Will you remember Me?

One of the most used phrases of the Christmas holiday is "Jesus is the reason for the season!" While it is certainly true, often it seems to be used to legitimize some other celebration. You know what I mean? It makes people feel better to add Jesus in somewhere even if He isn't first. But this morning, I heard a soft question...will you remember Me?

The time leading up to Christmas is called Advent. It is a time of expectation, hope and waiting. Now that Christmas has come, we are in celebration and manifestation. What you have waited for has come! Think of the Wise Men. They followed a star in hopes that what had been prophesied had in fact come to pass. "And when they has come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh." (Matt. 2:11 NKJV) They had come seeking this Child, and when they found Him, they did not forget their purpose. They worshipped Him! They gave gifts to Him! They honored Him! When Christmas came, did you remember Who it was all about? 

As we wind down this year, there is no better gift than Christ. He is the gift that keeps on giving. He wants nothing more than for you to be in relationship and fellowship with Him. When you are feeling lost or down, the star still shines bright to lead you to where He is. Will you look for it? When your heart is broken, the everlasting love and sacrifice that He represents still beats strong.  Will you receive it? When the promises you have been waiting for take longer than you expect or want, His presence still uplifts. Will you remember Him?

God has taken us on a journey this year of restoration, faith and trust. It has not always  been easy and sometimes it's been downright unbearable but we have made it to the cusp of a new year. I invite you to dive into 2014 with all the hope and expectation that you can muster. We serve a God that is faithful and timely and He has not forgotten you. Will you remember Him?

Thanks for traveling this road with me again this year. I am grateful for every read, every word of encouragement, and every prayer. May God continue to bless you...Amen!

This Is Your Day!

I have an announcement to make to all who are reading this blog today. That’s right…it’s for everyone! All you have to do is receive it. Ready? Here goes…THIS IS YOUR DAY! I hear you asking…for what? Well it’s simple, really. This is your day for whatever you need from God. This is your day to ask and receive. Sound crazy? It’s not but you can make it seem like it is. If your first thought was one of doubt, then you are probably right. But God wanted to me tell you today that He can do the impossible. The question is will you believe? 

This is Advent season. The time of year where the world waits for and celebrates the birth of Christ. It’s a season of expectation. Well, that is at the center of what God is saying today. He has the ability and the willingness to do whatever you need Him to do but so often our faith doesn’t rise to the occasion. We give a lot of lip service but in our hearts where it really counts, we have doubt and fear. But today, it’s time to examine our trust level, stir up our faith, and walk in expectation that God will do just what He said. No matter what it is you need, believe that this is your day to receive it. “And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14 ESV) Believe Him today, saints! THIS IS YOUR DAY!

Some of you are looking at me sideways because your situation is a mess. Your finances are jacked up, you don’t have a job and your marriage is in shambles. You can’t see how today could be your day for anything. Well, I write this to you in the midst of one of the hardest seasons of my life believing that God is my strength, my provider and my protector. But it took me a long time to get there. I don’t want that for you! I had one of the longest private pity parties on record but one day God sent me a word and said, “Where is your faith? You believe for everyone else but not for yourself.” That was a tough pill to swallow but it was the truth. I always had it together and talked a good game until the test came or the attack or my plan didn’t work out and then I was torn up and my unbelief was way bigger than my faith. I had to stand up and speak to myself. I had to have a coming to Jesus meeting with my own self! I had to say, “Ebony, you are who and what God says you are! You are blessed! You are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath!” I had to speak to my spirit man and tell her to rise up! If I could do it, so can you! You don’t have to accept your current situation. You have the power in your own mouth to change things. “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him.” (James 1:12 ESV) THIS IS YOUR DAY!

We serve a mighty God! One who is faithful beyond measure and He desires that we live our best life. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy but Christ came that we may have life and have it more abundantly! I challenge you in these last weeks of this year to walk in expectation and faith that God will do exactly what you need Him to do, the way HE wants it to be done! Trust that He has not brought you to a place to leave you. No, He “is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” (Eph. 3:20 NKJV) THIS IS YOUR DAY!

