The God Who Foreknew

I'm going to speak basically toward myself...if any of this helps anybody that's awesome. If it doesn't and you continue to read this anyway, well...God bless your heart. It's true what the Bible says about how pain will only last for the night because joy will surely come in the morning. Some nights may last days, others may last even more, and then some even less than that. If you want to read one of the saddest of nights right after Jesus...read about Paul. His life after being saved makes my heart literally hurt because I begin to imagine his pain and his struggle, all while remaining faithful to God. God created Saul but then sent Jesus to give birth to Paul. Saul was zealous for the religious cause that fought in God's name, but Paul was in love with Jesus who dared confront him with unstoppable love. God knew Paul because He created him and mapped out his life before it even came to be. God knew the fall Saul would face with the freedom he gave him from the beginning and planned for Jesus to meet him and transform him. Paul had no regrets for his new life because now it had true purpose. I've been really thinking about this, I mean really. Purpose. That's what makes every tear and all uncertainty worth it: the fact that Jesus gave us purpose. Knowing that every detail of our lives matters and isn't just because.

(Romans 8:28) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 

If I know this scripture then why do I still react contrary to how I should? Usually I tent to worry. A lot actually. I plan out something and when things don't go according to plan I freak out. I feel like things are never going to get done. This whole week God's been showing me this about myself to the point where it's getting so uncomfortable. God's telling me that my worry and frustration has got to go because I'm just wasting time. If I worry then I'm saying to God that my plan was better and I don't trust His to be right for me. I have to remind myself that his timing is best. I get excited and then I get let down because my expectation is set on my way. There's only one way and that's God's way. I share this because being genuine matters to me and even though I can't share everything about myself I do wish to share what God is doing in my life. Our faults are real and they lie naked before God's eyes so we might as well let Him confront us with them in love. God allows me to be in situations where things change and I can honestly feel Him looking down on me and waiting to see how I'll react. I choose to let "it" go. 

(Romans 8:29) For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

God knows me and He knows you. The measure of how much our hearts can take before they burst is evident to Him and the one who is greater than our hearts never slumbers. This is simple but true: God will not allow us to walk through anything that we can't overcome without His help. Trust me, I've been though some heart-wrenching stuff yet my heart is still beating. It might feel like it's going to give out but my God won't let it because purpose is on the line here. There is a purpose for what we're going through today. Today's details are working for tomorrow. God planned it this way. He planned to bring us back, knowing that we couldn't live without our creator. We can't escape our true roots and those are heavenly not earthly. Addiction we can break, fears we can escape, and other bondage we can shake because Jesus paid. He paid to return to us our identity. God foreknew it...all of it. 

(Romans 8:30) And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Battle Cry

I'm going through my own spiritual battle right now, but the Lord gave me this word after I prayed and opened up my Bible. This story is not quite ready to be shared but it will soon. But for now I leave you guys with "the" scripture and a song that's really been inspiring me and getting me pumped for spiritual warfare. 

(Micah 2:13) The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD at their head."

God showed me countless times today that He goes before me. If I cry out, He listens and acts. He is on my side and I am on His. Standing strong in the middle of so much stress and consuming frustration is something that only God can do. I bless my current situation in Jesus name because I can feel better times right around the corner. Have a nice night ya'll and more details soon!

Seeking God & Journaling This Morning

I woke up around 7:00 AM this morning as I usually do to take my puppy Cody outside. I usually wake up even early so needless to say, great morning. I made my self some Nopalitos (cactus) and egg, prayed, and then went back upstairs to my room. I grabbed a hold of my Bible and as always, asked the Lord for what He wanted to share with me today. As I began to read I couldn't help myself...I had to go for my journal. After I did some writing and meditating I was so fired up that I knew I had to share my journal entry with y'all. So here it is, just as I wrote it. The Holy Spirit was just pouring out the Father's desires on my heart all morning. Freedom is a beautiful gift that comes with great responsibility.

God, through salvation in Jesus Christ, has given me [FREEDOM]: 

The state of no longer being imprisoned or enslaved to receive 

the power and right to act, speak, or think as I want without hindrance or restraint.

But God says: Let me show you what to do with my freedom that is now yours. 

I am completely paraphrasing what the Lord showed me this morning in 

(1 Corinthians 10:23-24).

Don't seek what's good for you, but instead, 

go after what's good for others. 

Even though I have given you the right to do anything, 

not everything is beneficial nor constructive. 

Not everything makes personal and social 

well-being possible to result in good. 

Not everything promotes improvement 

and development in order to build up.

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Worship Freely Tunes {23}

I'm really psyched to share this song with y'all. There's just something special about it...the lyrics, the music, the sound. It's truly a beautiful song. It gives me chills. We are the bride of Christ and one day we will see our King face to face. This song gives us a glimpse of what that looks and feels like. Hope you enjoy and let me know what you think. God bless!

