Thursday, March 31, 2016

A prayerful warning from Jesus - Day #5



Prayers for a marriage this evening.  An unyoked marriage.  A marriage where one is seeking Christ and the other is not.  The other is serving a god of their own.




Matthew 21.44  ESV

"And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him."  


Last night at church, Pastors was preaching and teaching from the Book of Daniel.  
Last night as he  wrapped it up  - he referenced  a verse in Chapter  21 of Matthew.  

  THAT verse  had me thinking all day. 


I am paraphrasing the verse....   the one... the person who falls on the 'stone' will be broken into pieces.     Jesus was speaking about us.  Those of us that fall, submit and give out lives to the 'stone' - who is Jesus will be broken.  We will be broken and rebuilt by HIM.   We must be broke -- understanding we are sinners, understanding and praising God for going to that Cross. 

The 2nd part of the verse says ...and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.   Jesus is referencing the story of a dream back in the Book of Daniel.  Where the ROCK represents the 4th kingdom....  what is coming....   

Jesus is warning those who don't believe.  Jesus is warning those that don't declare Him as Lord.  Jesus clearly states..that they will be crushed.  Period.  

So, as I said, this VERSE has had me thinking all day.  


Lord, for those wives this evening that are faithfully attending church and seeking You in every area of their lives and yet, their husbands don't pay attention.  
Lord, for those wives this evening that are faithfully attending church and seeking You in every area of their lives and yet, their husbands don't see to want to seek you.  

Lord, for those wives this evening that are faithfully attending church, serving in the body, being your hands and feet and seeking you in every area and yet....their husbands have other gods.  

...a god of golf...
...a god of TV...

...a god of working out 
...a god of sexual sins
...a god of apathy
...a god of depression
...a god of business
...a god of....   


Lord, their faithfulness is admirable.  However Lord, I pray for these women to begin a BOLD firestorm of prayers for their men, and that their men would see YOU shine through them  - so boldly and beautifully Lord that they will WANT what she has.

Lord, for those that need a good KICK in the pants...  allow the crud to open their eyes, and protect her in the fallout.  

Lord,  may they see that if they don't fall for YOU ...they will be CRUSHED...but before it is too late...before their wives have become so hard within their hearts.  

Lord, I pray they will wait on You but I also pray that if they must SEEK something new, SEEK a life change - whatever is needed...Lord, that they would have the courage to DO The HARD for the sake of the good.  

Lord, for the institution of marriage this evening - as it certainly seems as of that BIG dream in Chapter 2 of Daniel is coming into fruition -- Lord, I pray their eyes will open and not be left behind.  
 
Thank you Lord,  Thank you for the simple reminder -- that YOU have to be the only God we have.  
That we Love you Lord, with all of a our heart and heads...  and love nothing and no other one above you - including our husbands.  

Lord, I trust you will bring clarity to them -- 
Lord, I trust that YOU will see their husbands come to full repentance before it is too late. 
Amen


To those husbands.... may I ask, "Where are you going if anything should happen to you?  Heaven or Hell? "   If you don't know the answer...ask YOUR wife to pray over you --   



PS.  I have seen several UNYOKED marriages become ONE accord before HIM. 
Don't give up - hang in there -- do what God has asked you to do.  
Allow HIM to guide you!  

Day 4 - Prayers for Marriages! God are you really listening to me?

To WHOM it may concern:

I wrote this blog back near Christmas time.  Holy Spirit drew me to it this am and it refreshed me and stated exactly WHAT I wanted to blog about.  There is a wife that is VERY tired.  She is praying for clarity and direction.  How LONG do you wait on a man?   Well...THAT is what we are praying for clarity on -- ONLY God can tell her that.  

Is she safe?  Pretty much.  Can she trust him with the kids?   He has not been trustworthy.
Is he being faithful?   It pretty much looks like someone or something else is his god.
So...??

So...only God can release you from a relationship -- if THAT is HIS will.
Only God can speak to her heart and give her that peace.
Only God can tell you to change the locks or do whatever.....and HE can.  HE has not forgotten you.

Sometimes it does take the 'hard' to move into the good.  As sad and hurtful as it is....WE can't be their Holy Spirit.  WE can't DO it for them.  

But we can have faith, that GOD is going to MOVE the mountain....or MOVE us.

