Don't miss it...

I thought I would have something super powerful and profound to say today but I don't. I just have a simple piece of advice that I'm trying my best to follow myself. So here it is...don't miss God! Simple, right? I wish! You see, there are so many things that compete for your attention – family, friends, work, church, things you want to do, things you need to do. It's so easy to find yourself so wrapped up in the “busyness” of life that you miss God’s business. A play on words, I know, but a problem that many of us face on a daily basis. This morning, I simply want to make sure you have your focus on the right thing.

I had a conversation with a close friend this morning and God had really dealt with her. Sounds churchy but if you’ve ever had God meet you in your closet and show you yourself, you know what I mean. It's serious! When I got off the phone with her, all I could say or pray was, “Lord, please don't let me miss You!” Don't let me get so caught up in expectations that I don't walk in Your purpose. Don't let me forget what You told me to do because I'm trying to please man. Don't let me get overwhelmed with the work of ministry that I'm not actually ministering to Your people. Anybody else had a similar prayer? You see, the enemy’s job is to distract you from your path so that he can destroy your purpose. Remember the whole steal, kill, destroy mission? But I realized that a lot of times, you help him with his mission by taking on too much, doing too much, and not listening enough. Are you missing God?

Do you remember when the disciples of John the Baptist came to him and told him that Jesus was baptizing and everyone was going to Him instead of them? His response spoke to me this morning about how to ensure that I don't miss God. “John answered, “It’s not possible for a person to succeed—I’m talking about eternal success—without heaven’s help. You yourselves were there when I made it public that I was not the Messiah but simply the one sent ahead of him to get things ready. The one who gets the bride is, by definition, the bridegroom. And the bridegroom’s friend, his ‘best man’—that’s me—in place at his side where he can hear every word, is genuinely happy. How could he be jealous when he knows that the wedding is finished and the marriage is off to a good start? That’s why my cup is running over. This is the assigned moment for him to move into the center, while I slip off to the sidelines.”‭‭(John‬ ‭3:27-30‬ ‭MSG‬‬) John the Baptist could have completely missed the purpose of his life in that moment. He could have gotten in his feelings and let what man was saying take him somewhere that he couldn't come back from. But instead, he recognized how everything that God had been telling him came together in Jesus. He realized that the way to fulfill his purpose in the earth was to decrease so that Christ could be seen. When you get so caught up in what the world wants you to do and be, you are essentially minimizing Christ’s place in your life. You're missing your opportunity to let God be seen through you. Are you missing God?

You are powerful, creative, and God chosen! He has something so amazing that He plans to do in the earth through you. Don't miss it because your eyes are somewhere else. Don't miss it because your feelings are hurt. Don't miss it because you're scared or overcommitted. Find yourself where John the Baptist was, waiting for his assigned moment to be used for God’s glory. He knew what he was supposed to be doing so no one could move him out of position with their emotions, motives or intentions. He didn't miss God and I pray that you don't either.

Amen

I've got this...

Calling all Rhema readers! Can I have your attention for a moment? Can you shut out the voices and the worries so that I can share some breaking news with you? Ready? Here it is, straight from the Lord to you! “I’ve got this.”  Yep, that’s it! That’s what He encouraged me to remind you of today. Stop fighting, worrying and stressing. All you need to do is listen, obey and trust. Believe me, I get that your life is super busy and people are always asking you to do something or solve a problem or find a solution and you’ve gotten weary of the fight. But I have great news for you today, God is fighting for you and the battle has already been won.

If you’ve read Rhema for any amount of time, you know that I love the names of God. Well one in particular I use often and love to call on is Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts! It’s not a name that you hear often in the church when people are listing the names of God but He is integral in living a life of trust and peace. I was led to introduce Him to some of you and present Him to others. You see, He is the God who wages war on your behalf and causes wars to cease. He is the God that commands the angels and the stars to line up and do His command. He is quite simply and yet so magnificently, the Almighty God. He is the One that sees your situation and already has a strategy. He is the One that you can bring your battles to and He will fight them. He is the One that says stand still and see My salvation. You see, so many times you can  get so caught up in the battles that you face and trying to figure out how to survive, that you forget that you are not alone in the fight. But I’m here to remind you that God is fighting for you and He doesn’t give up or give in. He is the ultimate finisher!

