The Power In Relationship

(2 Peter 1:3-4) His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

This morning I was feeling so down and my allergies were definitely not helping. But...the moment, the very moment, I said a prayer and opened up my Bible God's truth flooded my heart and renewed my thinking. King Solomon was right when he wrote that the end of a matter was better than it's beginning. You might start off pretty sucky or just plain terrible but how will you decide to end the matter? What the Holy Spirit spoke to me this morning was that He could care less about how I was feeling: He wanted to know what I planned to do about it. In order to mature in Christ's nature, that overcame this world, we are asked to believe God's promises that were born out of His glory that transforms us and His goodness that molds us. When His glory fills a room and encounters me I can never be the same, and likewise, when the simplicity of His goodness is revealed to me my heart has no where else to run except toward Him. The verses I'm sharing immediately shifted my focus and brought me into God's heart and way of thinking. According the the first portion of this verse, The more I pursue knowing Jesus and doing life with Him the more power I have to overcome the situation I'm facing. The truth of Jesus sets us free. There is power in relationship with Jesus and we need that. I don't know about you, but I want to turn those sucky days around and prove the enemy wrong. I want to be so much fuller of His truth each day that it overflows into every single nook and cranny of my life. 

(2 Peter 1:5-8) For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 To believe what God has spoken is faith. So God is saying, you believe what I say which is awesome but I want more from you. There's always more to learn about God and because there's always more to learn, there's always more to give. You believe? Now reflect His goodness that makes Him who He is. And now that truth has filled you go ahead and experience Him and learn what He desires. And because the truth of Jesus has set you free now go ahead and start diciplining yourself and striking blows to your flesh so you can walk in the spirit. And now don't give up and keep moving forward and maturing. Oh and at this point, your showing Jesus to the point that others are taking notice...learn to live in peace with those around you and above all now show the love that Jesus showed you. Action. Doing these things will keep our relationship with Jesus living and breathing. Relationship changes everything. Truly getting to know someone bonds us and true loyalty and love are born. And where there is love there is a force to be reckoned with. After all, it is Christ's love that covered multitudes of sins and that still does. Because he did it, we can do it too.

Highlights Of My Weekend

///Friday afternoon my Mom and I drove to meet once again with my Naturopathic Doctor. During our long wait the skies started to darken and then suddenly there came a massive downpour of rain with lightning and all. I just sat there in the waiting room thinking, oh Lord did you miss talking to me today (inside joke). God and I just dialogue like that because ever since he revealed to me that He wants to do life with me I can't go anywhere without Him nor step foot anywhere He doesn't want to go. Anyways, yes we eventually made it inside to the Doc's office and I quickly stepped on the scale anxiously anticipating some good news. Four more pounds gone! I'm feeling pretty good about my temple. There's room to meet with my Lord now (another inside joke, sorry I just had to). So to be super exact I'm totaling in at 38 pounds lost. I'm happy...ecstatic...I can't wait to jump and dance for my God freely the way He deserves (that's why this whole journey began in the first place, as stated in previous posts).

