Category: Living In Him
Paul Had It Right – Eyes Up
Paul had it right when he said, “Pressing FORWARD” because taking time to look back at regrets or failures stunts our growth and advancement. Self Pity and Self Doubt take place as we look behind us. God gives grace to the humble, however, the humble doesn’t mean we are weighed down and depressed, it means we acknowledge our dependence on God and our eyes are on Him as we walk in line with His precepts.
Trying to please everyone will never happen, but our Papa knows our heart and intensions. At the end of the day all of our works are dirty rags. (Isa 64:6) We are the clay and He is the Potter. We are formed by his hand. (Isa 64:8) It is easy to walk through life and never invest ourselves into others, but what fruit can take place if we keep all the seeds to ourself. “The one who plant and the one who waters work together for the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their hard work.” (1 Cor 3:8)Keeping love to ourself is plain selfish. We don’t pour our lives out to other’s for our own gain, if we do we will always be disappointed. Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud, it is not rude, always protects, always trusts, always hopes LOVE NEVER FAILS. (I Cor 13)
I once had a friend ask me why I go to church all the time. My answer was simple, There is safety in a multitude of counselors. I don’t know about you but I need accountability in my life. If I just Stay at home and never have fellowship, I am missing out on having a lot of trusted godly people speak into my life. Many times people do not want to open up if they don’t know their pastors, but it’s hard to know who your your pastors and spiritual leaders are if you don’t go to church and interact with them.
I mean Facebook is great and all, but that is not real fellowship. The devil wants to isolate us, he knows if he can isolate us from the body of Christ then we are more open to him twisting our life into knots. There is something about corporate worship, exhortation and hearing what God wants to speak to us as a body and as a region that you just don’t receive from home. Every church has a mandate given to them by God. As a member of that body you are a part of that incredible blessing and responsibility.
There is a trend going on right now that going to church is just a bunch of legalism. To me that is just a lie from the enemy. Every time I am burdened down and heavy and feel like there’s no way I can go to church, that is just the day that God has an incredible breakthrough for me to receive. The encouragement and prayer that takes place, as well as, the friendships built and strengthened has lifted me higher than any facebook post or online message I have ever read and listened to. That’s a fact! Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider thoughtfully how we may encourage one another to love and to do good deeds, not forsaking our meeting together as believers for worship and instruction, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more faithfully as you see the day of Christ’s return approaching. “
Why it is important to tell your kids your personal testimony
God is so faithful to give us parents wisdom when we ask. While the enemy tries to bring in fear and doubt, the Spirit of the Lord raises up a standard against him when we pray! I was crying out to God today for wisdom after seeing little attitudes creep up I didnt like. I told my child Nothing in my life matters except that I know their relationship with Jesus will last their whole life. They saw my passion through my tears as I told them that My only concern is teaching them to follow after Him in purity and that their life would be full of the fruit of the spirit and love. None of us know how long we are in this planet and it is my #1 priority above all else that they know how important it is to make Godly decisions in all they do.
I decided to use my TESTIMONY, which is the spirit of prophecy, to let my child know I wasn’t always a perfect little girl. Without going into detail I was able to share how from 4-13 I lead a double life hiding sin and giving into temptation. I shared my struggles and the condemnation I would feel after repenting but going back to it. I shared how I walked with shame all those years and hid it not sharing with my parents. That it wasn’t till I was much older that I confessed to my youth pastor and my parents and was lead through steps of forgiveness. (In reality I wasn’t totally free till I went through a “SOZO” which some amazing trained counselor/prayer team took me through many layers of Jesus coming and revealing himself to me in my times of sin, where he was and how he loved me all the way through. I recommend it to anyone!) I told them they can always know we are here to talk to and they dont have to feel ashamed, especially now since they know I messed up also. Its time for us to be real with our kids, allowing them to have a safe place if they mess up. A place of healing and restoration to get on the right track. Jesus never turns His back on us, neither should we!
