Peek-a-Boo Sky

image from http://www.fabiovisentin.com/photos/world/25_841/sun-shining-through-cloudy-sky.ashx

Oh how I LOVE to see the sky peeking through the clouds like this!!! It absolutely takes my breath away!

I find myself straining to see my Lord riding on his white horse coming through those clouds… Can’t you just see Him coming?

I believe with all my heart it’s going to be a sky like this when that trumpet sounds in our Lord burst through those clouds followed by myriads of angels rushing towards the earth (Revelation 19) … Can’t you see it, oh beloved can’t you see it! Can you feel the excitement building in your heart now as you imagine it? Oh my heart just yearns for it so deeply!

I find myself with songs in the night building up with crescendos. I open my eyes expecting to see the heavens splitting open in it to happen any moment and yet the time is not quite yet.

Yes beloved, there is more work to be done and our precious Lord in His wonderful sense of humor gives us the tease of a peekaboo sky. I can hear His gentle laughter in my heart as I glance up I can almost see the twinkle in His eye, I can almost hear His voice, “daughter this is for you” and “I love you!”

What a glorious Lord we have. The depths, the heights, the expanse of His love for us we cannot even begin to fathom. The more we see Him, the more we get to know His personality, the riches of His grace, the greater our expectancy of His return.

© klh 4-Given Ministries

Being Vunerable

Venerability . . . oh, how we fight against being vulnerable with one another . . . why?!

I used to hide behind masks myself – believe me – I had a mask for almost every situation! “never let anyone know what I was really feeling”, that was my way of approaching life . . . yes, even as a Christian, even in Ministry! I would be sharing with others about the Love of Christ and living in victory, but be torn apart inside . . . never letting others know what was REALLY going on in my own shattered world! NOT ANY MORE!!!!  The Lord has shown me that there is a reason His Word tells us to “bear one another’s burdens”! Galatians 6:2

How can we truly be healed, if we do not allow others to minister to our wounds?!

How can we grow, if we do not allow the weeds to be pulled, the branches to be pruned and the roots to be fed and watered?!

I ask again . . . why?! Now, I answer . . . PRIDE, plain and simple . . . one of satan’s nasty tools that he loves to use to keep us from reaching our potential as becoming the beautiful whole sanctified Bride of Christ . . . (lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh and the pride of life; 1 John 2:16), his tricks never change! But why are we so quick to fall for his silly little dangling carrots in front of us?! For years I did, but NO MORE!!! I now make the conscious effort to choose to be vulnerable – to be open, even IF people make their own choice to think differently of me – that is their problem. I will forgive them.

So, here I am, with NO mask, sharing my heart . . . things have been REALLY chaotic to say the least, for a while now . . . took care of one side of it . . . now more ‘stuff’ has come up, and WOW! Mercy, I’m listening to a song just now that is talking about ‘the bottom falling out’ – how appropriate – BUT GOD! He has it ALL in His Hands! It is the trusting in Him through it that causes me to remind myself to “Breathe, girl!” (honestly, I do forget sometimes, and have to remind myself when I find myself really lightheaded!)  And I look at those I love, and sometimes find my thoughts going “who IS this person? why are they talking this way? what is going on? where is all this coming from?” Of course, I KNOW we do NOT wrestle against flesh but against principalities and powers . . . etc. Ephesians 6:12  and that I just have to crawl up on Abba Father’s lap and rest in Him, drawing upon Holy Spirit’s never ending PEACE that passes ALL understanding and press on ahead . . . but, being REAL here . . . the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak (sometimes)…. remember, I’ve left the masks behind!

