As The Spirit Leads

This is more to myself than anybody else. I am just feeling inspired. I once loved opening up and asking God to inspire me to write. I dont know how I fell out of it but I just did and I think it was either a season to step away; and we all have those...or it was when I started to take over in my own power. So, I cant promise much but I am going to try to blog again...as the spirit leads. It is a good exercise to not say anything I am not feeling led to say and to not say anything that is clearly "in the flesh" but to just ask God daily what He wants to say to me or through me. So here is to a new year and a new beginning and an effort to let go and let God. I have a feeling this can translate into many areas of my life and prove to be a tremendous opportunity to go up higher...God Bless All His Children.

Happy new year! I can not believe how fast this year has gone by. So much has change from just one year ago. There is something special about this year. There has been so much change. Not only for me but for many. I believe it is just the beginning of Greater things. I believe this is a year that God is going to be seen in the lives of many people in mighty and powerful ways. This is a year of multiplication and a year of restoration...not just to the way things were but far better then we could have ever hoped for them to be. I want my eyes wide open and focused on God. So here is to a new year, a new season, a new beginning, a new time. My God bless you all beyond what you ever could have hoped or imagined.

More then you can imagine

So much to say...where to start. Well...God in all his mercy has once again amazed me with his love and faithfulness. His blessing upon this family far exceeds anything I could have even thought to hope for. To share my testimony in a nutshell...Sept 29, 2008 My husband lost his job. He was just one of many in the housing industry feeling the pinch of the downed market. We at the time were in the process of buying our first home. Needless to say that had to be dropped and hope was deferred once again. Seemingly a pattern in our lives. The house we were buying was to include some furniture so we gave away our sofa the day before we found out that we lost our job. I would have to say that though Hope deferred was becoming a familiar pattern in our lives so much had changed and we had grown so much in our spiritual walk that what had changed was our response to this unfortunate news. Gods sovereignty and his hand on our lives was so sure and undeniable that we simply praised Him. We literally turned up the worship music and danced and praised in our empty living room. Without getting into great detail a beautiful woman of the lord showed up at my door the same day with a very generous gift. it was extremely humbling to accept but I knew that the Lord was showing me that He was providing and that He would continue to do so...And He did. The out pouring of support was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen or experienced. I felt so loved and provided for during that time. What had historically been the worst three months of my life year after year was set up to follow in that same pattern but did not at all. This year was different and different has continued to be what has followed. Old patterns have been broken and a new season has followed. Hope deferred has ceased and great hope has been she abroad in our lives and promises of God have been delivered upon in impossible circumstances. We remained in the hands of the Lord and enjoyed His perfect provision through October November and December. Every need was met we had nothing to lack. January 1st Mark started his new job. We knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was the right job even though in the natural it didn't look like it paying half what he was making before. Even though I knew that God had taken care of us all of those months I struggled with the reality that He would continue to do so now that we had taken this job. I knew He would but my flesh struggled with it. Each month one way or another our lack was met with perfect provision. The enemy did have his hand at mixing things up at strategic moments. We had our greatest financial crisis during War Cry. Our churches power packed youth camp that we heavily invested intercession for the Holy spirit to move in power in the lives of this generation of harvesters. I was devastated at the mess that I had made of our checking account over a miscommunication. Though I felt responsible and undeserving The Lord had it completely covered and it was resolved within days.
Upon returning from camp I felt directed to start looking or a house. This made no sense in the natural because we had only been at our new job for 7 months, had no savings and now had a major snafoo on our checking account. I did and the path it led us, put an offer in and was accepted August 11th. Held our breath during the financing process and finally exhaled September 4th when we closed on the house! Less then a year after Mark lost his job and we lost our "first house" We are now home owners and so eternally grateful it worked out this way. We love this house and where it is located so much more then where we had chosen last year. What we had chosen was Gods will in our lives and to praise Him in and for all circumstances trusting He was in control and knowing His promises. We are not only delighted and amazed that under our circumstance God would bless us so in in such supernatural proportions we continue to reap the blessings as my husband got a promotion on the same day we closed on the house and started his new position November 1st with a significant pay raise and even greater potential. We were also blessed with all new flooring and a brand new kitchen in our new house making it more wonderful then I ever could have hope or imagined would ever be mine. I stood in my house with its 1974 carpet and was delighted it was ours and a friend said to me...Be prepared to be blessed beyond your expectations and was she ever right.
This marks a change in our lives...Hope deferred no more! No more stolen promises. Our lives have been transformed by the love of Christ and we know for whom we live. There is no me in the equation. Our lives are about Him and His kingdom. We are no longer about what we want but what He wants. I pray that as you grasp the reality that this life we lead is not meant to be led by us but by Him and as we give it over to Him and diligently seek Him our that He will be found by us in the most amazing and fulfilling ways. So take your eyes off your circumstance and set them upon the one who made you. He will never leave you or forsake you and He will always Love you more then you can imagine.

