A word from God:

It's so easy for many of us to look at our past and immediately point out our many disadvantages or "bad luck." But the truth of it all is that God's purpose is present even in our worst situations.

The Apostle Paul encourages us best in Romans 8:18, which says "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (NIV)

Allow God to reveal his purpose to you, then go out and live it...ON PURPOSE!!!!

You can read more on this awesome word of living God's purpose at http://godslillyflower.blogspot.com/. The blog is produced by another YOUNG woman who is in love with her Savior and in tune to His word.



Until next post, stay blessed!
Miss Hayes

Are you living in TRUTH?

“And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.”John 8:32 (KJV)

I’ve heard the above scripture quoted so many times, but never had a complete understanding of “truth”. I’ve heard it preached, but not necessarily taught . . . until 10 weeks ago!

For the past 10 weeks I’ve attended a Bible study where we’ve explored this “truth” Jesus was referring to in the above scripture in a series called The Truth Project. Just to give you some context to this one verse above, in the chapter Jesus was actually speaking to BELIEVERS (Jews who “believed on him,” as written in verse 1). This gives rise to the fact that there are still things we need to be set free from, even as “believers.”

This project is presented in what some might consider a non-traditional Bible study, but causes listeners to get a better understanding of God’s Word and really question whether or not they “really believe what they believe is really real,” according to Dr. Del Tackett, the “teacher” in this series. In other words, discover the true meaning of “truth” and apply it to your every-day life.

But, whenever I’m introduced to a new study, or simply a new or different thought, I’m always asking “Lord, are there others out there with the same idea?” Funny thing is, God always answers and I’m always amazed and excited!

This time, it is through the book “Principle of the Path,” by Andy Stanley. The whole basis for this book is realizing that every choice you make in life leads you down a particular path to a specific destination.

For example, if you choose to marry the wrong person for the wrong reasons, the destination for that marriage could be hurt, anger and divorce.

But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Stanley forces you to realize that (a) you MUST understand why and how you arrived at your present destination (whether it’s a place you want to be or not), (b) this understanding will cause you to take responsibility for past choices and make you think/pray hard about future choices, and (c) the heart of the matter is . . . you guessed it . . . TRUTH!

Here’s the passage that made my spirit shout:

“Our problem is rarely a lack of information or insight. … Our problem stems from the fact that we on not on a truth quest.”

Can I get an “AMEN”?

Man, when I read the paragraph containing these sentences, my spirit immediately began jumping . . . honestly, I literally almost started jumping around my room. And over a simple little word: TRUTH. How stress-less our lives would be if we simply lived by God’s truths.

Anyway…what I absolutely ADORE about my God is the fact that He never ceases to amaze me! God shed yet more light on this little lesson through a church sermon. I got invited to attend service last Sunday morning at Carlisle Brethren in Christ Church, lead by Pastor Alan Robinson. Needless to say, it was hard getting out of bed that morning, but God made it worth it!

Pastor Robinson read from 1 John, verses 1 through 10. First John, as he described it, “addresses very specific challenges in very specific situations within the life of specific communities.” One of these challenges, just from a historical standpoint, was a noticeable division within the church at that time; particularly the encroachments of Gnostic philosophy into Christian faith (according to the King James Reference Bible by Zondervan).

Here’s what rekindled my fire during this sermon: Pastor Robinson said that when we don’t hear truth we are being deceived, and when we choose to ignore truth we are deceiving ourselves. “The worst kind of deceit is self-deceit,” he said.

There’s that word truth again!

He also said that too many Christians are living with one foot in the Kingdom of God and the other foot in the world. What they don’t realize is that these are two completely different paths going in [total opposite] directions. You can’t keep one foot on both paths but for so long.

Is your spirit jumping yet?!?

Now, get this. In Stanley’s book, he references Jeremiah 17:9, which says “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?” He further explains that the horribleness of deceit is its ability to lead someone astray. So, in self-deceit we are allowing ourselves (with no outside help) to actually believe something that is wrong and contrary to God. What’s heartbreaking is that the same division in John’s day continues in today’s church.

To bring this word full circle, much of what we’ve been learning to do in this Truth Project is how to discern natural and spiritual lies (or deceit) and how to discover truth and live it every day.

How GREAT is our God!