Our kids should always feel safe talking with us and if they dont we get to keep on gently tenderizing the ground in trust, wisdom, discernment and HAVING A HEART CONNECTION WITH OUR KIDS. If we feel the heart connection is widening it is time to STOP EVERYTHING AND GIVE THEM ALL OUR ATTENTION TILL THE CONNECTION IS TIGHT AGAIN. Lord, help us to know if and when this is happening and how to bridge the gap. Praying for you and your connections! God we want our kids to follow hard after you and never wander. Help us know how to parent wisely, not step into unexplained legalism, oh boy, but know how to explain in a clear and wise way why God isnt pleased with the things of the world and why we need to stay separate from it. Being set apart, as we learned on Sunday, holy and consecrated to God. That living a pure and holy, Godly life is NOT a bore! That living righteously brings FREEDOM, JOY and PEACE NOT FOUND ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. We are raising kids who are ushering in the Kingdom of Heaven, they will transform this world in ways we could only dream of. The same spirit that raised Christ Jesus from the dead LIVES IN THEM!! There is NO JR. HOLY SPIRIT. They are not going to have to wait till they are their parents age to experience all that God has for them it begins NOW!! HA, YES JESUS! I declare it, I declare it over my kids and all those who are reading this, their kids and grandkids! AMEN
The New Porn Poisen For Kids
Innocence is lost quicker and easier than every parent understands. It is so grieving when you find out a devise in your house has been feeding an addiction you didnt know about or thought you already discussed and had security measures in place to prevent. But when the security measures stop working and you stop monitoring the devise it opens a world of sin and temptations too easy to access to resist, especially if we haven’t taken our kids through the preventions found in the links below.
I am in shock how many kids now days have their own devise. I allowed my kids to have a devise at night to which I trusted they were only going onto the Adventures in Odyssey app to listen to shows. I made a mistake and allowed them to keep it in their rooms at night or during the day when they are sick. That has ALL changed! We have had many talks over the years about purity and staying away from porn and thought our internet security was doing the job of keeping the bad stuff out and restricting all YouTube and internet searching access. But it didnt work, something got disconnected and I didnt follow through in taking time to monitor the content on the devise.
If your kid has an devise that can access internet through their games and especially YouTube and if they are in a room where you are not able to view the screen they have access to more debauchery than you would even think to search for. Even innocent games like Angry Birds have advertisements that pop up with pornographic nude images taking kids to YouTube page with game reviews and ads that lead to darker and more evil porn traps. I’m not making it up, I saw it with my own eyes! Then the videos below get worse and worse, like a game review (which are VERY popular for kids to watch) for a game titled “How to lose your virginity.” All in cartoon form of course full of naked people and more f-bombs than you can count.
Cartoon Porn is the Devil’s candy to entise young kids. Private electonic devises are the free transportation to the candy store of Games and YouTube
Here is a new article talking about the dangers of the new porn candy for kids
http://www.fightthenewdrug.org/exposing-the-new-wave-of-extreme-hentai-animated-porn/
If you have never heard about it, then your kids dont tell you. And that is not a good place to be in. Secrecy is how the enemy draws kids to himself and takes them to deeper levels. Jesus said He is the Light of the World and in Him there is no darkness. When the darkness is exposed to light of Christ it can be dealt with.
We need to prevent our kids from going there and if it is too late than take them through a time of repentance, healing and restoration. Find a pastor or counselor to take your child through to make sure their spirit gets cleansed and free. It is not just a clinical issue it is a spiritual issue. Yes, kids go through the same spiritual sexual battles as adults do, starting younger than we ever would want to admit. We are not alone, there are resources out there to help. The first step is acknowledging there needs to be change either in our kids access to devises, the security monitoring program we use and most of all talking to our kids and educating them.
