He is Able

Worship was already taking place last night as I arrived late to bible study.  The atmosphere was thick as God was not only present, He was having His way.  I had to rush to put my stuff down as the Spirit had me drop to my knees in worship.  It was awesome!

One of the songs that was sang was one God had recently gave me a vision on, however this time He showed me something different.  Please bear with me as I try to relate what was shown as I know this was not just for me.

The words of the song that started this vision of God's conversation with me was, "You are able, more than able to carry me through."

I saw Jesus carrying a person.  The sky was dark as the storm was in full rage.  The clouds were as dark as they could be, filled with the anger as it was releasing its full wrath upon the earth.  Booming thunder was immediately followed by the cracks of lightning.  There was no chance to count one Mississippi, to see how far the storm was, as we were right in the middle of it.  The rain was coming down hard and fast.  The wind was having its say as it wailed and pushed against us.  The storm waters rose and Jesus kept going, walking through this storm as it raged on.  I felt as if the person in His arms knew that they were safe as peace enveloped them/me. It didn't matter that the waters were rising and that the lightning was inches away, peace was wrapping them in a comforting hug.

I kept hearing the lyrics, "He is able, more than able to carry me through."

God showed me that Jesus could have told the storm, "Peace, Be Still!" as He did in Mark 4:39.  He showed me that He was more than able to stop the storm, however He wanted me (or the person) to go through the storm knowing that Jesus was keeping them safe.  

This vision was more powerful to me than the famous "Footprints" poem that used to hang in my house.  This was more than just him carrying me through the bad times.  He wanted me to experience His Peace as the destructive storm was having its way with the earth.

He wanted to show me that there are different seasons in this life that will feel like nothing will survive or withstand the destructive force that is taking place.  He wanted to show that He not only carried the person through the storm, but that they had complete peace through it.

Think about that for a moment with me. 

He is able, MORE than ABLE to make the storms disappear.  However He WANTED to carry the person through it.  He wanted them to know that not only did they survive the storm they were at peace through the storm.  If they would have moved the slightest bit to the right or the left the lightning would have taken them out and yet they were in absolute peace.  

I have been in storms where the lightning hit the power pole across the street from where I was sitting watching nature take anger out on the world.   When that bolt hit that pole, it scared me and I ran inside.  That was too close for comfort for this girl.  So imagine how one would feel if the bolt was an inch from their head?!?!  Peace would not be what was felt!  

There are different storms that we will go through in this life.  Some more terrifying than others.  Some God will need us to walk through, taking the steps of faith to get to the other side.  However know that He will be right there holding our hand.  We are safe.  

This vision was specifically to show that, just as Jesus was at such peace that He was able to sleep on the boat during the storm, we can also have that peace.  We can rest in His arms in His perfect peace.

After all He is called the Prince of Peace!  

I want to leave you with this.  Know that He loves you, cares for you, He is not going to leave you or forsake you.  He is not mad at you, He is not punishing you.  He did not cause the troubles you are in or going through.   He does not want harm to come to you.  He is your Father.  As your Father He wants to take care of you, but also wants you to know that you can experience His peace as life carries on as it does.

Know that He is able, more than able to carry you through all you have to do is let Him.  

Until Next Time, God Bless!

What if I...

Last night we were challenge to play the "What if I" game.  You know where you ask yourself, "What if I..." and posed different scenarios for your life.  Getting out of your routine of same old, same old.  Changing something that you have always wanted to change or maybe even create.

What if Thomas Edison stopped at 2773 attempts to invent the light bulb?  He would not have found that attempt 2774 would work.  He didn't look at his failed attempts as failure.  He looked at it as, "2773 ways not to make a light bulb".

There are things in this life we want to do.  However it will take asking ourselves, "What if I..." and going for it.

I started writing these blog articles three years ago.  I knew I wanted to write and didn't know where to start.  I had been asked to read the daughter of my Facebook friend new blog and it inspired me to throw my writings into the blog ring.  It took me asking, "What if I started a blog?  Before I could let fear and doubt settle in, I jumped in with both feet.  

