Stepping Into My Promise!

Stepping Into My Promise!

Have you ever received a promise for something? Has it come to pass, or are you still waiting?

I would like to spend this blog giving my testimony of what God has spoken to me about and while waiting for His promises in my life. I was at a point in my life where I was ready to give up on my promise. This breaks my heart to even have to admit it to myself. It’s not that I doubt God in the least, how could I? It’s just that I was feeling like I had probably made it all up in my head. Or else other parties disliked me so much and I cared more about not hurting them than myself that I was willing to step aside.

Here is my story…

On May 13, 2013 I drove across the country to Texas, my most favorite place to be on earth. I don’t know why I have such a love for Texas. God has put that love in my heart. Even as a little girl when we lived in Houston, I never wanted to leave! This time I came to Dallas for a singles conference and to sell my new book, Unfolding the Rose. God amazingly gave me a new friend, Mandi. She lives in Kilgore, TX and we went to the singles event together. I love how God keeps giving me new friends and contacts in Texas. Her family is a delight!

On May 14, 2013 a Tuesday I believe a dear friend called me from home and told me that God had put me on her heart strong. She gave me a word from the Lord, the word was “protection.” I told her thank you and was so grateful for her being sensitive to the Lord and sharing the word with me. I will be honest I didn’t know at the time what the word meant for me. Yet, the word “protection” made me aware all week of what God was trying to tell me.

There were some emotional roller coasters for me that week in the Longview area. There were some things I told God I didn’t want in my life anymore but He seemed to have other ideas. I didn’t want to go somewhere with all my heart but God again had another idea. I wanted to give up on my promise from Him but God said, “No, this is your promise.”

I was at my friend Mandi’s house and was in the shower and I broke down begging God to release something from my life. I cried out to God, “Please let me go from this Lord.” He kept repeating to me, “No, this is your promise and step into your promise.” He repeated it over and over again. With all my heart I was ready to step away from what God has been telling me for about a year now because it seemed like it was never going to happen. It still has not happened to date…

I went to the Dallas singles conference and oh how I was blessed. From the first minute I arrived at the service there was an anointing and a refreshing I received in the Spirit. It was almost like I breathed a heavy sigh of relief in the Spirit. Then the pastor there preached the first night. He preached about Psalms 23 and how the Lord is our protection. And how that the entire passage was everything we need in the Spirit. The devil cannot get to us because we are protected because of our walk with the Lord and He keeps us from harm. OH MY WORD! “protection” the word my friend had given me earlier in the week. I knew God had his hand on my life, to keep me safe.

But there was more God was trying to tell me later…

Here is the kicker----

I said already I had been praying about giving up on my promises and I will be honest even today I am bit discouraged. Then the message the second day was “step child” and how that now is the time to step into your promises. At this point as you can imagine I was broken before the Lord.  It seemed that every part of this weekend, God in His love and mercy had seen fit to talk to me over and over again. He was showing me that my promises were just on the horizon. I believe this with all my heart and I know God is working out my miracle. When it happens mark my words the only thing I will be able to say is , “well done my sweet Lord and friend of mine!”

So…

I had told God before I went to Texas this last time that I did not want to do something. And then wouldn’t you know it God told me to go. He even told me to do something more than once. If you have ever been told to do something from God, you know like I know, you can’t turn off the still small voice or in this case the yelling voice to “GO”. I sat in my car for 30 minutes the first time working up the courage to go inside where He had told me to go. I sat there tears streaming down my face staring at my impossible promise. It makes no sense to me why God has honored me and called me to this humble abode but it is my promise!

I walked into the building and I almost ran right back out. I don’t think I have ever been so sick to my stomach in my life. I listened to what God told me to do and then I left as quickly as I came in. I think it is hard for a person to feel so unwanted and it made me feel like an idiot to be honest. If ever I was humbled in my life it was that day. I would have never never never never never never never (is that enough never’s?) gone into this place unless God had told me. Yet, I will say this I care more about what God wants from me than my own feelings…

Then it happened again…

I was leaving to go home and God said go again. I will be honest with you my friends, I had to ask God for a sign. I hated to ask Him for a sign. He had already told me from July 2012 that this was where I was to be. And at one point last year He even said to me, “I am not going to give you anymore signs.” So you can imagine my reluctance. It’s not that I doubted God it was that I doubted myself. Tears streaming down my face and this time almost a panic attack, I listened and I went in the doors once more.

I saw the look on the pastor’s face as I walked in the door. I knew God had changed his message. I don’t think he was looking at me it’s just that I noticed him look past me. He got up to preach and he said, “God just changed my message.” You can imagine how I must have felt. I think I gulped and forgot to breathe that much I know for sure. I sat in the back trying my best to hide, oh and yup he called me out. Hahhaha so much for blending in.

He preached the message, “A hedge of protection.” Yes, I was just as amazed as you who are reading this blog. There was that word again, “protection.” This was the third time in one week that God used this word to speak to me. Only this time he preached about how to get protection and a different kind of protection that I had never understood. He preached about how we get protection in the Spirit which is through holiness and our personal integrity. Both of which can only from ourselves they are not things God can give us, we must determine to do these things to be closer to God.

