Have you ever received bad news? I think we all have, it seems to be one of those things that is just part of life, something’s are just inedible. As I’ve matured in the Lord I’ve learned that it’s so important to pay attention to ourselves and how we receive not so good news, in other words how we react and how it makes us feel. We’re humans with feelings I think God understands that, so it’s not bad to feel a negative feeling, it’s how long you linger in that feeling and how you get out of it. For me, when I used to hear bad news I would just sink into the floor, whether small or big it was just something I couldn’t bare, I was raised to just let emotions fly and do whatever they wanted even to the point of letting them take over my entire being.
Now, I don’t live in that fear, the fear of the unknown, of not having control, of not having the solution, I live in a place of peace, a place where when trials arise I don’t sink into the floor, instead I arise as well, and My Creator with me. It’s so important to examine ourselves and take time to reflect on those times when our faith shrinks just a little and how to be able to make it rise above it all, the only way is through His word. Read and re-read if you must all the promises He has made and remember how faithful He is, how much He loves you and He will never forsake you. Trials will come that’s for sure, we have an enemy that never tires of inflicting pain, BUT we have an amazing God who stands before us, behinds us and all around us. Praise God. So, now take time, reflect on where you live, In panic of the uncertainty or peace in God’s will.
Father God, I come to you and just surrender all that fear that makes my mind race into thoughts that are against what you have proclaimed for me. I ask for your forgiveness if there is something that I am missing because I am too busy to get into your word. Lord I ask that you guide me and give me wisdom so that I may live in your peace when trials come. Lord I trust you, I love you and I always want to be in your will. In Jesus name Amen.
It’s been such a long weekend for me, I just wanted to share a testimony, this happened Saturday and Sunday. I was flying back home from Oregon Saturday night, so many little things happened that night that getting to the airport almost seemed like slow motion, not to mention once I arrived at the airport trying to find someone to help me to trying to get them to speak words I understood, 😆 it was a mess, finally getting through security was incredible that’s when I knew that I wasn’t going home that night. Then, when I tried to get help to getting another flight, I was scolded by the manager for being late, which I wasn’t really, but the point is he kept accusing me of something that wasn’t true, I tried explaining to him once and very rudely making a scene, rolling his eyes he wouldn’t stop saying it was my fault and not the airline, to which I felt so confused about because I had not once mentioned blamed to anyone, all I wanted was to get another flight. I was too exhausted and physically in pain to deal with this person who was not being reasonable, I immediately felt like I needed a pause, so I put my stuff down, I took a breath, and I said a quick prayer, Lord, I don’t know what’s happening, I had it all worked out and I’m not sure what to do or say to this person, please help me, I just need a flight home and some peace. The man looks at me and says, I can get you on another flight but first thing tomorrow morning no charge, just be here. Finally! Yes, I said, okay I got it. He gave my ticket I called my brother he came to pick me up, when I told my brother what happened he was more upset than I, on the way back home to my brother’s place, I thanked God and I blessed that person and I thanked him specifically for whatever it was that he had saved me from that night. The next morning, I was so exhausted from the night before and now I was two hours waiting for the plane to board, but still giving thanks to God because his plans are better. The person boarding the plane let’s me go first and as he hands me my ticket to board the plane he says, “I upgraded you to first class”, I almost cried on the plane, I was so exhausted that I couldn’t even defend myself from the airport person the night before, and so exhausted from waiting that morning, and all I could do was trust God. From then on, I could have not been helped more by the nicest people on the plane and once I arrived home. It was his love and faithfulness that took care of me in those times when I couldn’t do it myself. He knows the plans that he has for me, I trust him specially in those places where you are blindsided and winded. My obedience to let God fight for my justice, instead of me trying to interfere and find my own is what activated my faith in him to be able to step into my life and take control. Let God take control of your life for a while, trust him blindly, He won’t disappoint. Let him remind you and show you, that you are a child of the Most High God and that you most certain belong in First class.
Lord higher than you is none. There is none more faithful and loving. Please forgive me for allowing others or my surroundings tell me who I am, when your word clearly states that I am yours. Help me in those times when I can’t help myself. Give .w strength and courage when I have none. Help me to see what you see in me and help me embrace the blessing you have bestowed upon me. Lord I trust you. In Jesus name Amen.