AMEN…

Stand Your Ground

What do you do when you have done all you knew how to do? You’ve prayed, fasted, praised but you still hear silence. What’s your next step when you are seeking change but all you see are the same scenes replaying over and over again in your life? What do you do when you are just plain tired? You stand. Come on, Ebony! Is that all you have for me? I know…doesn’t sound super spiritual and deep enough, right? But that’s the answer. In this season, God is looking for those that will stand on His Word. He is looking for those that will stand firm despite attacks, lack, and struggle. Will all the people that are hanging on by a thread stand up? Will all those counting down to the end of 2013 to be rid of this long year wave your arms? God is speaking to you! He is sending a clear message right now. ‘Stand up, man of God! Rise up, woman of God! I am here to hold you up and fight for you if you will just stand your ground.’

There is so much going on that can take your focus off of God’s plan for your life. Life continues to happen, people continue to be people, and the enemy continues to work. I know your walk. I know you are a prayer warrior, a faster, a believer but I’ve seen you struggle with how to reconcile your faith with what you see happening in your circumstance. I’ve seen the lost look on your face as you try to figure out where to go from here, just waiting for a word that would get you back on track. Paul says it best in Ephesians 6:13. “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” (NKJV) Listen, if you can’t get the strength up to fight, ask God to cover you with His armor and stand as He holds you up! When you are at a point where the attacks come more than the peace, it’s time to battle! But you are not fighting alone. You have the Head Strategist on your team and He’s told you that if you will just stand, He will protect you. The Message Bible really made me feel this thing today and I wanted to share it with you.  

“And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and He wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.” (Eph. 6:10-18 MSG)

Folks, if you have done all you know how to do, give it to God. It’s time to stop trying to handle things on your own. You are not strong enough but God is and He says “Be still and know that I am God.” (Ps. 46:10a NKJV) Paul was in jail, saints! If anyone understood attack and desperation, it was Paul. But he is encouraging you to use the equipment that God has supplied you, stand your ground and let God carry you through. I believe that if you will take your eyes off of what you see and put them on the Lord, you will begin to feel the strength come back in your legs. You will feel the firmness stir up in your back. You will feel the power of the God who has a plan for your life and a Word that won’t come up short. “God is not a man, so He does not lie. He is not human, so He does not change his mind. Has He ever spoken and failed to act? Has He ever promised and not carried it through? (Num. 23:19 NLT) Stand up, man of God! Rise up, woman of God! The battle just shifted in your favor…AMEN

Are You There?

Would it surprise you to know that there are Christians suffering with depression? Would you be shocked to know that approximately 10% of this country are diagnosed? Imagine the number that are unaware of what it is or are too ashamed to seek help and receive a diagnosis. We have a hard time with acknowledging depression in the church but it’s a reality.   It’s the holiday season and a lot of people are excited and upbeat at the thought of family, gifts and celebration. But there are many others who can’t quite get a smile to stay, much less laugh. There are some that can’t stop crying or thinking about what has been lost. It may not be you and it may not be depression but I have seen so many people recently that are involved in a quiet struggle. The heaviness emanates off of you and there is no clear understanding or answer as to why. But today, God is speaking to those of you that are weighed down. His message is simple and clear. “I am here.”

My life changed when I learned the names of God and how to call Him what I needed Him to be. You commonly hear people say Jehovah Jireh (Provider), Jehovah Shalom (Peace), or Jehovah Rapha (Healer). But sometimes you need to call His presence forth. You need to acknowledge that He is with you. In those moments, call Him Jehovah Shammah. We only find this name used once at the very end of Ezekiel 48 where they describe the gates of Jerusalem. “The distance around the entire city will be 6 miles. And from that day the name of the city will be ‘The Lord Is There.’”  (Ez. 48:35 NLT) Isn’t it awesome to think of being in a place where God’s presence is there? God wants that place to be you. When everything around you seems overwhelming and discouraging, His presence is able to calm you and center you. The key is to call for Him and allow yourself to be covered. You see, when you don’t open yourself up to His presence, you cannot feel the recovery. You get caught up in the circumstances and the memories and the hurt and then the takeover happens. But when you say, “You are my Jehovah Shammah! Your presence reigns in this place. I welcome you!” Watch God replace that anxiety and pain with His loving presence.

