.   So we talked about what happens to us when we sin(or think we've sinned).  We feel ashamed, afraid, guilty...  When we choose to stay in the the dark, rather than coming out into the light and confessing, Satan keeps his finger on us.  His power is strongest in  the darkness.  He tries to keep us hiding--with lies of course.  We hide in so many ways.  By making excuses.  By blaming others. By ignoring our sin. By keeping our sin a secret.  When we refuse to admit our sin, confessing it to God and each other, it hurts us.  We can experience no peace or rest in our hearts.  We live a life of guilt, shame and fear.  We lose our intimacy with God.  That sin creates distance in our relationship.  Not only do we lose intimacy with God, but we lose intimacy with others.  Unconfessed sin can even cause health problems.  If sin continues on unconfessed, it leads to isolation.  Because we're still trying to hide.  It's a downward spiral.  Does that sound like a life you'd like to live? 

But there is a remedy.  God has given us a gift.  It is the gift of forgiveness.   But we can only receive forgiveness if we are willing to confess.  We must come out of the darkness, into the light of truth.  We must call our sin by its name--sin.  We must refuse to compromise, or making excuses for our sin.  Just admit it.  God already knows.  It's amazing what happens when we confess our sins.  The process of healing and restoration begins.   Our hearts can again be filled with peace.   Our intimacy with God is restored.  Our intimacy with others can be restored.  We can live again in community.  Even our physical bodies can experience healing. 

God's forgiveness is total and complete.  He separates our sin as far as the east is from the west.  We are washed completely.  There is no need to continue punishing yourself.  There's no need to continue meditating over that mistake thinking of all the things you could have done differently.  Yes, there may be business that needs to be done.  The Holy Spirit may give you instructions to work toward reconciliation.  He may give you instructions to make restitution.  You will need some accountability in  place to help you in your area of weakness.  But understand, that you're already forgiven. Receive it.  Live like you're forgiven, because God says that you are.  I admit that I really struggle with this.  I have struggled with perfectionism my entire life, so when I fail, I can't let myself "off the hook".  Even after I've gone to God for forgiveness, I continue to punish myself chasing down that sin like a pit bull refusing to let it go.  I'm learning how to live in His grace more and more.

Paul said the more sin increased, the more His grace increases.  That scripture gets under the skin of us rule-keepers, because we think that we're giving people a "license to sin".  But even Paul talks about the foolishness of this line of thinking.  Why would anyone want to sin saying grace will cover it? Why would I want to live in guilt, fear, and shame when I can live free?  It was for freedom, that He set us free!

Lastly, I asked each of my kids if there was some person they trusted enough to confess their sins to.  It's important to have those person's in place before we sin, because it's hard enough to confess without having to add looking for a person we trust.  I now see the value in Catholics going to priests for confession.  What a blessing to have a fairly easy way to go and confess to someone you trust. But confession must go past admitting our sins.  We must also allow others to hold us accountable.  That requires an intimate relationship.


So after having our devotional and praying together, I had the opportunity to experience the blessing of confessing.  One of my children came to me asking if he could speak with me privately.  Of course.  So we went into my bedroom and he proceeded to confess a secret sin.  His heart was so broken over his sin and he felt that he had disappointed me. This may sound crazy, but it what such a joyous moment for me.  I was able to give him the gift of forgiveness and unconditional acceptance.  We sat together and embraced, as he cried.  I told him I loved him and that I totally forgave him.  He prayed and asked God for forgiveness.  Then I told him that he didn't need to think about that anymore.  It was done and over.  He was forgiven.  Now, there was business that needed to be done.  There were some things that I needed to do, so that he wasn't tempted to sin in that way again.  But it wasn't to punish him.  It was to help him.  And amazingly, he gladly received my help.  It actually seemed like a relief to him.  Later that day, I asked him how he felt.  He said he felt much better.

I pray that you may experience the blessing of confessing the next time you sin.

GAL 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 1JN 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

 James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

2CH 7:13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain (hmm... sounds like a drought), or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, [14] if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. [15] Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. [16] I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

Blessings on Your Life

All these blessings will be upon you and be your constant companion IF YOU OBEY Yahweh (the unchanging, ever-present, self-existing one; the one who reveals Himself to His people) :

You will be blessed wherever you are, whether in the city or in the country.