Let me tell you why this word was significant…

I had been asking God a question for the past several months. I asked, “How did I know I was being used correctly in the Spirit?” I had been so afraid to step out and be used in the gifts of the spirit for fear that I would be wrong. I have such a fear for the order and righteousness of God. I have seen so many people used in the gifts go so wacky and I just want to be right. This was my answer, He is my protection, and will protect me by my holiness and integrity. God went on to tell me later in prayer that as long as I am praying in the Spirit, I am protected by my holiness unto Him and my life lived in integrity.

I was blown away…

Protection can mean three things:

1) Protection from physical/mental harm

2) Protection from the devil as in Psalms 23

3) Protection in the Spirit through intercessory prayer and living a life of holiness unto God and not compromising on your personal integrity.

I am amazed; God was really showing me in all three areas that He was my “protector.” It is comforting to know, He will never leave me or forsake me!

So then…

As I sat there in the church the pastor said, “And those of you who have the Angel of the Lord on your life and you’re asking God for a sign when God says “Go” you go!”

I think I almost literally and truly passed out. As my Mama says to me all the time, “God gives us a slap and a kiss.” I knew right then in that moment, I was not insane. Everything God has told me will come to pass. It will not happen at all the way I think it will happen and it will be better than I could dream up. My only expectation can be from the Lord. He is the only one who cannot fail us. Whatever He is doing He is working out for my best. I am willing to wait. I am willing to go. I am willing to work for the kingdom where I am planted. A wise man once said, “If God calls you to preach, you preach.” Meaning wherever you are you must be willing to do what you are called to do!

Needless to say my promise has not happened yet…But I have been praying lately and He has told me it is upon me. Even as I write this I am encouraging myself because I have been discouraged the past few days. This is only a trick of the enemy because every time I have spiritual victories as I mentioned in my last blog, the devil comes at my mind. So I guess that just means I have to come against that spirit in prayer. HE WILL NOT DEFEAT ME!!! And he can’t defeat you either!

Another testimony of protection…

I drove home from Texas for twenty hours. When I got home and was turning into my driveway I felt a weird feeling in my car. Welp I was tired so I went to bed. The next morning I went out and my tire light was on. So when I got out of my car at the store it was almost flat. I drove to the tire store right away. They pulled out a 3 inch nail and a 3 inch piece of metal out of my tire! The guy told me it was a miracle that I didn’t have a blow out. A lady in the tire store said, “You are blessed and have the favor of God.” I looked at her and said, “Actually I do!” This was my physical protection!!! If God before you than who can be against you? I tell you my friends no one!

I am asking you my friends and family who read this blog to please pray for me and my mission to help people. I know He has called me to evangelism to the streets. Helping people where they are located. Reaching into the community and meeting their needs. I need a job! I have been applying since last October and God has told me He was preparing me and that’s why I didn’t get a job. He has also told me recently that my miracle is upon me. Will you help me pray for a job? Will you help me pray for sponsors? Or would you like to help sow into my ministry? I covet your prayers. I don’t want to miss any footsteps. The fields are white and ready to harvest. The time is now and I am ready to “Step into my promise!”

God Bless You!

My Open Door!

“My Open Door”

First Part of the Evening

This past Thursday I went and volunteered at a local food pantry. It is a Christian organization, “Open Door Pantry” that feeds about 400-500 needy families a week in the community.

 How it works is that cars drive up to a warehouse door and the food is loaded into their vehicle. It is quite a production. They have a laminated card with their number on the card and they radio inside and their number is crossed off a list.

Blue- Large Family 6+

Yellow- Medium Family 4-6

Green-Small Family 1-4

Boxes are tailored to family size and the appropriate amount of food is distributed into each box.

I was honored to be asked by a friend and her family to volunteer. The organization is run completely by food donations and donated funds. They have no government help or subsidies. It was quite an operation; it is in a large warehouse east of Ann Arbor. This particular Thursday they were short on volunteers and I spent the first part of the evening working the assembly line. Let me tell ya, “I have new respect for assembly line workers!” I was completely wore out…lol It was good for me to say the least. This organization that week had about #40,000 of food to distribute.

My job was to find boxes, put in a juice, and then help put in vegetables and fruit when the line got backed up. In a two hour time-frame I probably packed 250-300 boxes. And let me tell you it is hot working in a factory but I loved every minute of it! There is something about digging in and helping in the community for those in need…

Second Part of the Evening

I know and believe that what happened for the rest of the time that evening was a God thing! My friend who I was volunteering with showed up a little later than me. She and I were asked to go in the parking lot and pray with the people in the cars who were coming to receive food. Since it is a Christian organization with no government funding, there is a freedom and liberty to pray with people. The people who run the food pantry are so busy running the food end of the program that they don’t have people who are willing to pray with people.

This is where Jesus shines! I was thrilled to death to pray with people. My friend Annette and I went up to every car and this is what we said, “Hello, what is your name? My name is Linda. Is there anything you would like me to pray about?” This went on for about two hours. In a two hour time frame we were able to pray for about 50-75 people. WOW!!!!

I am telling you the people are hurting, hungry, and broken. They are hungry but more so they are hungry for God. In all those people we probably had only about six people refuse prayer. But oh the other 50-75 people!

Here is the best part…

Of those who were prayed for there were about 7-10 people who said they needed prayer for sickness. One lady said she had tumors riddled throughout her legs. A sweet couple a man and a woman both had tears streaming down their faces as they said, “You want to pray for us?” They were both sick in their bodies and had physical and spiritual needs! Here is what I said to the people sick in body, “I believe in laying on of hands for those sick in body, would you like me to lay hands on you?” Every one of them said, “Yes, please lay hands on me.”