After I created the God Blog (as my daughter has lovingly named it), the enemy started in on me.  What if nobody reads it?  What if nobody likes what I write?  What if this, what if that?  

I went to God and He said, "What if you don't write?  What if you could have written something that helps one person get through their day?  What if you just keep doing what I ask and not worry about what others think?" 

He is so Good, isn't He?  I know that some of the things I have written are pretty bad, but that's okay.  Because I know that a few things have been pretty good as folks have sent me private messages telling me how they needed that word that day.  Not to mention that each time I write, I get better.  And when it is not a good article, I discovered what (or how) not to write!

Okay that was my what if I...from 2013.  Now let's talk about today.  As I was in prayer this morning, I was asking God about this "What if I" game challenge.  And boy did the ideas come flowing!

What if I...

• Ate better, or even ate less?  
• Exercised more, or even moved more?  
• Both of those...hmm I could lose more weight.  What a concept!
• Worked through the pain?
• Things might just get done.
• Talked to more people?
• Loved more?  Loved on more people?
• I could help more folks.  God could open so many different doors that I can't even begin to imagine!
• Prayed more?  
• Read/studied my Bible more?  
• Praised and worshiped more?
• Spent more time with Him?
• Closer to God, being in His presence...my prayer is that I want more of Him...hmm
• Wrote more?
• Sewed more?
• Mentored more?
• All my ministries would grow...
• Saved money?
• Well that one is a no brainer!!!

I want you to notice that when you ask God the "What if I's...", His responses are always positive.  God focuses on your future.  He focuses on the good.  

When you ask yourself the "What if I..." questions, the enemy is going to throw the doubt and fear at you.  When he does, you throw God's word back at him.

"Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!"  

"If God is for me, who can be against!"

"He that has begun a good work in me will be faithful to complete it!"

Build yourself up in the word and know that God wants to help you answer those "What if I's..." that you have.  Let Him help you achieve it!

Until Next Time, God Bless!!! 

Hiding the Brokenness

In our shower is a beautiful metal corner rack that holds all the shower products from shampoo to the exfoliating brush that is needed (or wanted) when I take my shower.  The rack does its job holding everything in place, keeping the shower beautifully organized like we paid for it to do.  However you have to be gentle with this rack.  It may look strong and beautiful, but when you touch it, you see that it is in fact rather flimsy.  One wrong move could take the shelf and all the products down with it.  Talk about looks can be deceiving!

In my prayer room that doubles as a guest room, there is a tall lingerie dresser that provides much needed extra storage.  In one particular drawer I keep items that don't have to be accessed very often as the drawer doesn't have the track to help it glide in and out of the unit with ease.  It takes being more than careful getting into the drawer without causing further damage.  The piece of furniture looks great but it is hiding the truth that one drawer is in want of much needed repair.

How many of us are like these things?  On the outside we look fine.  Maybe we are gorgeous and petite like some dream to be, but our personal life is a mess or we have inner turmoil that is a tornado that is brewing ready to destroy everything in its path.  Maybe we look strong but one false move and we will crumble to the floor in a heap!  Maybe, just maybe, we are moments away from our world being broken beyond repair.    

We let others see what we want them to see or even let them see what we think they want to see.  In this life there are circumstances that will test our character, our strength, and even our belief system.  

We hide that we are hurting so bad that we think that our hearts will break to pieces.  We hide that our strength is at the point that if one more thing is added we are going to collapse under the weight.  We hide the fact that we are not fine and need help or at least comforting.

As I was in prayer this morning the song "Wrap Me in Your Arms" came on.  I had to smile as the lyrics were expressing my prayer I was speaking to Him.

The lyrics were (are):

There is a God who loves me

Who wraps me in His arms

That is the place where I am changed

And that's where I belong

Take me to the place Lord

To that secret place where

I can be with You

You can make me like You

Wrap me in your arms

Wrap me in your arms

Wrap me in your arms

I was in my secret place that I go to be with God.  Calling out to Him wanting to BE WITH Him.  Knowing that is where I belong, with Him.  In His presence.  