You may remember when the Lord commanded Moses and the Israelites to leave Sinai and head to the Promised Land. After the Word came forth, Moses went to meet with the Lord in the tabernacle for guidance and understanding. God answered his request with a promise.   ^“And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Ex. 33:14 NKJV) God’s presence is where you can find rest and refuge from the enemy’s tricks. You see, Satan is determined to take advantage of any opening he sees. He desires to steal your peace, your joy and your mind and replace it with fear. He wants to remind you of all that is not right in your world. He wants to get you to a place where God is the last place you look for relief. That’s often what happens with people that commit suicide. They feel alone and rejected and unloved. They can no longer feel the joy or peace of God. It’s not to say they don’t know God or love Him but the enemy has gotten them to a place in their minds where the circumstances are bigger than God. It happens quicker than a lot of people want to acknowledge. I believe that’s why God gave this message today. He doesn’t want to lose any more of His people to a struggle that doesn’t have to be yours. He wants you to call upon His presence and find rest.

It’s time to stop quietly struggling. It’s time to let go of the guilt and shame that is holding you back. It’s time to stand up to the power of those memories that are holding you captive. It’s time to look forward to the manifested promises and stop dwelling on the length of the wait. Your responsibility is not to fix what is broken but rather to be available to be fixed. God is the ultimate healer and restorer and He is saying to you, “I am here.”

May the God that gives joy, fill you with His strength and may His perfect peace rest in your mind and spirit.  Amen.

Feel the Love...

“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!”(Ps. 107:1) This morning I woke up with a sense of awe. It was similar to the feeling I got when I first looked in my baby’s eyes and knew that I had helped to give her life. The wonder of it was a bit overwhelming. You may be asking what brought this feeling about. It’s simple, really. I just thought about the fact that God loves me. He allowed me to wake up and see another day. He allowed me to take a breath and walk around. Have you ever really thought about that? There are so many that did not have that opportunity today. There are families that are grieving today. There are hearts that are broken but today you have life. It may not be the life you imagined for yourself at this time but it’s life. It’s your chance for a new start, a new perspective and a new goal. It’s your opportunity to live out God’s purpose for your life with a renewed motivation. It’s time to bask in the glow of God’s love.

Today, on this Thanksgiving holiday, I just want to encourage you to reflect on that perfect love. It’s so easy to be distracted by the circumstances of your life. You can become depressed, distracted, and frustrated. The enemy will do all that he can to draw your focus away from God and towards the worries and concerns of the world and walk in frustration and fear. But God has so much more for you. “For I know the thoughts I have for you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jer. 29:11 NKJV) Just think how powerful that is. No matter what the enemy says to you, God has plans for you to prosper. No matter what your family says or does, God has you on His mind. No matter what your situation is, God has a future prepared for you. That’s love, folks!

So I challenge you today to focus your sights on the love of God. He loved you so much that He sacrificed His only Son for you and your mess. He loves you with a perfect love that will never fail you. He loves you with a love that will never be contingent on what you do or don’t do. It is unconditional and unending. So today, whether you are gathering with your family or alone, know that you are loved. “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below – indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:37-39 NLT) That’s love!

Be blessed…AMEN

 

Lighten Your Load...

From a young child, I learned to recite the Baptist Church Covenant and one of the lines that always stood out was “and with tender sympathy bear one another’s burdens and sorrows:” It’s clearly based on Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (NKJV) But what happens when it goes too far? Some might ask if that is even possible. I hear you saying, from the scripture above, we are clearly called to bear our brother’s burdens so why even bring this up. This morning the Lord got right to the point with a very simple message for the people of God that I think answers the question. When I prayed and asked what He would have me to share today, He said to me, “Let Me carry it.” Alright then, Lord…make it plain! And He did.