When people are sick and desperate and need a touch from God they are willing to try anything. I was amazed how God used me to step outside of the box once more. He is stretching me to reach people. I was so honored and humbled that God used me in such a mighty way. People there at the pantry could see something in me. One man who was a volunteer in the parking lot said, “You have a gift for this don’t you?” See when you let your light shine people can see it inside of you. I told him that I really did have a gift for evangelism.

Evangelism

Evangelism is my heart! Every week at the shelter more and more people are coming to meet me. Most of the new faces I have never seen before, but they all know who I am. Last Sunday before I went to the food pantry on Thursday God had impressed on me to stand in a circle with my homeless friends and pray for their needs. This probably prepared me for my outreach on Thursday. We went around the circle and I asked for specific needs from my friends and offered words of encouragement to those there that Sunday. I then told them so as not to be alarmed that I believed in speaking in tongues over their prayers. Every one of them was glad that I took the liberty to pray how God intended me to pray.

Then this week at the shelter…

I was gathering up the extra clothes and food, then I heard one of them say, “let’s go.” The lady said, “No, not until she prays.” And another one said, “That is why I came, I came for the prayer.” These statements about made me break down and cry. The one who came for the prayer was a new face. I had never seen her or met her before. She had tears in her eyes… She had heard about last week so this week she had come. I didn’t even have to find her and tell her, she was told by another and she came on her own. WOW!!! God you are amazing! To God be the glory!!!! He is working even when I am not there.

My only intentions when I first came to the shelter in December were to help people and show them love, and to meet them where they were located. I was just trying to let my light shine and to fulfill the Gospel in Matthew 25:35-41. I don’t want to miss any footsteps and I don’t want to stand before God not helping and reaching the least of these in love. And here it is 6 months later and the people are growing in number. They know who I am and they look forward to seeing me. One has received the Holy Ghost and has been baptized. There are about 7-8 a week who get on the bus and go to church regularly. One lady who we prayed for last week has gotten a job, she said she had a “praise report” I laughed inside my head. She is already a Pentecostal. She is one who goes to church every week!!!!

The Last Part of the Evening

I had asked the people who ran the pantry at the beginning of the evening, if they would be willing to donate to my homeless ministry in Ann Arbor. I supply about 95% of the items myself, yet God always seems to be supplying my needs. They told me they normally only supply to individuals and families or churches who distribute to the needy. I told them that was fine with me and either way I was there to volunteer. I had made friends all evening and God found favor…

The blessing…

The pantry loaded up an entire pallet of probably 500 orange peppers. They gave me 4 huge boxes of expensive cucumbers. I received 4 large bags of potatoes. I then also received 6 large boxes of bread and additional bags of bread! I was stunned!!! Here I had asked for a little and I received 100# of food which was over and abundantly more than I had ever asked for!

I knew I could not distribute this kind of food to my homeless friends at the shelter. I have a dear friend who works with needy and displaced families in Ann Arbor and Tecumseh. She was able to take the food and distribute to 50 families. I was able to keep some back and distribute to 4 families. Then I was able to share the bread with the homeless. I bagged up pita breads in sandwich bags and a local fast food chain donated butter and honey for the pita breads. WHAT A BLESSING!!!

I drove away that night feeling fulfilled. I clapped to the Lord and said, “Well done Lord!”

The BEST part!

Sunday this week repeated itself. I prayed with a large group of homeless friends on the streets. I am expecting God to perform great miracles in their lives. He is working in the community. I am also going back this week to the pantry to volunteer and to pray with people again.

The answer to evangelism is prayer!!!

If we are willing to meet their physical needs in the community and we are willing to step out in faith and pray for their needs, God will draw the people to salvation! Will you help start a spark? It is amazing to me the people I have been able to touch as one person. I can only imagine what it would be like for another person… Or better yet a whole church?

I have a plan God has given me for one church to reach their community. I have shared this with the church God has placed in my heart… I believe that it will happen and I am standing on His promises…

Do you have a promise? Do you have a dream? Does it include reaching for souls? If not I pray that God will spark you to help. One person really can make a difference if God is standing right beside you to order your steps!

Thank you sweet Lord, you are my all and all and to you I give all the glory. It is not by my might, my only part is the willingness to go and to step out in faith!

UPDATE*** Today on June 16, 2013 My second homeless friend received the Holy Ghost and was baptized in Jesus Name! Also two other homeless friends I found out are backslidden pentecostals coming home to the Lord! My heart is  overwhelmed! 

Blessing vs. Anointing?

Blessing vs. Anointing?

If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.    2 Chronicles 7:14 

I had an interesting experience this weekend and it got me to thinking,

“Why do some people seem so blessed when they are not living in the truth?”

It seems every day I see that so many people who are blessed in the Lord.  God uses these blessed people to seemingly help others. I have often wondered how this is possible? Because oftentimes it seems, I am in a holding pattern, waiting to fulfill my purpose in Him. I looked around at the conference I went to this weekend and I would've never guessed these people were a Christian, meaning they looked like everyone else. Yet, they seemed to be so blessed of God. It’s in these kinds of situations where you stop and think, “Have I gotten it wrong somehow?” I don’t doubt my holiness and my separation unto God in the least. But how can these people speak a word into another person’s life? How can they live their life without holiness and still be used of God?

