Focus On The Promise Through The Journey

Sometimes, when we've been walking through our journey for so long we can end up losing the focus of our actual destination. God gives us a promise, but when more time than we were expecting passes, it becomes harder to see "it". We question, we cry out, we even lose hope for a sec., but we never give up. I've always had a saying ever since I gave my life over to Jesus and encountered Him: There's no turning back anymore no matter what, no matter how hard it gets my only option is to move forward.

"If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward."  -Martin Luther King Jr.

God never said the journey of this life would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worth it! -Max Lucado

I've been asking God the same question over and over and over again for quite some time (years) and today I was just stopped by Him. He reminded me of a prayer I made when I was 15 years old and how He answered the beginning of it during that time. To me the little sign I asked God for at the end of my prayer was just a quirky inside joke between me and God, but he answered it. I joke with what I ask and He jokes by responding super quick. You see, the problem is that I expected that my whole prayer list would be answered and packaged up to be delivered to me all at once, but God's ways were different. He said it would be given to me but He didn't say when or how. My journey to the promise has been a rough one, I can't deny it, but I have come out a stronger woman who God intends to make stronger.

One Winter day during the Festival of Dedication, Jesus was confronted by the Jews who were also walking along in the temple courts. They surrounded Jesus and asked him "how long" he planned on keeping them "in suspense" and to just tell them "plainly" if he was the Messiah. While I was reading this story this morning in John 10:22-30 I knew without a doubt in my mind that God was talking to me. I had been crying out asking God to please just speak to me in such an obvious way because I couldn't get it, but He said to me that He already answered my question many times but I just wasn't seeing what He wanted me to see. I just wasn't getting it. When I started my walk toward the promise I was so sure, but then things got so scary bad that I let my gaze become foggy. I felt frustrated like those Jews did (of course I wasn't going to stone my Savior but I let anger and confusion get the best of me) because though they had heard the promise of Jesus' coming written in scripture, they let their gaze become foggy by what was said to them:the scriptures said that a Messiah was coming in a humble manner but it didn't say his name or the fact that he was going to be a carpenter's son.  The promise was delivered to them in different circumstances than they had expected in their hearts so they closed up their hearts and refused to see that God was living among them. The signs and wonders made it obvious but to believe meant that they had to be closer to faith and farther from their expectations. I knew that I couldn't take my anger and frustration out on my God, so instead...I took it out on the promise. That's a big no,no. I was so busy comparing my walk to others and asking God why others were happy with their promise fulfilled while mine seemed to be getting crazier and even more unpredictable. The thing is: God is not a cookie-cutter God, so He created individual people with individual stories. It's easy to buy into a one-for-all solution but that's just not true. We have to seek God's counsel directly from Him and then wait for His confirmation (through His word, dreams, people...etc). This whole week my seeking an answer for my question really escalated, and I see now as I write this that God has been answering me. Every morning with what I've been reading in the Word He's been answering me. It all connects. How God showed me in the Book of Genesis that he had to open Hagar's eyes to see the well of water so that she wouldn't let hopelessness in the middle of the dessert kill her and her son Ishmael, how God protected and cared for Ishmael as his only Father after he was rejected and sent away as God's plan to create him into a strong nation, and also how God looked into the heart of Rebekah and predestined her to be the wife that would say yes to an unpredictable marriage to Abraham's son Isaac. God spoke to me in detail about these stories all week long and finally I understand. Jesus was obviously the Messiah and my answer has been obviously staring me in the face for years. Jesus' answer to the Jews in the temple was this:

(John 10:27-30) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

I am so sure of my salvation in Jesus and that He abides in me and I in Him by His grace alone, therefore my ear is in tune to what He's saying. The devil sometimes wants to make us doubt that, actually, the enemy always wants to make us doubt that because His mission is to kill, steal, and destroy us. I truly believe that Jesus wasn't just answering the Jew's questions...He was making a bold statement and letting the devil know that what belonged to the king of kings could not be taken from Him even by the thieve of thieves. We belong to Jesus and the devil has no right to touch us and our God who is greater can not be over-powered. I realized that the reason that I haven't responded to the many voices around me for years telling me to go this way and that way is because I've been fleeing from the other. I was once told a great truth: the devil takes no breaks and shows no mercy. He will use whatever he wants to use in order to kill you because your purpose threatens him. That goes for all of us. The enemy has tried to make me believe that I'm crazy for not listening to who I "should" listen to, dumb for "failing" those who I shouldn't, or just plain disobedient and worthy of receiving God's punishment when that is not true. Because the people around me have also seen the dessert that I have walked through with my promise in hand, they give advice out of hopelessness when I have been called to walk by the amount of faith that God has given to me. My walk is mine, entrusted to me by God and nobody will ever confuse me enough to snatch it from me. I am to complete my mission until I see the fulfillment of what God has promised me. I encourage everybody who reads this...stand strong and firm in the faith. Keep pressing forward with your eyes focused on the promise as you walk this life-long journey. May faith arise and I pray that hope sustain us through.

Top 10 Favorite Quotes From "When Heaven Invades Earth"

I finished the book! The quotes that I want to share have provoked me, stirred me up, and have also served as confirmation for me in this season. I really LOVED reading this book, in fact, my highlighter agrees. Neon pink, green, and yellow cover up almost every sentence of every page. I definitely recommend this read especially for those of you who have a hunger for more of God and who have a passion for seeing His kingdom displayed all over the earth. 

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Bill Johnson's "When Heaven Invades Earth"

1. "Resistance to change is a resistance to the nature of God. Because the winds of change are blowing, it will be easy to distinguish between those who are satisfied and those who are hungry. Change brings to light the secrets of the heart."
2. "We lack understanding of who we are because we have little revelation of who He is."
3. "Being involved in the supernatural through spiritual gifts is what makes the invasion effective. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of power! We must be in pursuit of a fuller demonstration of the Spirit of God."
4. "Daniel discovered early on the power of holiness. He was unwilling to eat the king's delicacies. Separation to God is demonstrated in personal lifestyle, not associations. He could not control his surroundings...Many Christians prefer to work in a Christian business, attend Christian meetings, and isolate themselves from the very people we are left on the planet to touch in His name."
5. "The Bible is not a book of lists that confine or corral God. The Word does not contain God—it reveals Him."
6. "I was not left on planet earth to be in hiding waiting for Jesus' return. I am here on a military representative of heaven."
7. "Intimacy with God is our strong suit. Never allow anything to distract you from this point of strength."
8. "If the Father filled the Old Testament houses with His glory, though they were built by human hands, how much more will He fill the place that He builds with His own hands! He is building us into His eternal dwelling place."
9. "My hunger for His power is only surpassed by my desire for Him. It's been my pursuit of Him that has led me to this passion for an authentic gospel. Something happened in me that won't let me accept a gospel that isn't backed with signs and wonders."
10. "A glass is only full when it overflows. Fullness can only be measured by overflow."

May The Painting Reflect The Painter

(Psalm 8:3-4) When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers—the moon and the stars you set in place—what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

When God created us were were like clay, a motionless glob in need of shaping. We needed a master and God longed to construct a fine masterpiece. The skies were like a blank canvas crying out for a way out of darkness. One breath, one brush stroke, one movement and we came to be. Our craftsman labored joyfully and smiled at the sight of us as He made us in the secret place. Each brush stroke brought life.

Like any artist, God has a special connection to each of His masterpieces because to Him they are perfect and one of a kind. To lose such an intimate relationship would hurt Him because He labored and toiled, cried and laughed, imagined and brought life. His pencil drew and His finger touched each soul.