First let me be clear, you are your brother’s keeper and the Word is filled with examples about praying for your brothers and sisters, being a blessing, and not being selfish. But so many take it where it was not intended to go. The Lord talked to me this morning about those of you that pick up the weights & burdens of so many that you have not been called to carry. You find yourself tired and depressed and burdened down with self-assigned struggles. Yep, I said it! You have taken on stress and heartache that God didn’t tell you to take on. He told you to pray for your brother, He didn’t say to be his piggy bank. God told you to take care of your mother, He didn’t tell you to take on her attitudes. God told you to support your husband, He didn’t tell you to go backwards in your walk to appease him. You can nod quietly if this has been you. You have taken what God has led you to do and made it a heavy and hard thing when God didn’t intend that for you. That’s when the bearing of burdens becomes obligation and then leads to your struggle.

You see, Christ died on the cross for all of your struggles. “He was beaten so that we could be whole” (Is. 53:5b NLT) If you believe that, don’t you think He would want you to enjoy this life? Don’t you think He would want you to be a blessing to others without making yourself sick?  This is a hard thing for a lot of you to receive because you are wired to be a helper and intercessor but you are not called to be everyone’s trash can. You are not called to be the dumping ground for everyone’s issues and you never release them but rather carry them for years as you slowly breakdown. God is reaching out to you today and asking you to release them now. Let Him carry them. You don’t believe He wants that? Read what Christ says in Matthew 11:28 – 30, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” (NLT)

This is not an easy word to share with people because it feels uncomfortable. I know because I have been there. I have a burden on my heart for people, sometimes my heart will get so heavy with the weight of people’s issues. But The Lord had to help me learn to release and it’s still a process. I had to learn to pray for people, listen to their story, do what I could for them or what I was lead to do for them and then release it to God. He is equipped with the strength and the power to carry it. He is not asking you to be Him. You can’t be Him. You will wear yourself completely out trying to carry what isn’t yours to carry. Let Him do it. I challenge you today to lighten your load. I challenge you to take those things or people that are weighing heavily on you and giving it to God. Ask Him to show you where your responsibility ends and His begins. He is willing and able to help you! Remember that a couple of verses down from “bear one another’s burdens”, it says “for each one shall bear his own load.” (Gal. 6:5 NKJV) At some point, everyone has to listen when God says, “Let Me carry it”. The challenge is obeying.

May God lift every burden that you are not equipped to carry and lead you to a place of peace and assurance that He has it all in His hands. God bless you! AMEN…

Deep Calls to Deep

“I want to go deeper, Lord, in you” has been the cry of my heart this week. I have been singing those words over and over since Monday. The Lord answered my song by saying, “Deep calls to deep.” My heart leaped. I felt the welcome in those words. I felt His desire to receive me into a deeper fellowship and communion with Him. You might be wondering what my request has to do with you. But really it has everything to do with all of His people. God wants your worship. He created us to worship and praise Him but we have fallen woefully short. We have gotten so comfortable with our tradition and our routine that we are missing wonderful and intimate opportunities to really worship God. He has been talking to us about restoration and today He said it starts in your worship. Are you ready to go deeper?

When the Lord said to me “deep calls to deep”, it led me to Psalm 42. It is the cry of a believer who has been discouraged and is trying to get back to the joy. “As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.  I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?” My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!” (Ps. 42:1-4) Have you been there? Thirsty for God, wanting more and more of Him but no strength to get there? You know how it is. When your circumstances have overtaken your worship. Finances are shaky, relationships are a struggle, job not meeting your passion, kids all over the place. Or maybe you’ve hit a rough patch in ministry, not feeling it like you usually do, no zeal, no desire...but yet your heart is yearning for God. The enemy hasn’t stopped telling you God doesn’t care and you know what it is to worship because you have been there. What to do? Go deeper…

“My soul, why are you so downcast? Why are you groaning inside me? Hope in God, since I will praise him again for the salvation that comes from his presence. My God, when I feel so downcast, I remind myself of you from the land of Yarden, from the peaks of Hermon, from the hill Mizar. Deep is calling to deep at the thunder of your waterfalls; all your surging rapids and waves are sweeping over me.  By day Adonai commands his grace, and at night his song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life.” (Ps. 42: 6-9 CJB) Sometimes you have to remind yourself of who God is to you. Remember how he brought you from point A to point C, when you weren’t even worthy of point B. His love is so deep and so full that it can carry you from the struggle to life. His grace truly is sufficient for you. You see, our circumstances and struggles are surface. We have to go beyond them for the answers and for the joy. We have to press pass what has tried to enslave us and grab hold to the freedom that lies in God. Remember, “…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Cor. 3:17 NKJV) The Holy Spirit lives inside of you so that, in itself, tells you that you must press beyond your physical limitations.