Well…

I went to my knees to get the answer. God gave me the scripture 2 Chronicles 7:14 and it came resonating into my life. God said that anyone who turns from their wicked ways and seeks Him, will be blessed. It's His promise and it's His covenant but that doesn't mean that they have the anointing of God on their lives. It is possible to be blessed without an anointing!

WOW!!!

God really spoke into my heart and gave me an understanding that just because He blesses you, it doesn’t mean He has anointed you. He can use a donkey to speak His words. He will bless anyone who turns from sin and seeks Him with their lives. This reminded me of the scripture, “for many are called but few are chosen.” And maybe for the first time in my life this scripture makes perfect sense to me. I have always been taught that we are chosen, because we choose to be chosen. There is obviously more to the point of this scripture, the chosen are the anointed ones of God. The anointed ones choose to follow after God’s holiness and righteousness. God sees their hearts just as He saw my heart when He led me back to Him in my brokenness.

How are we chosen?

1) We accept the calling placed on our lives

2) We come out from the world and become separate

3) We put on the whole armor of God which includes holiness and righteousness which leads to our protection in the Spirit.

4) We buy the truth and sell it not!

There is only one God! “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord” Deuteronomy 6:4

There is only one mode of baptism! “One Lord, One Faith, One baptism.” Ephesians 4:5

There is only one plan of salvation! “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38

Contrary to popular beliefs, there are not many ways to Jesus. I hear this said so often in society but the truth is there is only one way to be saved. The Lord has been speaking to me in the Old Testament how He had an order of things, and they had to be followed exactly or the children of Israel were killed or cast out. So then if God is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore and His word never changes, then my friend, there is only one way to be saved! You can’t make it up as you go along and expect that you’ll make it to heaven on your own beliefs. Don’t fall into the trap of this world, that you can get to  Heaven your own way because that just isn’t the truth. I would rather tell you the truth now then for you to have wished I told you on judgment day…

How do we get the anointing of God?

We get it through following the truth and then by prayer, fasting, and consecration to God. We are the people of the name of Jesus. We have been called out to be separate. We have power that only comes in the name of Jesus. And how do we get this power? We get it when we are sealed in baptism but baptism in Jesus name. The titles of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost will not seal us because they are not the name of God. God’s name is Jesus and He came to call you to become His chosen child of God. He is calling you to your anointing.

Another thought…

Do you want to be touched or changed?

You can only be changed through the anointing of Jesus Christ. You can be blessed without having an anointing. The children of Israel were blessed but they lost their anointing and were often destroyed because they refused to follow the order of God. I don’t know about you but I want to be changed. If a minister lays hands on me I want them to have power and authority that is backed by the anointing of God, otherwise I only got touched.

Hmmm….

Anointing comes with a cost. You will often be in the wilderness. It will seem at times that everyone else around you has it together and here you are wandering in the wilderness for forty years…

You will be betrayed. You will have people turn their backs on you. You will wonder if you have heard the voice of God. You will have everything stripped away from your life. You will be raw and vulnerable. You will weep in anguish before the Lord. You will want to give up. You will be broken. You will be alone. You will beg God to change His mind. You will want to give up on your promise. You will wonder if it will ever happen.

This is the life of the anointed…

BUT!!!

He will never leave you or forsake you. He will be the father to the fatherless and a friend to the friendless. He will speak to you so sweetly in a still small voice. He will restore a double portion of what is taken. He will put a shield of protection around your life. He will turn your weeping into joy. He will give you determination to never give up. He will take your brokenness and make you beautiful. He chose you and you’ll be thankful He didn’t change His mind. He will exceed His promise to you. He has made a promise and it will come to pass.

This is the hope in the life of the anointed. This is the faith that He gives you when you are determined to be changed in His presence. I don’t ever want to just receive a touch but I want to be made whole in His presence.

When you sell out holiness or you have never lived a life of holiness you are missing out on the promises of God…

Holiness in dress is a reflection of the church. A woman who is clothed in holiness brings power to the church. How a woman dresses indicates her attitude to her husband or father and is a matter of submission to God. A woman who is clothed in holiness in her dress and her uncut hair brings the power of the Angels to the church. She brings the shekinah glory of God to the church. You can always tell a healthy church by the heart and actions of a woman. It’s true that a woman might be dressed holy and has a bad attitude in her heart but the truth is she is still being obedient to the word of God. Obedience is better than sacrifice. There is power in holiness and it becomes our protection from the world. It also becomes our protection in the Spirit world. Hair and dress are the a part of the order of God. I don’t know why He used these things for His glory but that’s what He chose as a symbol of submission. They are the order of God.

In Conclusion:

I want the blessings of God in my life and I can get that by turning from my sin. But I want the anointing more!!! It means I have to sacrifice my own desires to accept the calling and life of an anointed woman of God. The anointing only comes to the chosen people of God. There is only one plan of salvation and I have to follow after His word to be saved! I know God cannot lie and He will never leave me or forsake me. There is only one chosen group of people and it's those who choose to live in the submission and truth of His holiness and righteousness. Don’t be fooled into thinking that just because God blesses you that you are anointed! And don’t be fooled into thinking you can do it your own way outside of the word of God and you can be saved…

Nothing I have said in this blog is to down any person but rather it is meant to inspire you to dig deeper in the word of God. There is more than just a blessing waiting for you but there is an anointing that will shake the foundation of this world and it will give you power in the name of Jesus! The power comes through the Holy Ghost which is evidenced in speaking in tongues and we are sealed in His name through Jesus name baptism... 