It is one thing to trust our kids to make the right decisions, it is another thing to make them think we are never going to do our job as a parent and check up on them and help them continue to live a life of purity. Boys or girls it doesnt matter. The attitudes that kids pick up on in what they watch and listen to is just as impacting. If you are starting to see a change in your child’s attitude and behavior, being more rebellious and or reclusive I would recommend taking the steps to dig into their electronic devises and talk about what could be happening. I wont even get into minors having their own Facebook, Instagram and SnapChat accounts right now but I will later. That is allowing your kids to play with a poison that you have no idea the harmful consequences.
I am not legalistic and am realistic! Porn creeps into a child’s life easier and quicker than ever before because of us parents allowing them to have electronic devises unmonitored. It isn’t worth it, it just isn’t worth it to have the potential sinful consequences and healing that will need to take place because of it. I hope the below articles and books help you out as it will myself. We all need help with this and I cant wait to learn of more tools.
Praise The Lord – here is a powerful Cleaning Prayer for Sexual Sins. Thank God for the good part of the Internet , parents need every to we can get, and adults also! https://emergeing.wordpress.com/prayer-for-overcoming-sexual-stronghold/#comment-503
Online Porn Monsters http://www.covenanteyes.com/2013/05/08/online-porn-monsters/
AWESOME FREE STEP BY STEP BOOK – How to start a conversation with your kids about porn and lay a foundation for walking in purity. http://www.covenanteyes.com/when-your-child-is-looking-at-porn/?utm_campaign=when-your-child-is-looking-at-porn&utm_content=bottom_blog_post&utm_medium=web&utm_source=blog_post
Practical Tools to Protect Young Minds http://protectyoungminds.org/2016/03/24/protect-young-minds-practical-tools/
Strengthening our sons to avoid porn while they are still too young to know what it is http://www.jessicalynette.com/family-2/strengthening-our-sons-to-avoid-porn-while-they-are-still-too-young-to-know-what-it-is/
Kids are smarter than most adults when it comes to electonics. They know how to hide apps!
http://abc7.com/technology/kids-are-hiding-content-on-smartphones-with-secret-apps/1096088/
Excellent Book on Good Picture Bad picture- “How to talk to your child who is looking at porn”-http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/sitb/B00R9NROCS/ref=sib_dp_aw_kd_udp
Covenent Eyes is an excellent website of helpful material and resources for parents and individuals on how to keep free from the addiction of Porn. Please check it out and most importantly follow through with your kids, I know we need to do it also!
Skeletons in the closet?
Skeletons only stay in the closet so long. It is up to us if we are willing to confront them and change before they come out for the world to see. God won’t force them out unless it is absolutely necessary. When we bow our will to God’s and become humble and obedient and willing to work on those areas, he will help us. Rebellion only makes life miserable, in the Bible it says it is like witchcraft. If you have never seen hypocritical rebellion in action, you probably were manipulated by the “good” personality.
If you can’t deal with it yourself, ask your pastor or church leadership. They probably have already seen some of the evidence of it amd will be excited to help you along in your journey to freedom. If you do not have a church, look for a Bible believing church that believes in freedom for the whole person, spirit-soul-body. Search for a church who has a SOZO ministry or restoration ministry. It is so worth it to deal with those hidden skeletons. I know I did when I had my first SOZO. Praise God for finally having freedom amd peace.
God, let all the skeletons in the closet be dealt with and a pure bride come forth!
Can you have freedom while surrounded by war?
IS IT POSSIBLE to have VICTORY even when you are in a place where it seems no one else is walking in that freedom? YES!! ONLY OF YOU PRESS INTO THE THRONE ROOM UNTIL YOUR PERSONAL FREEDOM IS RECEIVED! Do NOT allow the enemy to bring frustration and anger while looking at those around you who are not walking in freedom. Get YOUR breakthrough FIRST and allow the Holy Spirit to USE YOU to press in for breakthrough in the corporate.