It has been quite some time since I have blogged. It seems that all of my efforts were going to direct ministry. For whatever reason today I feel strongly led to write again. I was thinking about all that has happened and I was thinking about how the Lord speaks in seasons. We have come from a season of provision to a season of thanks giving...and I am not talking turkey. The reality of joyfulness, praise and thanks to God for all things and in all things is something that I know God wants me to live in right now. It is not just something that I will visit for a season but something that will transform me and how I live, how I look at others and How I commune with my heavenly father. The way this message was first brought to me in a new and profound way was through the teaching of Ben Goodman last year. I recognized the truth of what he was saying and a seed was planted. It wasn't long after that we lost our only source of income due to the "economic downturn" I have talked about this in greater detail in the past but for today's purposes I wont go deeply into that but to say... we made a choice that God was in the midst of the circumstances and we had to Thank Him for all that was taking place. The way He provided for our every need over the following three months was nothing short of miraculous. It was the most difficult three months October, November and December. We should have been a wreck but we weren't and it was truly all God. That peace that passes understanding. We got a job finally at the end of December to start January first. It was for a fraction of what we were making before but it was for a Christian owned and operated company. To us that was priceless and we knew God was just as capable to meet our needs then ad He was before. If is funny to me how I struggled that somehow we were going to have to do it now. The reality is that nothing had changed we were still in Gods hands and we still needed to trust Him and know our needs would be met. In a time when the cost of living is going up and up and up. Our cost of living went down. We found a Lovely house to rent for far less then we were paying before. and near people that we love and are enjoying being near. Thank you Lord. Our auto insurance was dropped by almost $100 a month. There were so many ways that our costs went down that all I can say is "Thank you Lord". In thanking Him when things were difficult I can now thank Him that they are better. I know soon I will be thanking Him because they are Great!
Very sad news just came to some friends of ours. They were filled with great joy and hope and expectation to soon be adopting a baby. The birth mother gave birth and changed her mind. I said OK Lord this isn't even my tragedy and I am having a hard time finding praise for this situation. Even when it is hard He wants us to praise Him. The only way we can do this is by knowing Him. If you know Him you can trust Him. If you trust Him you can praise Him. So I said thank you Lord that you know each person involved here and you know what is best for them. You know how to work in this situation and You are the only one who can provide comfort and healing. Thank You that You want good things for Your children and You will not withhold any good thing. Suddenly I knew that there was a reason for this. even in the pain I knew and had terrific peace that God was in the middle of it all. Even what the enemy may have meant for bad God will work out for the good. Just believe. Praise Him who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we could ever hope for. This is true and good and worthy of our praise.

What have you done for Me lately?

Christ declares, "...without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). This word nothing means: completely, totally nothing. It truly means less than nothing. It is a life of joy when we come to the place where we understand that it must be the work of the Spirit to advance the Kingdom of God. (Bobby Conner)

I read this this morning and felt like for the first time it meant more to me then just...I cant do anything for the kingdom apart from The Lord. It means that and so much more. It speaks to me about the reality that I would not even be here to take a breath apart from the Lord.
How does one walk through life day after day without gratitude to the one who gave them breath?
It is kinda funny to me to sit back and smile as people totally deny the very one who created them and the ground they walk on. It is as unbelievable to me as someone saying to their mother and father...You have nothing to do with me being here. It was a fluke. a sonic boom in the womb!
Just like life is created over and over and over again if evolution were true there would be many Earths but there is not. Just the one created by God. We are Created in the image of God weather we choose to acknowledge it or not...but one day there are going to be a lot of people feeling really stupid. The problem I have with that scenario is that I get no joy out of the thought that They are going to be in that position and worse and I did not have a part in trying to get them to see the truth. More and more it appears that these are the end of the end times. More and more I cant be sidelined in furthering the Kingdom of God. A simple question of where do you go to church is an open door to start to share with someone the love of their creator.