///I popped out my journals once again! It's been a long while, in fact, since I've written in my journals. Saturday night I crept downstairs with my three journals, Bible, highlighter and pen in hand. It was close to midnight so I was trying really hard not to wake anyone up. My Spirit was hungry and thirsty. I have no idea why I love having my alone time with my Lord at this time but it always just seems to click. I imagine The Holy Spirit sitting in the couch next to mine whispering yet another one of His teachings for me to meditate on. For those of you like me who attend school and have been called to God's ministry I know it's hard sometimes. Maybe you also have a job and other responsibilities. I've even told God...God, why aren't there more hours in a day. I got an answer pretty quick. We have been given the freedom to choose our priorities. But when you're in love time ceases to exist. God is first but I feel like there's confusion in this statement. If God has not told you do something then don't do it. Your Spirit, if you feed Him, will let you know instantly when something is not right. He gives us discernment. For instance, I've had about an equal amount of people express that full-time ministry trumps school, work, vocations, or careers just like others have also stressed the importance of balance in our lives because we are in this world and have been called to shine everywhere. The truth is this: nobody knows your calling except you and your heavenly Father. You have to know who you are and your personal mission so that you won't be moved even by the most eloquent of speakers. I speak from total personal experience because I see this plague sweeping over many people and it's...all that really matters is whether or not you're making God happy. Yes we want to please those we care about and yes we would like everyones support but it's just not going to happen. Know this for sure though, when God is on your side He will defend your cause because it is His cause. He will make a way when you're traveling down the road He's marked out for you to travel. If everything's going wrong and you feel like all doors have been shut and like you're getting no where then you have got to get back to seeking the Lord, something isn't right. Confirmation. We all know the Israelites that followed Moses thought he was a complete whack-a-doodle especially when they had to cross the Red Sea while at the same time an egyptian army was racing behind them trying to kill them. Imagine that. The thing is: the Old Testament is full of God's miraculous signs and wonders for that past generation and the New Testament is full of Jesus making a way for us to reflect God through His signs, wonders, and way of living. This way of living isn't about everyone selling all their possessions and moving far off into the hill country it's about hope, faith, and love. Three powerful words that have not been given enough credit. It's funny how people congratulate you once time passes by and they see the fruit of your obedience to God. Moses was applauded after God used him to part the Red Sea but right before that all the Israelites wanted to strangle him. What I'm trying to say is, live to know God's will for you because His plans are unique and individualized with the same purpose in mind. We have all been given The Great Commission but we have each received from God a way of acting out His Commission. While Paul's Calling involved preaching the Gospel to both the gentiles and the jews in foreign lands (1 Corinthians 1:17), Peter's Calling involved baptizing and preaching the gospel in other regions (Matthew 4:19). The same Great Commission was there but The Spirit of God guided them individually. If we don't have a relationship with The Holy Spirit we're going to be swept back in forth from one man-made teaching to the next. What is The Holy Spirit saying to you? The only way to find out is to speak to Him, to pray, to fill yourself up with God's Word. Only the Spirit of God can tell you what you have been called to do and how you've been called to do it.

///What can I say about Sunday? The Holy Spirit did His thing and I love His invitation for me to be apart of it. We had our Tardes De Gloria Service one hour earlier so that at 7:00 we could make a way for Chuck Pierce to speak over us as a body of Christ, as a congregation, and as citizens of The Rio Grande Valley. Needless to say the time I spent from 4:00 to 9:00 was well spent. If I can worship my God freely then I'm there. Great prophetic night.

Perfume: Personal Aroma

*~*~*~*~*

We all have a scent that we release. God has given each and every one of us a special one-of-a-kind aroma. When you speak, sing, dance, laugh, cry, and walk you're releasing a scent to those around you. Do you release peace or anxiety, joy or sadness, confidence or insecurity, sweetness or sourness? Whatever kind of scent that you're releasing it affects the people around you and the spiritual atmosphere. If we release security then those around us will feel secure, but if we release fear then those around us will sense this and latch on to that fear. What scent do you release?

^{(2 Corinthians 2:14-17)} But thanks be to God, who 

always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal 

procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the 

knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the 

pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being 

saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are 

an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma 

that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? Unlike 

so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. 

On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God 

with sincerity, as those sent from God. NLT

This verse is a perfect example of Worship. It's a continual overflow of giving love back and forth. This verse tells us that we are a pleasing aroma that God loves and likewise we are a sweet fragrance, an essence of Him, here on this earth. Our lives are a pleasing perfume that we offer up onto the Lord and His pure essence our one desire. His presence. When you smell a bottle of perfume that you really like it's almost as if for a moment you take a trip into a garden. When we encounter God and find ourselves immersed in His presence we experience the same effect. It's that place that nobody can describe but that we know all too well. That secret place. When I sing and for a moment close my eyes and lift up my hands and call on His name I'm there with Him and He's here with me. Not only does this happen during my intimate time with the Lord but Sunday afternoons, though we sing for up to three hours, time flies and moments pass by in the blink of an eye because my aroma has floated up to my Daddy and He's pouring all of His fragrance down on me. Those moments are so crucial in both the quiet times and the corporate times. The word of God could not have compared our encounters during worship any better than to a sweet perfume. This type of atmosphere is what we should try to create in our churches. It's not just about singing a few songs and speeding off to the Word...it's about enjoying the trip along the way. Enjoy God's presence and let yourself be taken over by the Holy Spirit. Whether you've got an amazing worship leader or pastor or not, perceive the Holy Spirit moving in and around you and jump in. If you're like me and find yourself up on the altar leading, singing, or playing an instrument then just know that you have a personal perfume. What you feel and think people can spiritually smell (perceive). When you're up there on stage do you denote confidence, love, security, passion, or mixed emotions? Something that still helps me to this day is what one of my School of Psalmist's Instructors taught me,