So with that -- I am reposting  this blog from December.     My prayer is that it helps that precious women of God  to know -- HE has not forgotten her.  HE will give her clarity through prayer, His Word, and perhaps another as to WHAT HE wants her to do....for now...... 

And, HE listens. 

 Lord, I am humbled that YOU love us this much -- You know my heart Lord --USE these words for YOUR glory - IN JESUS name...AMEN. 

***********

I found myself asking that very question of HIM a few days back.

Now, if you read this or know me -- you may be asking yourself, "really Chell?  Can the enemy still get to you?" 

I know the Lord has asked me to give Him time.  I believe I know HIS purpose for my life and I believe I am in a time and place where I am 'equipped' to do it - but ONLY because of HIM.  He has given me dreams and visions and a passion to help women  be set free -- to truly experience the LIFE that God intended them to have.

 I can get VERY excited and I am passionate about hearing that 'atta girl' when I finally meet Jesus. 

But, "Yes!"...... if I allow my thoughts to ponder and think about something .....without allowing God's Word to be the promise to which I run too -- the enemy can whisper so quickly to me and I doubt.

The enemy can also use another  -- this person got  mad at me and began  to 'verbally vomit' and then a word is spoken and all of a sudden,  you can find yourself questioning.  Especially if the person hits you  LOW, below the belt,  and tells you -- "You USE God like a crutch".  I think sometimes the ones that really believe they are speaking with a godly intent --  can hurt the worst.  But, I have to remember that hurting people, hurt people.

I read the book of James over and over for 2 days.   Making sure -- that WHAT God has me doing -- is HIS will and not mine.   And with that --  I prayed: 

 "Lord, if you really WANT me to continue speaking life into women and praying with them, encouraging them to believe in the impossible....then I need some reinforcements, I need to be WOW'd and reminded that YOU are pleased with me".  

I am being transparent -- perception is not reality at times.  I believe that even the strongest of people, need God as much as a new believer!  


"Go. As you have believed, let it be done for you." Matthew 8.13

God was so gracious and gave me not one but a total of 4 - FOUR - confirmations  -- and this blog is not about me going on about how sweet God is to me -- but to remind You, the reader, that HE will do the same for you.


Today, my Pastor reminded me --that many of us don't live within the freedom that God intended for us.  No where in the bible, does  it say that "its OK" is what God wants for us.  "OK" is not HIS best.  In a study he mentioned,  90% of  the people surveyed ( that were Christians)  claimed  they were  only 'surviving'...and not 'thriving'.   So therefore only 10% are thriving.

  Again, that "OK" seemed OK for 90% of those surveyed.     I declared I wanted MORE than OK.   I declared myself as a part of the 10%.

I believe I am in the 10%.  I am thriving -- excited and believing that Jesus is not an imaginary friend of mine -- HE is God!   And, when I needed the re -assurance from God -- HE gave it to me - 4x over!    HE will do that for YOU as well!   Just ask. 

We want God to be able to do wonders and yet...many times our prayers are so wishy washy.  I am determined and I know, that prayers do work and the more bold and specific I am -- the more HE answers.

Matthew 9.29  "Let it be done for you according to your faith".

John 20. 27  "Stop doubting and believe."

Even the prayer in my 'needy moment'...."Lord, am I really doing what you want me to do?"...... HE answers.  ( Read the book of Titus)  


Matthew 8.13 says:  "Go, As you have believed, let it be done for you".

This is an excerpt from Audacious by Beth Moore:
  •   Let's let go of Jesus as our imaginary friend.  let's exercise a fiery faith fed by the facts of Scripture and approach the genuine HIM - God;  He's not the conjured-up answer to our need for a crutch. HE is God.  
  • The One who can change everything.
  • The One who can do anything.
  • The One who is closer to us than our lungs to our ribs, than our joints to our ligaments, than our bones, to our muscles, that our muscles to our skin, than our eyes to our lids.
  • This is God in our immediate midst, ever present, ever able, ever active and no less willing that He's ever been.  
  • God who is completely acquainted with the roots of all our fears and reasons for all our tears even when we ourselves have no idea why we are crying.
  • God, who can impart wisdom to us beyond our years and our experiences just because we asked.  ( James 1.5) 
  • God, who can infuse us with supernatural stamina to climb over insurmountable obstacles and use our very voices to move mountains from here to there.  
  • God, who can gift us beyond any conceivable explanation and accomplish works through us with ramifications that will outlast time.  
  • This is God who can make us feel what we don't.