I never thought of myself as one who would just strike up conversations about God with people but I am not sure I like how that will sound on judgment day. Imagine all the people you ever had the opportunity to speak to in any way big or small standing before God on judgment day.
I don't know but that really inspires me to get over myself. Who cares if I look like a "weird-o" this life is but a vapor! That means we don't have long to make an impact. We have people around us every day that need to know the Love of Christ.

Can faith save? Does your faith demand Action?

James 2: 14-26

14What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]?
15If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day,
16And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do?
17So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).
18But someone will say [to you then], You [say you] have faith, and I have [good] works. Now you show me your [alleged] faith apart from any [good] works [if you can], and I by [good] works [of obedience] will show you my faith.
19You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as [a]make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!
20Are you willing to be shown [proof], you foolish (unproductive, spiritually deficient) fellow, that faith apart from [good] works is inactive and ineffective and worthless?
21Was not our forefather Abraham [shown to be] justified (made acceptable to God) by [his] works when he brought to the altar as an offering his [own] son Isaac?(C)
22You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.
23And [so] the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed in (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on) God, and this was accounted to him as righteousness (as conformity to God's will in thought and deed), and he was called God's friend.(D)
24You see that a man is justified (pronounced righteous before God) through what he does and not alone through faith [through works of obedience as well as by what he believes].
25So also with Rahab the harlot--was she not shown to be justified (pronounced righteous before God) by [good] deeds when she took in the scouts (spies) and sent them away by a different route?(E)
26For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

Ok so this is a little weird to go about your daily devotional this way but...
I woke up this morning a 2:22 AM!
I came out and decided to wait on the Lord. Really I came out and cried out to the Lord. I have such a need to tuck in tight under his arm and feel that Love and protection.

I was led to this passage of scripture and was drawn to what happened when I read the first part (vs 14)...the question, with the Last (vs 26)...seemingly the answer.

14What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]? ...

26For as the human body apart from the spirit is lifeless, so faith apart from [its] works of obedience is also dead.

THE THINGS WE DO ARE A TESTIMONY TO OUR FAITH. We need to let the things we do be governed and guided by the Holy Spirit. Not by the world and not by the flesh. We do a lot of things because it is expected or because we feel like it. Those are not works. The things we do because the Holy Spirit prompted us to and we are being obedient no matter what...those are works. Turning your car around and helping someone even if you are really wanting to get home. Giving someone the five bucks in your pocket even when you were thinking of Starbucks on the way home. Those are works. In order to do these things we need to be willing and able to hear and obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. I'm not saying that everything that the Holy Spirit prompts you to do will be a sacrifice.(though it sure seems like it!) In our maturity and as our faith Grows it can become a joy!
You do hear from the Holy Spirit you just need to recognize that that is what it is and yield to it. The more you do it the more you start to recognize His voice. The more you recognize His voice and obey those promptings the more Growth and intimacy you will enjoy in you walk with the Father. This is not always easy but I believe it is the mark of a righteous man.


My question would be...Do I have a faithful testimony?
My answer came in... (ok silly, I know! 2:22 am!)
22You see that [his] faith was cooperating with his works, and [his] faith was completed and reached its supreme expression [when he implemented it] by [good] works.

