Unplugging the Drain..

Unplugging the Drain…

How many times have you had to unclog your sink drain? I think it has happened to us all at one time or another. Then there was that one time you got down on your hands and knees in the tub and it seemed you pulled and pulled at all the junk clogging your drain. You might have found rocks, dirt, hair, and “oh my” yes, you found some pennies. Is it any wonder the water cannot flow freely down the drain? 

The Lord gave me a scripture in prayer a few days ago:

“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38

The Lord reminded me of Jonah and how he was in the belly of the whale. He was in the belly for three long days… He was in with the waste, undigested food, and foul smells. Jonah had to die to self in the belly of that whale! Just as we have to die to ourselves in order to be raised up again. I am talking about salvation but I am also talking about dying to self-will so that God can use us to our full potential. 

“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.” (Matthew 12:40-41)

God was making him over and re-shaping Jonah for his purpose to preach to Ninevah. You cannot run from God because no matter where you are, He will find you! 

Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water… 

You have to come out of the belly to live and to flow in the spirit. God has put me in the belly of the whale. I have failed Him and I have come before Him wanting. It is dark, it is lonely, it is smelly, it is foul, it is painful, it is rejection, it is fear, it is doubt, it is travail, it is anguish, but it is necessary. 

How can you flow with living water if you have dead things living inside of you? I tell you, you cannot! You might not even know they are there but the enemy knows just when to pounce on you in the most obscure moments. You think you are where you need to be but God is digging in your drain and He is finding dirt, hair, and pennies. He is digging to the core of your being. He wants all of you! He wants ultimate surrender. 

He wants to get you from whom you thought you were to who you are to become!

Then the Lord showed me unless I had gone through the belly of the whale I would never be able to be used to my full potential. The junk buried in my life from a small girl has kept me from advancing in Him. You see my friend even if you don’t know you are sinning, sin is what separates us from the love of God. It is what keeps us from seeing the supernatural in our walk with God. I implore you to ask God to search you the easy way and let Him show you your faults. I promise you that it is a painful journey to be in the belly. 

Out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water…

Now, once you are out of the whale’s belly and you surrender the rivers of living water can flow freely. There will be liberty but there is a cost for that liberty. You must be willing to put all your eggs in one basket: The basket of the calling of the Lord. Are you willing to sell out to see other’s lives changed? Will you be willing to sacrifice so others do not spend an eternity in Hell? I know this is strong language but it is necessary. I have been sifted, I have been found wanting, but I am also an overcomer for the Gospel. 

Who am I?

I am a child of the King, daughter, forgiven, redeemed, called out for a purpose, holding the rod of authority, chosen, loved, apostle, lover of souls, and so much more….

It really isn’t about me. But it is me trying to inspire you to take your life to the next level:

1) Search me Lord show me my hidden sin

2) Daily dedicated prayer (sacrificial prayer)

3) Daily reading searching out the scriptures

4) Fasting (one day weekly)

5) Tithing (10%)

6) Faithful to the House of the Lord

7) Reaching for the Lost

8) Helping the homeless, widows, orphans, the least of these Matthew 25

I would like to encourage you to pray Ephesians 6 by putting on the armor of God each day before you leave your home. I would like to encourage you to pray in the morning even if you just start with five minutes. Be on the offensive in prayer and take the enemy by storm. 

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12 

God commands everything and He is in control! You must go through the belly of the whale to get all the junk out of your life. Jesus spent three days in the tomb; He did so to save us from our sins. We too must die to self to be saved from our sins! 

You must unplug the drain in your life so that the water can flow freely. Then a well of living water will spring up and carry you to newer heights in the Lord. He will be able to free you from the debris of the junk so that He is able to do what He has called you to do in your life! 

Salvation Message:

John 3:5 (Jesus’ command)

Acts 2:38 (Peter telling the people how to be saved)

You too can be saved… He is reaching for you and He is calling you out of the whale of the belly of life… Feel free to contact me for more information :)

Live With Abandon!

Live with Abandon

I don’t know what other words to use but “weird”. When you sell out to the Lord and live your life with abandon you become weird. Those people who knew you once either sees you as a threat or a liar. “Is that really you, Linda? Or are you faking your life?" So then of course you begin to doubt your heart and you cry out to the Lord, am I faking it Lord? 