Don't miss out on your anointing!!!!

F. A. I. T. H. a five letter word!

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen"

Hebrews 11:1

Faith is a small five letter word but it packs a powerful punch! Everyone says you have to live by faith to succeed. I truly believe that is true. The hard part though is when you have the faith and people or circumstances seem to doubt your faith. I am here to tell you today, "Don't give into that fear that comes when you or someone else doubts your faith." 

Faith is your greatest tool and if you are willing to step out God will make a way when there seemeth no way! You might stumble and you might make some mistakes along the way but that is what you have God for in your life. He is there  to help you find the broken pieces that you may have shattered. He will help you find the missing pieces. Some might be under the dresser, the stove, or buried in a corner. God knows your heart and He is stretching you to live in His atmosphere. When He makes a way you must "GO" even if no one else understands but you. They are your promises, DON'T GIVE INTO FEAR!!!

Don't Give in to Fear!

The greatest tool you can have while fighting the battle of the Lord is to not give in to fear! It is so easy to do and all of us have done it. It will cripple you, it will make you think you are not good enough; it will stunt your growth in the Lord. It will keep you standing in one spot and never moving forward. You can only get over your fear by stepping out in faith and doing what you fear most.

God uses us in our fearful state for His glory. Abram trusted God but he was a fearful man. In spite of his fears Abram stepped out in faith. I have felt like Abram, I was full of fear, knowing the work God has placed in my life for me to do. God has called me to leave my home and family to head out on a journey where I will not know the outcome just like Abram. I missed the mark the first time because I was too fearful. I am determined not to miss the mark this time.

Are you full of fear? God’s words to Abram were “Fear not.” I always used to think that I had to pray and let God release the fear from me before He could use me. Or before I would let myself think I could be used. Waiting until I was no longer afraid meant that I actually stood still and did nothing. I allowed my fear to immobilize me. I didn’t accomplish very much for God, I wasn’t helping others, and I was hurting myself more in the process.

While reading the Gospels this past year it really gave me an understanding that there is no perfect thing that I am “Supposed to be doing.” I found that when I stepped out in faith and followed His Word that God blessed me. It is when we step out in faith like Abram regardless of our fear, that God will honor our faith to Him.

          Just think if Abram had not stepped out in faith, he would have never fulfilled his purpose. He would have missed out on all God had for him in His life. He would have never become the father of many nations. If I refuse to step out in faith then I too will miss out on His purpose for my life. The same goes for those of you reading this book. Don’t miss out on your promise just because you have fear!

The best part is that when you step out on faith, God is right there to help you. There is a holy boldness that comes on you, and you have the power to do anything you put your hands to do. For His promise to us is that “He will never leave you or forsake you.” He gives you the words to speak and He guides your steps in the Holy Ghost.

If you give into fear you will alter the road of your life. You will go down a different path than the original plan God had for your life. Fear will immobilize you which are the trick of the enemy. The best part is that if you have strayed from His perfect plan, He has already made a new plan. He is the alpha and omega; He knows the end from the beginning. He knows our choices but that doesn’t mean we can sit idly and say, “Oh well God will make a new plan.” We can’t be OK with fear!

Step out in faith even if you are afraid, the rewards will be great, and I promise you God will be there right beside you! If He kept His promises with Abram who was not the bride of Christ, how much more is He trying to keep His promises to you? I implore you to pray right now and ask God to help you step out in faith in spite of your fear. Ask Him to allow you to do whatever He is telling you to do. The time is now. The fields are ripe ready to harvest. We must be about our Father’s business. Stand firm and throw your fears at the altar. Faith is more powerful and can do more than fear can keep you from doing...

Let’s step out in faith together setting aside our fears...

We can beat the Devil at his own game and refuse to live in fear even when it seems like the most logical thing to do!

"You're Not Perfect But You're Mine"

God speaks to us through dreams, visions, and the still small voice. He is longing for our communication daily. I think this is probably one of the hardest things to do as a Christian to speak consistently to the Lord. Why do we struggle with this? Every time we come in His presence He makes us over and we feel so clean and loved. So why don’t we run to this experience repeatedly? The answer is that we are warring against the flesh. The flesh is constantly fighting against the spirit man.

There is a battle going on in the spirit realm that we can not see and rarely do we understand. The answer is not to cut off communication because we have failed Him today. The Lord is not standing with a gavel to punish you because you failed yesterday but He is reaching for you today. When you fail Him in prayer and communication it just means you have to try that much harder to be consistent. The key is discipline! Oh how we love that word… But I have come to find that discipline only has been possible by removing the world from my life.

No longer am a light dimly lit. But now I am a light on a hill shining to become salt and light to the world. You will only be consistent through continuing to pray daily. But you will only remove the constant battle when you remove the world from your life. I will tell you what God has personally been dealing with me about. This is not to point judgment or tell you that you have to do what I am doing but it is just for an example.

I would like to start by saying that God does not require you to change instantly. But He is a patient and loving God who is taking you through a process of change. When He gets you to a certain point, you either listen to His voice and change your actions or you stay in the same place. You will never move forward in the ministry of the Lord if you don’t listen when He tells you to do something. Listen or be prepared to stand still.

