September 17, 2023
What a great summer we have had. The moisture was a wonderful blessing even though our drive keeps washing out and had a couple floods in the house but everything is green, fresh and alive. Now we enter the autumn season and it’s always an amazingly beautiful time. The Lord has been speaking to me about harvest time in the Spiritual realm and I have been meditating on the seeds that we have planted, watered and now ready to harvest. So many areas of our lives take time to mature and change and then it’s harvest time. Glory!
There is so much in and on my heart the last few months that I can’t seem to put on paper or explain in words. It’s just issues the Lord and I are working on together and I believe I am hearing His voice, trusting His ways and obeying His guidance. Our lives have been through many seasons the last few years and we’ve had opportunities to grow in Him like never before. Expressing my heart has been more difficult but today I want to share something that I think is so vital.
One thing I have learned is that there is no grace where we strive to do things in our own strength. I have tried to figure out a lot of things in the last few years in my own understanding and all that produces is frustration and impatience. It reflects my lack of trust in Him in those areas and mostly it reflects hidden or unhidden fears. Fears creep in so easily at times and I don’t even realize there is a fear until the fruit of that fear starts affecting my attitude and life. Then what happens to me because of my religious background is guilt and condemnation hit me like a Mack truck. I know His grace and mercy but yet deep down inside the enemy still gets away with his lies, at least until I take my thoughts captive. I’ve come to realize that when we are tired and weary our emotions take over so much easier and I MUST be sure I spend plenty of time in His presence daily so that I can get the focus off myself and onto His glorious love for me.
1 John 4:18 reads, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” I grew up fearing what God would do if I was wrong and sinned. If things weren’t done right there was punishment. I feared man and not pleasing man or God for fear of punishment. I know the truth of His Word but there are times that junk sneaks back in and I’m so thankful I now know His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. There are times I find myself striving to make Him and those around me happy in my own strength and outside of His grace. My lightening fast mind has figured out this doesn’t work and there is no grace or peace when I am in this place.
One of my greatest passions right now in this season is to keep my focus on His love, be in prayer taking the authority over what the Lord says I have authority in and not let the enemy get a foothold in our lives, the ministry, our family, our church family and our country. This world has always been evil every since man gave satan authority in his life. There’s always been an enemy but there are times in history that man gave in to the ways of the enemy, listened to his lies and have been deceived beyond what I can even imagine. Yet, I must realize that if people don’t know the Lord, they only know the ways of the enemy and his crafty, sneaky deceptions. This world needs the love of Jesus in a mighty way and that is our heart to continue to share His love and the good news Gospel around the world. There are so many verses that tell us the importance of prayer and coming together in the last days.
“Since we are approaching the end of all things, be intentional, purposeful, and self-controlled so that you can be given to prayer. Above all, constantly echo God's intense love for one another, for love will be a canopy over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7
Hebrews 10:25 says, “… not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:25, “do not forsake assembling,” which means we are to assemble, but also, it is a wise word written to protect us from…enemy attacks, hardened hearts, discouragement, doubt, and depression. When we assemble as the Body of Christ, we are to stir each other up in love and encourage one other in our faith. Paul makes it clear we are to do this even more so as Jesus’ return draws closer. So then, how will you start to assemble? Reach out to a friend, gather with others in fellowship and prayer, study the Word in a group. However, the Lord leads you to assemble, know it is for your protection. He tells us to be intentional and purposeful.
We are to gather on purpose for His purpose! Gathering together is important but when we do gather together there needs to with intention and with a purpose. What is the purpose? Right now, in this season I believe the purpose is to gather to encourage, pray and to let His Spirit work in our lives and togetherness in relevant ways. We want to hear from Him, His wisdom, direction, following His path paved with grace. To pray effective prayers. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9
These verses in Philippians are so powerful. Reading these daily would do more for our hearts and souls than hours of counseling. We can intentionally and purposefully meditate on and live out these verses day and night and see changes in our lives and those around us. As the body of Christ, the Church, we need to wake up, come together to pray and encourage each other. Our oneness will then bring others in that are desiring what we have and need healing in their lives.
Seeds of purpose have been planted in us. It is time to harvest them. Don’t let the shadow of emotions and fear overshadow the seeds that are growing. It is time for the seeds to mature and produce fruit of His intended purpose. His anointing will unlock these seeds empowering us to run with the purpose that is being set before us.