"(Holy) Wedding Day"- The City Harmonic

Embracing The Unexpected

 

I haven't written anything in a long while but life has continued and I know it's the perfect time to return. I've missed this. The whole morning and hours to follow I could feel my Lord calling me to approach Him, to spend time with Him, to soak up His presence. Last night I grabbed a hold of my Bible, ran downstairs with Cody (our new puppy), found my pencil pouch that contains my highlighter and pen collection, and finally got to sit down on the living room couch. As I hugged my Bible tightly, I said a quick prayer (too excited and expectant I guess) and asked the Lord to speak whatever He wanted me to know. Without even thinking about it, the Holy Spirit brought to me one name: Joseph. I was like, huh? And again I felt it in my spirit. By then I was already flipping through pages and finding my way to the first chapter in the Book of Matthew. There I began to read about Joseph. 

This young man who loved God so much fell in love one day with a young God-fearing woman named Mary. He wanted to spend the rest of his life with her so he asked for her hand in marriage and the pledge was made and they were happily married. Before they even got to come together as newlyweds, Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant. I can only imagine the heart-ache, fear, and anger that was eating him alive. He loved Mary so much that He was even willing to divorce her secretly so that they both wouldn't have to suffer public humiliation and ultimately so that she would not be stoned to death. What Mary alledged was proposterous because it had never happened before...someone being impregnated by the Holy Spirit. Joseph's world was crumbling down and he thought Mary was crazy. Right when he was thinking about backing out he had a dream, a God moment, that changed everything. God's message to Joseph was to "not be afraid to take Mary home as [his] wife, because what [was] conceived in her [was] from the Holy Spirit." God was telling Joseph to not abort his God-given assignment because this blessing in disguise was going to change the world. 

God clearly spoke to me and said, Deya, do not be afraid to accept the challenge, this blessing in disguise, that I am giving you just because it doesn't look like what you envisioned. Because just like verse 22 reads: "all this (the public humiliation, doubt, and heart-ache) [is taking] place to fulfill what I the Lord [have] said." There have been things that we as God's children will have to face, challenging and hurtful, that are not meant to hurt us. These things are meant to give us a hope and a future. For me it's my relationship and my family but for you it might be something else. The love is there but times are tough and the enemy does not give the past any rest. Don't you dare give up (I am definitely preaching to myself here). What will come out of this hard thing is a blessing beyond measure. If you know God has spoken something to you and He has confirmed it then keep moving forward with your eyes fixed on Jesus, knowing that you are carrying something or someone that is near and dear to God. It's important. It won't always be easy and we might stumble but God is with us. God is with us!

(Psalm 73:26) 

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Summer Time

Summer is here! For me it's been here for three weeks already actually so...yeah. I have lists of things I want to do but as always plans do change. Some of the more obvious of things are to enjoy my Bible time with the Lord throughout my day, continue my healthy eating lifestyle and my workout routine, and hang out with my family, friends, and my boyfriend. I'm looking forward to August 27 because it'll be our five year anniversary. Needless to say this girl right here is oober happy. Whatever I temporarily possess as of now is all because of God's grace. Some handed down and other in part won through spiritual warfare. I've learned that that which truly matters and that is meant to last comes at a fight. The sweet christian girl who sings and dances before her Father's throne is still here, but she's matured and stepped in to her knew role as a warrior and leader. I have passed through the fire and have made it out alive with a heart that cannot be pulled away from Jesus. I belong to Him in the pain as well as in the calm. There's actually a song that Hillsong United sings that completely embodied the season I was going through and what I'm living now, so I really wanted to share it with y'all. I feel like beautiful things are coming. I truly do. This summer feels different and I can't wait to see what God has in store. Some jump roping, gym time, watermelon eating, movie marathons, date nights, and some more worship. I'm excited!

Hillsong Live- "Glorious Ruins"

Springs in the Struggle

(Psalm 84:4-7) Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

There are so many times where I've just gotten a super quick reply from God. I'm talking in the blink of an eye type of fast. But other times it feels like forever. I had been praying for the Lord to speak to me. Now I know this sounds so under decorated but why not be real, right? I prayed. Days past. I opened my Bible. God spoke. As I began to read through Psalm 84 my spirit leaped inside and I just knew that this word was for me. What I've gone through in the past few months did change me. It changed me for the better. God made me stronger. The way I think, the way I talk, and the way I see life has changed. I've learned that "the struggle" is inevitable so one can either be obliterated by it or empowered by it. There is a true and beautiful promise in this scripture and it is that when we maintain a close relationship with God He gives us the strength and power to even bring forth blessings in the midst of every battle and valley of tears we walk through. What He showed me was that if I set my heart on, if I focus on, continuing and pursuing through the journey that he has mapped out for me then when I go through tough times He will be right there with me showing me that it is possible to have His joy that isn't all smiles and giggles, yet powerful and fulfilling. Not only will I dig and create a dry land a place of springs but He will also send his rain to overflow the season that I am going through. What does that look like? For me it was discovering true friends that prayed with me and encouraged me, to be able to finish two semesters victoriously when the odds were against me, and to receive the answer to my prayers. I continue my journey and I still face many struggles and I know that there are future struggles but I also know that God gave me the power by His Holy Spirit to dig until a spring comes gushing forth to bring life to what was dead. Hang in there folks. Our God is right beside us.