I am here to tell you be weird! Live your life with abandon anyways. Your life is but a vapor and you are here but for a moment. Eternity is forever. I know that is hard to imagine but it really is forever. There are so many struggles and pains that go with living your life in abandon. But I promise you it is worth it to live your life with this purpose. It will transform your life into a life of service. And then there will be protection and favor, that comes from the Lord, when you live your life unto him wholly sold out to His purpose. 

And then you will wonder why you ever held back...

How do you sell out you may ask? The first thing I had to do was set aside all my idols. That means I had to clear the clutter from my life. It didn't come all at once and everyone has different clutter, but I promise if you ask, He will tell you. We are to set aside the things of this world and live our lives unto Him. We are to pray without ceasing. We are to mediate on the Word of God. We are to consecrate our lives to fasting. I know this sounds like the same ole and same ole.

But it really is the answer... 

You may have tried it short-term, but have you made prayer, fasting and the Word a lifestyle? You have to do it fully on purpose! It can’t be an afterthought it has to be your focus. I promise it will be painful. I promise you will want to give up. I promise you will feel alone. I promise you will hurt and cry out to God. These are all the promises I make to you, as God will begin to re-shape your life for His purpose. He will begin to peel back the onion layers by shedding your outer layer of skin. He will pour into you, your purpose in Him. His will for your life will become evident.

You will then seek to please Him with all of your actions. You will begin to see through His eyes. You will look around you and realize you have been wasting your life. There will be a passion for the lost that will come upon you. It will drive you to extremes. You will be reaching and searching everywhere you go. You will be weird I am sorry to tell you that’s just how it goes. You will be misunderstood and your good will be called into question.

But I am here to tell you the Lord will be your proof! He will fill all the broken pieces of your heart with His light and His love. He will come in a still small voice and overwhelm you with His love. He will fill your heart with a love that I really can’t even put into words. Then you will be able to share that love with others and lead them to their own life of abandon. I know I am not perfect and it is not me but Him who is in me. I give Him all the glory. You will come to a point when you realize, He really does give and take away. He is the author and finisher of your faith.

He knows right where you’re at! He died specifically at that moment in time so that He could save a man dying on the cross next to Him. Wow! He timed His death at just the exact moment to save another. So when we get discouraged and think that God doesn’t know where you’re at I promise that is just not the case. He is waiting for you to make your move towards Him so He can change your life. He told me a few weeks ago when He performed a miracle for my life on my student loans, “Linda, I can give you anything you desire. I can perform every miracle but I can’t make you move!” This means I have to make a move towards the cross. I have to change my perspective and ideas and I can only do that by living my life in full abandon at the foot of the cross.

When you live your life in abandon, He is going to call you to people and to places. He is going to require a lot out of you. But do not fear for He will not let those things come to pass until you are strong enough…

I have struggled every day since moving to where God called me. I cried out to God and have asked Him to release me from what He has shown me. I promise it is painful. You will be alone. You will doubt your actions but I promise you too if you do what He is telling you all of His promises will come to pass. Mine have not come to pass yet but that doesn't mean I don’t trust and believe Him. Who am I to mess with God’s timing? He saved the man on the cross right at the only moment that man could be saved. He has your moment, He has my moment, and He has His perfect timing. The problem we have me included, we either step away from the promise or we are too scared to pursue them. The trials get too hard or we get too carnally minded.

So we back down…

I asked the Lord to send someone else to my promise. The Lord has told me over and over. “You asked me to send another but I always sent you.”  Ouch! It is hard to be still and wait on the Lord to do His part. You will feel abandoned. You will feel lost. But I am here to tell you live your life on purpose, wait on the Lord to fulfill His purpose in His timing. Live your life with abandon! Surrender your life to a life of praise and worship. Worship Him in the storm and He will sustain you until that day and that exact moment in time He fulfills His word in your life.

When it happens it will be beautiful. It will be lovely. It will be in God’s order and His timing. Who I am is of no consequence but when I choose to live my life with abandon and take Him at His word even in the waiting I win. You too will win!!!