As I was meditating on that song, I could picture the Lord holding me in His arms.  As He held me I was being renewed.  My strength was returning, my hurting heart was being repaired, and burdens were being lifted.  (Amen, Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus!)

As I heard the words, "You can make me like You" I remembered Genesis 1:26, Let us make mankind in our image...  We were made in the image of God.  God is our Father, He created us.  His DNA runs through us.  I had to get up and dance as it is true.  He loves me, He made me like Him and He wants to be with me as much (if not more) than I want to be with Him.

He is our Papa God, our Father.  When things aren't going they way that they should, why do we think that He doesn't love us or that He is mad at us?  Why do we think that He doesn't care about us or our problems?  Why do we think that He is the one that causes are of our pain and bad issues in life?

He doesn't.  He isn't the one that causes all of that.  The enemy is the one who steals, kills and destroys.  

We make the choice of who we are going to serve in this world, God or satan.  If you think you don't serve either one, you are wrong, the fence belongs to the devil.  

God wants to help us all.  He knows what brokenness we are hiding.  He wants to heal us of our pain, sickness and diseases.  If you are like my shower shelf or the dresser and you are in need of what you can't give yourself, please, I pray that you will go into your secret place and let God wrap you in His arms, making you like Him.  In His presence is where we all belong.

Until Next Time, God Bless!!!

Promises of God

There I was being asked, “What do you believe in?”  My answer was, “I believe in the promises of God.”  Then the question immediately came back to me, “I hear that response a lot, do you really know what the promises of God are?”

I may not know every single one that is in the Bible, but I know the promises that I have posted to my prayer wall that I remind God each morning.  I also have posted the promises that were sent to me personally.  

There are days that I have to stand on these promises just to make it through to the next.  Not only do I remind God about them, I remind myself of them.  If God said it, I believe it and that settles it.

As I was meditating with God this morning I felt compelled to list as many as I could before the sun came up…this is not the exhaustive list, just the tip of the iceberg.

For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  Galatians 3:26 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  1 John 4:4

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; Philippians 1:6

I can do all things through Christ who has strengthen me  Philippians 4:13

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”  Deuteronomy 31:6

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  John 14:27

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.   Psalm 50:15

Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.  John 8:36

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Matthew 6:31-33

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:1-2

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.  Malachi 3:10

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.  Jeremiah 17:14

This is as far as I got until the sun came up.  However I didn’t even scratch the surface of the promises that God has given to us.  Know that these promises weren’t just for the folks in the Bible 2000 plus years ago.  Once God says something it happens for eternity.  Isaiah 55:11 tells us that God’s word does not come back void.

In Numbers 29:13 the Bible tells us that God is not human so He cannot lie.  If God cannot lie, then I am going to stand on His promises that He will fulfill them.

What promises do you need for Him to fulfill?  What word from God to you need to get through the day or even this next year?  

God likes to be reminded of His word.  Not that He forgets but that you are letting Him (and satan) know that you believe Him to keep it.  Satan doesn’t want you even knowing the promises exist much less believing that God will stand by them.

Think about that for a moment…if you don’t think that God’s word is for you and that it will bring you out of what ever circumstances you happen to be in, satan wins.  He wants you to doubt God, he wants you to think that God doesn’t care about you and he wants you to think that your problems are bigger than God.

I want you to get mad at him, you tell him, “Not today satan, NOT TODAY!  I believe in my God, I believe in His promises and I believe He will fulfill them for ME!”

Know Who God Is.  Know who you are in Him.  Stand on His promises, He won’t let you down.

Hold on to all the promises with everything that you have.  They are priceless treasures worth holding onto.

Until Next Time, God Bless!

Who am I?

Last night I was challenged to answer to the question "Who am I?" I have been meditating on that question since I opened my eyes this morning.  

As I ran down the different hats I wear in this life, the list became rather long...

I am a wife, mother and grandmother.

I am a writer and a sewist.

I am a minister, an evangelist and a teacher.

I am a woman who cares for the poor and destitute and will fight for the underdogs.  

I am a lover of people, all people as all life matters!

I am a hard worker, a baby sitter, a professional paper pusher, a fact finder, mediator, and other items I get paid to do at my job.