Did the title throw you off a little? Well, let me elaborate. Many years ago before I was saved, I had a sort of spiritual awakening for a lack of a better term. I knew about God but I didn’t like religion and so I called myself spiritual. Yes, spiritual, what does that even mean? Now it seems a bit silly when I think about it. I guess, what I was trying to say was that I didn’t like religion, I didn’t want to be labeled a Christian, I didn’t want to follow anyone’s specific rules or guidelines to get closer to God. More specifically, I knew what some Christian based churches taught, which was baptism, fasting, praying, reading the bible and being part of a community, most of those things I mentioned I wasn’t willing to do, nor compromise about it. I literally prayed to God and said, I won’t get baptized and I won’t be part of a community where I have to serve or talk to anyone ( immature me), of course that only seemed to pull me farther apart from my purpose. Forward to present time, I’ve been baptized twice (once in the actual Jordan river) and have found an amazing community of people in my church that have welcome me in a way that I can’t explain with words but know in my heart was God sent. In my ” spiritual awakening” I had a long list of the things I didn’t want to do to get closer to God or to have peace in my heart and life, I had to many limitations and restrictions for God, all those things were walls that I had built myself to protect myself from the what if’s in my head, what if God isn’t real, what if the people at church hurt me, or lie to me, what if I’m not worthy or what If I open up and become vulnerable and I get taken advantage in my weakness. With all those walls, all those restrictions, all those conditions, getting closer to God and finding my purpose in this world was never going to work. So, I got lost in many religions, reading books, finding temples, yoga, magic, buddhism, healing myself affirmations, books on how to help myself find peace and all sorts of other stuff that only worked temporarily and when it went away left me feeling even worse. Where am I going with this, you can read all the self help books, all the autobiographies, you can do all the yoga and breathing exercises you want, WITHOUT GOD, IT WONT WORK! By no means am I saying reading self help books are bad, what I am saying (because it happened to me) is that the only way to start truly healing is to let your walls down, ask God to show you the truth. If Jesus is the your foundation, if God isnt number one in your life, and If you still have many conditions, you will never be truly happy. This life doesn’t work without God. Think about it, is there an area of your life where you just can’t seem to have peace in? Is there a wall? A condition you’re putting God? I know you want peace, I know you want to feel loved, appreciated, valued, noticed, I know you want to succeed, be fruitful, be blessed to be a blessing, I know you want to find your purpose, but I’m afraid it just won’t work without God. In my personal journey to findings who in was, I found that I can never walk this life again without my creator. I encourage you to let those walls fall and to just let God guide you into His will, let us pray.
My most amazing creator, my loving Father in heaven, I come to you, scared of the unknown, afraid of what you might reveal to me, afraid of getting hurt, afraid that I am not worthy, afraid that I don’t have enough faith, overwhelmed by this place I’m in because no matter how much I try to control or manipulate those things around me it just doesn’t bring peace. I am lost, I am drowning in a sea of hopelessness and I know that I am stubborn and I ask for forgiveness, I can’t do this alone anymore, I know that anything in my life will not work if you’re not involved. So, I’m inviting you into my life, into my heart, that you may search me and find within me not only that unwillingness to give my life completely to you but anything else that is keeping me from fulfilling my true purpose in your will and cast it out so that I may be delivered into your wonderful freedom and love. I am yours, and I know that without you, it just won’t work. In Jesus name Amen.
I believe the verse Matthew 26:26-29 is an example of how Jesus was trying to show them how to be united and even though a couple verses before this one Jesus mentions that someone will betray Him, yet, He still goes forward and has supper with them as they all come together as one by eating the bread and drinking the wine. To me, it just shows that Jesus was telling us in the midst of uncertainty and in a time where there was fear of what the future was to bring, we are to come United breaking bread as we face our trials together, praying and taking part of communion. The word communion is defined as sharing with each other intimate thoughts with one another meaning that we are to come to one another in our most very distressful and times of need to pray for one another and encourage one another, but we must take the step to reach out and even in that feeling of shame or shyness or whatever holds you back, we must overcome to have a true chance of being obedient to God. Is there anything that is holding you back from having this communion? Surrender it to Jesus right now.
Lord, King of Kings! I come to you right now feeling inadequate, feeling shame, guilt, feeling embarrassed and shy, and I surrender all these feelings to you so, that I may be able to move forward into communion not only with you but with my brothers and sisters in Christ, that may be able to boldly stand and ask for prayer when I need it, boldly declare your promises that you’ve given me and rest in your peace that surpasses all understanding. I surrender so that I can be lifted higher and closer to you. In your name I pray Amen.