What am I doing that is requiring me to cooperate in faith? The things that we do in faith may not look right to the rest of the world. I say that that doesn't matter but is it true? Am I able to stand apart and look like a fool because I am doing what I believe by faith? I have been very challenged in this area throughout my Christian walk and very much recently. Our current circumstances have us not necessarily following the logical path. We are by faith following what we believe the Lord is telling us to do. Try telling that to someone who cares about you but is not a believer. Try telling that to a believer who was not in on Gods plans! Do you think that God will tell you to do something and let all your brothers and sisters in Christ know that it is ok...It is His plan for your life? I'll tell you the answer is no! Wouldnt it be nice if the Lord would just forward that memo to everyone?
Think about that when you start to tell others what they could or should be doing, when you criticize their actions because they make no earthly sense. We arent here to make earthly sence.
Yes, we need to seek wise council, but ultamitly the Lord is your only true council. If the people you are seeking for guidance are not praying and seeking the Lord on your behalf and willing to hear the God thing and not the Good thing you may not be getting good council after all.

So...what I am walking away with is that...
Our faith must demand action and it is not just the "busying" ourselves around the church volunteering for everything under the sun. That is good but is it God?
The works that make us friends of God are those things that He directs us to do. I believe we will stand before Him one day and have to account for those things. I want to be sure to have a faithful walk no matter what. I want to be sure to help, not hinder others from doing the same. I am sure we will be given lots of opportunity to ponder these things.

Lord, I pray for a willing heart, a yielding spirit, for eyes to see and ears to hear. I want thy Kingdom to come and thy will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. I believe we have that opportunity if we are only willing and able to reach for it. Equip us, teach us, and guide our every step. Help me to not judge others by what they do or don't do. Let me see then as you do. Use me to guide others along on their journey of obedience and seeking your Kingdom on earth. I desire to be a friend of God. Your Word tells us that we were created in Christs image. Complete that work in us, transforming us into Christs image in all that we say and do. I thank you Abba Father for all your mercies in every form the come. I thank you for how you meet or needs and guide our steps. I long for you.
I pray that I will always say the things You want me to say and do the things You want me to do and go where You want me to go...and thats all.
Amen

Consider the time

Wow,
Time can get away from us cant it? I haven't been online to blog in a few weeks. Even as I ponder that thought I am reminded how precious every day is. We need to spend our time sewing into the Kingdom of God. I have such an urgency to complete the good work that the Father has begun in me. I am aware now more then ever that I have a calling to fulfill. I guess I am a late bloomer. I wish I could say that I was this sure and this focused and this passionate when I was younger. Coulda, shoulda, woulda, is a colossal waste of time. Now I intend to press forward like there is no tomorrow. How glorious to know that there is always a tomorrow. It is a matter of where and how we will be spending tomorrow. For the believer we will be in heaven, but, sadly for the ones who never knew Him, eternity will be in the Lake Of Fire. Sure makes you have an urgency to sew into the Kingdom doesn't it? If we could just look at every person and remember they too were made in the image of Christ. To offer them any less then we desire to receive would be offering Christ Himself less. What a challenge.
I am so thankful every day for the privilege of knowing Him. He truly is my Abba Father. All I want to do is to be pleasing to Him and fulfill the calling that He has on my life. As some were call to be prophets and some evangelists etc I want to seek out with all my heart the part that God has for me to play and to do it to His glory. When I stand in front of Him in the throne room I want to hear Well done...
Every day I desire to know...what do you have for me today Lord. Sewing in, sewing out whatever it is,I pray I can be faithful and obedient. I thank Him for His Grace and Mercies. I wish I could say I get it right most of the time but to say some of the time would be more accurate. I just keep aiming higher...keeping my eye on the prize. I pray that you are inspired to consider your calling and the time you spend investing into Kingdom things.
Here I am...send me.

So, now what?