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Each and every one of us was created with passion and love by the hands of God. He enjoyed turning on the biggest lamp in the world to see our faces. Placing His purpose in our hearts, He knit us together. It's about time we recognize Him who loved us first. We were not created to be invisible or overlooked. How long must we hide our lamp beneath our bed? The hour has come for the children of God to wake up from our slumber and shine in our schools, church, and daily lives. It's not  just about shouting the name of Jesus everywhere we go, but about showing the proof of His love in all that we say and do. We can not preach forgiveness when we hold grudges against those who have deeply hurt us. Shine by "loving like you've never been hurt," and by living each day with this amazing mindset: I have Jesus and I get all these things too? Wow! Just like God has given us life we must give life to others...we can only give what we have. Don't have? With all my heart I say, ask and you shall surely receive  Start painting life. Let your life reflect the artist who created you. Hold tight to the word of God and start leaving trails of light everywhere you go. May those who see you see what God intended them to see.

Worshiping Through A One-Way Mirror

According to Google, a one-way mirror is partially reflective and partially transparent. When one side of the mirror is brightly lit the other side is dark, it allows viewing from the darkened side but not from the other side. We've all seen those old black and white or Lifetime movies where one detective interrogates a suspect while his or her partner is sitting in the dark room behind the one-way mirror. An Example would be the scene in Ella Enchanted, when Prince Char's  evil uncle is watching them both from behind the one-way mirror: He can see Ella and Char but they can't see him. A one-way mirror is a type of deceptive trick but also very useful for the one utilizing it. As a Psalmist and Worshiper the Lord has shown me that we tend to put on this act as if nobody is watching us. Sometimes unintentionally, but other times...not so much. Even if you don't sing or play an instrument God has still called you to worship, not necessarily by picking up a mike but through the way you live, what you say, how you treat others. Hopefully however, if you are reading this you do sing or play for God because my examples might make more sense to you. You see, God is searching for worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and in truth and one thing out of the many great things I learned from Joel, my Psalmist School instructor, this week is that, "many are called, but few are chosen." If we look around our neighborhoods and churches and turn on our T.V's we will see many "worshippers" who have been called but few of all of those have been chosen. When many go to an audition a couple get call backs and then even fewer are chosen for roles. God's looking for those who are guided by the Holy Spirit and who listen to His voice. The sweet voice of God.  

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As worshipers who worship in truth we find ourselves in that interrogation room because we are naked before the eyes of God because He knows us and sees us just as we are. He sees the depths of our hearts, every cavern He knows by memory. We can be playing our instrument or singing on stage, while we hide something deep in our hearts. Our faces may not show it and our attitudes might disguise it but The Lord knows, He knows and all He wants is for us to come clean before Him. Jesus is our lawyer, He made a way for us to have access to our Father and now nothing in earth nor in heaven can separate us from Him. While the enemy condemns us and interrogates us to bring up what we try to bury Jesus watches on the other side of that mirror and steps in to our defense right on time. Because of Jesus our worship is accepted and it is justified. He made a way. We keep worshipping thinking that nobody knows what lies deep within our hearts. Suddenly when people start talking about us and our brothers and sisters in Christ start judging us, Jesus, our lawyer, comes in to the scene and starts asking us to confide in him. He wants us to tell Him and confess so that He can defend us before the ultimate judge: God. We hesitate...we just can't bear it. Jesus, our loving and self-less lawyer, comforts us and assures us that He's going to defend us no matter what. It's hard to get up and sing Sunday morning or praise the Lord in front of friends knowing that you've messed up yesterday, but the beautiful thing is that we have Jesus. That doesn't mean that we're going to go all willy nilly and just sin uncontrollably  No, no, that means that we recognize that life is a constant battle but each day we have to decide to kneel and ask for forgiveness and for the Holy Spirit to guide our every move. The devil and the world is not our judge, God is...and our defense lawyer will never fail us. Thank you Jesus!!! Because of you our worship is accepted. Never stop worshiping but do pray to have your heart in the right place because a worshipper not only connects with God, but helps others connect as well. What are we reflecting? Like I said before, all of you worshipers out there keep praising the Lord in spirit and in truth. My respects and many blessings always.