This morning God sent me back to 2 Chronicles 20 and a story that I often think about. It’s the story of King Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah when the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites declared war on them. The king was terrified and begged God for help, so much so that he ordered the entire nation to fast. He prayed and prayed, seeking God’s help. As I was re-reading this story, God highlighted the end of Jehoshaphat’s prayer. “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (2 Chron. 20:12) Have you ever found yourself saying that? I know I have! You know, when the battle is getting long and you’re starting to tire and you just aren’t sure what to do with this big thing that has come against you. You’ve forgotten that God will fight for you and you finally just cry out to God for help.  That’s where Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah were - scared, nervous, and anxious. Well, God responds through Jahaziel and I want to share it with you.

This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. ¹⁶ Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷ But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” (2 Chron. 20: 15b – 17 NLT)

Perhaps you need to read it again! The forces fighting against your marriage? Watch the Lord’s victory! The family members that don’t understand your path? Watch the Lord’s victory! Your own insecurities and struggles with self-esteem? Watch the Lord’s victory! The list could go on and on but all you have to do is show up willing to be in position and watch God do the fighting. I encourage you to read this story for yourself because you are shown exactly how to win. Seek God’s face in prayer and fasting so that you are able to hear what He has to say. Praise Show up to the fight, get into the position He tells you to and then watch Him fight it. You just need to be there to celebrate what He has done. If you continue to read, you will see that the enemies turn against each other and all of the enemies were killed. They left enough spoils that it took them 3 days to collect it all. Could it be that if you take your hands out of the fight and let God handle it that you will see blessings overwhelm you? Could it be that of you just show up to the fight with a heart of expectation that God will confuse the enemy and turn things in your favor? Could it be that if you praise God when the threat comes that He will make it so you don’t even have to fight at all? God is fighting for you and He has all that is needed to get the victory!

Amen…

It's finishing time!

A few minutes ago, I heard the Lord say, “Finish what you start.” I’m pretty sure it was in response to my desire and plan to pass on Rhema today after a day of traveling. The more I listened, I realized that it was also an encouragement not only for me but for you. You see, I understand the struggle that overtakes you when you have been working on something for a long time but still can't see the end in sight. I know the pain of waiting for a promise to manifest when you feel like you've given your all. I even get just being plain tired and not wanting to fight or work anymore. But can I just encourage you today that there is joy and peace in the finishing? It might not feel like it today but the Lord wanted me to tell you to press to the end and finish what you have started.

God is so amazing that He can say something so simple and it apply to a variety of situations. As I started writing, I  heard Him say everything from completing books, to staying the course in marriages, to praying for that person until you see the change. Through it all, He just kept repeating the same phrase – finish what you started. It was almost like the chorus of a song and the list of projects and instructions were the verses. He was adamant that I encourage you to get to the end of that thing. You see, sometimes the enemy will dress himself up as distraction and frustration and attempt to take you away from completing your assignment. You begin to look at what's in front of you instead of the victory that God promised you at the end of the assignment. But can I just remind you that if He told you to do something, He has equipped you to finish it? He has given you exactly what you need to get it done. Even if you had to take a break, even if you veered off path, even if you wanted to give up, you have what it takes. He didn't give you an assignment without seeing you at the end of it! Finish what you started!

As I close out, God sent me to Ecclesiastes 7:8 in the Message and it says, “Endings are better than beginnings. Sticking to it is better than standing out.” You see, sometimes you have to remind yourself that God is a finisher! When He started creating the world, He made a lot of amazing things but He didn't declare it was good until He finished. When Christ walked the earth for those 33 years, He did some powerful and life changing miracles but our salvation was not assured until He completed the assignment. The journey and the process are incredibly valuable but you have to get to the destination to be able to look back on it and see what you endured. It's time to finish what you started. Get up, brush yourself off, straighten your clothes up and get back in the race. No more delays. No more allowing setbacks to throw you off. No more watching others get to goal while you stall. God is with you and as long as you obey His instructions, you will get there. Let's go…its finishing time!

Amen

An Expected End...

The Lord spoke to me this morning about keeping my eyes on the expected end. He challenged me to stop looking at my life situations through my natural eyes and focus on what He has shown me. He challenged me to wait with expectation for the promise to come to pass. He said that I would see what I have been praying for! What about you? Will you take up the challenge to wait on your expected end?