I have had a lot of time to ponder the results of the election. Some condescending people make the comment that God is not republican. I realize that just because I believe that I voted the fathers heart does not mean that it was ever His intentions to give us what He told us to vote for. In stead of worrying that I somehow did not hear properly or I made a mistake I feel very strongly that I did as He wanted me to do. There is a reason for all this. I rejoice and thank God for all that He is doing.
It is a remarkable time in our nation to elect a Black president. I pray that he makes good choices and I pray that there is a unity like we have never known in this nation. I cant know what God is doing but I can rest in knowing that He is doing something. This is a real opportunity for us to do as the bible tells us and to pray for our elected leader. I have a sense that once in the White House and the weight of the world rests on Barack Obama's shoulders he will Cry out to the God of Heaven. That is my prayer. That the white house will be the Prayer House and we will have one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. It is a time for us to pray like never before for righteousness. To stand on our values in spite of what is going on around us.
It is a sad day when the majority of our country would vote against life. That is my hardest issue to come to terms with. Yes, there are other pressing issues but the sanctity of life is above all else, certainly above the all mighty dollar. People have made money their Idol... God will deal with that.
I long for the coming of the Lord. It is my desire to see a spotless bride waiting for the bride groom. I cant just keep my eyes on myself. Yes, I need to be a wise virgin and prepare the oil in my lamp. It would be wrong for me to neglect myself in the preparations. I just feel so strongly a call to encourage my sisters to prepare the oil in their lamp as well. This is a time to be looking outward.. in order to do that we need to take the time to look to God and allow The Holy Spirit to do His work in each of us. There is no question that the time is near. How do we want to be found on that day? It's a good thought to ponder.
I admitedly have a difficult time remembering that life goes on outside the four walls of my home. It is my prayer that that no longer be the case. So...I ask for eyes to see and ears to hear and a heart that cries Abba father. Here I am...send me.

For better or for worse

Wow...what we take for granted...
My husband and I were asked to council a couple. We gladly sat down with them and listened as they shared their heart. We love them so much and want to see them come to a place of oneness in the Lord that I guess we take for granted.
My husband and I have always shared a mutual love for Christ and we have always eagerly prayed together. We have easily agreed that what we desired above all things is to seek Gods will for our lives. We have enjoyed the oneness and peace in knowing that where the Lord guides He provides and that He alone is the opener and the closer of doors in our life. Being mutually submitted to each other and to Christ we walk in complete confidence that we cant go wrong. We are surrendered to Gods will for our lives so when something does not go as we wanted we can stand together and praise God for closing a door, we never blame one another. When one of us wants something but the other does not, we yield till we are brought to a place of peace in the Lord. We have never found ourselves standing alone on any occasion. I have certainly given in to a decision he made without really wanting to but never when I felt a strong witness in my spirit that it wasn't the Lord. I guess being able to discern when it is the flesh not wanting to submit and when it is the spirit not giving you rest is a huge hurtle. It comes from Love, trust, open communication, praying together and being submitted to each other and to Christ. I know the each other part raises a few eyebrows. But when you study the scripture it really is a beautiful thing. A woman is to submit to her husband which is a joy when the husband is loving his wife as Christ loves the church. How much did Christ love the church? Enough to lay down His life for her. I reason to say that if you are treating your wife in such a way that you probably care enough to be concerned with her feelings and concerns and opinions. When that kind of mutual respect is in a relationship the "s" word is really a beautiful thing.
I have to say...we have gotten to such a place with our relationship that I actually respect when my husband looks at me and says "I hear what you are saying but I have to insist on this". I can throw my hands up and say "ok then...I thank God if you are right and if you are not...it's your bad"
It is so easy and it actually happens so rarely. 99% of the time we can agree or let it go. Early in our marriage I remember begging him to just put his foot down. I would respect that so much more then pandering to me and letting me call the shots. That responsibility was never meant to be mine.
There truly is a safety in surrender to the one who God gave you. Just as we desire to surrender to God. As husband and wife we are supposed to be FOR each other as Christ is for us. If you feel like that is not the case I pray that you will start to pray about what steps you can take to come into that place of oneness.

Father, I thank You for my husband and the beautiful relationship we have. I thank You for the opportunity to minister to our friends and in turn be reminded how blessed we are. Lord, if it is your will that we should be an example to others in our marriage I am asking for an extra measure of protection around our relationship. No weapon formed against us shall prosper. In Jesus' name, Amen

Get up and get dressed!