However all of those things are things I do and doesn't answer the question of who I am.  I had already gone through all of this when I was having my identity crisis last year when I wrote my article "Identity".  

None of that answered Who AM I?

As I was laying there meditating on that question as a visual came to mind of a song in which God spoke to me in church one Sunday during worship.  The lyrics just had me picturing a person unraveling...and words and visuals just kept popping into my head without structure so bear with me as I try to explain what I saw and felt.

During the worship song there was a line that we sang, “You unravel me with a melody you surround me with Your song…”

I saw a person that was unraveling at the foot like a sweater…

Words of the song were just floating through my mind:

Bye Bye Fear
Love has called my name
No longer a slave to fear
You split the seas so I could walk right through it
Fears drowned me in perfect love

Words became sentences that became visual and were given life:

Unravel me, flesh me is unraveling for the spirit man to thrive.  Chains that had us bound can’t hold on to our spirit man.  Once the flesh man is unraveled, fear that is woven into our being is unraveled; all negativity can’t stay with nothing to hang on to.  The chains, the fears, (anything not of God) just slides off as we continue to be unravel.   

Unravel me, flesh me is unraveling for the spirit man to thrive.  The Holy Spirit covers me like a blanket with the song of songs – God’s perfect melody.

The covering of God starts with praise, from the heart of the spirit, God’s melody brings so much of the Father’s love that fear and negativity are drowned out with His love.  Love has called my name…Love called ME.  God is LOVE…GOD called ME.  God LOVES ME!  

I am a child of God...I AM A CHILD OF GOD!

Yes, I am a child of God.  That is my answer!  I am a child of God, first and foremost.  Everything else about me is a result of who I am, I am a child of God.  I know who I am!  

Without God I am nothing but what I do.  I want an ACTS CHAPTER 2 life.  Without God, life is just a life of acts.  Without God, Joela is nothing.  With God, Joela is whatever He made her to be.  

I know that I was created on purpose for a purpose.  The desires that are woven into my DNA were put there by my Creator.  

He designed me to have the passions that I have and to live out those passions to the fullest.  

He designed me to be who I am.  

He designed me to be His child and know that He is my Father that loves me.  That is what I was created for. 

I am not being arrogant.  What I have is more than confidence, it is GODfidence.  I know who I am.  I am His child and He is my Abba Father, my Daddy, my Papa God.  He is a Good, Good Father, it is who He is.  Isn't that AWESOME?!?!

Knowing who I am and knowing Whom I belong to helps me build that relationship with Him so that I can grow in Him.  As I grow in Him I learn to be obedient to what He asks of me.  The more I am obedient, I discover more of what He has destined for me.  

It is an ever growing process, that will continue over my life on this earth.  Our lives are ever evolving as we continue through this life with God.  

By being a child of God, all the rest falls into place.  Isn't that great?!?!  How easy is that?  Being who we are, starts by knowing who we belong to. 

We are children of God!  He loves us, even with all our faults, HE LOVES US.

As I end this, I pray that you know Who you belong to and that you walk in His love and obedience.   I pray that you grow in Him and His plan for your life.  It is a pretty great life knowing that God loves you and that YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD.

Until Next Time, God Bless!

Note:  Song referenced was by Bethel Music entitled, "No Longer Slaves".

Love and Majesty

From my writing desk the view out my window is inspiring and at times breathtaking.  This one particular morning I was looking with anticipation for the elk that pass behind our property near the abandoned pear orchard.  I was a little sad and yes, disappointed that they were not there.  Oh well I will keep looking for them as they are bound to show up.

My mind drifted and I remember that when we lived in Jacksonville, it was a common occurrence to have a doe and her fawn pass through the yard looking for food and a safe spot to bed.  When ever I saw the deer, my heart would flutter and I would get the warm fuzzies as I thought,  “Aww, look at the mama deer and her baby!”

Seeing the deer would take me to my childhood remembering how Grandma Renfro loved seeing the deer on her property. After her stoke she would ask to sit outside, behind the cabin in her wheel chair, so she could watch nature and wait for the deer.  