The Lord sent me to Jeremiah 29:11 early this morning but as I began to write Rhema, He told me to back up and look at the previous 10 verses. You see, sometimes you won’t be excited about your expected end until you acknowledge where you’ve been. Jeremiah 29:10 -11 says “This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out – plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” (MSG) You see the Israelites had been in exile for a number of years already at this point and though it wasn’t like the Egyptian captivity, it was an unfamiliar land and one not meant for them. There were foreign gods and false prophets and a separation from what they knew. But it was a predetermined time period of 70 years. Would you act differently if you knew how long you had to endure your struggles? But I digress. Jeremiah sent this letter to the Jewish leaders in exile and told them to carry on with their lives as they waited. He instructed them to build houses, plant gardens and marry. He told them to pray for their captors and beware of false prophets attempting to throw them off of their path. But at the end of the 70 years, He was going to show up just as promised and release them back to their homes.

That’s a word! How many of you can pray for your enemies that they prosper even while they mess with you? How many of you can continue to build your business, sow into people and create relationships while you are waiting for your own breakthrough? Do you see that no matter what is happening in your life, you are to keep living and trusting God as you wait for your expected end? Do you understand that even in the hardest of circumstances, you are to keep your eye on the promise, believing that God has planned a future for you that you can’t even imagine? Whew! I’m getting excited!  I feel God pushing me and you toward our destinies. Because that’s what it’s all about, right? The enemy desires to cut you off from fulfilling your purpose but God has declared that He has plans for you that include a future and a hope! You may have been struggling for a long time but God sees you at the end of it and you are better and stronger. You may have had to survive some deep hurts and disappointments but you have made it and you will get to your promise. Why? Because He planned it that way! He planned for you to get all that He promised! It’s your expected end!

I want to declare to you today that you are right there! I want to agree with you that if you just keep living and obeying, that you get to that future! Don’t grow weary in your well doing! Don’t give up on your praying! Don’t walk away from your sowing! God is going to show up right on time and carry you to your destiny. He’s going to do just what He promised and it will be for your good and for your future. Oh get excited, saints! Your expected end is coming and it’s mighty good!

Amen                                                                               

Go time!

It’s been a crazy day and I'm super late getting Rhema out but I couldn't let this month end without a post! So here goes, straight to the point! God said to me, it's GO time! Time to move from just dreaming about the vision and put some legs to it. It's time to stop saying what should or could happen and start doing. It's time to stop being content with just walking around carrying weight and instead push your purpose out. Are you ready? It's go time!

One of the scariest but most exciting times I have ever experienced was when I went into labor with my first child. Although, I was terrified at the thought of the pain of labor, I knew that my baby was on the other side of the pain. I knew that I would have to go through whatever it took to get to see the precious gift that I had been waiting all of those months for. And so it is with you! God has been building and preparing you for this moment. He's been speaking to your heart and developing a desire to see what you've been praying for so that when it’s time to push, you aren't afraid. He wants you to know today that the pain will all be worth it when you see what He has been doing. It's go time!

So here you are! Feeling the urge to push and not sure what to do? Well, rest assured that God is with you! He is in the delivery room serving in every capacity – coach, father,and doctor. He is the one encouraging you to stay calm and trust the process. He is the one telling you when to push so that you will stay on schedule. He is the one holding your hand and saying it will be alright. You see, though God wants you to be all that He has called you to be, He doesn't want you to be hurt. He doesn't want you to be premature with your delivery and risk death or struggle. He wants you to trust Him and His timing. It's go time!

Before I go, let me say this! Sometimes it can be easy to take yourself off the hook when you don't think something applies to you. If God has been talking to you about doing more in ministry, it's go time! If He has been talking to you about being a light in your family, it's go time! If he has been saying, start your book, visit that church, go back to school, it's go time! Don't miss what God is saying because I didn't name your particular issue or situation. It's time to move! “For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard. Then God will bless you for doing it." (James 1:23-25 NLT)

It's go time, Saints! There's purpose, destiny, peace, and breakthrough coming forth aynd you don't want to miss it!

Amen

Get out of the way!