We all need Holy reminders, for me it was one of those weeks where the Holy Spirit just continued to remind me of who I am in Christ. Sometimes were expecting a new verse or a new word from God but what we really need is a simple reminder of the things we already know but have forgotten in the midst of uncertainty. My reminder came in the form of a piece I had written before. To me a reminder but maybe for you a new word.
My most precious daughter, I see you and I am well pleased. You are the apple of my eye. My most valuable creation indeed. I have hidden treasures inside your being that will be brought to life in my presence. How I delight in the worship of your heart and the way you lift me with your praises. I have an invitation for you on this day that you may leave behind that which brings grief into the heart that I have given you. That you may step forth with me into the calling I prepared for you that others may follow your lead and be able to know me as well and that you may be transformed into royalty as I have meant for you to be my delegate in all things Holy. Let me dry those sorrowful tears that often fall into the palms of my hands and let me turn them into tears of joy and victory. Won’t you come near and hold my hand that I may never let you go and forever live in my grace. All that causes you pain is not in vain and know that it will always come and go but today if you hold me near you will never be alone.
Now, go and testify.
John 1:12
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.
Esther 4:14
Perhaps this is the moment for which you were created.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts revere to Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.
When the doctors told me that fibromyalgia was the culprit behind the pain I had in my body, I felt so confused about the promises God had for me and what I was going through as they were contradicting themselves. The pain would only get worse as time passed to the point where I used a cane and also got shots in my heels for pain which were as painful and would only last about a week. I could barely walk and I was at times in full depression. What didn’t help was that there was a person who was always reminding me of all the things I couldn’t do and wouldn’t be able to do, it was fraustrating but I kept reminding myself that God can snap his fingers and make me whole whenever it was His will. Deep down I knew He would one day, three years later here I am, no cane, no pain. It took a lot of faith and what kept me from feeling disappointed and discouraged and ultimately disabled was that I knew the God I served, I knew His promises and where to find them, I knew that He had plans for me. Even in the times where I found myself depressed and so lost I called on Jesus. I didn’t know why or when it would get better, all I knew was that God said it would, but before it did there were things I had to do. One, completely trust in God no matter what I was seeing, hearing or feeling. Two, I had to read his promises over and over. Three, I had to bless those who contradicted anything that God had already affirmed. No matter what you’re going through, I am here to tell you that God is faithful and His will be done in His time and it’ll be worth it! Keep your eyes on Jesus and keep moving forward, when resistance comes it just means you’re closer to the miracle!
My Faithful Wonderful Father, thank you for always being there for me when I need you. Thank you for taking care of me and never letting go. Thank you in advance for the healing that you bring my heart and my body as well as my Soul and mind. Lord thank you for showing me patience and faith in you is worth more than anything on this earth. I give it all to you Lord, In Jesus name Amen.
Jonah 1:17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah 2:1-9 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’ ”
Ephesians.3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us
James 4:10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
I can’t even fathom sometimes how truly great God is and how willing and for us He continues to faithfully be towards us even in the times when we reject Him. I was thinking about how some of us use so much energy to run the opposite way of God, when it’s so much easier to just flow in His grace. Makes me wonder what Jonah was thinking or feeling that would make him so bitter towards God. I wonder if he prayed and didn’t like God’s respond, or if the responsibility of being a prophet was too much, or if he had a loss and couldn’t find the why, maybe he was just simply tired. One thing was clear though, He didn’t like that God showed mercy towards his enemies (makes me wonder if Jonah ever thought why them and not me). Whatever was going on his heart was definitely affecting his relationship with God, yet God went after him trying to show Jonah the forgiveness He brings to us even when we don’t deserve it. Three days and three nights Jonah was in the whales belly and I wonder if he was in the whale that long because it took him that long to make that bold prayer (even though it wasn’t ideal, leave that for another time). Surrending is never easy, I know I’ve surrendered even when I still felt like I was treated unfairly, like a bratty child with a parent. Nevertheless, like Jonah, I know the God who created me, created the seas and the dry land, a merciful, forgiving, a true Savior of my life, therefore, I knew that surrendering and humbling myself was the way to go. I want to ask you something. How long will you stay in the belly of the whale? How long will you sulk? How long will it take for you to surrender? How many times will God have to show you how much He loves you? Oh! Our God is ever so willing. Willing to say yes to whatever we ask in agreement with His will. I tell you, whatever that “thing” is that stands between you and God, bring it to the throne, lay it down, surrender it, bitterness, disappointment, sadness, loss, anger, jealousy, betrayal, hate, arrogance, pride, whatever it is, I urge you not to waste anymore time and let God start healing your heart from all that overtakes it and brings you to a place of uncertainty and bitterness. Don’t let pride rob you of what already belongs to you. God wants to show you His great mercy and grace, shower you with love and favor. Make that prayer, surrender.