I read that chapter earlier last week and again the next day and the next and tonight after I reflected upon the Preacher's message today , I read it again.  I WANT that in a painting or a BIG wall poster -- as a reminder -- and I want to read and reread it every day!
 The Preacher today -- he was in Joshua.  Chapter 22 - verse 43 --

The LORD gave Israel all the land that HE swore to give to their fathers.   They took possession of it and lived in it.  The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He swore to their fathers .  Not a man among their enemies stood before them, and the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hands.  Not a single word of all the good things that the LORD had spoken to thei children of Israel failed.  They all came to pass. 

Amen...

So, will you be in the 90% or the 10%?

If you want to thrive....  and you have not been broken and poured out before HIM.  Do it...  seek counsel.    You may even need to be baptized.....

If you want to thrive.... 
then be obedient to WHAT God has asked you to do, change, or move.....maybe it is time to join a body of believers...or return to attending a church home instead of the church of your convenience....

( I just must add in there -- ask me sometime how the enemy got in between us and into our marriage -- one of the places was our busy -ness and our prideful belief that we could 'get enough' of God from the computer...a TV show...and our OWN worship service.) 

If you want to thrive....then pray that scripture prayer over your life...over your children....over your husband... over you.....


 The LORD gave Michelle all the land that HE swore to give her ancestors.  SHE took possession of it and LIVED in it.  ...... and all the good things.... They all came to pass!   .....  see what I am saying?  


Will you Thrive or survive in 2016?

I pray you know exactly WHAT to do --

Humbled -- Michelle


Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Marriage - Day #3 -- Prayers - it is NEVER too late.


The Vine and the Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit;apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.


God's word is what we need to take in daily.  
God's word is our communication with HIM.
God's word reveals.
God's word disciplines.
God' s word brings light to our darkness....

God's word must be something we CRAVE.  



Vs. 5 -- "remain in me"....

I have a loved one near me -- I saw how he did not remain in HIM.  
I have another loved one, that I diapered as a child, and loved so....and she has not remained in HIM.  

I had a husband that did not remain in Him.  It hurt to watch. 

You may have a husband that is not remaining in Him....


When I read the words REMAIN in me....  that tells me that I could possibly...'not' remain in HIM....


It is my choice.  
My doing.  

I know that I know, I am eternally secure and I know  - that NO one can pluck me out of my Father's hands -- but, I believe it is possible to WALK out of HIS hands....on my own ...with my own two feet...with my OWN actions.  


Verse 6 says it too -- if you remain....

I believe that MANY of relied too heavily on that ...'walk' down the aisle as a child.....and then --  just... lived.  

I believe that I have NO condemnation for those...who live with Jesus Christ... nothing can stop me from the love of my Heavenly Father -- I don't believe that HE ever 'hates' HIS children....it is not possible for God to hate - us as HE sees us through the blood of HIS Son.  


So, I am not worried, nor do I believe I must re-dedicate my life each night in any type of fear -- Salvation is my gift.  I have freely accepted it.  

I know my heaven is eternally secure.  

I just pray that the others -- the ones I have SEEN love Jesus and serve Jesus but have decided to walk away....I pray there is repentance...and I pray there is no unforgiveness...as eternity is a LONG time to regret...



Hell is a real place.  

 

  Lord, for one particular marriage this ever --- Lord, tonight, I have prayed already -- but I am praying again...asking YOU to intervene...begging you for this victory for my sister in Christ...I WANT to see MARRIAGE win...I want to see HOPE arise...

Lord,  
For the marriages that are around me and will read this - that whomever is reading
this will stop and think...it is NOT too late.  But specifically for those wives who are 
hurting because they have seen their man walk away from You -- perhaps even 
harden their hearts towards you.  Lord, their wives see and hear them grieve you -- and sin against You and it is painful to watch...  for those women this even Lord -
touch them in a mighty way - personally and we thank you  -
We thank you that You extend grace and mercy to wait on our own failings
but on theirs as well -- and we will believe tonight for one more day - a miracle
will happen tomorrow but if not tomorrow - then the next, as they are 
believing that no matter what - YOU are Lord and they will REMAIN in You.  
IN Jesus name...Amen. 

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Prayers for marriages - Day #2

Marriages are hard.  Many couples never have any problems until the marriage ceremony has taken place. 

A marriage can't survive without Christ.

 Well... I guess they can -- I have seen a few, but I don't see 'happy' that often. 