Two Personal Struggles 

Vanity

The Lord has spoken to me about vanity. As many of you know I have been blessed to reach out to the local homeless community in my hometown. While working with them the Lord has shown me that a lot of the clothes, headbands, shoes, purses, etc. are excessive. I am not saying the Lord doesn’t want me to look nice but not in excess.

Television and Movies

This is a hard one for me. But the Lord told me just the other night that “He is not a faucet that I can turn on and off at will” meaning that I cannot expect to feel His presence and operate in the Spirit if I am constantly moving between light and darkness. I used to go to the movies all the time and every time a new DVD came out I was first in line. These are weights for the most part but more so they are sin.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Philippians 4:8

So in actuality no matter how we try to justify watching T.V. it really is a sin for the most part. Sure there are cute movies but they lead to more movies and they dull the senses. They cause you to escape the world around you. When your senses are dulled you cannot be tuned into communication with God. By constantly moving between sinful conversations I have been limiting the move of God in my life. Now don’t give up hope! My purpose in telling any of this is to stir revival in your soul. The Bible says:

"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"

Hebrews 12:1

How can we run if we have been lulled to sleep? How can we be light if we are allowing darkness to take over the light? How can we expect God to reside and move in our lives if we are not willing to set aside the world?

Our communication with God is everything. The two examples I used were just a few things the Lord has worked on my heart about. But the main thing we must understand as Apostolic Pentecostal’s is that we must have communication in order to be saved.

God gave us human relationships so that we could understand how God desires to have communication with us. If you did not talk to your spouse one day because you were busy and since you did not talk to them one day you then decide you had messed up too bad to talk to them the next day. Does this make any sense? No of course not! To have a good relationship with a spouse or loved one you need to talk to them every day sure but it’s the same with the Lord. He is willing and loves you so much He is waiting for you to come to Him again.

The more you come to Him the more He will show you His love. The more you seek Him the more you find Him. It is a simple principle that extends to all areas of your life: The more you give the more you get! In marriage, friendships, relationships and most importantly God.

Do not be fooled by the enemy! You can make it and you can build up to a consistent relationship with the Lord. He will not require everything from you at once. It will be a gradual process because He is a loving God. He wants to show you His tenderness and compassion. But He also wants you to be willing to seek Him in all things big and small.

I challenge you today to stand at the door and knock. I implore you to take up the armor of prayer. When you pray and set aside the world you will be able to overcome any battle and all fears and doubts. It is only when you let Him shed the layers of spiritual apathy that you will see God move in your life.

It is by His grace and mercy that we are redeemed by the blood of the lamb at the cross. We are a people of the name we are sealed in baptism by being baptized in Jesus name. We have the power through the Holy Ghost by speaking in tongues. We have the shield and protection from the world through Holy living and setting our lives away from the things of this world. We are a separate people who can not afford to be lulled to sleep by our own lusts. Take back your communication with the Lord and let Him radically change your life!

Humble Beginnings

Humble beginnings

I have a purpose and yes I have a vision. It began in July of 2012 as I drove from street to street in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I was looking on every corner and down every single ally way. My eyes were open searching and looking for those forgotten souls who were lost on the streets. I began the dollar store parking lot crying my eyes out hoping and praying that that day I too could touch a person’s life on the streets. I didn’t know what I would encounter but I just knew I had to do something to help someone anything at all!

I suggest starting small like I did because if you try to go too big too fast you may get overwhelmed and fizzle out. It began with six brown papers bags filled with hygiene needs, bottled water and packaged snacks. It wasn’t much but it is where I started. I drove the streets looking for homeless people and for some reason this day I had a hard time finding them. I found one on a park bench, I found two on the side of the highway, I found one walking down the street, and a few more on street corners. I gave the bags out with a smile but I was terrified! I a young lady very much taken up with the vanities of this world was petrified of homeless people. But this is what God told me to do and I obeyed the call.

Later on a few weeks later I met a man who lived in a halfway house. He was walking down the street in the middle of the August sun. I had one bag left over from my street venture from a few weeks previous and I wanted to give him the bag of goods. I drove past him at first. But that still small voice said go back and give that bag to that man. I turned my car around and spoke with the man. He was very kind and simple and a little astonished I was there to give him anything. He had his hands full with bags to return bottles and he couldn’t carry my bag of goods and the bottles too. I asked him where he was going. He said he was going about a mile up the road to the grocery store to return the bottles. I said, “Sir would you like a ride?” He was grateful and obliged but not before I teasingly asked him if he was going to hurt me or not. I honestly don’t suggest picking people up off the road but this was a God thing! I drove him to the store and gave him all the bottles I had in my car maybe a few dollars worth? Then I gave him the bag of goods and was on my way.

Then I realized that I really shouldn’t be doing ministry on my own. I had asked lots of people to help me and sadly I didn’t ask the right people and/or people were just not that interested in getting their hands dirty. I really cannot blame them for I too probably one month before would have been shocked to have been helping people on the streets and picking up homeless and giving them a ride.

So my next step was about September 2012, I went to see what the local homeless shelter in Ann Arbor needed for donations. I went there asking to volunteer and asking for a list of needs. I was given a list and I purchased as many of the needs on the list that I could buy in bulk and that I could afford. These things included: toothbrushes, combs, razors, gloves, paper plates, napkins, hand sanitizer, and soap. I bought as much as I could find in bulk for the best price. I am a bargain shopper and I think it best to find the best deal for the best price. I too tried three times to volunteer and even filled out an application online and it never panned out.