The end is near and the Lord is raising up an army. He is reaching for those who are willing to sell out everything to reach His people. He is raising up men and women who will answer the call no matter how much it hurts. He will sustain us all with His love. Every day will bring new miracles and wonders because you are living within the realm of our almighty God!

Will you begin today to live your life with abandon?

Today I am thankful...

Today I am thankful…

It has been a little while since I have put a blog on here but I have been pretty busy. Life here in Longview over the last several months has been mind-blowing. It seems that every step I take has been ordained from the Lord. He has blessed me with favor!

My Apartment

The newest thing in my personal life is that God blessed me with a home of my own right in the city of Longview. I was blessed to live with a lady I consider family for the first 6 months in my new state. Then by the hand of the Lord, He hand delivered me a place to live without much of a fuss in the least. The beautiful thing is that I am 4.5 miles from my job and only 3 miles from church. The moment I moved into Longview proper the Lord has opened door after door.

My Job

The next thing that God blessed me with is a new job. I work in the oil and gas industry as a data analyst. The job is right up my alley because I worked in data management for many years in Michigan at the DMV. I was just hired on completely and converted to a permanent employee. I will have full medical benefits, dental, vision etc. I have been blessed with the whole nine yards. The job is fulfilling with a lot of room for growth and flexibility. I am so excited to be a part of a team!

The Lord’s Work

The best part is the ministry that God has used me in here in Longview. The Lord has opened many doors for me to help with the homeless. As many of you know I began an endeavor in Michigan last year before the Lord opened the door for me to move to Longview. He had called me to Texas and then He said wait. While I was visiting friends and selling my new book Unfolding the Rose.

"You can order the book on this blog to the right through paypal. Or you can order on Amazon which also offers a Kindle Version"

The Lord opened the door for a job working with homeless families in the City of Longview. Needless to say I left for a week and didn't come home.

        Ministry---

It was while working with these homeless families that God has now begun to open up the door now. I have been honored and blessed to have these women contact me months later asking to come to church. I have never stopped praying for these women and their children. I have been able to bring four family units to church!!! God is on the move! One lady has been baptized, one lady is coming every week with her children, and the same lady is in a new bible study with me.

Please help me pray for doors further to be opened at the Women’s shelter. I have an open door that I am pursuing to teach a group women’s bible study in the shelter. I know that this will be another avenue that God can work a miracle in the lives of the homeless in Longview!

Bonnie getting Baptized! 

Longview First Church---

I am honored that God has allowed me to become a part of a church family that has taken me in and loved me from the start. There is nothing like walking into the doors of a church and feeling their love. I am honored and grateful for each and every one of you! I am also honored and blessed to have an amazing pastor and pastor's wife! 

Update!!! 

So excited! This past Sunday my sweet friend received the Holy Ghost with evidence of speaking in other tongues! There is revival in Longview! I am honored to be a part of the Lord's work. It isn't me in the least but to God be all the glory! 

She Received the Holy Ghost! 

My Bible Study :) 

Friendships!!!!!

Nanny and I. She took me and and blessed my life continually for 6 months!

I would also like to give thanks for the many friendships that God has placed in my life in the past 7 or 8 months. I have been blessed with friends who have become more than friends they have become family! Every door the Lord opens in my life is a friendship that is right on time! There are too many to name but you all know who you are! I am here for you, if ever you need me. I am not perfect and I fail often but I am blessed with all of you who love me anyways. Today I am so thankful! 

Family...

Ann and I 

Edith and I 

Faith and I 

Stacy, Sharla, and I 

Mandi and I 

Happenings...

Today I am sitting in the Longview Library and I am overwhelmed by the mercies of the Lord. I have been on a journey for the last few years and yes I mean years... I have been on a journey that no, is not complete but the outer edges of the puzzle are being formed for His glory. 

I am excited to announce that my sweet friend, the first one in Longview was

baptized last night in the wonderful saving name of Jesus Christ! I am so excited about where God is opening the door for me here in ministry. It is not about me or who I am but it is about the work of the Lord.