You will be blessed to bear many children.

And all of your work will produce MUCH  fruit.  Your business will flourish, and your ministry will be effective.

You will always have plenty of food to eat.  Every need will be met with abundance.

It matters not if you are coming or going, blessing will always be near.

Those who rise up against you in order to harm you will be defeated before your very eyes.  Yes, they will come to you in confidence and strength, but they will run from you like roaches scattering when the light turns on!

Your investment and savings will be blessed.  Every venture, and business idea will be successful.

The Lord will set you apart from others as special.  You have a special purpose—a holy calling.  But you must:

Obey ALL of the Lord’s commands.  You must walk in His ways.  His ways are not the ways of man.

Then all people on the earth will see that you are a child of the Most Holy.  They will be afraid to do you harm.  YET you will find favor with them because they think so highly of you. 

You will have ABUNDANT PROSPERITY!  You will overflow with every good thing.  The Lord will open the gates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you don’t have the capacity to hold it all.  Everyone you encounter will benefit from your overflow.   You will be a channel of blessing to your extended family, your community, the nation and even the world!

He will send EVERY needed resource in order for your work to prosper.  He will provide the right environment for you to succeed.  All of your efforts will be productive and effective.  (The curse of sin has no power over your work.  Hallelujah!)

You will have so much that you can give freely to many who are in need, and never have need yourself to borrow from others.  You will provided exactly what you need AT THE RIGHT TIME! No Loans!  No Credit cards!  No Debt!  Ever!

You will be a leader, not a follower.  You will set the trend for others to follow.

But you must focus your thoughts on giving your full and complete devotion to none other than God—carefully listening to His voice and following all His instructions exactly.  (Don’t worry about whether it makes sense.)  

If you do, You will always be at the top and never at the bottom!

Pay attention.  Focus.  Don’t get off track.  Don’t be distracted by the world’s promises of pleasure, immediate gratification, or its promise of popularity or quick success.  Don’t follow any of their methods of using debt, deception, using people for their own selfish gain, devaluing the work of others in order to make the largest profit margin, or abusing the environment.  Don’t use their marketing schemes that appeal to man’s sinful cravings, stirring up desires in people in order to get more sales.  Don’t do it!  Resist greed, wastefulness, and overspending.  

Pursue God.  Not the blessings.  For God, Himself is the blessing, the treasure, the inheritance.  In Him we have ALL that we desire and need.

WAIT ON HIS BLESSINGS, for His blessings always come without regret. They always come at the proper time. His blessings, truly satisfy.

A modern day paraphrase of Deut 28: 1-14 (with a few other scriptures added)

Do you know Him?

 Do you know Him?  I wanna know.  Do you know Him? 

I heard this song as a child growing up.  I didn't understand the significance of the question then, but now I have a much better understanding.  These are questions that people who call themselves followers of God should be asking themselves.  Do I really know Him?  I'm not speaking of an intellectual knowledge here.  Yes, I know there is a sovereign creator of the universe who is omnipresent, omnipotent, all wise,  perfect, holy, righteous...  The question is: Do you know Him?  I don't want to know what you know about Him.  I don't want to know what you've read about Him or heard about Him.  I don't want to have a theological discussion about his invisible qualities.  What I really want to know is:  Do you have an intimate relationship with the King of the Universe?

Do you know Him?

I love being a momma.  I've been blessed with 4 children that I know very intimately.  From the moment they were conceived, they've been near me.  I've cared for almost  every need.  I heard just about every cry.  I've celebrated the joys, and tried to kiss away their pain.  I've watched them discover the world around them, and I've answered their questions, questions, questions.   I know these children.  I have intimately experienced their weaknesses and strengths.  I've listened to their dreams.  And we've simply spent time together simply enjoying life--looking at the clouds, laughing at something funny their dad has said, or ballroom dancing in the kitchen.  I've taught them most of what they know.  From the word "mama", to how to read, to the first law of thermodynamics, to the word of God.  I know these kids, and they know me.  It's taken time.  It's taken commitment.  It's taken love.  It's taken perseverance.  It's hard work! Intimacy doesn't come to the faint of heart.  It doesn't come for free. We've had to walk through disappointment, discouragement, struggles, pain and lots and lots and lots of tears.

