Joy

I am just filled with joy because through it all, Jesus Christ is VICTORIOUS!  Even though we struggle and face so many obtsacles, I know that in the end, it will bring glory to God. From my experience with all of this, I know that I'm becoming someone who is stronger in my faith because it is God who gives me strength to pull through.

The battle is not over yet, but we stand firm because God is with us. And if God is with us, then who can stand against us? No one. :)


On a side note, me, Yor, and Windy went to go climb Stone Mountain yesterday. It was probably the hardest thing that I've done recently, but climbing that 1.3 mile narrow mountain taught me a one thing. No matter how rough, and how tired, and how much I want to give up, Yor will always have my back.

Tumblr

HELLO! You can find me on TUMBLR now.

I'll still blog here every now & then. :)

It's Fine

I know this time around I'll be perfectly fine without you.
Why?
Just because I realized that I'm fine without you.
Makes sense?
Sure does.

Bad Mood*

Title says it all: I've been in a bad mood recently---and I just got back from Vacay.

God is my Provider

God has truly just been providing for me and I just want to give him praise and thanks. Just recently, I went and bought some trophies for our upcoming sports tournament this Saturday to help our youth go to the Side by Side Retreat held for the CMA district of Region 5. We budgetted $800 as our max to spend, and since buying the trophies, we were down to about  $575 to spend. I calculated all the expenses that we had to spend and the budget was over a thousand dollar!! I was just blown away and shock--I just didn't think it would be that much to spend, since last year we only spent about $800-$900.
I was worried that we wouldn't have enough money to cover all our expenses just based on my estimation so I told the officers that we might have to budget a little higher (the actual amount that we have in our account was around $900). We might've even had had to pull from our pockets to get some supplies.
I remember just telling the Lord: "God, you are my sole provider. I trust that You will come through and provide the financial needs that we need to get this done."--as I lay ther eon my bed praying this, I feel asleep content.
Last week was Molly's wedding and our youth went out to help her decorate and set up chairs/tables. It was a just a little frustrating because we didn't really know what to do, and I'm sure Molly was even more frustrated about it all (God bless her soul).
We helped set up chairs and tables, and then we went and play volleyball.
Afterwards, my sibs and I, along with Ms. Angela and her brother Tom, and two of my youth girls Mindy and Heaven stayed up pretty late just decorating the service room and reception room. We had fun, but it was also SO very tiring. Word of advice: Never let the guys do their own decorating unless a girl is there to help supervise. (Haha)
I just wanted to really thank Angela (My New Roomie This Fall) for being there to help us. Just because she's a sister from another church, but she helped stayed until like the very end, to help decorate. I know its hard for some of our youth to come out and help because they don't have rides and because of work and such, but I thank God for providing helpers when time is needed. (Many thanks to Karissa and Christina for coming out to help too! ^__^)
The day of the wedding: I had to work in the morning so I couldn't come help out with the cooking, however, Molly's mom had wanted us to watch the kids during the ceremony so that they don't disturb the wedding. Of course, I got there about 30 minutes late, and thank goodness Grace was there to help gather up the kids. Grace has just been another blessing that the Lord has put on for this year's officers.
Me and Grace had split the kids up with those wanting to go outside and play baseball vs those who just wanted to stay in the nursery. I ended up playing baseball with the group of kids who wanted to play that and I must say, we all had so much fun. I met some new kids, who by the way were so kute.
At the end of ceremony, we all went to eat. Even though I missed the whole ceremony, getting to spend time with  new/old kids was pretty fun. They all asked me to go and play baseball with them later on, but I had to help cleaned so we never got around to it. :)
The following day, Sunday, we received $200 from Molly mom's for helping out with the wedding and in return, she donated that much back to us. Truly Amazing right? All thanks be to God, our heavenly Father.

So...with all that, it comes to my main point that God is our Sole Provider. "The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety." (Psalm 18:2) 

Something is stirring in the Spirit

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. -Phil 4:6

Prayers--I seem to be more spiritually into my prayers at night when I'm on my knees and just praying and praising my God next to my bed.
For a few days now, my spirit has been stirring. Something is stirring, deep in my spirit and all I want to do is pray. Earnestly praying, down on my knees, humble before God, praying and praising my Heavenly Father.
I remember singing a song that I learned long ago from my childhood. The words hit me like a lightning bolt, but as soon as I finish singing and praising my Lord with it, the words disappear.
I seriously know that I need to continue to pray earnestly, faithfully, and continuously.

Holy Spirit – the teacher of all

Retha posted a letter in her archive about Holy Spirit recently. I just wanted to share what she said about having Holy Spirit be our teacher. It touches me dearly because I've been searching for Wisdom to come and teach me and fill me.
I"ve let things of this world come and over take me and make me a slave to them, but Lord, I pray that you will break all ties and bondages to the things that keeps me away from you.

This is what Retha has to say:

If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:6-7).