He has called me here for a purpose and that door has begun to open.  A few weeks ago I met Jimmy at the public library, which is why I am here today actually. I came looking for him to bring him an umbrella. It has begun to rain and he has not been able to get into shelter yet as far as I know. I felt led of the Lord to come to the Library a few weeks ago and that is where I met some new friends Jimmy and Dan. They were sitting on the park bench outside and something just came over me and I went up to them both. I ended up sitting there for over 2 hours just listening to their stories and being a friend. Then Jimmy decided to come to church with me on a Wednesday night. I was so excited! Here a door of opportunity to meet people at the library who are broken and alone.

Jimmy referred me to volunteer and go to a local soup kitchen. It was the third or fourth time that I was recommended to visit this place, so I went. I was welcomed and began volunteering the very next day. When moving to Longview I had a temporary job with a local homeless organization but this job had ended. I had some free time and there is something in me that compels me to reach for those in need. I really can’t explain it… When you are reaching for souls and you see results something makes you want to reach for them even more…

I spent a few days at the soup kitchen and was able to pour into several people. There was one young man and I will call him Dave. He was drawn to me the whole four hours I was there. He told me it was his birthday. I burst out into song and anyone who knows me (knows this is often). He stopped me and said, “Wait, wait, I want to record you, I am moving to Las Vegas and I can listen to you on the bus the whole way there!” I was honored and sang into the camera for him. He knew I was Pentecostal and said that he had been raised around people like me. He was so excited to know me. I am glad I took the time to be kind to him because the next day I was told that he was dying of aids and that he was going to live with loved ones in Las Vegas. You never know whom you are impacting and how just a little extra time can change someone’s life and give them hope.

Another homeless friend I have been working with has allowed me to pray with her. She came to me in tears thinking she was sick with cancer. I laid hands on her and declared healing for her body. It is not me but the Jesus in me who is using me for His glory. I mention her because she is a part of the job where I was working. I was able to see her and another lady from the shelter down at the kitchen. I was able to sit and minister to these families. They are broken and just need someone to come along and give them hope. It seems that yes, I am but one person yet each one can reach one.

What is your focus? Are you reaching for those who are hurting? I challenge you to step out in faith and speak hope to someone around you. Jesus brings in the increase but its our job to toss the net and those who are hungry will eat. We don’t determine who is worthy and who will come to Him but the more we throw out our net the more they will eat.

You can never stop reaching! You must be reaching for all you meet. You can ask God to open the door but you must be willing to step through when He gives you an opening. There might be only one chance to tell them. Don’t be scared! Just show them genuine love and compassion and they will be drawn to you. I have been in Longview about 4 months and I counted up the amount of people God has led me to and the number is astonishing! One person really can reach their world!

Her name is Bonnie my first friend to get baptized in Longview. God has allowed me to reach 7 homeless friends from the streets of Ann Arbor. Revival is springing forth in a city that I am no longer in but I was the starter. Will you be a starter? Will you reach your world? You don’t have to go to the homeless shelters, the library steps, the soup kitchens, or even the streets to reach the hungry. You can reach them on your job, your neighborhood and the local supermarket. You can make a difference!

My new friend Sammy is a dynamic soul winner, he lives in Dallas and he has inspired me to speak every where I am at… Boy am I inspired and in awe. In a short while he won 9 families to the Lord and in the past year alone he won 18 different people to the Lord. I am humbled and honored that the Lord allowed him to come into my life. I have so much to learn and it is so inspiring!

… Another friend Faith who is also moving to the Dallas area is talented in outreach. She has been a prayer partner and an instant friend. She too has seen many souls come to the Lord. These are the type of people that I want to learn from. I want to be a soul winner for all types of people. I never want to be limited inside a box of my own making.

Both of these friends God has been putting me in contact with in the last few weeks. God does not make mistakes. He knows just who to bring into our lives and just when they will make the greatest impact. It is my desire to impact those of you who are reading this… We all need a little bit more inspiration. Just think that you reach today could be the greatest soul winner of our time or that soul winner just might be you! 

*Praise report! I was blessed with a memory foam bed when I have been sleeping on the floor for 3 months! 

**I got a full time solid job with full benefits and the whole nine yards! 

This has been one of the greatest weeks for blessings! God is always right on time! 

