Gloves are off...

Things may get a little crazy around here. The proverbial gloves are coming off. I have for a long time wanted to use this blog as a form of ministry and to serve God’s people. I have decided the best way to do this is being raw and honest. We all face many of the same struggles, pains, and fears. Most of the time we wallow around in it to proud to ask for help. To embarrassed to acknowledge our struggles and sin. You will not find that here! We are going to operate under a James 5:16 mentality. We will struggle together to find God’s truth and use the Word as our sword (Hebrews 4:12).

I no longer wish to stand idly by watching the enemy kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10). So I will share myself with you. I pray and believe He is going to find a way to use me to bless those who visit. I will not hold back any more though, there is too much at stake.

Some of the topics I would like to talk about might not be the most comfortable topics. Some embarrassing. Some painful. Rest assured of this… I will always do my best to be lead of God. I will always be gentle and walk in love.

With that being said…

House Rule 1: Author is fallible and flawed just like you. Confirm everything said here by the Holy Spirit and your own study of the word. If something I say doesn’t line up, go with God.

House Rule 2: We do not make a doctrine out of one. God’s Word is good, amazing, and it confirms itself. If we are going to call something a rock we will have multiple scriptures to back it up. We WILL NOT take a single scripture and twist it to fit our need! We will not make the Word say something it does not! This is the job of satan and we will not participate. NON NEGOTIABLE!

I am feeling in a way like this is a fresh launch. I am going to try and post more frequently. I have held back a little up to this point. There are personal reasons that at some point you will catch on to or will bluntly be shared.

With that, let me introduce myself… and my Husband…

Sidewalk Prophets – The Words I Would Say

This is such a great song. Amazing lyrics! I have also always been a sucker for live performances.

In the second of these two videos, the Fireproof montage, I especially like the final scene where the husband (Cameron) is leading the wife (Bethea) to the cross (Christ)! The symbolism is so simple, yet so beautiful and powerful. (As she hesitates at the end and he gently takes her hand and prompts her to take that last step, even with him.) I have to admit it gets me choked up a bit. I probably could / should do an entire post on that scene alone.

This is so funny...  you will never guess what time I am posting this...  That's right...  3:00AM!  No joke.  Not even planed.  Just looked at the clock...  I love God's sense of humor!  :)  Good night beloveds.

Jill Briscoe - Finding God in the Delays of Life

I'm stuck on this timing thing lately. Here is a great message from Jill Briscoe. I hope it blesses you too. :)

Click Here To Hear The Message

The Power of Your Name - Lincoln Brewster

So it’s 1 AM and I just heard this song for the first time on the way home tonight after spending time with a friend in need. I instantly fell in love with it.

The lyrics are so powerful. Verse 3, verse 4, and the chorus in particular are the cry of my heart…

"Surely life wasn't made to regret

And the lost were not made to forget

Surely faith without action is dead
Let Your Kingdom come
Lord break this heart"

"Jesus Your name
Is a shelter for the hurting
and Your name
Is a refuge for the weak

Only Your name

Can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
Holds everything I need"

"And I will live
To carry Your compassion
To love a world that's broken
To be Your hands and feet
And I will give
With the life that I've been given
And go beyond religion
To see the world be changed

By the power of Your name

The power of Your name..."

I would like to go on about what they mean to me, beyond the bluntly obvious, but it’s late and I’m struggling to find the words at the moment. So I will just leave it at this and believe He will be able to use it to touch your heart in some special way like He has used it to touch mine.

Father, thank you for forgiveness, grace, mercy, and your perfect timing. You have our hearts. We love you!

God's perfect timing...

Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD. ~ Psalm 27:14 (KJV)

Beloveds I will be completely honest with you…  I need work when it comes to patiently waiting on God’s perfect timing.  I don’t know why.  As I look back over my life God has never failed me.  Some of the most horrific and painful times have proven to be doorways to exponential growth, prosperity, and blessing. 

As I write this it makes me smile a bit.  I envision myself, when it is all said and done, at the feet of God going “Oh, that’s what you had planned the whole time!  I get it!  How perfect!  How beautiful!”.

The hindsight is always 20/20, right.  My point is this, as I look back over the life that I have lived thus far, I see how everything has indeed worked for my good.  (Romans 8:28)  He has NEVER let me down!  Why do I still struggle to release and trust Him?  Why do I still fight to find joy in the present?...  He has proven to me time and again it will all work out in the end. 

He reminded me of all this today…  I’m moving.  I’ve moved many times in my life but this time is extremely painful for a handful of reasons.  As I was packing and going through things I came across a gift I was given many years ago. 

The gift is a framed picture.  At the center top is my name in beautiful block letters.  In the upper left hand corner is the picture of a green caterpillar, upside-down, on a leaf.  The center of the picture is a panoramic shot of bright green leafy foliage.  On the right hand side of these leaves rests a gorgeous monarch butterfly.  Across the bottom, ““Behold, I will do something new…” Isaiah 43:19”.

Instantly I looked up the full verse…

18Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:18-19 (KJV)

As I read it two things struck me.  The first was a sense of God’s provision and protection in a time of change, difficulty and need.  The second was a sense of letting the "old man" pass away.  I can’t tell you how much I needed to hear both.

Then I looked it up in the amplified…

18Do not [earnestly] remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.

19Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. ~ Isaiah 43:18-19 (AMP)

WOW…  Do you see the difference?...  “will you not give heed to it?”!  Now the amplified is what the amplified is and everyone has an opinion.  And on this matter the NASB and ESV are in agreement with the KJV and do not include that piece.  I needed to hear it though.  It is not enough to see that God is in control.  It’s not even enough to admit that God is in control.  We must actively and consciously submit ourselves to His control.  No fear or worrying.  No murmuring.  Just trusting in Him. 

Basic? Yes.  Profound? Absolutely.  Difficult?  Don’t even get me started!  J

I believe it’s when we get to this point we are able to be like Paul and find contentment no matter what our circumstances.  (Philippians 4:11)

Here I am going through all this change in my life and God reaches out from over half a decade ago and says… “Don’t worry, I have you.”.  He had it planned the whole time.  He knew at this moment I needed that message.  HIS timing is always impeccable.  He used an amazing and obedient Christian woman to get this gift to me, even though at the time I had no idea the significance.  When it was first given to me I thought it was nice, but it didn’t touch my soul.  It got put in a closet and forgotten about with a bunch of other things my wife and I never got on our walls.  Now, when I read it again years later, it stirs me to tears.  How much He loves me.  How much I can trust Him and His timing.  So can you!

Israel Under Fire by John Ankerberg & Jimmy DeYoung

Get Book On Amazon

This is an amazing book... Things everyone needs to know about the threats Israel currently faces, end time preparations, and Biblical prophecy. Packed with facts and scripture for those who like details. :) Powerful interviews with leaders like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu!  Great read!