She would sit in anticipation of the deer paying her a visit. Without fail they would show up as if they knew she was waiting for them.  The deer could sense that she was of no harm to them and would feed within feet of her.  Giving her the loving memories that she cherished.

Again that was a loving, warm fuzzy feeling that is wonderful.  I love the deer and always look forward to seeing them. 

My mind then drifted to the first time at our current home that I looked up and saw the elk.  My heart pounded with excitement as I thought, “Wow, the elk are here, look how majestic those animals are!”  I was in complete awe over this huge animal. 

When I looked at the elk I didn’t get the warm fuzzies feelings I did with the mama and baby deer.  No, I was in awe stuck amazement of the elk and their presence.  Elk are gorgeous animals that demand respect.  The way they walked…was as if they were royalty.  They were not timid even though they were out of safety of the forest.  They behaved as if they belonged where ever they happen to be.  Wow how magnificent!

As I thought more about the different feelings I got from the two different critters within the deer family, I thought about the different feelings I get when I think about God.

I love God with all my heart.  There are times that as I think about how He loves me in spite of me, I get the warm fuzzies along with the tears of, “Aww God loves me, He really loves me!”  I love those feelings and I never want to lose them or take them (Him) for granted.

Then there are the feelings I get of God’s Majesty, I am in awe-struck-amazement of how great (and how Big) our God really is.  The Great I Am that I Am, the Creator of the Universe and everything in it, the One that loved us so much He sent the Son to save us from ourselves and sin, the One that deserves all the praise and glory just for being God! 

God is so loving how can we not love Him?

God is so GOoD how can we not honor Him? 

God is the Majestic Creator how can we not be in complete awe of Him?

There are many different aspects to God, too numerous to list at the moment.  However I pray that you take time each day, seek Him and let God reveal to you the aspect of Him that you need that day.

Until Next Time, God Bless!

Investing in Yourself

Before my lifestyle change I didn't give the GMO / Organic issues a thought. I only cared about what the cost was and if I was willing to pay the amount being asked for the product.

Now that I have learnt that what I put into my body is more than just about weight (loss vs gain) or even about eating healthy food vs junk food - I am becoming more aware of it.  

Your God-given body is meant to take in God-Given food for fuel. Our bodies were designed by our Creator to break down those foods. When we eat that maple bar or drink that soda our bodies are like, "I don't know what to do with this, I will just put it aside and deal with what I do know to break down." (*Gives a whole new visual to the old saying, "A moment on the lips, forever on hips!"...sorry I digress...)   

However when you eat the God-provided fruits, vegetables and *animals, your body does knows what to do with them, it knows how to break those down and use them to fuel itself. (*He instructed us in Leviticus 11 of the God-Approved Meat list)  

When we alter our food with chemicals and processing we are not doing ourselves or our bodies any good. Good health starts with good food (fuel).  We need to keep the food that we put into our God-given bodies as close to God-given for our bodies to run properly, be healthy.

In today's fast past society we want everything now and we look for faster ways to get it now.  We have fast food restaurants with drive thru service.   We have frozen food and processed food that is available in the name of convenience.  We have microwaves that heat our food in a portion of the time as cooking it on the stove.  Is it really healthy for us to eat food blasted with micro-waves?  

Convenience has taken away from the covenant we have with God.  Covenants are not convenient.  Do you think it was convenient for Christ to leave His throne to be born of a virgin, live like a fugitive, or die on the cross for our sins?  I should think not!  Why should the covenant be convenient for us?

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 the Bible tells us, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in you body and in your spirit, which are God's."

It is our responsibility to take care of our God-given bodies that He gave us to house our spirit and the Holy Spirit.  Not so we could eat crap and see how much damage we can do to it.  We were created on purpose for a purpose and our bodies need to sustain life so that we can accomplish that purpose.

God-given food is meant to fuel the God-given bodies to fulfill the God-given plan for our lives.

Our bodies are the receipt of what foods we eat. What deposits are you making? I truly pray that you (and I) invest the best possible foods that will have your (and my) body running top notch.  

Until Next Time, God Bless!!!