You can tell --can't you -- you see a couple out to eat and you can tell...

They communicate.  They speak to each other.    They smile. 

And yet.. are they really happy? 

I just know -- we FAKED it for a LONG time.  As  a child, I FAKED it often too -- whether you say you are putting on a mask, or you just say, " I'm fine"...   I think many FAKE more than truly live. 

Faith that remains unchallenged -- ordinarily remains unchanged. 

My Faith has changed.  I don't fake it anymore.  In fact, I have to be careful at times, cause when I am angry -- you can SEE it on my face.  When I am sad... you can FEEL it in my eyes...and when something is NOT right..I am at a loss for words.    Just am. 

....Maybe it is because I am 50 now... or maybe it is just because I am at a place where my reality is going to match my theology...  period. 

Anyway -- back to marriage -- and communication. 
If a husband and wife don't speak -- what happens? 

Well, if a husband and wife don't communicate with the Father --  what happens?  

So, tonight's prayer is for prayer...

LORD...that  the marriages around me would pray.  Together. 
 Lord, that the women fighting for their marriages would continue to fight on their knees and may their  prayers be bold and full of life.  

But honestly Lord, that the marriages around me would PRAY together.   I know HOW hard it is to accomplish this.  It seems that everything gets in the way of that time to just pray for each other.   So, Lord, those reading this tonight, maybe they stop and reflect about their prayer routine with their men.  May You speak to EACH of them and remind them to pray more... seek you more...or help them to see some creative ways to accomplish this task.  Lord, may this NOT be an area where Satan pulls them apart but where You are center and where You are glorified, In Jesus name, Amen. 

Youth ministers are always told to watch -- boys and girls should not pray together -- it is an intimate thing...

 Back to those couples that seem so happy -- do they pray together?
  THAT is hard to tell - and yet, maybe it is not. 

 Random thoughts -- my brain is tired this evening.    I know how important it is to pray for my man and I know he prays for me. 
 However, do my husband and I pray together?   Yes. 
Is it as much as I would like it to be ?   No. 

Do I feel comfortable  leading him to do it?  No.
Do I still lead every once in a blue moon?  Yes.
Does he tell me to pray?  Yes.
Does he try and 'hurry me up' at times?  Yes

When I initiate it, does he quickly pray with me?  Yes. 
Do I feel inadequate when I pray with him?  Sometimes.  

When we talk about it, do we both agree we need it more?  Yes. 
However -- it is still hard. 

But... one thing that does work for us -- is an emailed prayer -- words.  Even a text'd prayer speaks a lot.  So... there is HOPE! 

But the BEST solution we have found is praying together on road trips.  Now that we have an  empty nest, we will head to the coast for supper.  The ride over is usually talk about the day and music, but the ride home is usually prayer.  

We will do ABC prayers.  Each of us takes a letter and the creative juices flow.  For example,  
A -- Always,  Lord, thank you for always being there for us and meeting our needs.
B -- back,  Lord, we  pray for our backs...Lord, that each of us walks in your truth and when we do -- we know you WATCH our backs!  C -- Chelly....Lord, for Chell - Lord, protect her...   etc. etc.   As we pray together and the Holy Spirit leads, we get very creative and we laugh.  I think God laughs too. 

Our prayers may be awkward.  Our attempts may be feeble.  But since the power of prayer is in the ONE who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference. 

So, perhaps if you and your husband don't pray that often, together,  you may want to try one of these ideas...   just maybe and remember, the power of prayer is in the ONE who hears it! 

- humbled --
Michelle




Believing God -- an invitation!

This bible study started back in January at our Insurance office.  God's timing is perfect and our calendars are full...so the 10 weeks have stretched out and we will finish April 23rd....

We started with 27 women joining in a crowded room -- but it has gotten 'slim'... as we come to an end.

I was watching John Bevere and he stated something -- "the world cares about how we start...God does not care about how we start but how we finish"...

That really hit home.

Because of life and business... I myself, was unable to keep up with  my homework and  as I should be working on Week 9... I am at Day One of Week 7 -- but I am determined to finish well.

I looked and looked ALL over my storage and my cottage for my book -- my Believing God workbook from back in 2009 when I did this study the first time.  After 3 days of looking, I could hear  God whisper to me and say, "stop looking".....  this LAST Saturday when we watched Beth speak about living in His Promised Land... living in our Gilgal...