Are we clothed in righteousness?
I for one am well aware of how easy it is to get caught up in the "hub bub" of the daily grind. It is so easy to give more thought to the bad attitude of the check out girl at Wal-Mart then to the attitude we are wearing.
I kinda have a little thing I do now when I realize I'm going that way. I stand up and point my finger down directly over my head till someone asks what I'm doing. Then I declare that I am pointing to the axis on which the whole world revolves! Eeiks! Try as I might I do forget that life is going on outside my little nucleus.
That little gal in the Wal-Mart check out line might have benefited from a word of compassion or encouragement. It is a matter of what glasses we put on in the morning. Are we looking at the world through our eyes or did we put on our spiritual glasses this morning? How can we be effective for the Kingdom if we cant see past our own face? Focusing in is a great tool of the enemy. If he can keep us preoccupied with our own woes we wont ever be useful in directing others to the Love of Christ.
God cares about every detail of your life. He has it all covered so we can rest it there and know that we can make ourselves available to the needs of others. How cool is that. No worries. It is so awesome to be able to be useful in ministering to others while God has complete control of the circumstances in your life.
This is how I am purposing to get through this time in our families season of transition. I have let go and am allowing God to realign us on the path He is laying before us and focusing out instead of in, it sure feels great and let me tell ya...The Blessings that are flowing forth are nothing short of miraculous.
Thank you Lord for the peace to rest in your capable hands. I desire nothing more then to be your servant. Here I am send me.

The storehouse

From provision to abundance...
For those who don't know what has been going on in our family. My husband was recently laid off from his job. It is not a good time to be working in the housing industry. Having a large family of eight we have always lived "hand to mouth" so to speak. Gods provision has been nothing short of miraculous the entire 18 years of marriage. To even begin to tell the stories of needs met over the years would be to long for this blog. What strikes me now is how totally undeserving we are, yet the Lord continues to pour out His mercies new every morning.
There has been many moments of fresh understanding in our walk with the Lord and recently we had a very interesting reaction to our lack. We have given more easily and freely without a second thought since we have lost our job then we did when we had a regular pay check. Before we always looked at what we knew was coming in and what we knew had to go out and we allowed that to control our giving. We left no room for the Lord to move in our finances. Yet whenever we had one of those crisis where we needed in abundance above what we knew to expect God would work in our lives and send perfect provision. We were not freely giving yet we did freely receive perfect provision. Now...without a paycheck and with things stacked up against us God in all His grace and mercy has freed our hearts from that fear of finances and we have fervently given of everything we have received and we are more amazed then ever at the abundance that is flowing from the Love of the Father. I find it so interesting that when you realize all that you have isn't yours anyway but a gift from God you can freely show your gratefulness by giving back to Him from your abundance instead of from your lack. I stand amazed at what He is doing in our lives. Yes, there are some pretty daunting circumstances looming before us. We choose to not set our eyes upon those things but to keep our mind stayed upon the Lord. Our hope and our confidence is in Him alone.

Isaiah 26:3-4

Isaiah 26:3 (Amplified Bible)

3You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You.

It is a choice we all can make...to keep our mind stayed on the Lord.

4So trust in the Lord (commit yourself to Him, lean on Him, hope confidently in Him) forever; for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].

I have said many times myself "it's hard to trust in the Lord" Now I wonder why?

It is only because of unbelief that one would say that they Cant trust in the Lord...But why is it hard?

I believe I have come to a place where it is easy to trust in the Lord... it is hard to trust my ability to hear and properly do as He is leading. So, now it is a matter of growing in my relationship with Him that I may have more confidance in my ability to accuratly hear and obey.

The only way that will happen is by abiding in Him, soaking in His word and in prayer. Surrounding myself with wise council and filling myself with the things of the Lord. The less there is of the world and myself the more time and room there is to be filled with Him.

Something to think about...

You Count! You Are God's Favorite Child!