It’s time to go deeper, folks. It’s time to leave the shore of tradition and dive into the intimate realm of worship. In that place, there is renewal and restoration. There is reconnection and revival. In the deep, you can leave the guilt and the shame of your past and find rest. In the deep, you can leave the weight of trying to survive and find freedom. In the deep you can leave the struggle of other people’s expectations and find grace. Don’t be afraid of the deep. It’s the place where God waits to give you revelation and wisdom. It’s calling out to you and waiting to receive you. I can already see the burdens lifting as you sink deeper. May the warmth of the deep waters restore and strengthen you for the journey that lies ahead…AMEN

Stone by Stone

This morning as I meditated and prayed, God began to show me people standing by a low wall that had been knocked down. I could see them pick up a stone to put on the wall but this big mass would get in the way. They would keep trying but it seemed that the mass just got bigger and bigger.  Then the mass showed itself to be a huge man and he was deliberately stopping the people from rebuilding. But then the mass disappeared and I could see the wall be rebuilt stone by stone. You see, there are many of you that have been struggling. You have gone through loss, heartache, disappointment, and frustration. You have tried your best to get back to your old self or be an improved you but some new issue always seemed to stop you from moving forward into your season of restoration. Folks, God is not playing! He is ready to bring you to a place of newness if you will trust Him and believe what He is saying to you. Today, the Lord instructed me to tell you that it’s time to rebuild and the enemy can’t stop you!

 I have been reading the book of Nehemiah for various reasons but early this morning God had me in chapter 4. I was obedient and read it but it didn’t immediately become clear to me why until God showed me that vision. The book of Nehemiah is about Nehemiah's journey to rebuild Jerusalem after the city has been ruined and the walls destroyed by fire.  I encourage you to read the early chapters of Nehemiah because they will help you to see how Nehemiah gets back to Jerusalem through the grace and favor of God. Fast forward to chapter 4 and Nehemiah has gathered various families and groups to work on rebuilding the walls. They have taken on various portions and gates and are making great progress. And then the enemy starts making noise.  “Sanballat was very angry when he learned that we were rebuilding the wall. He flew into a rage and mocked the Jews, saying in front of his friends and the Samarian army officers, “What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they’re doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap—and charred ones at that?” (Neh. 4: 1-2 NLT) Sanballat was a Horonite official and he did not want Israel to prosper. Sound familiar? The enemy does not want you to make progress and he will send folks and issues to mock you and attempt to throw you off track. But God is always aware and He will allow you to see the attack coming.

 

Sanballat had that tantrum in front of the people as they are working but they kept going.  Nehemiah prays and the people continue working with enthusiasm and are able to get the wall halfway up around the entire city. This infuriates Sanballat! “But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites heard that the work was going ahead and that the gaps in the wall of Jerusalem were being repaired, they were furious.  They all made plans to come and fight against Jerusalem and throw us into confusion. But we prayed to our God and guarded the city day and night to protect ourselves.” (Neh. 4: 7-9 NLT) Sanballat and Tobiah did not want God’s people to be restored and they worked tirelessly to disrupt the rebuilding of the wall and confuse the people. You see, the enemy has all sorts of plans to disrupt your rebuilding process but he can’t stop you. They key is being ready. You have to stay in prayer and guard yourself on all sides so that enemy cannot infiltrate your gates. The enemy attempted to stop Nehemiah on many occasions but he determined that the only voice he would listen to was that of the Lord.