It was like REVELATION again -- THIS is why HE did not allow me to find the book....as I would of read and read within the pages about cycles of defeat ...instead of cycles of Victory in which I live now....


So why am I blogging this?

Because.

I asked several women to join me on this study and one stated..." I have already done that -- I don't need to do it again".    Girl.... yes you do! 

Fresh eyes.

I don't mean to share any condemnation and she reads my blog, but I have already gone to her and told her -- personally -- YES you do....

This study ... helps you to bring up your faith.   It requires you to do some memorizing that will change your life...

God is who He is.
God will do what He said He would do.
I am who God says I am.
I can do all things through Christ Jesus.
God's Word is alive and active in me..... I am believing God.


I am believing God to redeem  a family that has had a recent situation with child molestration.
I am believing God to restore a family to wholeness after sin was exposed.
I am believing God to walk with a mother and father as their entire family is walking through new waters and it appears that they all may drown....
I am believing God to restore a man's desire for HIM rather then his desire to feed his flesh.
I am believing God to redeem a man's heart and family after confessed sin.
I am believing God to open the eyes of two teenagers that have been living lies of sexual sin.
I am believing God to use the youth ministers of this community to follow up with the youth that were sold out to HIM at Younified.  
I am believing God to bust open within the community of Okeechobee .....and  the women filled with fresh faith will TAKE back what Satan has stolen.
I am believing God to mend a relationship so that a step mother will be looked upon as a woman of God rather than the enemy.
I am believing God to mend a marriage that Satan is trying to destroy because of the 'stuff' a blended family has to work through.
I am believing God to work a miracle in the heart of a husband who does not see, God gave him the BEST wife to pray and honor him as he walks through the ugly of his childhood.
This List is long... I have more but I am stopping here --


I am believing God to  help me finish Week 7 and 8's homework so that when we meet again in April on the 16th.... I will be able to receive WHAT HE wants to awaken in me -- again! 

I have done 5-6 Beth Moore studies since 1995.... I could never finish and keep up with them, until ....a LOVE for Him changed.   I changed.  Circumstances changed that made me want Him...but in those circumstances I realized that HE was pursuing me ...all along.    It wasn't about the others...it was about ME ..ME and God -- I will, alone, stand before Him one day and I will hear - "well done my faithful one".    THAT is my succinct LIFE Goal! 


If you have never done this study - find someone to do it with.
If you have done it before... I challenge you to pull out that book, skim read it and WATCH week 6, 7 AND 8  all over --

......I know that when I did the study back in 2009, I had unbelief. 
Forgive me Lord of my unbelief.

It still can creep back in -- however, I am believing that  the concepts and truths revealed in HIS Word through this 2nd look at this study - will STICK - more than ever.


There will be few blogs in this new light of God growth in my head!! 

I do challenge you --
If you are not doing a study at the moment - ask God if this is something You should dig into . 

There are many studies on line you can join. 

   I know what His answer will be --

"Child ...believe me".



Monday, March 28, 2016

Praying for Marriages within the body of Christ Day #1



Marriage is hard.

Marriage is one way God teaches us to be self-less -- but WHAT happens when it seems, that YOU alone seem to be fighting for the marriage ALL by yourself?

WHAT happens when, "he" or "she" does not care about Jesus or has a very GREASY GRACE attitude towards what is allowable and what is "OK" within a marriage......? 

What happens when one is ready to quit.... cause she is TIRED? 


Lord, I come to you as a humble servant and I seek YOUR guidance and provision to accomplish this 40 days of prayers  These are not the prayers I did before, recycled and updated...THESE are new...  fresh.. alive... and current.     These prayers are not intended for one or a few couples...but these prayers are coming from my head and heart because of what I am seeing around me.   

First of all -- I want to assure You Lord, this is not about my husband -- though he is not perfect and I pray for him to continue to grow in the knowledge of You and I pray he is protected from all evil....but this beginning,  these fresh 40 days of prayer,  this prayer tonight is with one person in mind...    maybe her husband has just given up and wants to die...maybe her soon to be ex is sitting in jail... maybe her husband choose to visit a strip club this evening instead of coming home....maybe her husband just told her she was too fat and undesirable...maybe her man told her - that he has NEVER loved her...maybe he just is not longer present in the marriage......