"Wherever you find yourself and in front of whoever you find yourself nobody knows what you're thinking but you. If you're nervous nobody knows it but you until you show it through your expressions and actions." So let all the insecurities go and depend on God's strength. He has given you the authority. Spread the sweet smell of confidence as you do your corporate Worship service, concert, gathering...etc. Share with others that same perfume that you share with the Lord so that they too can be engulfed in the Lord's presence.

*~*~*~*~*

So let this be our perfume:

(2 Timothy 1:7)For God has not given us a spirit of fear 

and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 

{Power}

{Love}

{Self-discipline}

*~*~*~*~*

Leadership

Wise is the one who seeks the Lord's council first. Fall to His feet and you will rise in victory.

*~*~*~*~*

Now, before you read the first few parts of the scripture bellow and then skip to keep reading...I challenge you: Read it slowly and really reflect on these words for a while before you keep reading on. One of the many verses that never ceases to blow my mind.

(1 Timothy 4:12-16) Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given to you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

I love how God sees the heart. I love how he gazes into its depths. God chose you and I. He chose us to represent Him here on earth by the grace of Jesus and His amazing mercy. Jesus is the perfect example of the first part of the scripture above, glorifying God at each and every stage in His life. Though some of us lead bands, teams, congregations, or groups, what about those who feel like they have no purpose and are spiritually living in a secluded desert where there is nobody to lead but themselves? Nobody has to have a title or an assigned place to lead. One has the authority to lead in any and every season and in any and every place. I have this quote that the Lord gave me a few years back that I live by, "If your life is a song that God and those around you are waiting to hear, then what does your lifesong say about you?" This always keeps me in check and has always resonated in my heart. I think about my life's lyrics and how I hope that they touch my Father's heart. Like I've said before, our relationship with our God is the wellspring to everything else, from how we react to how we lead. I really wanted to address leadership because it's such an important role to both spiritual and natural growth. I've seen my fair share of both good and bad leaders but those that I've learned so much from and dearly admire have placed God as their number one and first love. Fear of (respect for) the Lord is their foundation and there lies the reasoning behind their wisdom and knowledge that develops discernment and good decisions. Be the kind of leader that you would want. If you would like a good example of someone who's unashamed of Christ and who boldly represents Him then who better than you? God placed that desire in your heart, so don't neglect that gift. You are what you've been searching for. Start developing that gift and fan it into flames. Where to start? Seek God and go to Him for direction, fill yourself with the Word of God because, trust, after you read other's downfalls and triumphs you-will-learn. Surround yourself with people who will inspire you along your walk with God and remind yourself each day of who you are in Christ so that you never think for a minute that you have nothing to contribute. You lead with your whole life in speech (every single word that you speak and the way you talk), in conduct (the way you act and respond to situations), the way you love (God, others, and yourself), your faith (trusting God and fixing your eyes on God's promises), and in purity (live a holy life, set apart). You and I have something to give and show. Though we can lead in a ministry, the best way to lead is by example with our very lives. 

Now, let's talk about those of you who are in charge of a Praise and Worship team, band, or group and you're looking to be the best leader you can be. First things first, Know that God did not choose you because of your knowledge or abilities, God chose you because he knew that you were a person after His own heart. You're not perfect but you are loved and love covers over a multitude of sin. I always tell myself that if I wake up every morning and strive for a 10 then I'm more likely to reach somewhere in that range, verses striving for a 6 or 5 and reaching something lower. In short, what I'm trying to say is that though we are not perfect in the natural,  fixing our eyes straight on what God says we are and His will and promises will cause us to accomplish more because of our high expectations. Trust, an expectant heart is such a powerful weapon that the Holy Spirit loves to respond to.

What are some qualities of an amazing leader?