“I like small and intimate!” “I’m not going to tell anyone what I’m doing so maybe it will just be a few people” “I love writing Rhema because it’s just me and God.” Those are some of the things that I said to myself and other people as I attempted to control what “my baby” would look like. I said, hoped for, and even prayed for what I was comfortable with. Notice that I didn’t say that God said that was how it should be. Nope…it was all me! The confessions of a control freak…sigh! Anyone else out there guilty of telling God what you would and wouldn’t do? It’s okay, you can admit it. Well, today the Lord had something for all of the control freaks out there.  Ready? Stop trying to control what He is preparing. You aren’t in charge of the manifestation but you are in charge of the gestation period. What are you doing with it?  Get out of the way!

Gestation is the process of carrying or being carried in the womb between conception and birth. It’s the development of something over a period of time. I guess you would say that it’s the more technical term for pregnancy. As the one carrying that vision, that plan, that idea to delivery, you are responsible for what you feed it, the environment that you allow it to grow in and the protection that you give it. So many of you are like me, in that you want to know every little thing that is happening, in hopes that you can avoid the unknown. But God is using this time not just for your vision but also for you. He’s healing your heart so that you have the ability to love and care for what He’s given you. He’s strengthening your core so that you have the endurance to make it through the pains that will inevitably come. He’s expanding you so that you have the capacity to grow what He’s prepared. Stop trying to control the outcome and instead take advantage of this time that He is given you.

So here’s the thing: delivery is coming! Just because you can’t control it, doesn’t mean that it’s not coming. A lot of you are at a stage in your life where God is asking you to do some things that are uncomfortable. He is stretching you and calling you outside of your comfort zone. He has given some very clear directives but you are having a hard time turning those instructions into action. Well it’s time for that to change. It’s time for you to move out of God’s way and let Him take you into manifestation. All He needs from you is your yes and your obedience. You don’t have to be afraid of the next step, you just need to be open to it.

I know that some of you are tired of this birthing theme but God won’t let me leave it alone. He is so serious about you moving through gestation and into delivery. He keeps showing me how valuable the whole process is to your victory and breakthrough. It’s a whole lesson on releasing control and depending on Him for everything. What would happen if you focused in on what God was doing during this gestation period instead of running away from it or trying to control it? What would happen if you used this time to simplify the other areas in your life so that you have the time and focus to do what He is calling you to do? Come on, saints! Get out of the way and watch God bring everything He has shown you to pass…

Amen

Just do it!

Happy Thursday, family! For those that look for an early Rhema, I apologize! I've been traveling  and getting in a place to actually write has been a challenge. From lots of moving around to not feeling well, to work, my day has been crazy. So I will get right to the point of what God shared with me today. Ready? Here goes... Complete the assignment! Finish whatever it is that God has been talking to you about for the last few years, months, and days. In the words of Nike, “just do it”! God showed me today that no matter what came against me – distractions, confusion, sickness, the assignment didn't change. He told me that if I would just do what He says, He would always get me to the finish line. The key is in the obedience to what He has said. You can't complete anything that you don't start!

I know what's coming next! I can almost hear the chorus of “but the enemy…” Nope! It's time out for using the enemy as an excuse. He’s real but he’s definitely played out! You serve a God that is bigger than any other. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, the Great I Am. The enemy cannot hold a candle to the One that sits high and looks low. And if you are really honest, the enemy doesn't have to do all that much to mess you up. If he can throw one small distraction in your path, your whole plan for the day can be shot. It's happened to me more times than I can count. You know,  something minor becomes major within minutes because it happened at a key moment in time. Think about it, how many times have you been working on a project and someone called you and all of a sudden your focus shifts and your project is pushed to the side or forgotten? A lot, right?! But as we talked about last week, this is birth month!  God has set some things before you and given you a due date. You cannot afford to allow the enemy’s tricks to sidetrack you anymore. You have an assignment to complete!

I want to close with the words of Paul as he was writing to the Corinthian church. It took me completely by surprise because he is talking about giving and it wasn't what I was looking for.  But his words both blessed and challenged me to push forward towards completion. I wanted to share it with you in the Message translation because it spoke to me.  “So here’s what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart’s been in the right place all along. You’ve got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can’t. The heart regulates the hands.”(2 Cor.‬ ‭8:10-12 ‭MSG) This is a clear lesson about giving but what greater gift can you give the Lord than honoring His purpose and plan for your life? So let's get to it! It's time to let your heart push your hands to move. It's time to stop letting the enemy talk you out of expansion. It's time to tell fear and worry to exit so that faith and trust can enter. Its’ time to acknowledge the contractions and head to the delivery room! It's time, Saints, to complete your assignment!

Amen