A Call to Volunteer

A Call To Volunteer

Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I: send me.

Isaiah 6:7

I wonder how many people don’t yield to the calling of the Lord in their lives. I am sure the rate is alarmingly high for I myself was there at one point in my life. I think the main problem was that I didn’t think I was worthy of the calling. How could the Lord want to use me? I was such an unlikely choice. I have said this before in a few forums, but I was 12 years old when the Lord called me. I was crying myself to sleep from the bullying at school. I heard Him call me so sweetly and He told me He had a plan for my life and that it was in the ministry. I honestly didn’t believe it!

I was an outcast in school. I was alienated for years and my self confidence was non-existent. It was at this young age that I began to wall up my emotions, so surely God could not be calling me. The bottom line I was scared…

I missed my calling when I came home from Bible School because I was too scared and I counted the cost to be too much for me to handle. I didn’t pray like I was supposed to and I gave up on the calling on my life because the road was too hard. I felt inadequate and I was right because I didn’t pursue His will in my life.

He will only use you if you are willing to seek after His will in your life. He is looking for a willing volunteer to go. He will not force you to do His calling. But when you sell out you must be willing to answer His calling… No matter the cost.

I coined a phrase, “It cost you nothing for salvation but once you’re saved it cost you everything to answer the call.”

Whom shall I send? God was looking for someone to go and answer the call. He asked a question because we must be willing volunteers. We must be willing to sell out and do whatever He is calling us to do.

1) You will be lonely

2) Those you love will turn their backs on you

3) No one will understand you

4) You will look and seem insane

It is the price to pay. At one moment they will sing your praises and in the next moment they will want to crucify you. The important thing to remember is that the will of God is not predicated on your emotions or the emotions of others. You will want to give up. You will want to run for the hills. It might seem easier to run but then what of the souls?

I asked the Lord before I began this current part of my journey, “Lord, are you sure? I see so many doors opening; you are saving so many souls.” He said to me that there were needy people everywhere but this is where He was calling me. I swallowed deep and told the Lord that His will be done and not my own. He wanted me to be a willing volunteer. He wanted me to sell out and want to go and do what He was telling me to do.

God knows our hearts and His question might be, “Who will go?” But it is more of a reflexive question. He is a God who is waiting for our ready hearts to be willing to reveal themselves and to answer the call. He is waiting for the, “Lord send me” statements. He wants to reach the lost through willing hearts not hearts that don’t want to be used.

It has been a process and I have realized that although I want to do His will. I have not embraced moving like I should. I have been distracted by my surroundings and I have been looking at the situation with the wrong eyes. I think I have failed at my task to be a willing and surrendered servant for the Kingdom. I have felt compelled and maybe almost forced to be here. I have come at the situation all wrong and I have failed miserably.

Have you been waiting for God to force you to serve Him? He is looking for willing volunteers. I have realized that being willing to come and then regretting my decision, and then asking God to release me, has made me my own stumbling block. I did not choose the location but now I choose to answer the call no matter the cost!

 We have to be a witness, a missionary, a Christian worker who has decided to answer the calling. It is a divine commission Jesus gives us the calling and we are willing volunteers who desire to answer the call no matter what. I want to be like Isaiah and be the answer to God’s question. I want to answer the call… I have prayed all my life, “Lord, send me! Here I am! Not my will but thy will be done!” Isaiah did not hesitate and that is my desire, not to hesitate when God tells me to do anything. I want my life to be lived as a willing servant.

A few things I have learned on the journey are that you have to have a heart that is in the presence of God.

1) You can’t expect that anyone else can know your heart or even understand you in the least. I challenge you to lose yourself in the presence of the Lord. It will be painful but it will be worth it in the end.

2) Just as Isaiah had a heart that had been touched by fire, you too will have a fire experience. It will be a cleansing fire. He will ask you to give up the things of this world. He will call you to a life of prayer, fasting, and dedication to the Word of God.

In return He will give you a heart that hears the voice of God to reach the nations. He will give you a heart for souls. He will change how you view life and its worth. He will become your all consuming fire! He will become your everything.