1. A person after God's own heart- These kinds of leaders will always have their eyes firmly fixed on God, so though they stumble they will no longer fall (Psalm 37:24). These people always, always, always seeks God's council first because He is the giver of all wisdom and has created order out of disorder (Genesis 1:2).
2. A humble person- These kinds of leaders realize their self worth in Jesus. These people confidently shine in all aspects and give the glory to God by recognizing Christ as their head. This means that they do not have to constantly remind others of the position that they hold because they knows that it is apparent to those around them. They realize that being humble is not about playing small, but rather, making known the One who is anything but small. "Being humble is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."
3. A person with discernment- These leaders can recognized when to speak and when to remain silent, knowing that there is a time for everything. They know how to distinguish those times. Their reactions do not depend on what they see and they are not emotion-led because their reactions are based off of what God says.
4. A person who keeps it real- Originality is key because God made each person different and assigned a special calling and purpose to each and every person. These leaders are confident in their identity in Christ Jesus and don't need anyone but God to remind them of how special they are. These leaders do not compare themselves to anybody else and proudly shine and radiate Jesus in them. They rejoice in knowing that they are the salt and light of the world. Be exactly who God has called you to be because you have a different lifesong meant for those that God wants you to share it with.
5. A teachable person- These leaders remain open to the Holy Spirit and know that God can use anybody to teach them, regardless of age. They know that the minute they close themselves to the Lord's new revelations stagnation will take over. Never think you know it all because even King Solomon learned from insects. So soak up every single thing that God is leading you to so that your well will never run dry.
6. A good communicator- These leaders do not permit language to be a barrier between their team and them so they addresses any issue clearly with backed up information if needed. The key to being a good communicator is being a good listener. If one has practiced this in one's private time with God then listening to other's concerns with spiritual eyes and ears wide open will stop any type of misunderstanding.
7. A person who acts in God's love- These leaders know better than to let any offense spring up weeds in their heart because God's love is the medicine that this world needs. They act in love the way Jesus would in all good and bad circumstances, knowing that they must not let anything come between their relationship with God, which Jesus came to reconcile. Acting in love is about loving others the way you love yourself so be that person with others that you desire to have around you. Don't just chat with people and move on, befriend your team because they should be like your family. Love and honor them no matter what.

Callings & Roles In The Worship Ministry

Ministry- The act of serving others; This word derives from the Latin word "Ministerium" which means service. 

Worship Leader- In a congregational setting, one who guides the congregation through praise and worship. Worship Leaders are in charge of organizing songs, they sing and/or play an instrument, and take the lead. The relationship between the Worship Leader and the congregation most resembles how a shepherd leads his/her flock toward the stream and green pastures and then lets them enjoy their feeding while keeping a close eye on them. Worship Leaders lead others through songs, offering praises (which God inhabits) to the Lord , creating the spiritual atmosphere for an encounter.

Worship Minister/Pastor- One who ministers on the specialized topic of "Worship" by serving others. Worship Ministers serve by leading, teaching, and providing spiritual guidance. The relationship between a Worship Minister and the congregation most resembles how a pastor leads, guides, and cares for his/her flock or any other group of people.

Psalmist- One who writes and/or composes poems out of one's own thoughts and feelings. These poems can be turned into songs and the best example of this is The Psalmist David who wrote psalms (poems), sung, and played them.

Christian Music Artist- One who writes, performs, or composes christian music. Some examples would be Francesca Battistelli, Kari Jobe (also an example of a Worship Leader), Natalie Grant, Jeremy Camp, TobyMac, and David Crowder Band.  

* (This is a new one for me) Worship Evangelist- one who spreads "The Good News" and brings revival of personal commitments to Christ through worship music. An example of this is:
(Psalm 108:1-5) My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

*~*~*~*~*

So let us remember that "Worship" is the act of responding to God's love with love by offering one's very life as a living and breathing sacrifice. Anyone who has been called to the Worship Ministry is leading, serving, and guiding others in a way that shows them how to respond to God's love with their very lives. They help others know the meaning of Worship. A great majority of Christian music artists are not in the Worship Ministry but they are impacting the world with what God has given them in a way that glorifies God. Being in the Worship Ministry means that one is serving, and like my Psalmist School directer says, "Ministry is really the record of your service. Many want the title but they don't have the proof of the work to back it up." You see no matter what ministry we're called to it doesn't become a ministry or our ministry until we have a record of our service, until we have invested of our time serving others.