I am choosing to press ahead . . . for God does NOT lie and His Word promises that He is Faithful to complete that which He started!!!! Philippians 1:6

Masks down, head bowed, on my knees, tears gently falling, heart shaking, asking for brothers and sisters to surround with loving prayers and arms of love; words of encouragement . . . words of corrections, if you see anything that needs correcting, I am open – I do NOT want anything to hinder my growth! I desire to remain a handmaiden that He can use for His glory, for the furthering of His Kingdom . . . nothing else! I never want to be a stumbling block to anyone in any way! Not ever, especially not in my vulnerability, but I refuse to wear masks ever again . . . I must continue to allow my Precious Lord to mold and shape me into ALL that He desires me to be! I long to be the spotless Bride that He longs to return for! I want no blemishes, no wrinkles, no scars!!! If there be ANY thing that is NOT right – I want it GONE!!!! Oh, Jesus, You alone know the depths of anguish within my being . . . I feel as though somehow I have failed you, but I am not responsible for those around me, we are each responsible for our own walk . . . help me to remain steadfast and true to you and to them through every step of this journey . . . in love and honor and respect.

I love how you just answered me, Lord . . . WOW!

“It’s all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don’t get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you’ll get where you’re going; then you’ll succeed. Haven’t I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take.” Joshua 1:7-9 The Message

Now THAT sets me to rejoicing!!!!! 

image from oslchurch.com

© klh 4-Given Ministries

WHEN Will It End???

We need to Rest/Abide/Walk . . . that was one of the very first things we studied back in school for the Biblical Counseling courses I took. The title of the book we studied was the same, written by Watchmen Nee – POWERFUL!!! I highly recommend it, by the way.

Just returned from a very important trip that the Lord had me take regarding some urgent family matters in another state. WOW. Difficult does not even begin to describe what my flesh/inner man had to deal with in the spiritual battle . . . I am going to share two pictures to kind of describe how it ‘felt’ . . . one was taken from a fellow christian blogger (I recommend you click on the link below the photo and read their blog associated with the photo) and the second one I am sure you will recognize from an old movie. Combine the two together and that will give you a good visual of the word picture I cannot adequately describe because I REFUSE to use the kind of words that I was bombarded with (AND continue to be bombarded with on the phone since returning home . . . S I G H ).

https://christiandfahey.wordpress.com/2012/07/03/treat-your-mouth-as-a-loaded-gun/

So, here I sit, typing up these words as tears still fall gently from my eyes (they were not so gentle a while ago) and I think of how in world people can be SO VERY DIFFERENT from one another! Sure, we truly do love one another, but there it ends.

We think differently, we act differently, we see things differently, and we choose our words differently! (There IS power of life and death in the tongue!!!! Proverbs 18:21 and words truly can feel like a never ending barrage of gunfire when let loose over and over . . . )

There is a time where love is given, it is taken as an insult . . .

There is a place where a kindness is extended, it is taken as an intrusion . . .

There is a moment where one desires to give all they can to help improve a situation, and it is shoved back in the face with such venomous hate that one wishes to crawl into a hole and completely disappear from sight, but you cannot, you have to lower your voice, speak with love and continue on . . . it is difficult, but focus on what God has called you to do! It is His assignment that you are on, not man’s. I make the choice to walk in LOVE and FORGIVENESS . . . at all times, praying for their peace and supernatural encounters in their own lives!!!

So . . . as the tears continue to flow . . . I sing along with Kristene DiMarco . . . 

Abba Father, I Love You with ALL my heart! I do let it all go . . . I TRUST IN YOU!!!! You are my EVERYTHING . . . I know that You have all parties in Your Hand . . . You love them even more than I do and Your heart is breaking probably even more than mine is right now over this whole situation . . . I can boldly say (even through the tears)

IT IS WELL . . . WITH MY SOUL!!!

Philippians 4:6-7

 

© klh 4-Given Ministries

 

 

Waiting for the Other Shoe to Fall?

Oh my GOODNESS!!! What a HORRIFIC few days . . . tests, trials,Hurricane Force Winds blowing our way from the enemy camp, attacks on all sides . . .

image from http://www.ino.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/fshoe.jpg

PRAISE GOD!
We MUST be doing something right!