 He will strip away everything from your life but He will replace it with a peace that surpasses all understanding. He will replace hate with love. He will give you compassion for those around you that no one understands why you care. He will take every particle of your being and say,

“This is what I have for you… Trust me. I will never leave you or forsake you. I have you in the palm of my hand. I did not bring you this far just to drop you. You can’t see the whole picture but the pieces are in play. I am your protector. There is nothing that I do not have for you. Hold fast to my promises and my word and ye shall see it come to pass.”

These are just a few things that God has spoken to me. But if He said it to me then He will say it to you. He is no respector of persons and His word is forever settled in Heaven. He is looking for a volunteer. Will you be that volunteer? You can have as much of God as you want. God loves us all the same but how much do you love Him? That is the crux of the matter… Now is the time! Now is the time to give up this selfish life and sell out to answering the call of the King. It won’t be easy. You will want to give up. Everyone will tell you to give up.

But if you seek after His calling and become a willing volunteer, your life will be fulfilled. Every void you are trying to fill will become full. You must be willing to answer the call and then take your hand from it and let God do it. His word cannot return void. His will shall be fulfilled in your life. You just have to stop trying to fix it all alone. I learned this lesson the hard way. God is not looking for our help in the situation. He is only looking for our willingness. He will move the mountain you just have to be willing to wait in the valley until He moves it.

Are you being called to volunteer? If you are it will be worth the valley…

How Does Light Shine Through?

How Does Light Shine Through?

We all want to look our best and put our best foot forward. We are all on the potter’s wheel and are apart of the master designer.

The Master molds us, shapes us, He puts His hand on us and digs deep into our very soul…

Once we are shaped we are handcrafted and sanded down into a beautiful vessel somewhat like a vase. There are hours, days, and sometimes years involved with the process of our shape. We are put in the fire and we are painted until we become just what God can use us for His glory.

Sometimes though…

We are sitting on the shelf and we are doing our part and we are holding the water that we were designed to hold. There are beautiful flowers in our vase and they are blooming. Then something happens and the flowers begin to die and the water begins to dry up in our lives. We were once full but we stopped getting fresh water from the Master and the flowers stopped budding in our vase.

Then…

The unthinkable happens the vase tips over from the shelf and we are broken into little pieces. There are pieces all over the room and it seems just like humpty dumpty we can never be put back together again.

How can I ever fulfill my purpose again?

Then comes the Master…

He lovingly scoops the pieces into His big all powerful hands. He searches for all the pieces of our vase. He looks in the dark corners, under the chairs, and behind every shut door. He scoops up every shard and sits down at His wheel and begins to glue us back together again.

The pieces take time to put back together. The Master lovingly spends countless hours putting back together His creation. The glue is painful; the pieces don’t fit in all the exact same places. There are shards of guilt, pain, fear, oppression, depression, anxiety, doubt, shame, and anguish that He lovingly decides to remove from the original design.

The once put together vase now looks like a puzzle or rather a road map. There are intersections and jigsaws. There are juts and jags. There are highways and roadways. There are open cracks in the new creation.

But the open cracks allow light to shine through the vase that never could shine through before. The original design only had room to be filled and it never had a purpose for light to shine through. No longer can the vase hold water but instead it overflows and runs out over the sides.

The Vase= our life.

Once we are broken then when Jesus puts us back together we are still a vessel but we serve a greater purpose. We have all the cracks in us but that just means His light can shine through us. Yes, we were once beautiful sitting on the shelf but now His beauty is able to inhabit our lives. His beauty is what shines through us in our broken place.

We think all is lost and that it is all over because we are not as we once were. But really we are finally fulfilling our purpose because now the light of Jesus’ love can shine through the cracks of our broken life. Only He has the understanding to our roadmap and only He can find all the pieces to our puzzle.

Don’t dismay if God gave you a promise it will come to pass. He is the one who gave the promise so that means He is the one who has to fulfill the promise. He owns our promises and God cannot lie, so what He has said will come to pass. And if it doesn’t for some reason happen the way that you think, still praise Him because at any moment He will fulfill His word in your life!

Don’t be afraid of the process of breaking… Because it is the brokenness that you become the most beautiful vessel as His light shines through your life!

How does light shine through?

The light shines through the cracks of brokenness.