(2 Corinthians 6:3-10) We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path, so that our ministry will not be discredited. Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

² 

*~*~*~*~*

Specifically I wrote this post because we all have questions. What's the difference between this and that? What does this really mean? I personally ask God all the time, "how can I define this?" And then...comes wisdom. The definitions that I decided to share above are some words that I myself have asked God to clarify because I'm a lover of knowledge I guess (I thank God for such an inheritance). These are cut to the chase sort of definitions to just supply a purposeful answer but of course with all things involving God we can go on and on, and deeper and deeper. I just wanted to clarify some of the visible callings that fall within the category of "Worship ministry". First off, the question I want to answer is, what sorts of things can we do that are considered to be part of this particular ministry? Just like I talked about how there are expressions of worship these same expressions, no matter what they may be, can be turned into a Worship Ministry the moment that a person begins to serve others through their artistic expression of worship. Some do spoken word, others write music or psalms, some dance, and some play an instrument or lead worship services, or maybe even act—these are all expressions of our worship to God and become a Worship Ministry only when we begin to serve others through these expressions in a way that pertains to the subject of "worship". So whatever you have been called to do, this calling turns into a ministry when you begin to serve. Maybe you've been called to be a songwriter, a worship minister, or an actor but this becomes a Worship Ministry when you, for example, teach others about worship through your songwriting, ministering, or acting. It has nothing to do with being in a church because some ministries are specifically for the congregation but others are born outside of the church for different reasons. The disciples had their own individual ministries but they all worked and served with the same purpose in mind, and that was to spread the word of God and the message of salvation. So whether some ministries are meant for the church, for a local group of people, or for the nations a Worship Ministry has to do with presenting "worship" and it's detailed branches to others through service. 

Eminent Fruit

The First Book of Kings. How appropriate, right? And God keeps confirming His word to me for this year: Wisdom. Just after I lead Worship on Sunday afternoon at church my heart felt God whisper, "As you seek Me more and more all that seeking will bubble over to everyone around you." The Holy Spirit is guiding me and teaching me those hidden treasures that lie in the Father's heart.

(Romans 11:33) Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!

The Holy Spirit is revealing to me the desires of the Father's heart for me as I walk along the path that God has traced out before me. My calling is ever-winding and though the time of preparation continues, the fruit is coming forth. I can't hide what God has given me because to those around me it is now visible. The authority that God has given me to release my anointing impacts me as I perceive in my Spirit and even in the natural how we draw deeper and deeper toward that secret place that our spirits know all too well. That place where we were knit and formed and where we met with God before we were born into this world to shine our light.  It's in that place that as we Worship in Spirit and in Truth that our Spirit rejoices as it meets with the Father, our creator, our Daddy, our everything. Yes I lead Worship but that's not the title that I can place on what God has called me to do. I am a Psalmist, a Worship Minister in training but even those titles can't define my calling. I've decided not to name it, but rather to live it. God will soon give me a name for it. Yes, when I finish Psalmist school in two semesters I will be classified as a Worship Minister who's obtained her license but even then God's always had a way of pushing me to expect and to seek more. That's just who I am and who He's created me to be, I can't stop it. This calling is far greater than my words can express, because, all that is born out of God's heart is far too complex to explain.

The fruit. I feel something big coming. What was prophesied to me a few short months ago has taken effect and it's fullness is coming forth. The words that I feel strongly are these: "a new season has started and there will be a time of going about...get ready for some good times...you're not going to bring men in the flesh but in the Spirit..." There's so much more that I was prophesied but this part in particular keeps ringing in my head. The first time that the same prophets came to our city ( as I explained in an older blog post) a prophetess told me that I was tenacious and a rescuer but that I had to get grounded in the Word because when the time came for me to rescue somebody the Word that I released would take care of everything. Ever since then, as you all may know, I began to read the Bible from the beginning because God confronted me ever so deeply on this subject and I couldn't say anything but yes to those loving arms that have always been there for me. And like I said, my journey continues. I don't see the clear picture but the fruit of my labor cannot be hidden anymore. Many people have already come up to me trying to explain how they feel during our times of Worship but they just can't. It's no talent nor amazing voice...it's God's anointing. I thank Him for such an honor. How can I not sing, teach, or serve with love if it's all that I've known from God since day one. The Holy Spirit has instructed me and has placed mentors and teachers around me to lift me up and strengthen that which the Lord has placed in my hands. You see, when I say to yall, "Get ready!" I'm really saying it to myself because pretty soon something is going launch, the tree will be so big, and my fruit will be so scattered that God's purpose will be fulfilled. 