“Why in the world are you saying that?” (you ask) Because If these kinds of attacks keep happening one after the other, boom, boom, boom . . . we have to be on the precipice of something wonderful for the Kingdom of God and we have riled up the troops of enemy!

You know . . . he can ‘see’ the path we are on, and he knows where it is leading. When he sees the stance we take, and hears the plans we have voiced/set in motion, and knows what victories those same plans have brought others in The Kingdom of God – he begins to SHAKE . . . and (I can almost see it) I believe even froth at the mouth! Perhaps spewing out in anger, “No! Not another one!”, then turning to  his cohorts, “You must stop them, they cannot proceed, you must NOT allow them to move forward with their plans!!!!”

Yes, these past few days (weeks) have been very rough (painful), and yes, there have been some tears . . . but I have taken every single struggle, every single dart the enemy has thrown my way (every stone/arrow/lightening bolt/shoe dropped/etc) before my King’s Throne! I have crawled up on My Daddy’s Lap and cried . . . He SEES, He KNOWS, He IS in CONTROL over every circumstance and HE REIGNS SUPREME OVER ALL!!!

Then . . . NOW . . . I tell that ole’ devil . . .

you….ARE….DEFEATED! 1 John 4:4

you …. ARE …. under MY FEET!!!!! (because Christ is in us and we are in Him) Mark 12:36

you . . . can throw whatever you want, but you STILL LOSE!!!!! It is written, it WAS SAID, and it is still true . . . John 19:30 . . . the “IT” was EVERYTHING (sin, sickness, wickedness, etc.)

IT IS FINISHED!!!!! 

This has REALLY helped me through . . .

© klh 4-Given Ministries

WOW – Once Again, the Time has Flown By!

And I didn’t even realize it had passed me by!

Yet, here I am and it has been months since I have even written a blog . . .

image from https://nikipedia87.wordpress.com/2011/12/01/racing-against-time/

Guilt? NO
Shame? NO
Remorse? NO

I have still been about The Father’s business . . . still following after all He has been leading and guiding me to do on a daily basis – it is simply different than before.

It has been a wee bit awkward in the adjustment department . . . I remember in the beginning of my “Blogging” I would rush to the computer each morning after my Bible Study and Devotional times and begin pounding the keys to post  a blog on at least two  blogs – one here and one on one of my other blog pages, if not on two . . . now here I am, months gone by and have not written or posted on any but on our website, and only once or twice on there! WOW – it is amazing what happens when God changes the directional steering of the ship!

Last year, my husband and I fasted and prayed for several months on (and some of you may already know this, so please bear with me) very specific topics for clarity of direction. God answered VERY directly. “NO”, “YES” and “CHANGE”. We have been obedient to His directions and, as Heidi Baker says, “Lord, put me on like a glove and use me.” we have been going forward. It has been (and IS) an incredibly amazing journey!!!

Some days I cannot even fathom where the time has gone, to be honest with you, yet it each day, the richness of His presence, the JOY He brings into our lives, the songs He wakes us up with, the Hope He plants deep down inside and encourages us with each and every day . . . too much to even begin to explain here today.

As we continue on this path, I will be sharing more. For now, let me leave you with some Scriptures to reflect upon for your own lives today:

“Great peace have they that love Thy Law!” Psalm 119:165

“To obey is better than sacrifice!” 1 Samuel 15:22

God gives very specific details IF we listen! Noah , and the building of the Temple  1 Chronicles 28:12, just to name a couple of examples

Abba Father, thank You for changing the direction of the wind . . . the sails of the boat, and the boat itself! Even forgiving our stubbornness of not wanting to change in the beginning. You are SO gracious, Lord, and we Honor You, we love You and we worship You!!! We give You ALL the glory for You are Great and we magnify Your Holy Name!