And I'll be honest, pain makes you want to close off your heart to others.  You want to protect yourself from the pain.  But when you protect your heart from pain, you also keep yourself from receiving love.

So what does any of this have to do with knowing Him?  Well, everything--mostly.  Have you taken time to know God's heart?  Have you listened to His dreams, His vision, His purpose for you and all of mankind?  Have you spent time with Him enjoying life--taking in this world He's made, laughing at His jokes (He made jokes, you know), or simply dancing with Him?  Have you let Him teach you?  He knows everything there is to know, and He says that He gives wisdom freely to those who ask.  He's been near you from the moment you were conceived, and even planned every one of your days before you existed.  He's heard your every cry and met your every need.  He knows you--through and through, and He loves you--completely.

Do you know Him?

So you've chattered away, telling Him every thing you want.  Telling Him what you want Him to do.  Sometimes, telling Him what you think He wants you to say.  You know. (clearing throat here) Noble prayers. Godly prayers.  Beautiful prayers.  Have you stopped your soliloquy long enough to listen to Him?  It's hard to know someone you've never listened to.  Listen.  That means  you may have to endure some silence.  It'll feel awkward at first.  You may not even be able to silence your own thoughts.  You'll want to give up, but if you will persevere , you will be rewarded with a faint whisper.And as you continue to listen intently, that faint whisper will become louder and louder until you begin to hear a beautiful symphony.  It's been playing since the beginning of time--and even before that.

The more you know Him, the more you'll know yourself.  You'll discover treasures that He's placed inside of you.   You'll discover that  you've been given everything that you need to live life victoriously, purposefully, productively, and joyfully.  You'll discover that you don't have to be held down by chains of fear, depression, past failures, guilt, shame or anything else.  You've been given a tremendous gift.  It's there.  Actually, I should say, He's there.  The gift is the Holy Spirit.  (Of course you have this gift only if you've accepted the love of Jesus Christ.)  It is through the Holy Spirit that we can know Him.  And it is by knowing Him that we are able to be more like Him.

Do you know Him?

I pray that God would give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. Amen.

  Ephesians1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.

COL 1:9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. [10] And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

You are More

You are more
more than what you see
You are more
more than what you feel
You are more
more than what they say
You are more


You are more
more than your past
You are more
more than your guilt
You are more
more than your pain
You are more


You are more
more than your circumstances
You are more
more than your health
You are more
more than how much money you have
more than your mistakes
more than what you eat
more than your hair
more than what they did to you
more than your job
more than your degree
more than your disabilities
more than what you've done
more than your clothes
more than your car
more than where you live

You are forgiven
You are free
You are healed
You are loved
You have a hope and a future

Will you choose to believe, what God says about you?

Now, go and live like you are more.

My Declaration

I'm in the middle of a fundraising campaign in order to acquire the funds to have my book published.  See:

http://www.kickstarter.com/e/Z5YEF/projects/350625527/fear-lives-here-no-more-a-book

The last few days my fundraiser has been at a standstill.  I've received less of a response than I was hoping.  As I've been praying about the Lord's hand of provision for this project, the Lord has given me some words of instruction.  I want to share them with you, in hopes that it would be encouraging for you as well.

The thing  you desire will happen only as much as you trust me enough to obey my commands.  You will only receive what you trust me to give you.  You will receive the fulfillment of your desires only as much as you surrender your need for understanding and control.  Every small act of surrender puts you in a position to receive tremendous blessings--beyond your imagination.    When you trust me, you wait when I say wait.  You go when I say go. You ask when I say ask.  You give when I say give.  You leave the results to me, and have an expectation that I will do what I said I would do.

So I choose to trust God no matter what.  I will not give up .  I will continue to press on.  I won't let others lack of understanding, or lack of vision, discourage me.  I must press on.  I'll bring every doubt and fear to you.  I'll bring to you my confusion, and I'll ask for your instructions and allow you to cast the vision again.  I won't take matters into my own hands, trying to make it happen.  I will obey you.  I surrender my need to understand how, or when.  Kickstarter was definitely an act of obedience, but if this isn't your method of providing, I still choose to trust you.    How you provide is your business.  I must persist in completing the work that you've set before me.    Help me to do these things, by your Spirit.  Amen.