Something happened to me. I was in the middle of a spiritual and mental war with the most intense conflicting thoughts, emotions and desires that I have ever felt. I was in a worship service where I knew the principal that “it doesnt matter the style or the song, I need to focus on Jesus and give my worship to Him.” BUT IT WAS SO HARD!! Everything that was in me wanted to sing out and see breakthrough in the service and in my own heart but the combination of everything had me fighting inside. At one point I thought we were going to break into a new level but it flatlined and I started to tremble with desire and agitation, so not wanting anger and frustration to come in I ran upstairs and to a back corner and first repented for my attitute and for having a struggle inside of me. I began to say over and over again “Breakthrough, Breakthrough, BREAKTHROUGH!!!!! I began to pray in the spirit allowing God to pray through me. It got more and more intense. I began to sense in the spirit what had been taking place over the last while.
Finally, the song I heard playing in the background was a song about Victory. At one point in the song I SHOUTED out a long warcry with a loud voice declaring into the atmosphere and spirit WE HAVE VICTORY. “Hallelujah, We Have Overcome, We have Overcome. Hallelujah, Jesus you have Overcome the world.” As that song played I began taking back the ground that the enemy “thought” he had claimed. This is God’s church, These are God’s people. We belong to Him and He had overcome and we are overcoming with Him. “Every high thing must come down, every stronghold must be broken. You wear the victor’s crown. You have overcome, You have overcome.”
I was out of breath at the end and had to sit down and compose myself before heading back to my chair. It was like being in labor till at least I had a emotional and spiritual breakthrough in myself. If anyone else received a breakthrough than praise God. I knew I was not going to allow the enemy TO ROB ME OF A BLESSING or to allow my heart to get filled with crud.
We all have times where we are so hungry and the situaltion in life may not have all the right answers but we do have a choice to turn to the One who does! When your feet are planted on the rock and your eyes are on Him, He knows your deepest desires and needs and He will meet them.
If church attenders spent MORE TIME SEEKING GOD for a breakthrough in the service, no matter how they need to do it and LESS TIME CRITICIZING the songs, style or leader – every church would have the personal and corporate revival like we are praying for. It is a matter of our HEART and ACTIONS!!
So go get your freedom! Find it in the throne room. Go there yourself, you do not need anyone else to take you there. Through the blood of Jesus we now have free access. The veil has been torn in two.
So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Is blood thicker than water in the family of God?
Blood is thicker than water. Most of the time when we think of that phrase we only related it to our blood relatives. But when you become a part of the body of Christ you are united by the blood of Jesus. So why do we think we can treat our brothers and sisters in Christ with any less value than we treat our own relatives. How can we walk out of relationship with them so easy? When someone leaves one church and goes to another church, why is it that relationship seem to be broken off?Nothing has changed according to the blood relation they are just somewhere else. The choice is up to us, every single time. We need to determine to not let ties be broken when somebody moves to another place. The one major goal of the enemy is to bring disunity in the body of Christ. Disunity happens when there are unresolved offenses, bitterness and hurts that have not been healed. Or in some cases it is just feeling awkward and not getting past those feelings. We have all experienced one of those things. However, we always have a choice if we are going to take the easy route and stay in that negative place or choose to take the steps to be healed. If you cannot come to a place of healing between you and God seeks out those who can help you take through those deep places. Believe me I have been through there and it is worth it to be free!
Not only does this place of hurt affect the church corporately and in our city but it directly affects our daily life, our relationship with our spouse and our children. The enemy uses this foothold to torment us, in our mind, will and emotions. We can not live a life of true freedom and joy when we are holding on to bitterness, offense and hurt. IT LITERALLY BECOMES HELL ON EARTH!
BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO STAY THERE!!!
With all the emphasis of healing in the body of Christ being focused on signs and wonders I know that even more than that Jesus longs to see a healing in the hearts and relationships of HIS family. Jesus told us not even to take communion if we have an offense with a brother or sister. We are to go to them first and resolve our issues before we partake. He spoke directly about that I know it is His heart’s cry that we walk in healing and unity with each other.