Then it was Christmas 2012 and I wanted to help people the best way I knew. I decided to donate money and items to people who were already doing a mission. I donated to four different organizations. I made a plug for them online because I either knew the people running the organizations or had been a part of their mission at one time or another the summer of 2012. I donated funds to one, socks to another, funds again to two others, and I sent warm items to a community center in Shreveport, LA. It wasn’t much but it was the best I had to give!

I also was given knowledge of a homeless man in Shreveport, LA who needed socks from getting out of the hospital. I sent him socks, a bible, and a card to encourage him. I also sent him scriptures to encourage him. I told him the truth in my Christmas card and laid out the salvation message in Acts 2:38. Again it wasn’t much but it was a gesture of love and compassion. Little did I know that I would never be able to meet this man! He died at the beginning of the year due to some health complications. I went back and forth about telling him the truth but in the end I decided that it was what I needed to do!

In January 2013 I had been very down and depressed about several things in my life. But something just clicked inside of me and I decided that I was going to help people myself, not just by donating. I didn’t know where to begin. I wanted to help at the shelter but I had not been welcomed. I was praying one evening and for some reason I decided to look online to see if there were any opportunities to volunteer somewhere in the community. I found a man who had an ad that said he went to the homeless shelter he prayed for people and handed out food. It sounded right up my ally. We connected and it was again a God thing! He was an Apostolic Jesus name preacher from the city of Detroit. He proclaimed the Acts 2:38 message by handing out tracts and this is where my story began.

I showed up the first week with gently used scarves, gloves, and hats from my house. I also showed up with breakfast sandwiches and this was what the people really needed. To see the look on these poor men and women’s faces you would have thought it was Christmas. We were able to pray with people and hand out about 20 sausage biscuits and about 20 or so warm items for winter. It was life changing! This was the first time I had actually had real contact with people in need. Sure earlier in the summer I had helped people but I didn’t even get out of my car that summer. Here were so many people the room was full of people and we could only help a few. It was then I was hooked! I had to keep coming back!!!

I ran out of items from my home so I began to bargain hunt. I found winter items at a drastically reduced price. Then I also found socks on clearance. Again I want to say my operation has been small and I have done it all myself up to this point. But I saw the need and did it anyways. But this is where my Jesus showed up on the scene. After months of doing what I could on a small scale God began to open up the doors on a larger scale.

A local clothing store donates to me every week there zero mark down clearance items. Then people I know donated clothing and winter items. I have been able to redistribute the clothes to needy families, homeless shelters, and a battered women’s shelter. And I will be able to do this every week! All new clothing! And what I cannot donate to shelters or to those in need I am donating the leftovers to a local shelter.

Next week I am meeting with a woman who is donating new socks and gloves. Then I also have contacts with local food vendors to donate leftover food and hopefully coffee. I have been able to contact local companies in hopes for them to donate funds or items. The ultimate goal is to be able to have companies donate all items and then I would be able to redistribute to those in need. And my friend this is just the beginning!  

I created a website online to create awareness. It is not for my glory it really is for the glory of the Lord. I also know people and I know that they really do want to help. They just have to see that others are helping too. People mean well but it’s hard to start something to help people on your own. But see I am not on my own the Lord is right beside me. It is the principle of the 5000 people in the gospels. Jesus said to break the bread and when the disciples broke bread he multiplied their efforts. The Lord has seen my bread and multiplied my efforts.

We as Apostolics must be willing to step out from behind the glass and help people! All people, not those who might visit our church, I mean yes that is the ultimate goal to see people saved. But Jesus did not tell us to only help those who were on our doorstep so to speak. He said to go to the highways and the byways searching for those who needed our help. And “IF” we make an effort and open that door and help those in need he is faithful to multiply our efforts. I am telling you I wasn’t even looking for the new clothes and I didn’t ask them for them but they came to me! That is what the Lord does!

Short term goals: a blanket, a scarf, coffee and a meal. That’s my desire for the next few weeks.

My long-term goals:

I currently have a car full of donations to distribute. My goals are to take blankets to the homeless who are actually on the streets. I have warm items and have more on the way next week. I have a few more people who are going to volunteer with me and the apostolic minister next Sunday at the shelter. This means that there will be two men of God to pray with those who need hope. And there will be two of us to hand out food and warm items.

I hope to get food donations to distribute to the needy, the poor and the homeless. I want to actually pass it out on the streets where the people are living in ally ways. I have some connections starting to stock a food pantry. It is my hope to have a community meal for those in the community who are hungry. This is not all worked out on location or even city. This may have to be something that I put on hold for awhile until more people catch the vision.

I also decided to fundraise to have a t-shirt made from community sponsors. I have not completed this project but I have knowledge on how it has been done in the past. You get one sponsor to purchase all the shirts and other sponsors to buy ad space. And then you sell the t-shirts for complete profit. The funds raised can be used to purchase food for a community meal, buy basic hygiene items, or even food to hand out on the street.

But again the goal is to not have to purchase any more items out of pocket. If you keep paying for it all yourself then eventually you will run out of funds and you will get burnt out on the operation. It is best to be balanced in all things. I am not saying you won’t ever purchase items on your own because I did that myself but it won’t be something that breaks your finances.