Life is a race and each of are running our own course. With each new step we draw closer to the King. As we face new obstacles, and fall down and stand up again, we learn the hard way – but in the end we still learn and are changed for the better. As we grow in maturity through the experiences we encounter we also realize more and more how narrow the road becomes. Ultimately only you and Holy Spirit will be walking hand in hand on this narrow road. Nobody and nothing will be able to wipe away the things you learned from Him through the intimacy of your relationship. No new doctrine or wind of teaching will be able to undo what He has already placed in your heart. On this road where you listen only to Holy Spirit, He will reveal deep and hidden things to you... the mysteries of God. (1 Cor. 2:9)
However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” the things God has prepared for those who love him - these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God (1 Cor. 2:9-11).
God’s plan is for each of us to be in a love relationship with Him. Each of us is unique, and our relationship with God will have its own unique love-fingerprint. That is why God created us – just for Himself; to love Him and to be one with Him.
None of us are exactly the same. We experience and interpret things differently, and therefore God also speaks to each of us in the unique “love-language” we will understand. For instance, God will speak to me using circles and to Tinus (who is much more practical than I am) He will speak using squares. I’ll jump on the bed of excitement, and five minutes later Tinus will come in and pull the covers back the way they were. Does that make the one right and the other wrong? No, it just makes us different. We are all unique. We are not robots programmed to love God in a certain way. If we love God with our whole heart, mind, will and strength, we will express this love in the best way we know how through our personalities. We will live out His Kingdom here on earth with passion, with each child having a place in the Father’s house regardless of our differences.
God is not divided so His message will be the same to all of His children, but He will communicate the message in different ways so each of us can understand. How can I expect that Tinus’ relationship with God must be exactly the same as mine? We are unique, and if we try to quench that uniqueness we will miss out on the beauty of what God created us to be.
God meets us at the level where we will understand and hear His voice. Even if you live under a tree in a house made of clay somewhere deep in Africa, God will meet you there. I can testify of this, because I once had the privilege of meeting an old lady in Africa who didn’t even have a Bible but the Holy Spirit taught her the “Our Father” prayer. She had such a beautiful love relationship with Jesus. She lived her life being in constant communion with the Holy Spirit and His presence was so tangible. Sick people came to her to ask her for prayer for healing and the flour for baking bread never ran out. I saw how she was on her face calling out to God, being in total dependence of Him. God taught her day by day through His Spirit. If you should ask me if she is part of the Bride of Christ, my answer is: “Yes, definitely!” Not because of any dogma, but because of her pure love-relationship with the King – the one and only living God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He flowed through her because she was an empty vessel who made herself available for His love to be put on display through her. She had a humble heart that wanted to serve God and others.
At the moment I am walking around with a heavy heart, because in certain spiritual circles the story is going around that only a selected group of people who belong to a specific church will be the Bride of Christ and all the rest will only be guests. I sense spiritual pride and I am suddenly so skeptical of anyone who says: “Thus says the Lord...!” and afterwards everybody jumps through those hoops. The Lord I serve is not a respecter of person. He doesn’t require you to be a part of “this-or-that” movement in order for you to be saved or to be the Bride of Christ... He requires you to love Him. And your love for Him will be reflected in your obedience to Him. Jesus Himself said: “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
Please, let us be open-minded in this hour. God also speaks in supernatural ways like through Aldo’s letters; but the moment if Aldo should write that only certain people belonging to a certain church will form the Bride I would be the first one to say that he has lost his way. God builds us up, and He will admonish us and warn us, but He will definitely not reject us just because we don’t belong to a certain denomination.
All of us need Holy Spirit to guide us and to teach us. This will happen when we submit ourselves to Him and by emptying ourselves of our ego, so that there is room for the Holy Spirit to increase within us. He will then fill us with Himself and with His truth about His love for all of us. Even if you are sitting on an isolated farm far away from other believers, I want you to know that you belong to God through Jesus Christ and the His Spirit will lead you. I have seen throughout my travels (from places like America to deep in Africa where there are no televisions or churches), that Holy Spirit will speak the same message to those who earnestly seek Him.
However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you (John 16:13-15).
Please don’t ever think that spiritual pride has its source in God. The Word of God tells us never to think of ourselves to highly, lest we trip and fall, as  Paul so clearly warns us in 1 Cor. 10:12: “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
This is the truth and strong foundation that we must carry in our hearts and build upon. We cannot stand on a foundation that is based on our intellect only. Only through Holy Spirit can truth be illuminated in our hearts before we can minister in that truth effectively. Our God is a faithful and loving God who will hear all who call upon Him – all, all, all! Provided we go to Him in sincerity; earnestly seeking a better understanding and closer walk with Him.
In Acts 1:4 the Lord commanded His disciples to wait for the promise of the Father and furthermore He said: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” (Acts 1:8). It is therefore clear that we need the Holy Spirit. He brings the power we need; He creates in us the fruits of the Holy Spirit as we die to self and live to Christ. If the Holy Spirit and power wasn’t given to us our Christian walk would have been absolutely impossible. We would still be struggling against our old nature in our own strength, just like the Israelites tried their best to keep the Law of Moses but couldn’t. Today, because we have received the Holy Spirit, we have the power to overcome.
Jesus would not have commanded his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit unless it was important. We must know that without Holy Spirit we are not complete. He guides and teaches us. His presence in us establishes the truth and sound foundation upon which we should build. This in turn brings new understanding and revelation without which the power and authority we have in Christ Jesus cannot be released.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (John 14:26-27).
Let’s stay in Him and go to God to hear for ourselves what He has to say. He wants to speak to you!! Wait on Him – He is a faithful God who wants His children to live a surrendered live and to walk in a love-relationship with Him. Like in any natural marriage, LOVE and only LOVE should be the reason for the union.
-Retha M.