...pretty extreme circumstances ...and yet - the bottom line... THEY have been rejected...   So Lord, I pray that each of these wives -- would stop right now and pray to you -- and ask You to reveal to each of them...WHAT YOU want them to do - 

I bet it is to show grace and mercy  to their men...but  it maybe to wait a little longer...or it may be that You are comforting them and showing them that, they  must release the burden to YOU. 

   Lord, YOUR body is being attacked.  What YOU called a marriage to be, being one in YOU,  - is being attacked.   Yes, by the world, no doubt,  but unfortunately -- it is being attacked from within.     Right from within even the "christian households". 

 Lord, I pray for the wives that are trying to HOLD onto their marriages because YOU have not released them.  

  Lord, I pray for the wives that have done everything they could possible do - physically and mentally to be and do what their husband sees as a 'good wife' and yet -- it still seems that it is not good enough.  

    Lord I pray for the wives that sit at home, take care of all the kids, meet all the bills, and still smile while their men have been out  -- and they have NOT been to a prayer meeting!    

ENOUGH.      Lord, I want to SMACK a few -- LORD,  forgive me, as I am not their Holy Spirit, nor am I   you...YOU are fighting for each of those women and you   still  love  those men that are completely deceived.   Satan is the one -- responsible...right?   Lord, I bind him away from each and everyone's marriage  that reads this -- but I also pray and ask...  how many of these marriages are in a sin pattern or crisis, not because of Satan,  but because of their own poor choices??  You know Lord...  comfort the women that are holding onto the edge of your garment.  

Lord, today I will pray about our hearts.  Lord, I pray that  my heart does not become hard.  I pray my husband's heart does not become hard -- Lord, that we both SEEK you with every ounce of our being and that we SEEK the other as our 2nd love. 

 

Lord, for these women that are hurting -- comfort them.  I pray their hearts do not become hard.  Lord, I pray they won't believe the lie that you have forgotten them. 

 Lord, I pray that YOU are our first love.  Lord,  I ask that You reveal our hearts to us - show us what can trigger the enemy to come at us.  

God, you placed the stars -- You know exactly how many hairs are  on his head - on my head...Lord, you know exactly HOW this will play out -- God I pray right now that the one reading this, will believe that the hard heart can be healed...that the hard heart can feel LOVE like never before...that the hard heart won't be tempted to find solace in another. 

 

Lord, because these men are SEEKING something that ONLY YOU can give... these men are seeking something that will numb their pain -- instead of allowing You to cover their sin.  

 

Lord, I pray for each of those men, could they  see WHAT they have at home and realize....she is to be treasured and she is a part of them...as in marriage, we are each others half!!?? 

God I pray that the lonely heart would open up to YOU this eve, that he or she will pour  their loneliness to YOU and that they will allow you to fill it and then tomorrow, they will do the same and let it fill them tomorrow even more while they wait on You Lord. 

 Show them, teach them, or speak to them as to WHAT you want them to respond or do with their men...  Do they wait more?   Do they leave?   Do they ask him to leave?   How can this cycle of defeat begin to change?    I still believe You don't release our spouses but, I do believe that what we have to do in obedience to You -- may be very hard...may seem crazy... but also...You will provide the answers. 

 

Lord, for the wife - trusting you.  Lord, I pray that all of us would check our hearts - are you first?  

Lord, I believe you  can heal and restore  the ones reading this as they are thinking... IS SHE SPEAKING about me?   Lord, take these prayers and USE them to reach those wives that need hope and perhaps those men that need a eye opened!!    Lord, may she wait...just one more day...to seek professional help....or to just wait on filing for that divorce paper-- OH God - for the couples  around me, the ones within the body of believers that I worship with...and for the couples that read this and it becomes real to them.... 

 

Or Lord, if she must change the locks to have peace and safety within her home, provide the comfort to know she is in Your will.....  

   But again, God I pray the person, the wife or the  husband  reading this will dream this eve and meet you -- and believe when they awake that YOU can turn this around - In Jesus name, amen ! 


1 Peter 4.8
Above all, love each other deeply, because Love covers over a multitude of sins.

Psalm 119: 111-112
Your laws are my treasure: they are my heart's delight.  I am determined to keep your degrees to the very end.

Today can be the beginning of a new direction..a new life for your marriage -- God CAN heal and restore what the locusts have taken -- even after MANY years!



Sunday, March 27, 2016

Wake UP o Sleeper!!