Throughout chapter 4, Nehemiah strategizes and arms the people so that the enemy does not take them unaware but in verse 14, he says the key thing that you can stand on as you fight for your restoration. “Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!” You do not have to be afraid of the enemy! You serve a God that is great and awesome and if He is on your side, you have the power to fight and to win! It’s time out for giving up and leaving your gates open to attack. It’s time to take a stand and take back what the enemy has stolen from you. Proverbs 6:31 tells us that if a thief is caught, “he must pay back seven times what he stole, even if he has to sell everything in his house.” Satan is a thief and he has built his kingdom with things he has stolen from us! But now he has to give it back. He can no longer stop you!

It’s time, saints! You have been attempting to rebuild your wall for a long time but your own strength could not get the job done. It’s not easy and the enemy will still be working and trying to confuse you. But the Lord is telling you today that He is your strength and He wants to see you totally restored. Let Him help you lift the stones. Let Him fill the gaps in. Let Him take the lead. You see, God sees long range. While you might be seeing an unrepentant husband, He sees the restored marriage. While you might have your eyes on the diagnosis, He sees a whole and healed body. While you might be focused on a negative pregnancy test, He sees a fruitful and productive family. Your results are dependent on who is allowed to lead your restoration. There is nothing impossible with God and there is nothing that the enemy has stolen that you cannot retrieve. Mourning can be turned to joy. Loss can be turned to gain. Death can be turned to life.

It’s time to rebuild, my friends and the enemy cannot stop you! AMEN…

Morning is coming...

This morning when I went to the gym, it was dark. I was facing the window on the treadmill and I watched as the sun came up and light chased the darkness away. It was an amazing transformation from shadows and low street lights to full vision and light. Things that I couldn't identify slowly became clear and easier to understand. As I continued to walk, The Lord said to me, "There's always another day." Immediately, the scripture in Lamentations came to my mind. "Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning;Great is Your faithfulness." (Lam. 3:22-23 NKJV) On a day when the world is celebrating darkness, God wants you to remember that there is always light.

The thing about darkness is that it cannot last. No matter how much it may want to stay around or you want to stay in it, light immediately dispels it. As I watched the sun rise this morning, I thought about how long yesterday was for me. I mean it seemed like it would never end. But it did. Sometimes, we look at our situations and feel the same way. It can seem very dark when your marriage is in recovery, your finances in bad shape, or your child is sick. It can be overwhelming to not be able to see your way out but I'm here to remind you that God looks at you everyday and makes new mercies available to you. He showers His light on you and chases the shadows away.

Here's the thing though, you have to open your eyes to see the transformation. You have to be paying attention and expecting the change to happen. When I was working out, I could have kept my eyes on the things going on around me in the gym and I would have missed watching the sun chase away the darkness. But I knew that something was going to happen and I waited for it. If you are going through a difficult time right now, I encourage you to expect God to do something new for you everyday. Look at the verse that follows in Lamentations. It says, "The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“Therefore I hope in Him!” (3:24 NKJV) The Complete Jewish Bible makes it even clearer and says "Adonai (The Lord) is all I have," I say; “therefore I will put my hope in him." With everything you have, believe that God wants His light to shine in your life. He wants you to prosper and be in good health. He wants your light to shine so that He will get the glory. He wants you to live.

Today, I pray that God's love and light overtake any issues or struggles that you face. I speak an end to your nights of weeping and welcome your morning of joy. "Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing your restoration and the power of a new life shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God shall go before you conducting you to peace and prosperity, and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, Here I am." (Is. 58:8-9a AMP)

Amen...

Growing at the Door...

Life is an interesting thing. We go through ups and downs, times when we get it right and times when we get it wrong, joys and sorrows. In all of those things, God is speaking and He wants us to listen. It’s amazing, almost unbelievable, how many times we miss His voice. Over the last couple of weeks I have really been in conversation with the Lord about a lot of things but mainly with what He wants to do with me. I’ve been struggling with what it means to say yes to God. Actually, it’s more what to do after saying yes. In the midst of this conversation, God has confronted me with my biggest enemy…me! Sure, Satan has his role to play but how I deal with my own fears, faults and doubts is on me. I’m wondering if anyone else can relate. Have you ever been at a stage in your life where you slowed yourself down? Have you ever been confronted with your own choices and realized they weren’t the best? Have you ever missed the mark? It’s okay. The truth of the matter is everyone has but the key is how did you move forward?