WHATEVER IT TAKES, first we need to pray for humility that God would humble us in our heart to the point where we can approach our brother sister who has offended us or we have hurt. We need to pray that God will give us the desire for this even if we do not have it now. God can do more in our hearts through the Holy Spirit bringing healing in the deep places but it takes a willing heart.
SECOND WE NEED TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE- if we sit around waiting for people to come to us for us to be healed, we are going to wait for an insanely long time. My dad & Pastor Joel Hjertstedt always says “The one who knows goes.” If the Holy Spirit has brought it to our attention it is our responsibility to approach the other party. If they wanted or not or if they receive it or not, you know before God in your heart you have done what is right.
Third, close every door you have allowed the enemy to enter in your heart. The lies of the enemy and the torment that he brings is only as effective as our determination to tell him to go and get out.
He only has the authority that we give him.
My heart and prayer is that every church in our cities would unite and connect together no matter what denominations or differences and love each other as Christ loves His church. Only then will we see the revival we are waiting and praying for.
Growing up we would sing this song:
I’m SO GLAD I’M A PART OF THE FAMILY OF GOD. I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod. I’m so glad I’m a part of the FAMILY OF GOD.
Let it be God!! Let it be!!
My Dream Fulfilled – The Blessing
Last night I saw this scripture fulfilled in my dream. While the dream was happening I did not see the correlation but as soon as I woke up from it God spoke this verse. I walked into a house that was not my current house but I knew it was mine. As I walked in I looked up at the corners of the ceiling and they were buckling down like a huge load was on top of them. When I examined each room I could see the ceiling broken and pieces of a hard food falling down from it. When I went upstairs the ceiling was bending down and broke through in the corners. When I got to my bedroom I looked through the cracks of the door and the whole room was filled with this glowing hard food substance I couldn’t even open the door because it was completely filled. I was baffled in my dreamAs I woke up I heard God quote this verse:
Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
Two days ago my husband received a phone call that he had been waiting a year and a half for. Since we have a tree milling, drying and custom furniture business we need to buy large trees. The trees we buy are not cheap. The call came in that a large amount of trees were available for us to purchase but we have to come up with $15,000 in order to purchase them before someone else does. He was excited but wondered how in the world we would come up with the money we needed. With in 90 minutes we had clients come in and give us checks for the ENTIRE amount needed to buy the trees. We have Never had that large of sales in that short amount of time. One Custom Furniture order was 3/4ths the amount we needed!!! Hallelujah.
But the verse has a preface to it and we walked that out two weeks ago. There had been quite a lull from January to the beginning of February with sales and customers. We couldnt figure out what was happening. Then Tim remembered we hadn’t tithed yet on a large order that came in a couple months prior. So a couple weeks ago I prayed and payed our business tithe check at church. The next day God gave me a new strategy to urgently set in place for our website. And we began to break every record of views we previously had had. This was just days before leading up to the trees and orders to cover it. Old Testament principles in the Bible were put there for a reason and they still work today. We do not give to get! However, the principles are in the Word making sure we are not robbing God and ourselves of a blessing.
Here are the verses just prior to the blessing:
Malachi 3:7-9 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.“ But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’ “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.“ But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’“In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me.
Then VS 10.
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. TEST ME IN THIS,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.
If God says to test Him, TEST HIM! I don’t know anywhere else in the Bible where it says this! God is faithful and His word is true. We have seen this in our life so many times and I am thankful now for visual picture of what it looks like for a storehouse to be flooded more than it can contain.