 

© klh 4-Given Ministries

 

Grieving Together

We find ourselves the nation on our knees today after yesterday‘s horrible shooting in Sutherland Texas. It is a small town not too far from where I live. I don’t know anyone from that church but they are still my brothers and sisters. I do however know many who have gone down there to minister to those who are affected by this disaster, this tragedy, this horrific thing that should not of happened. Our heart aches, our tears flow freely yet there’s a part of us that knows beyond any shadow of any doubt that these precious ones who went from praising the Lord in their church home to praising Jesus in Person in their heavenly home with their Heavenly Father! Yes, that that does bring some comfort to our souls, yet the more mourning process is still heavy on our hearts. Yes Christians do grieve, Christian still mourn, Christian still cry. Remember, even our Lord Jesus Christ mourned and wept at the graveside of his dear friend Lazarus …

We drop to our knees, allow our tears to flow, ur hearts to cry out our anguish before the Throne, then we get up and be one His arms extended. We become His voice of love, speaking words of Hope and comfort and compassion. We start to help rebuild one moment, one step, one hug at a time. Through His LOVE. 

WE…the body of Christ need to act with one heart, linking arms together….we are planning on bringing down Thanksgiving meals to the community, continued prayer and counseling….please join with us in praying for their faith to remain unshattered and for their healing to be quick; for the Lord to somehow turn this tragedy around into a glorious triumph for His Glory and the good of this precious tight-knit community. 

Grieving Together

We find ourselves the nation on our knees today after yesterday‘s horrible shooting in Sutherland Texas. It is a small town not too far from where I live. I don’t know anyone from that church but they are still my brothers and sisters. I do however know many who have gone down there to minister to those who are affected by this disaster, this tragedy, this horrific thing that should not of happened. Our heart aches, our tears flow freely yet there’s a part of us that knows beyond any shadow of any doubt that these precious ones who went from praising the Lord in their church home to praising Jesus in Person in their heavenly home with their Heavenly Father! Yes, that that does bring some comfort to our souls, yet the more mourning process is still heavy on our hearts. Yes Christians do grieve, Christian still mourn, Christian still cry. Remember, even our Lord Jesus Christ mourned and wept at the graveside of his dear friend Lazarus …

We drop to our knees, allow our tears to flow, ur hearts to cry out our anguish before the Throne, then we get up and be one His arms extended. We become His voice of love, speaking words of Hope and comfort and compassion. We start to help rebuild one moment, one step, one hug at a time. Through His LOVE. 

WE…the body of Christ need to act with one heart, linking arms together….we are planning on bringing down Thanksgiving meals to the community, continued prayer and counseling….please join with us in praying for their faith to remain unshattered and for their healing to be quick; for the Lord to somehow turn this tragedy around into a glorious triumph for His Glory and the good of this precious tight-knit community. 

Gasping For Breath!

 

Ever feel so crushed that you can hardly breathe? That is where I am at the present moment! Coming off an incredible, power-packed 3 weeks filled with ministry and pressing ahead to another 2 weeks of Seeking God with the 10 Days San Antonio . . . starting on the 20th . . .  I find myself at the moment sitting here, slightly overwhelmed, feeling the loss of a new but dear friend who flew off back to his home in Kent (the UK) this morning and the last minute crunch time of preparations for the 10 Days – oh – not mention the amazing Beauty for Ashes Conference held Saturday where many women were set FREE from years of bondage’s!!! God is so GOOD!!!! Hallelujah! It is strange that all of a sudden I find myself feeling (ah, there it is! ‘feeling’) like I am gasping for a breath! So much has happened in such a short amount of time – it seems as though a few years worth of ministry work jam-packed into a few short weeks . . . that is what it is . . . the pressure . . . condensing a LOT into such a small amount of time . . . BUT GOD!!! What am amazing God we serve!!!

He is our Breath! He is our Strength! He is our Hope! He is our Joy! He is our Peace! He is ALL we need, for EVERY situation!!! I give Him ALL the praise, honor and glory!!!