This morning while I was in prayer, I had this interesting vision. I saw a door and the view zoomed in to the doorknob and then widened back out. There was a little girl trying to open the door but every few seconds the little girl would grow until she was a grown woman. I could only see the back of her but could clearly tell from how her size and hair changed that she was growing. But eventually a larger figure came to the door and helped the woman with the door. I asked the Lord what that meant. He immediately brought a scripture to mind that I had read last night. “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.”  (Rev. 3:20 NKJV)

You see, there’s a time when we walk up to the door and we struggle to open it because we aren’t ready. We want God to speak to us and we want to be in fellowship but our ears and our hearts are blocked in a way. So, we stand at the door and go through different things and the blockage gets smaller and smaller. Until one day, through different experiences and lessons, you get to a place of maturity in Christ. You reach a point where you are ready to hear His voice and you ask the Holy Spirit to help you, even if there is a price you will have to pay. The Lord has been at the door the whole time but perhaps you weren’t ready for dinner. Maybe you wanted a snack or some water but not the full meal.

Friends, I’m here to tell you today that The Lord wants to come in and completely fill you up. He wants you to understand that the fellowship He will provide is worth more than the things you might lose. Everything that you have experienced has been for a purpose and if you ask the Holy Spirit to make it clear for you, you can see it too. On the other side of the door, there is a fullness of joy, there is restoration and there is strength. I encourage you to bind up the voices of anything else that isn’t God. You need to hear His voice with clarity and be able to know for yourself that it is Him. Nothing your flesh or Satan has to say to you will encourage or renew you but God will. Right now you are growing at the door, now you just need to sit down and eat!

Amen…

He's already got it under control!

My youngest daughter, Kennedi, turned 3 a couple of weeks ago. It is truly amazing how quickly time passes. Kennedi is small in stature so people often think she is younger than she is and though I am biased, she is really cute. For those reasons, I find myself wanting to help her do things that, at her age, she can start to do on her own. So ding ding...revelation! She doesn't need my help all the time! She would say to me, "I can do it, Mommy" but I just couldn't seem to let go and let her. So recently, I had laid her clothes out and was getting ready to help her put them on and she said "I'm gonna do it." Well I immediately started thinking that I could do it faster and without messing up her hair, etc even though I knew she could do it. Long story short, she did it and looked fine and because I trusted her to do it, she was excited by what she had done. Cute, right? Yep but what's the point? Do you ever find yourself doing what I did to Kennedi to God? Have you had an instance where God has told you that He would handle something but you thought of all the ways that you could do it better? It's time for your revelation moment! He doesn't need your help!

This morning as I prayed, I heard that very phrase. I then heard "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:9 NLT) I didn't really get the connection because I knew that wasn't the context in which that scripture was used. Then he gave me that example of Kennedi and I was really confused! But then I got it, it's all about recognizing your role in the relationship. God is in control and has all that you need but you can get caught up in the intelligence that He has given you . So you try and run ahead and end up in a mess. True, He is a loving and great God but He is also the all knowing and all powerful God. Just because you see Him in His love does not make Him incapable. He has given you all the signs that He will do it but your flesh says "I can do it faster, smarter and it will turn out fine." I am here to tell you that your situation will turn around much quicker if you take your hands off. Because you see, once you let go, you are showing your weakness, and that welcomes God's strength and grace. He doesn't need your help!

One of the first bible verses we are taught is "Trust in The Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path." (Prov. 3:5&6 NKJV) We learn it and then we seem to immediately forget it. This is the key and we are missing it. Stop trying to figure this thing out on your own. Your understanding of your situation is most likely not what God sees. There is a purpose and a reason for everything. Where you see defeat, God has purposed victory. Where you see lack, God has ordained provision. Where you see failure, God has prepared success. However, in your rush to see the end of the situation, you are missing the path. You are missing the signs of light. Read that scripture again. He says to trust with all your heart and not your understanding. Your understanding will not get you where you need to go, only God will. The instruction is not to help God by doing this or that. Your instruction is to trust and acknowledge. That's it! He doesn't need your help!