There are only two more lessons remaining in our Truth-Project study, and I’m just half way through Stanley’s book (which, I’m sure I’ll have more to write about once I’m finished), but I challenge you to unveil some of the lies you’ve been believing. Ask God to reveal His truth to you, and once He does, take that leap of faith forward and follow that truth every day of your life. Teach it to your children (or to whomever God leads you). Most importantly, simply enjoy the true fellowship with God that comes by knowing His word and will for your life.

Never lose sight of your God-given vision

God is so awesome! And I'm learning every day that when we are obedient to His word and diligent in doing His will, it all works for our good!

So, the word for the day is Diligence.

Let me say here that recently God has paced an awesome woman of God (who I'll gladly refer to as my Spiritual Mother) in my life. We are similar in so many ways it's almost scary. But, the more God reveals to both of us, the more we realize that this relationship was part of God's plan from the very beginning.

I won't go into great detail, otherwise I'd be writing for days about this (you'll just have to read the book when God releases it). The main point is that we both had God-given dreams, visions, callings on our lives that for some reason or another we allowed to slip through the cracks.

Well, I can only speak for myself. My dream has always been to own a business. I had this original vision when I was 16 years old. Somehow, I lost sight of that dream while in college. In the summer of 2007, I refocused and began writing a business plan to support the realization of this dream.

Now, at that time I was writing with the idea not to get my hopes too high on this dream coming true. If it did, great. If it didn't, I had nothing to lose. What a Godly attitude, right?! :-p

Anyway, after writing this simple draft it got lost in a clutter of other papers and books I had laying around my apartment. A few months later, I was laid off from my copy-editing job and packing up my life (once again) to move back home to Pennsylvania; a move that was God-ordained.

At that point, the confusion and frustration over other situations and circumstances (as well as the overwhelming fear of failure) pushed this dream way out of focus for me.

But God never lost sight!!!!

Diligence.

After recently disclosing my dreams (and fears) to my Spiritual Mother, we both discovered that we have similar goals and have been praying for God to send us the help to achieve them.

So now, my thought is had I not been diligent in following God's direction for preparing for my business, and even moving back to Pennsylvania, this relationship might not exist. I would have been delaying my own blessing!

As for my Spiritual Mother's goals and dreams, well, like I said...you'll have to read her book! ;-)

Now that I've seen God's work and have heard His call, I will be more diligent in doing the work He has for me.

Man, this just keeps getting better!!!

Celebrating a year of revelations

On June 19, 2008, I started this blog with one intention: to share with others what God was sharing with me. What I wasn't expecting was the loving, fruitful relationship between God and myself that seemed to form simply out of just listening to and following his voice.

A year ago, I ventured into studying the Bible on my own (with God's help, of course). I went to church two, sometimes three times a week, but it was when I sat with my Bible, in the quietness of my Virginia apartment, that God showed himself to me in a way I'd never experienced. Whatever God showed me, I studied then shared my revelations through blogging.

For about a month, I read nothing but God's word. I became rooted in the fact that my life and everything I did belonged to God and He would use me for his Kingdom. But, before that could happen, I had to be transformed by the renewing of my mind! I let God come in and take FULL control of everything in my life.

In short, I entered a true RELATIONSHIP with God.

And that's all God really wanted from me. He wasn't concerned with what church I attended; if it was filled with one race, or whether it was mixed; if it had 100 members or 10 members. He knew that once I simply committed to Him, everything else would fall into place (read Matthew 6 if you are seeking revelation on this).

God knows me better that anyone, and this last year has been amazing. I'm in love with my heavenly father. I've tasted and now see that the LORD is good, and he has a destiny for my life.

I'm excited about where God is taking me on this next adventure here in Pennsylvania. It's already off to a great start and I'm just looking forward to what the next year will bring.

Keep reading. Keep loving God.

God speaks no matter where you are. Are you listening?

I've owned MaryMary's lasted album "The Sound" for about three months now, but every time I play the CD I'm jamming as if it's my first time hearing it. Tonight, it was as if I was hearing it for the first tim . . . or more so that God revealed something new to me!

On the track "Superfriend," rapper David Banner spits this line: "there's. . .no lie that can be told that can separate the power that you have over my soul..."(The "you," obviously, refers to God.)

This line stuck with me more so tonight than any other because recently in my women's Bible study class we've been discussing the truths of God verses the lies that this world disguised as some sort of "truth" (that's just putting it lightly). One of the questions that our teacher proposed to us last week was "what lies are you believing?"

But, as I listened to this one verse, God took that question a step farther and dropped into my spirit the thought . . . when will we, as believers, stop ALLOWING the enemy's lies to hinder, build a wedge between, or even destroy our relationship with God?