Lord, God, thank You for giving me the opportunity to speak into the lives of those whom You strategically placed in my path these past few weeks . . . even the one you brought across the ocean, Abba Father, You amaze me!!! Yes, it has been draining, but it has been powerful, it has been good and I would not trade it for anything in the world!!! How I love You, Lord!!! How I praise You!!!! You are my EVERYTHING!!!!! Now, Lord, I ask that You SEAL the work that You have done in the lives of these precious ones . . . every one of them, Lord . . . continue the work . . . let the roots go down deep, and the the branches grow strong, and the fruit be rich and beautiful, my God, all for Your Glory!!! in Jesus Mighty Name, amen!

 

HOLY SPIRIT BREATHE ON ME, IN ME AND THROUGH ME . . . NOW AND ALWAYS, AMEN!

© klh 4-Given Ministries

#Don’t Worry Just Pray!!!

 • We are not beggars, we are BELIEVERS.
• We don’t pout, we PRAY.
• We don’t worry, we WORSHIP.
• We don’t complain about hardship, we CONFESS our victory.
• We don’t give up, we GRAB ONTO GRACE. 
• We don’t doubt, we DARE TO LIVE by what we know.
• We don’t retreat, we REBUKE AND REBUILD.
• Above all, we know WHO IS FOR US, WITH US, IN US, AND NEVER AGAINST US. HIS NAME IS JESUS. 

As Christians and as The Church of Jesus Christ, we know what to do. #DontWorryJustPray – Grace Gonzalez

August 27 near Houston · (used by permission, Grace, I thank you for your strong spirit, and I bless you, in the Name of Jesus for the encouragement, grace and love you pour out to others each and every day! Thank you for allowing me to help spread this prayer message of HOPE!)

Perfectly Fitted Together

God has a plan and a purpose behind every word He allowed to be penned . . . an illustration for us to gasp a hold of . . . to meditate upon . . . to allow to sink deep down inside of our spirit and to change the way we think, act and treat one another in our Christian lives!

image from slide share

Let us take a deeper look into the this passage mentioned in the photo, and specific emphasis on phrases within. This is a message to us ALL. We are the brethren! There is to be NO division between us – NONE.

See that “DOVETAIL” work there? Have you ever realized the STRENGTH behind that kind of fitted together?! It is the Greek word, Strong’s # 2675 katartizó translated “perfectly joined together” which, in depth, means  – like shown in this illustration – a detailed, “properly adjusted, exactly fit to work together, adjusted exactly ‘down’ to fully function!” (just a partial snip-it from the full definition).

Dear ones, we are to be one in Christ Jesus! We are to be LIKE MINDED!  God is calling us forth to become new wine skins He can use to hold and pour forth the New Wine He is getting ready to pour out upon this world for His Divine purposes . . . but He can only do it with those that are ready to walk TOGETHER in ONENESS of heart and mind. Those who are willing to put down their prejudices, pride, wants, desires, their “me, me, me” attitudes, and allow God to fit us together as He desires and function together as He sees fit!

There is a song, often used at weddings, but most appropriate for this message as well. I would like to share some of the words here:

Make us one, make us one
Make us one, undivided body
Make us one, make us one
For the sake of Your name make us one

Make us love, make us love
Make us love so the world will know we love You
Make us love, make us love
For the sake of Your name make us love

Read more: Twila Paris – Make Us One Lyrics | MetroLyrics

Click to view the YouTube Video 

Abba Father, open our ears to HEAR, open our spirit eyes to SEE, open our HEARTS to fully grasp and understand what You are getting ready to do . . . what You are asking us to lay down at this time in our lives and HOW to fully embrace one another in Your love and go forth as ONE with You and become the Bride You have asked us to be – ready to BE what You desire us to be for Your Kingdom, in Jesus Name, amen!!!

© klh 4-Given Ministries