Glory to Glory
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Going from glory to glory requires leaving glory.
God never closes one door without opening another door, but as my pastor has shared, it's hell in the hallway!
I am learning that going through something doesn't mean necessarily that the devil is messing with you- God just might be up to something. Have you been craving more of His presence in your life? Hold on, chances are there is a breaking coming.
Pastor Ricardo recently shared insight into a scripture that immediately connected with my spirit. In Matthew 14:16-21, Jesus told the disciples to feed the crowd. He first blessed the bread and then He BROKE the bread. There was a breaking before the sending, before the miracle. We like to live in the blessing, it is not so fun to be broken.
I want to encourage you today if you are broken or you are in the process of breaking. There is hope. There is supernatural Superglue! He will put you back together again in a miraculous way if you will let Him. This season you are going through has a purpose. It is so you (and I) will be changed into His image.
I want to be real- it is not an easy thing to go through and all hell may come against you because the enemy knows that the Kingdom is advancing when there is brokenness. You may be tempted to crawl into bed and stay there. You may hear the enemy whispering things- your life is over, your marriage is over,your children's future is ruined, you'll never..., your best days are over.
Now it is time to party- when you hear those lies- RECOGNIZE the enemy and start whirling the Word back...
No weapon formed against my family will prosper. I know you have plans for us and I pray that each one is fulfilled. I will be thankful in all things. Shake those things from me that are not of You! You know how I should act and think Lord- reign in my mind. I know you are there. I know you will never leave me. I know you will rescue me. I pray you are glorified. I praise you Lord!You are the source of my joy! Isaiah 54:17. Jeremiah 29:11, Hebrews12:27, 1Thessalonians 5:18, Job 12:13,Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 107:28-29
Please surround yourself with Jonathan friends that don't feed into your carnal fears.
I recommend fasting and prayer during this season. Remember fasting is all about getting closer to God- aligning our will, with His perfect will and living in His presence.
Leaving Georgia was hard- arriving to NJ was harder. I don't know why we are here in NJ- but we are and I have two choices. I can be depressed and concentrate on the dozen or so low end hotels and two major highways that are right across the street from our home here in NJ, while I reflect about our church I miss so much, our friends I miss so much, and remember the cows, goats and rolling hills that surrounded us in GA,
or
I can think about the opportunities God has for us here.
I have to be intentional.
God shares with us in Psalm 51 that He wants our thanks- He has mine. He wants His promises fulfilled in our lives. Whew- we are on the same page! And then He adds, I want you to call me in your times of trouble so I can rescue you and you can give me glory!
Call on Him.
I want to share one personal story that gives Him glory. We have survived two job losses this year- TWO. We have been blessed during this past year in ways I cannot even describe. The entire family has definitely grown closer to Jesus- no doubt! We, despite two job loses have paid off debt and my husband has a new, used car that is paid for. God has been intentional to place some solid Christian friends in our lives. He has strengthened relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ, despite miles that may separate us. Blessings, blessings, blessings.
Then, at the end of the 2008, we were hit with news of an appraisal for our house in GA that was $77,000 dollars less than we paid for it. Our builder in GA had apparently gone under during our relocation process. This would result in a balance of $27,000 owed to the bank if we accepted the buy out from the relocation company. We were told that there was little hope that anything else could be done. We also had to come up with another house payment, in addition to the rent in NJ(which by the way is much higher than our house payment in GA), until everyone involved figured out what to do. We are living in different times my friends- but that is another post, another day. This was the second month we were making a rent payment and a house payment. As you can imagine- things didn't look good. Were we literally facing fore closer or bankruptcy- what is this going to do to the girls future???
But I was reminded- our God is still in the miracle business. He is supernatural. I called my prayer partner mom and along with her faith filled prayers, I literally cried out to Him last Tuesday night- more like a scream- Jesus, I know you are there- I know you have plans for us and I pray that they are fulfilled. Help us- we are at the end of our rope- we need you! I have faith that you will fix this. I thanked Him and then my family and I went to an amusement park- right down the street(yes, we are surrounded by hotels, discount liquor stores, a toll station, bus stop, gas station, truck stop and an amusement park!!!) We had a wonderful evening. I did not let the enemy trick me.
I will tell you that prayer was answered last night in a way that only could be God. Didn't come in the form of a family gift...or a lottery ticket. He is our lottery ticket! He has taken care of our financial needs concerning the rent and the house payment duo! He is an on time God.
Make sure you call on Him. Glory is coming!