We talk about how awesome and great our God is, but are we being doers of the word (James 1:22), or are we deceiving ourselves by being hearers only?

"To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness to truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."

John 18:37 (KJV)

Let Him reveal your future to you

I would really love to take pictures -- video even -- during some of the church services I attend. Not because anyone is doing anything outrageous or YouTube worthy (you know everything ends up there these days), but because I wish everyone could see what God shows me during the brief moments of praise and worship.

Tonight was a perfect example. Let me start off by saying that I'm moved back home to Pa. and am attending a new church. This church is different from churches I grew up in, but nevertheless, I believe God has me there for a specific purpose. Anyway, I'm still getting acclimated to the type of music they sing, but I've always had a tendency to watch others during praise and worship. As my eyes glided from the left end of the sanctuary to the right during service tonight, my focus stopped on this young boy sitting next to a few other young children.

This child looked to be at least 11 or 12 years old. Now, most children that I've seen this age and slightly older tend to find something to occupy their time during praise and worship other than praise and worship. But this young boy had his hands in the air and his head slightly bent forward. It didn't shock me to see this. I mean, this is what should be what's happening. It did however cause me to get teary eyed. In a world that pumps so much crap into the minds of young people, not all are taking heed to worldly thinking and acting. There are so many young people that are being trained in the way they should go and are loving every minute of it.

What really got me chocked up was when the minister asked everyone to stand and wanted to pray for those who were having specific problems (knowing what these problems were aren't important here). As the congregation began praying for one another, this same young boy laid his hand on an older man sitting a few seats away, and began praying for him. Wow.

This isn't the first time God has attracted my attention to a such a sight. Why has He done this?
Because He's preparing me for youth ministry. He has shown me what a child who hungers after Him looks like. He's also shown me what a lost and love-sick child looks like. He's showing and preparing me for all that I'll deal with in the youth I'll minister to in His appointed time.

Why am I sharing this with you? Because this is how God operates...for those who are willing to listen! He gives you the vision, then as He's preparing you for that appointed time, He shows you little by little what you'll face during that appointed time. And this doesn't only apply to ministry...IT APPLIES TO ALL ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE.

And God has been like this since the beginning of time. Just look at what He promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (check out the Old Testament books of Genesis and Exodus). And that's just a taste of what God has and can do. If God is showing you things concerning your future, pay close attention. And when it comes to past, you will be more than overjoyed!

So many times our pride gets in the way and we try to work out our own plans for our lives. But God has something better than we could ever imagine. And if He's the one developing the plan, you can be sure He'll work it out and walk you through it step by step.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

Jeremiah 29:11

How often do you apologize to God?

This week, I realized just how easy it is to allow negative thoughts enter my mind about...well, any and everything. Now, some people would argue that 'it's OK to think it, as long as you don't actually do it.'


Soooooo wrong!

This revelation crept up on me this morning while I was still in bed. For those of you who have been keeping up with this blog, or know me in the least bit, you'd know that I lost my job. It really hasn't been that bad, and I don't go around telling everyone my situation. Most people will ask "So, how's your job?" or if they ask why I'm moving, then I'll share. Other than that, I keep a low profile.

But, every time I get to that point in a conversation my initial response is "oh, I'm moving because I lost my job." Giving the state of this nation's economy most responses are "It's happening to so many people." Either that or their mouths just drop to the floor.

As I was laying in bed this morning, half awake, but earnestly trying get another hour of sleep, I began to pray in the spirit. It was weired because I couldn't stop myself. It's like something bigger than me had overpowered my conscious mind to the point where I couldn't even move. All I could do was lay there...and pray.

When I finally realized that this wasn't just some spirit but the Holy Spirit, I decided it was best not to fight it. So, after about five or 10 minutes I stopped. Just like that! Couldn't utter a word if I wanted to. But then, He began to speak in a voice so clear, I could have sworn someone was lying next to me and whispering in my ear.

I opened my eyes, just to make sure I wasn't going crazy or possibly still dreaming, and I heard God say "Stop telling people you're moving because you lost your job. You lost your job because I said it's time for you to move."

That nearly took my breath away. The next "logical" thing that came to my mind was 'how could this be. I'm not the only one that got the boot...and I know everyone else didn't lose their job because of me...'

Amazing. Just by my simple response to a situation I knew a looong time ago God already had the solution to, my focus was shifted from God to that situation. I didn't do anything wrong, but thought all of the wrong things.