Believe me, I know how hard it is to wait! I know the temptation to add your opinion or move to what you think is a better position. I have been there and at times still give in to that but it is not the answer. Nothing you or I can do can come close to the perfection that God will achieve. Right now, God is speaking to His people and He is telling you to take your hands off. He had the plan worked out before you knew there was an issue but you slow things down when you interfere. Every word in the Bible has a purpose. So in Romans 8:28 when Paul says "And we know that ALL things work together for good of those who love God, and are called according to His purpose." I believe him! God is working on everything for me because I love Him and am called according to His purpose. How about you?

May God encourage and remind you that He is working on your behalf. Amen...

Streams in the Desert

If you have been reading Rhema for awhile, you may have noticed that for a few months, it seemed like everything I was writing was about making it through or surviving the struggle. It was and is a very real season for a lot of God’s people right now. The enemy is running rampant and the world is getting crazier by the minute. But God is calling us to restoration, if we are ready to receive it. This morning as I was praying and waiting for the Lord to speak, I saw the phrase “streams in the desert” and it literally jumped off of the page. It seemed to sum up that struggle to get to the place of renewal and rejuvenation that we all want so bad to reach but can have a hard time getting there.  I kept waiting for God to tell me what I was supposed to say but all I heard was silence. The longer I waited the more real it became. I couldn’t hear a thing and yet I had to keep going, functioning and waiting. I went to Isaiah 35 where the phrase is found and it began to make sense. You see, sometimes the drought and the trial seems like it will last forever but God has already prepared your green place. The key is recognizing where you are and that God is more than able to restore.

In order to really understand, God took me back to Isaiah 34 for a minute and it began to be clear. If you read this chapter, Isaiah is prophesying to the nations about the judgment and tribulation that is coming. It is filled with vivid images of death and blood and it is guaranteed to come. It’s desolate and it’s chaos. “It will be called the Land of Nothing and all its nobles will soon be gone. Thorns will overrun its palaces; nettles and thistles will grow in its forts. The ruins will become a haunt for jackals and a home for owls.” (Is. 34:12-13 NLT) Doesn’t sound very promising, does it? As I read this chapter, I could see some of you. I could see how you have been living in familiar places that have turned to ruin. They have changed so much that you hardly recognize your surroundings or the people.  The turmoil has taken its toll on you and your faith to the point that you are crying out for water and for life. I was then reminded that Jesus told us that we would suffer as he suffered. There was no promise of an easy or free ride but there was a promise of redemption.

And so we find ourselves back in Isaiah 35. This chapter is the homecoming celebration after the war. It is the vision of God showing off his glory for us. You see this is what God wants you to look towards. This is His message to those of you that are reaching for restoration but are not quite there. “Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, ‘Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on His way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He’s on His way! He’ll save you!” (Is. 35: 3-4 MSG) This chapter is a vision of the ultimate restoration. “And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf.  The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland.  The parched ground will become a pool, and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land. Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish where desert jackals once lived.” (Is. 35:5-7 NLT)Can you grab a hold of this? Can you see that God is a present help and that He wants nothing more than to see you walking in joy and life? I love the visual of water breaking through dry ground. It is a symbol of life after death and rejuvenation. It also tells me that where you may be at this present time is not your destiny. And once God does it, once He brings you out, it’s yours and you won’t have to face those same giants again because He won’t allow it. “There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It’s for God’s people exclusively— impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it. No lions on this road, no dangerous wild animals—Nothing and no one dangerous or threatening. Only the redeemed will walk on it. The people God has ransomed will come back on this road. They’ll sing as they make their way home to Zion, unfading halos of joy encircling their heads, welcomed home with gifts of joy and gladness as all sorrows and sighs scurry into the night.” (Is. 35: 8-10)

My prayer for you today is that you receive what God has for you. That strange land is not your permanent home. That place of discouragement, exhaustion and fear is not where you are purposed to be. You are destined for watered and satisfied ground.  So if you are starting to tire out and feeling like you won’t make it, have no fear, I see the streams sprouting up in your desert. Get ready to thirst no more…

AMEN