How can you get involved? I implore you to do any of the things I have mentioned. I have done all this on my own. I can’t imagine what it will be like when I have a partner who is as passionate as I am! But I challenge you to make a difference even if it’s by yourself. You can change the world as one person even if it’s just the world of one person! You can spread hope, compassion and love with one smile and kind gesture. You can pay it forward to someone who will be inspired by what you are doing! There is no act too small and there is nothing that God can’t multiply!

I hope this has challenged you and inspired you to know that you can do something no matter how small and still make a difference. I cannot wait to see what God does in another year and when I have a team of people who are willing to fulfill the call. If one person can do so much with so little what can two people do with God on their side? The possibilities are endless! Let’s change one life at a time and build one friendship at a time building together a community of friends!

LOVE

LOVE is often undeserved but true love-loves anyways...

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

I often wondered what it truly meant to love. It’s funny how one searches their whole life to find that one person to complete you. We are always looking for it! We love our friends, our family, and eventually our spouse. Why do we love them? We love them because they love us! That is the simple answer. It’s true not everyone has a good relationship with their family, or friends, or maybe even their spouse. Yet, as a general rule we love because we are loved!

I'm sorry to say we have the wrong idea about love. True love is not about loving those who love us. It is about loving someone in spite of whether they will ever love us in return. This is the love of Jesus Christ. He showed this love when he came and died on the cross. He loved us not because we loved him but rather he loves us whether we will ever serve him with our love. Mind blowing isn't it? He loves the sinner, the saint, the murderer, the sweet lady from church all the same. See he came to die for every one and it’s up to us to accept his love. His love is not predicated on whether we ever love him back.

What does the bible say about love? Jesus declares that there is one God. I think he states there is one God so we understand there is only one we are to love with our heart mind and soul. This is the love we are searching for in our lives. Then Jesus says we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Wow! I feel the reason for this commandment is so that we learn that love is unselfish and that if we love someone as we love ourselves then we can begin to understand the love of Jesus. When we love our neighbor we are demonstrating to others how Jesus loves us! When we can understand that love is not about ourselves and our feelings it is then and only then that we will ever know what it means to love.

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.  Mark 12:29-33

Love is often not easy to undertake and there are many people who we do not deem worthy of our love. This often translates to people we feel are beneath us in social situations, in church situations or even in family situations. How do we learn to love like Jesus loved?

Three Examples of Love:

    1)  Love is servant hood. Love serves without expectation of anything in return. Love is serving one another in our actions, our thoughts, and mostly our words. I think that truly understanding the love of Jesus is by lending a helping hand to whomever, whenever, and wherever you are needed. This is the true definition of a servant. Do you have the heart of a servant? Here is what Jesus had to say about serving others.

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.  Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?  Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. Matthew 25:31-46- Love is serving!

   2)  Love is action. As we learned the definition of serving we can understand there is a principle that Jesus was trying to teach us. When we serve the least of these we are setting aside our own desires and serving those who need us. The principle when grasped let’s us truly understand that this is the love that Jesus shows to us every day. It is the love that he shed for us on Calvary and we then show that same love in our actions. And then our actions produce fruit.

Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.1 John 3:16-19

     3)  Love is fruit. When we learn to become a servant and we understand that love is an action our lives produce fruit. Our lives when balanced in God’s love produce the fruits of the spirit but also the fruits of love.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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. 1Corinthians 13:4-7

This is where loving someone who doesn't love you back can be hard. It’s not easy to be patient or kind. We love to keep records of wrongdoings. It is ever so hard to trust someone who turns their back on us! But this friend is what we are commanded to do in our lives. This is the love of Jesus. He is teaching us to love like he loves. When we understand this love then we can truly know how to love our Jesus.

Why do we have to love like Jesus? Why does it matter? It matters because unless we love Jesus and understand his love we will always be searching for the wrong kinds of love in our lives. We will settle for less than best and then when the going gets tough then we will be on the look for the next best relationship in our lives. This goes for friendships, family and marriages.

At the beginning of this blog I said we were all looking for that special someone in our life to complete us. Well that was kind of a trick statement. There is no person in this world that can ever fulfill you. They may make you happy and you may live a life with them in whatever kind of relationship but ultimately they will fail you. And if you don’t have the tools for love you will walk away every time! You must grasp a hold of the love of Jesus and follow his examples of how we are to love. It is then and only then that we will understand his love and then we will be able to love those truly in our lives.

In saying all of these things I know people will walk in and out of our lives. And it often hurts it hurts so bad when they turn their backs on us. I have personally lost friends, family, and loved ones who have turned their backs on me. But that doesn't mean I have the right to not love them! I am commanded to love them with the love of Jesus Christ. I am to forgive them 70x7 and to release them back to God. True love is not in and of itself from you. It is principle based it, it is learned, and it only comes from understanding the word of God and his commands.

The best part!!!! When you understand and grasp this love you will have lasting relationships. You will be fulfilling the word of God. Then you will be in right relationship with God and man! How wonderful to know that the love we are all searching for is in Jesus, his ways, and his teachings. I implore you to practice these principles in your life. You will only be able to incorporate it into your life by prayer, reading the word, and fasting. True love is dedication and it is not to be taken lightly.

Start today! Begin reading the gospels this is where you will begin to grasp the love that I have spoken of in this blog. Take the time to pray and ask God to lead you into that love. And the biggest part of love is forgiveness even when the person doesn't deserve it! See Jesus loved us and died for us and us my friend did not deserve it but he did it anyways!

And just for the record- P.S. I love you! *Wink*