This thought hit me with a great force this past week. The enemy would like you to believe that you are insignificant. That your vote doesn't count. What difference will it really make? One little vote from you. Your prayers don't count. Who are you anyway? You think that your pitiful little prayer is going to change the world...save a life...move mountains!
Sisters let me tell you what lies these are and I stand against these lies and firmly rebuke that false voice in your ear. You are important and your vote counts and your prayers are heard! You may tell yourself God is sovereign what difference will my prayer make...He will do what He will do. The Bible is full of Scripture telling us to pray. Why would God tell us to pray and even how to pray if it was not for a reason? All your prayers are heard and they all go on your Heavenly account. You are showing the Father you heart, your faithfulness, your love for Him and your love for the world that He loves. This is what he wants to see in us.
I am not trying to guilt you into being a prayer warrior. There are people who have a calling on their life to pray like no other. I respect that gift. What a special heart they have. My point in saying this is just to let you know that you are being robbed if you believe that your prayers are not powerful, important and significant. They are! Consider each word spoken in prayer...each word spoken of the father, a deposit into your heavenly account. A treasure they surly will be.
I see how this same thinking is keeping people from voting in this very important election. God cares about who you choose to put into the highest office of this most powerful country. Do not believe that He has already chosen and your vote doesn't count. You are showing your desire to hear what God is putting on your heart and taking part in telling God you hear Him and you are His servant...His obedient servant. He wants to see an obedient people. A people who cares about the people of this world. To not vote is to simply think you do not have a voice. You have a voice. Use it. It may be a vote for president of the united states of America but the results will affect the World. I would recommend praying for God to put before you the things that He wants to influence your vote and to protect you from the things that the enemy wants to use to distract you with.
Believe you matter. Believe you are heard. Know that there IS Power in your Prayers. Know that you are not without a voice. You can simply use your voice to make your vote or you can choose to reach farther and share this with your friends. Make Kingdom choices every day, in everything you do. You have to understand that you matter.

You are Gods Favorite Child!

keeping our eyes and ears tuned into the Father

It has been a busy week. Mark has not found a new job yet but Gods provision has been great! Mark led worship at church this Sunday while our wonderful worship leader was on vacation. He did great! I believe that no matter what mistakes he may have made his love and heart of worship for the Lord is so anointed that it doesn't even matter. The average person would never even notice if a mistake was made.
We were talking about how deep his worship comes from and pondering if that ever fades for someone whose job is to lead worship every week. I think that would be high on the list of prayer concerns for any in the ministry. Knowing my husband that is not necessarily an issue but it's when you don't think that it's your problem that it can sneak in the back door.
Any way...it was a great growing experience and his heart is to serve the Lord in any capacity he is called.
As far as life in "Kentner Land"...
Mark wrote 5 adorable children's stories...he wants me to illustrate them...I'm thinkin that is a little bit out of my skill level.
Our hearts are totally ok with not getting our house. (thank you Lord)
We are taking each day as it comes and some are easier then others but we are feeling the insulation of prayers. We get our eyes on the world every now and then but are so quick to run back to the Folds Of His Robe as my dear Deb says.
I guess that is where I feel led to blog right now.

Oh how quickly we judge and become opinionated concerning other peoples lives. I am constantly reminding myself that I don't know the heart of the Father concerning other peoples affairs nor do they know of mine. Well meaning friends and Family are so quick to tell us to do this or that. And to question why we are or aren't doing this or that. I think my answer is that we are praying and we are doing what we feel the Holy Spirit is directing us to do. It is simply that I don't feel like I have it in me to have to justify every decision we are making and why. Not to say that if someone we respected as wise and welcome spiritual council were to come to us that we wouldn't gladly share and seek from them whatever they felt the Lord would have them impart to us. It is just amazing to me that everyone has an opinion and they expect you to head what they have to say. I guess in saying all that what I have learned is to not be so quick to give advice unsolicited not to judge people so quickly and to show understanding and compassion. I will go to someone if after I pray and I feel strongly the Lord is impressing on me to go. Being Spirit led in every aspect of our lives is the way we need to be. Now some would think that that is a bit over the top but I say it is what we should all strive for. We are to be transformed into the image of Christ. He did as the Father did. I wish I could say that I was able to do that all the time. Many times I realize that a situation came up and it never crossed my mind to give it to the Lord. That is my goal though and slowly but surly we are making progress.
I pray all of you are considering Him in all you do too. Even the small stuff. Some would say ...what are you a mindless puppet? but I say that would make me wholly surrendered and submitted to the Father. What about you?