The fruit...

*~*~*~*~*

God has placed something in your hands. 

Seek God's council more and more and He 

will provide you with the exact wisdom that 

you will need to carry out your calling. I 

declare that your fruit will be so visible that 

no words spoken against you will contain nor 

detain what God has in store for you. Trust 

that the Lord knows perfectly what He's 

doing with you and move forward. We've got 

some manifesting to do and that won't get 

done with our heads stuck in the clouds nor 

stuck in the rear view mirror. Your calling 

is now and souls are hungry for the 

fruit that you have to bear.

*~*~*~*~*

Crossing The Bridge: What's Your Egypt?

Our past hopes, dreams, memories  expectations--These are all things that cause us to remain where we are, or that also restrain us from going forward. Think about this: What's the one thing that mostly keeps you from moving forward?...............Ok. Now that you've got it, What about that makes you want to hold on to it? Why do you not want to let it go?.................Alright...so now, I only have one more question for you, my lovely reader. Do you know that God has armed you with all that you need to leave behind all that holds you down? Do you know that you can do All things through Christ who strengthens you? There are so many things that can keep us from obtaining the purpose that the Lord has in store for us and one biggie would definately have to be our past. Our loved ones. Our friends or people who have hurt us. Our guilt or condemnation. What we've built and have helped to restore. So many things just drag us down reminding us of what was, but so many obstacles can discourage us along the way as well. We can not, I repeat can not go back! (2 Timothy 1:7) "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." God, through His son Jesus Christ, has given us the power to overcome all obstacles, the love needed to combat the most wicked person or situation, and the self-discipline needed to persist and move forward toward the desires that He has placed in our hearts. Once we recognize the keys He has given us, then we can confidently walk toward that bridge and begin to cross it to reach that new dimension of Glory that the Father has in store. (Hebrews 12:1-3) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us  throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

When God delivered the Israelites from egypt, they followed the cloud od God's glory by day and His pillar of fire by night, under the command of Moses. Walking through the desert, The Israelites began to complain.  (Numbers 14:1-5) "Then the whole community began weeping aloud, and they cried all night. Their voices rose in a great chorus of protest against Moses and Aaron. “If only we had died in Egypt, or even here in the wilderness!” they complained. “Why is the Lord taking us to this country only to have us die in battle? Our wives and our little ones will be carried off as plunder! Wouldn’t it be better for us to return to Egypt?” Then they plotted among themselves, “Let’s choose a new leader and go back to Egypt!” Then Moses and Aaron fell face down on the ground before the whole community of Israel." Sometimes we complain about everything "bad" that happens to us that we miss the big picture. God has the whole pic in his hands but He permits us to see little snipits because if we were to see the whole thing then Who knows how many would actually follow Christ in body, mind, and soul? I've been hurt but that doesn't mean I'm going to give up. What is your egypt? What do we constantly want to return to? The Israelites would have rather gone back to being slaves than die, in their natural body, persisting toward the goal, the land of milk and honey. All they saw was their memmories and beautiful moments and the food they ate, instead of seeing that God was trying to liberate them from captivity. The truth is we want the change but we don't want to go through the fire. The reality is that Jesus is in the midst of the fire with us. He promised to never leave or forsake us but we have got to stop looking back. The more we look back the more we'll dwell and then remain stuck there like stone. God does not act on our complaints...He acts on our faith. You see, the Israelites lacked faith because they wanted to return to Egypt because the land that God promised them was fortified and filled with giants. They saw the natural possibilities and obstacles, but failed to see the supernatural. It's amazing! (Numbers 14:6-9) "Two of the men who had explored the land, Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, tore their clothing. They said to all the people of Israel, “The land we traveled through and explored is a

wonderful land! And if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey.  Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” Even though they had a mighty God they only saw the mighty obstacle. They looked back! Because of their complaints God did not permit them to see the land he had promised them. We have to decide if we are going to complain and wine and cry when problems come, or decide if we are going to bless whoever and whatever and keep fighting the good fight. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and a great blessing at the other end of the bridge if we decide to cross it. I encourage you, out of personal experience  to not let anything or anyone stop you from doing what God wants you to do. may God bless you on your walk and surround you with people who are going to always lift you up.

*~*~*