  God is Who He says He is.  God can do What He said He can do.  I am Who God says I am.  I can do all things through Christ Jesus ---
God's Work is alive and active in me!   I believe God!    

Psalms 149.4  - The Lord delights in his people -- you -- he crowns the humble with victory. 
Ecclesiastes 7.9 - Control your temper; for anger labels you a fool.  
Galatians 5 The Message (MSG)
The Life of Freedom.Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.4-6 I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens.
When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. 

Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love. 
7-10 You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment.
 
13-15 It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows. For everything we know about God’s Word is summed up in a single sentence: Love others as you love yourself. That’s an act of true freedom. If you bite and ravage each other, watch out—in no time at all you will be annihilating each other, and where will your precious freedom be then? 
16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day.  

Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? 
19-21 It is obvious what kind of life develops out of trying to get your own way all the time: repetitive, loveless, cheap sex; a stinking accumulation of mental and emotional garbage; frenzied and joyless grabs for happiness; trinket gods; magic-show religion; paranoid loneliness; cutthroat competition; all-consuming-yet-never-satisfied wants; a brutal temper; an impotence to love or be loved; divided homes and divided lives; small-minded and lopsided pursuits; the vicious habit of depersonalizing everyone into a rival; uncontrolled and uncontrollable addictions; ugly parodies of community. I could go on.This isn’t the first time I have warned you, you know. If you use your freedom this way, you will not inherit God’s kingdom. 

22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.



True freedom -- being able to walk in freedom and know that you know God has you in HIS hands ---and no matter what -- HE will make things right.  
Prayerfully walking - rather than emotional walking in that freedom.  
Seeking help -- Seeking counsel.  Doing what HE has asked you to do.

Holy Spirit woke me up at 5:20 am.  This is not that abnormal -- and as I prayed and read, He gave me a the title of a blog and the illustrations --and by 7:00 I was like, OK  LORD, can I take a nap and I could hear Holy Spirit nudge me and I heard, "wake up oh sleeper".   So, I am blogging but not the blog HE gave me, I believe He has more to reveal to me on that one ....He brought me to a place, a journal from 2013 and wanted me to share something --
God intends for us to walk in a cycle of Victory - not defeat.  Period.  
Today is Easter Sunday where Christians around the word reflect and remember what Christ did for us over 2000 years ago, HE died for us -- on a Cross, so that the gates of hell would not prevail...and than all WHO call upon HIM would be saved.  Saved.   That indeed is necessary - to be saved from an eternity of hell, but not only salvation -- Jesus died that the captives would be FREE.  FREE to walk in liberty -- and have JOY.  

God does not intend for you to 'own' a scar for Him.  God does not intend for you to endure physical abuse and mental abuse for Him....God intends for you to walk with Him and be set free.  

I had a few circumstances and situations this week where God reminded me of His purpose for me in  THIS season of my life and He reminded me of WHAT He has asked me to do for Him.  I will obey.  I am obeying.    So, I believe He brought me back to this place for His purpose, as one reading this today -- needed hope....needs a present reminder ....that God wins!  

Let me take you to my journal......
I can only speak for myself,  the Lord allowed a major heartache to be revealed, I sat back and got angry and mad.  And I had a few ugly months where I destroyed physical things and if you were close - you got an earful.  I spewed to some that I NEVER should of opened up to.   But I was VERY careful not to spew it out on Face Book or to ALL...I choose a few close friends.   Somehow I just knew...if my marriage would be restored - there would be much I would have to correct ...and if we did not make it through...no matter what -- that man was the father to my children.  I was NOT going to stand before God and have God look at me and say, "Michelle, why did you NOT do what I asked?".  

That was the motivation for showing grace and mercy -- cause THAT is what God clearly had said to me.  

 God actually brought me a few new friends -- that knew NOTHING about me....and that was refreshing, as they always spoke life to me and about me...and about my present heartache and circumstance.    They were always positive and reminded me that God did not 'do' this, but God had allowed it for His purpose.  As you see...there can be a GREAT healing in a wounding! 
I sought godly counsel -- and I listened and DID what they suggested - prayerfully.  When I did not want to -- I called them to pray. 
I also sought professional help - and I listened to WHAT she stated to do -- we both did.  It was hard....it was NOT easy ...it took over a year of counsel.  