Father God, I came boldly to surrender all that I’m feeling and it isn’t all good and positive but I know that you are the only one that can change a heart. I don’t want to run from you anymore, I don’t want to have bitterness in my heart, I surrender my ego, my pride, my all to you who knows me like no one else and who loves me unconditionally, you who forgives without condemnation. I accept your word, your love, your forgiveness, your grace. Thank you for showing me mercy and most of all for allowing me to surrender over and over. Holy Spirit be my guide in the Lord’s path, shine the light in the way I should go that I may never be lost. Thank you Abba. In Jesus name Amen.
“But God made the earth by his power, and he preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding, he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens roar with rain. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses.”
Luke 1:35
“The angel replied,” The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So, the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. “
Romans 15:13
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Psalms 139:7-10
Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
Jonah 1:1-3
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.
When you finally stop saying no, I can’t, what if, but, and maybe to God. This sentence came thru my mind right after I agreed to lead bible study next week. It brought tears of Joy to linger in this thought because of all the running away from God I did for half my life, truthfully, all it brought was more sadness, depression, confusion, anger, hatred, loneliness and unhappiness to my life. Everything I did was for the wrong reason (knowingly and unknowingly) and all I attracted was drama, chaos and while it brought that into my life it also brought so much uncertainty about everything my little brain could think of. I was so exhausted from running that it lead me to drugs and alcohol, it took me to make some very dangerous choices with the life that God had given me, and it was all roads leading to death for me. When I was too tired to even contemplate how I could just end it all, I stopped running, I dropped on my knees and I cried, I wailed, I painfully groaned, I had no words, all I did was to let my whole entire body just cry. I couldn’t tell you how many days this lasted but it was more than a couple, where all I did was pray in the darkness if my room and I fasted and prayed. What I was asking God to show me had to be supernatural and it had to be big because I couldn’t be here on this earth any longer, I asked Him to show me His glory, to make me feel like I was really set aside and made for His purpose, and He did. I begged and begged the Holy Spirit to bring down the cleansing fire on me, my change had to be radical, I had no time left in me, and He did. I was so broken in this world and I kept letting it break me, then I asked Jesus to reveal Himself and to show me His love, and I saw in my mind, Jesus sitting on His throne and His arms were opened towards a little girl who was about 7 and it was me, I ran to Him, to the safety of His loving arms and loved me, He does. I was desperate there’s was nothing but God showing up or me leaving this earth but I knew that if I wanted Him to show up I had to show Him how badly I needed Him to come into my life. I did it the radical way, the reckless, the abnormal, the outrageous, the most extreme way I could think of calling on Jesus because really dying on the cross for me was just all of those things and more, I was ready to show Him too that if I had another chance at life I’d live it in the light. Stop running from God, Stop running to toxic relationships, toxic love, toxic habits, toxic dependencies, toxic ideas, toxic thoughts, toxic emotions, toxic expectations, toxic Idols, toxic friendships, stop running to a toxic life that will only bring sorrow, resentment, anger, anxiety and hopelessness. Jesus is waiting and His arms are wide open for you. The only thing you have to lose is the darkness.
Abba, my wonderful loving Abba. My heart rejoices and skips a beat at the thought of your unconditional love and forgiveness, faithful you are yesterday today and forever. Here I am, make me the light that shines thru the depth of darkness and brings life to that which has none. Lord, make me yours and guide my life in the direction of eternity. I want to be radical, reckless, outrageous, bold in this world for your Glory. In your love to show others the same amazing grace and compassion you had for me that I may have for those who need it. Break me, search me, refine me, let my hands hold the fire of your Spirit. Those who prayed this prayer now, Lord, show them, reveal yourself to them who you are, amaze them. Let the fire fall on them right now. In Jesus name Amen.
Flowing In God's Grace 