If you are real religious or easily offended don’t read this one. I warned you.
Ok- if you are still reading now, make sure you follow it through until the end… there is His point.
I have a confession. I went to a movie when we were in Greenville…one of my favorite female actresses was in it. I went to ECU with her- and she and I were in dance classes together, although I knew her as Sandy- and of course- she was just a normal college person, doing normal college things.
Anyhow… I knew there was a questionable scene- but in my mind I rationalized (always, always, always a mistake) because I knew the questionable moment was an “accident”…and I had checked with SEVERAL folks that had seen it and there were no sex scenes or even murmuring of pre-marital sex. Ok I thought… I’ll go see it. It’s not an R rated movie…
Long story- but it gets even worse- I took my mother and my kids. Now if you know what movie I am talking about…
Nobody told me that there was a STRIPPER in this movie. Remember, we only watch Reba and Sid the Science Kid…
The male stripper comes into the picture and I am completely shocked, sweating, melting into my seat and bending Selah’s head down so her eyes don’t see this. I AM FREAKING OUT AT THIS POINT and Selah yells, of course during a quiet part… and if you know Selah, she knows how to yell, “Mommy, you are breaking my neck at all the evil parts.”
Oh great, now I am going to be arrested for exposing my child to pornography AND causing her bodily harm.
So with a sore neck and unbelievable conviction in my spirit- we left. Selah- mommy made a big mistake(Psalm 101:3). It just wasn’t good….
Oh my. Can I pray the blood of Jesus over this? Can I ask for forgiveness? Yes, yes I can. I sure learned a lesson here.
But onto the real stripping lesson… the real point…
Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
When I read that several years ago… this is what I heard the Lord say… Strip off everything that holds you back from My purpose.
So I put this verse in my kitchen in NC. I saw it every day for many years. I thought about it every day. I spoke it over my life every day.
God listened. Ok- He always listens…
Did I even know what I was praying???? Maybe not, but God did.
After the miracle of Selah Grace (we tried for nine years for our second miracle…another post all together), Gene, the leader of our family, shared that the Lord told him that I was going to stay at home now…This had been a dream of mine for years…
Strip- I didn’t know my desire would be painful. I left a job I loved, working daily with one of my best friends, teachers whom I had mentored, taught and truly cherished. And…the daily confirmation that I was worthy. Just being real…you don’t get that kind of feedback from a newborn and a soon to be tween at the time.
Lots more stripping there- no room in bank account for shopping sprees- big family vacations…
New job in Atlanta…strip…no longer comfortable, leaving my family, my friends, our amazing church, our dream home that we built and designed and moving into a house half the size…boy did we strip off some actual stuff just to fit into that house in Atlanta!
Whew- finally comfortable in Atlanta- wonderful church family- growing in Him- love the area- God knitted relationships with like-minded families. By now, I don’t even like shopping malls- but The Mall of GA is right in the neighborhood!
Position dissolved. Strip…Gas prices rise…strip…things are tight…this is not working…strip…this can only work if God steps in. BINGO.
Move to, where? New Jersey? Really? God, are You sure You know what You’re doing here- I mean- we are involved with a wonderful church- we are all growing in You…we’ve already been through this moving test thing. Skylar has a network here of God fearing cool kids… I don’t want to go, but I will choose to remember your faithfulness.
Literal shock. A two bedroom town home that rents for $400 more a month than our GA cottage, I mean house, payment. And we are living on a turnpike across from a toll station. People don’t smile around here and they don’t talk to you and I am freezing my tail off! We prayed about this Lord…we were seeking you Lord…where did we go wrong???
Strip, strip strip.
A few stripping lessons:
God is not interested in your comfort, he is interested in building your character. This sounds cliche- but I have lived it out.
The stuff in life is not important. At one point, this year, we almost moved into a camper(needed to get off the turnpike)- I am not exaggerating- my husband said- it has granite. I said honey, if I cared about granite, I wouldn’t be considering living in a camper!
God knows what He is doing and everything, everything is Father filtered. This life is but a moment…He has eternity in mind. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God is everywhere, even in New Jersey, which by the way, is becoming home- now that is a manifested miracle- and, there are nice folks up here!
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today, and forever. Hebrews 13: 8 When all hell is breaking lose around you, hold on to that.
If I hadn’t gone through major marriage problems…I wouldn’t know Him as the God of restoration.
If mom hadn’t gone through cancer and had a stroke…I wouldn’t know Him as healer.
If I hadn’t gone through secondary infertility for NINE years…I wouldn’t know Him as the God who heals me.
If we hadn’t moved…I wouldn’t know Him as the God who is with me, literally everywhere I go.
If I hadn’t gotten rid of my “stuff” mentality and Gene hadn’t lost his job, I wouldn’t know Him as my provider.
And finally, if God had not led us to make take a huge leap of faith, going from a two income family to a stay at home mom family, I would have never had the revelation of my position in Christ (Ephesians 2) and that my worth is all about Him (Galatians 1:10)... not to mention the daily blessings I am experiencing with my two princesses!
He really is all that and more. And if you hold on while things are breaking off…I promise, He offers living water, joy ... in the land of the living, and even better... into eternity!
I asked to be stripped…and when we, get down to nothin, He is still there…all powerful and mighty and He gets the glory cause there is no other explanation.
And living for His glory…I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s His point.
Psalm 27:13-14
13I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.
14Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
Showing posts with label Brokeness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brokeness. Show all posts
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Glory to Glory
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!
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!
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