So I am declaring this over you! What provisions do you need God to do for you? Have you stood on His Word and obeyed? Have you declared to the brass heavens above you to OPEN IN JESUS NAME! Have you repented of a poverty mindset? Will you take God at His Word and believe that what He said He will Do! Hold Him to His promises over you, declare and decree them over your life and your family. There is nothing impossible for our God. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills- He owns everything! He cares for every need and desire and He has your back! Lets keep our eyes on Him because then we are not consumed with the heaviness the enemy wants to put on us. There is freedom in His presence. There is joy in giving when we know we are giving it back to Him. He is our rock and our resource guide! HA! If He can make water come from a rock, so you think a little bill scares Him? I declare the dream I had over you today! It is bigger than just for me. The body of Christ is going to come under the weight of His glory like never before and WE WILL WALK OUT WITH PROVISION IN OUR HANDS NOT JUST FOR US BUT FOR THE WORLD.
Strategies, God is going to release strategies for wealth to the body. He is beginning to give creative ideas, out of the box ideas. Ideas that might scare you at first but after confirmation and under your leaders covering God will make them flourish and grow. Time to break out of fear and step into blessing. Taking the first step into the unknown, like when Tim left an awesome good paying job to run our company full time, is hard at first. BUT IF IT IS GOD, HE WILL MEET YOU AND SUSTAIN YOU! Bless your people Lord so we can be a blessing! All for the honor and glory of your name! Amen!
Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth,with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing,and your vats will brim over with new wine.
REST!! Or Else!
No matter what season of life I am in, I HAVE to learn to find time to find rest in Him, even if it means saving up for a massage😉. Yesterday, was one of those days. On Saturday night I wanted to hop on a plane somewhere tropical and leave all the stress behind. Not possible. Next best thing was a husband who let me have the evening to spoil myself. He relaxes by whitewater kayaking, I relax by getting a massage. (To each his own, right?).
I did not go into my massage with the expectations of having a God encounter. I just wanted to relax. But something incredible happened as I begin to relax in the natural my spirit begin to commune with God in a very easy way.
There is nothing as tranquil as entering into the place of REST with our beloved Savior. It is only in Him we find pure saturating peace. In REST His voice is clear and His purpose is revealed.
I was thanking him for all he’s done and he began to show me things about the masseuse and I began to sincerely pray for her. I didn’t think of where my prayers would lead because I was almost asleep in a relaxed state. After the massage was over I told her how thankful I was that God lead me to that place. She excitedly replied, “Oh, I Love God!!” Haha! Open door right there. I began to share with her what God showed me about her how much she loves her and he knows all the pain she has been through in the last three years with her family members. I told her that God has you right where she is supposed to be and told her I was praying that the windows of heaven would open up over her shower down more blessing that she could receive. She began to weep in the hallway and hugged me so tightly. God encountered both of us!
To tell you the truth walking into that place I had absolutely nothing in me to give. Or so I thought. But all it takes is having our mind focused on our Savior who is right there to meet us at the point of our need. He filled me as I “allowed” myself to rest. That is a good point right there, I ALLOWED myself to REST! (However, there is a difference between, rest and having fun, and intentionally spending time with God as we rest) Sometimes I think we have a high and mighty perception of serving God and others that we have to burn ourselves out in order to get everything done. But whenever I try to do that I am left absolutely wasted and I want to quit, I think that is called burnout. I never want to burn out I want to be consumed with the Holy Ghost fire of God and I want to see that fire burst out and touch my community and the nations. I need to allow myself time to rest, for my physical body sake, my family sake, my church’s sake and my sphere of influence.
The yoke that we are supposed to carry with God is not heavy unless we mistake being yoked to God to being yoked to our circumstances. He said My yoke is easy and my burden is light. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart you will find rest unto your soul. Walking side-by-side with God not trying to run out in front of him. Find REST, my soul, in God alone. He is my hope! God teach us to rest in you, to minister to others out of a place of rest. Consume us and release us to spread your fire!!
There is nothing as tranquil as entering into the place of REST with our beloved Savior. It is only in Him we find pure saturating peace. In REST His voice is clear and His purpose is revealed.
I found this amazing song by Kari Jobe this morning that goes along with what I shared above. I hope it blesses you!
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mq59iE3MhXM
What ways have you found to allow yourself to rest in God? What happened as a result?
Live Life Out Loud For God 