Insanity is doing the SAME stuff over and over -- in a marriage that has been broken...in a marriage that has suffered a loss and in a marriage where vows were broken.... you can't put a band-aid on it.  You can't say 'I am sorry, and you are forgiven' and expect it to remain perfect.  There is a sweet spirit there -- and the Lord will cover you -- but HE asks us to change.....  

One piece of advice or thought process our Therapist stated and we quote often -- "the sin, the situation is a symptom"  of other problems.  Drinking and taking some drugs or pills to 'numb' the pain is a symptom of other problems and add that to a marriage....ouch.  When there is a break in vows, there is most times -- other problems. 

When we prayerfully walk out our healing with counsel - godly and professional - and we take the time to MAKE the necessary changes of our own behavior -- I believe we can see  and I  have seen restoration.  

When we allow our emotions to do the healing and the counseling...I have seen changes...but changes that did not last.  Changes that hurt. 

Humbly seek counsel....be willing to come under authority of a Pastor /Counselor and follow their suggestions.  And if it is not working...go back to that Counselor and seek God and that person....many times... it takes some major surgery to fix a problem.....  there is a cost....  we think nothing of the cost to run to an emergency room to get help....why not RUN to a therapist that CAN be a new set of eyes.... and allow them to help - change the habits.  

The bottom line is -- I don't think some people WANT change. 
I don't believe that some WANT to do the HARD. 

People want QUICK fixes...  God can do that- but many times ...it takes time.  
HIS timing is perfect.  
You see after much counsel, time, prayer, and revelation from God's Word and from His people ..... the bottom line -- I was just as much of a sinner .....as the people I felt were responsible for my heart ache.  

God is the God of second chances...and God will heal a humbled heart...  HE crowns the humble.... but His word also says -- HE labels one that can't control their anger -- as a fool.  

God is just. 
God is love.....and God is good....but HE is just.  
Exodus 14.14 - says that HE will fight for you -- God will....we must let God fight our battles...

Love covers a multitude of sins... and we must always forgive.  
But we must also do the HARD.  
If the Lord, has released your from a relationship because of adultery...then let it be......
But if God has NOT released you -- DO what God says... You will stand before Him one day - and You will have to account for your actions...what will you say?  

If your husband continues on his path to destruction ....can he see a living and walking Jesus in you?   Does he see Your faith?   Or have you allowed your feelings to take over?  


May I ask, have you read God's word today?  
If a family member came to you today and revealed they feel so underly alone and rejectioned...  do you KNOW a  Savior that can 'fix' that --??   I do... 

May I ask, are you placing HIS word into your heart?   

May I ask, have you shared Jesus with another?   

May I ask, are you sleeping?   

Are you worshiping in a place where God has lead you?  Directed you?   ...... Or do you worship at the Roadside Assembly?     I only bring that up, as for almost 10 years.....  we worshiped soccer and volleyball...... we worshiped being able to 'take off' and just visit churches  ........and it lead to a disconnect.  I am not saying THAT was the entire problem -- satan got into our lives in many areas....it was a slow fade -- but a  slow death -- 

Praise God - for HE was constantly drawing us near - such a gentlemen, as my husband and I chat and think about our past 20+ years, we can see many GOD moments but we cycled back and forth from defeat to a 1/2 ass victory -- WHOOPS...did I get your attention with that word?  I do apologize ...  I meant NO disrespect to God.  He knows my heart.  We had victories and God was at work...but HE has SO MUCH MORE for us... and we just did not want to see it.... we were spiritually immature...  but basically -- we did not consult HIS Word...we did not consistently pray ...and we did not walk in faith.  We walked in our feelings.  


I praise God that we are at a point where we are experiencing HIS  joy...freedom, and I know that I know -- the rewards in heaven are going to be tremendous!   

Lord....use these words this eve...I pray YOU will be glorified.  
In Jesus name...amen.  
-  I am so Humbled...
 and Grateful...and expecting that today -- one  of you, reading this, will do the HARD and  not allow the emotional walking...but will be prayerful and seek help - real help and do the HARD.  

 Or  that one  of you, reading this, will finally HEAR the enemy's  lies -- and  you, reading this, will SEEK Him and get the help needed.  Maybe that means that you just contact a sister in Christ and ask for help and/or prayer.  

Or, maybe that means -- you will JOIN me at the prayer line today in Church -- 10:30 am......


Lord,  again, this blog is  Yours,  You know the desired of my heart, a desire YOU gave me - to speak life and encourage... I pray You smiled as I typed.  IN Jesus name, Amen.