Now is the time and season. As a church family we have planted many seeds and it is time for harvest! What an exciting time to be alive and watch the love and glory of the Lord change lives, change our country and the world. We can be a part. I am a part of making a difference and I want to be a part of the story that generations from now will be talking about! Let’s do it together on purpose😊
What a great summer we have had. The moisture was a wonderful blessing even though our drive keeps washing out and had a couple floods in the house but everything is green, fresh and alive. Now we enter the autumn season and it’s always an amazingly beautiful time. The Lord has been speaking to me about harvest time in the Spiritual realm and I have been meditating on the seeds that we have planted, watered and now ready to harvest. So many areas of our lives take time to mature and change and then it’s harvest time. Glory!
There is so much in and on my heart the last few months that I can’t seem to put on paper or explain in words. It’s just issues the Lord and I are working on together and I believe I am hearing His voice, trusting His ways and obeying His guidance. Our lives have been through many seasons the last few years and we’ve had opportunities to grow in Him like never before. Expressing my heart has been more difficult but today I want to share something that I think is so vital.
One thing I have learned is that there is no grace where we strive to do things in our own strength. I have tried to figure out a lot of things in the last few years in my own understanding and all that produces is frustration and impatience. It reflects my lack of trust in Him in those areas and mostly it reflects hidden or unhidden fears. Fears creep in so easily at times and I don’t even realize there is a fear until the fruit of that fear starts affecting my attitude and life. Then what happens to me because of my religious background is guilt and condemnation hit me like a Mack truck. I know His grace and mercy but yet deep down inside the enemy still gets away with his lies, at least until I take my thoughts captive. I’ve come to realize that when we are tired and weary our emotions take over so much easier and I MUST be sure I spend plenty of time in His presence daily so that I can get the focus off myself and onto His glorious love for me.
1 John 4:18 reads, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” I grew up fearing what God would do if I was wrong and sinned. If things weren’t done right there was punishment. I feared man and not pleasing man or God for fear of punishment. I know the truth of His Word but there are times that junk sneaks back in and I’m so thankful I now know His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. There are times I find myself striving to make Him and those around me happy in my own strength and outside of His grace. My lightening fast mind has figured out this doesn’t work and there is no grace or peace when I am in this place.
One of my greatest passions right now in this season is to keep my focus on His love, be in prayer taking the authority over what the Lord says I have authority in and not let the enemy get a foothold in our lives, the ministry, our family, our church family and our country. This world has always been evil every since man gave satan authority in his life. There’s always been an enemy but there are times in history that man gave in to the ways of the enemy, listened to his lies and have been deceived beyond what I can even imagine. Yet, I must realize that if people don’t know the Lord, they only know the ways of the enemy and his crafty, sneaky deceptions. This world needs the love of Jesus in a mighty way and that is our heart to continue to share His love and the good news Gospel around the world. There are so many verses that tell us the importance of prayer and coming together in the last days.
“Since we are approaching the end of all things, be intentional, purposeful, and self-controlled so that you can be given to prayer. Above all, constantly echo God's intense love for one another, for love will be a canopy over a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:7
Hebrews 10:25 says, “… not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:25, “do not forsake assembling,” which means we are to assemble, but also, it is a wise word written to protect us from…enemy attacks, hardened hearts, discouragement, doubt, and depression. When we assemble as the Body of Christ, we are to stir each other up in love and encourage one other in our faith. Paul makes it clear we are to do this even more so as Jesus’ return draws closer. So then, how will you start to assemble? Reach out to a friend, gather with others in fellowship and prayer, study the Word in a group. However, the Lord leads you to assemble, know it is for your protection. He tells us to be intentional and purposeful.
We are to gather on purpose for His purpose! Gathering together is important but when we do gather together there needs to with intention and with a purpose. What is the purpose? Right now, in this season I believe the purpose is to gather to encourage, pray and to let His Spirit work in our lives and togetherness in relevant ways. We want to hear from Him, His wisdom, direction, following His path paved with grace. To pray effective prayers. “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” James 5:16
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:4-9
These verses in Philippians are so powerful. Reading these daily would do more for our hearts and souls than hours of counseling. We can intentionally and purposefully meditate on and live out these verses day and night and see changes in our lives and those around us. As the body of Christ, the Church, we need to wake up, come together to pray and encourage each other. Our oneness will then bring others in that are desiring what we have and need healing in their lives.
Seeds of purpose have been planted in us. It is time to harvest them. Don’t let the shadow of emotions and fear overshadow the seeds that are growing. It is time for the seeds to mature and produce fruit of His intended purpose. His anointing will unlock these seeds empowering us to run with the purpose that is being set before us.
Now is the time and season. As a church family we have planted many seeds and it is time for harvest! What an exciting time to be alive and watch the love and glory of the Lord change lives, change our country and the world. We can be a part. I am a part of making a difference and I want to be a part of the story that generations from now will be talking about! Let’s do it together on purpose😊
