Thursday, October 30, 2014

HUG THE LITTLE GIRL WITHIN ME

Hello Ladies, I'm back.  Even though I don't post everyday, I am always praying for you.  There are a lot of names for me to call out so don't worry, God's got you.  God bless you and you'll love this devotional.

Today's devotional though is from a book titled, "When I'm on my knees" by Anita Corrine Donihue.

Dear Lord, hug the little girl within me - the little girl mistreated and abused.  Encircle me with Your everlasting arms.  Still my silent sobs.  Anoint my head with Your healing oil; free me from nightmares of memories.  Touch my scars with You healing stripes.  Soothe each muscle that suffered in anger and pain.  I know You suffered, too.  Piece together my broken heart.  Your hear bled and You died for me.  In sleepless nights, wrap me in Your comforting presence.  Let me rest in the shadow of You, the Almighty.  Hug the little girl in me as you cover me with Your feathers like a mother hen does her chicks.  I find refuge under Your wings.  Help me to face yesterday (wrong as it was), to forgive as You forgive me, and to look toward tomorrow with hope.  Your faithfulness will be my shield and rampart.  Le me not feel terror by night nor arrows that fly by day.  Take my weakness and grant me Your strength.  Make my feet swift at the dawning of a new day to do service for You.  I go now in praise.  But please, Lord, don't ever stop hugging me.

PRAISE GOD!

Heavenly Father, I pray that You forgive me for me sins.  Even the times that I don't talk or act like You are my Heavenly Father.  Lord thank you for hugging the little girl in me even when I don't pray daily.  Lord thank You for hugging the little girl in me, even when I don't think that I deserve to be hugged, in Jesus name, Amen.

If you enjoy reading the daily devotionals, you will enjoy by book titled, "Breaking Shackles" at www.createspace.com or www.amazon.com for less than $11.00.  Thank you for your contribution to Spiritual Growth for Women Ministry.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

SIDE TRACKED

Good morning, Mighty Woman of God.  I speak blessings upon blessings over you.

We all get a little side tracked when it comes to our spiritual journey and that's okay.  In that stage of 'side tracked' the devil is not prejudice.  He doesn't care who you are, your racial background, your age or what your title is in church.

I started in the Prayer Ministry (Prayer Warrior) and I went to church every Sunday.  I went to Wednesday night bible study, I went to any classes that I felt would help me in my spiritual journey.  I graduated from a 16 week Teacher's Course and I attended Sunday School regularly.  Now that sounds like I had it all together.  Oh, and don't let me forget the Senor Citizens home I went to once a week for bible study and having a prayer closet that I stayed in prayer for a number of hours a day.  So what happened?

That title I have in front of my name doesn't make me immune to satan's tricks and lies.  I moved to Las Vegas to be closer to my family.  I used to go to the gambling boat a little bit and I loved it. So Vegas and you don't have to travel far to get to a slot machine.  The devil knew what I liked and he also knows what you like.  He will make it readily available to you.  Then I started smoking weed again.  I would have never thought that I would get that far away from God.  I love the Lord God so much, He was always in my heart.  The devil speaks to us by say, "You can't go back to being a minister.  You can't get back in the choir.  You can't go back to teaching the Word of God. God won't accept you back into His arms.  You have really messed up this time. You mind as well forget it.

The Lord has anointed me to be His voice, His mouthpiece for the ministry that I had on the inside of me.  I did not ask for the gifts that He has given me, He just knows what gifts you need to accomplish what His will is for you life.  God has anointed and appointed you for ministry work.  No matter what you may be going through in your life right now, God has a plan for your life.  The Holy Spirit has equipped you with everything that you will need for your spiritual journey.

The most important thing for you to remember when you are in that 'side tracked' mode is that you left the Lord arms.  He did not leave you, the Lord will never leave nor forsake you.  The problem is that we don't fully believe that.  We hear testimonies of others of how God has brought them through some challenges and difficulties, we believe that God is able, but in the back of our minds, we wonder will He do it for us. God will never unfriend you.  THE LORD GOD IS WAITING FOR YOU.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

THE BEGINNING TO AN END


Good morning, Mighty Woman of God!  I pray that you are all blessed and highly favored and that you are looking, and expecting our Lord to watch over you and your family.
 
(2 Cor. 5:17-19) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
 
I remember the day that I got baptized into the Body of Jesus Christ.  I was expecting something so miraculous to happen to as soon as I was brought up from that water.  And since the bible says that I would be a new creature in Christ Jesus, I was expecting to be delivered from everything.  Actually, I was expecting to either be delivered and healed right away or burned right away. 
 
Well needless to say, as soon as I was brought up from the water, I didn't feel any different.  So I said to myself, "That's okay, maybe I'll be the new creature once I leave the church and get home".  So, I am waiting to get home and throw my weed away and pour out what was left of my tequila, because I was a new creature and old things will become new.
 
So now I'm home and I think the best thing for me to do to start fresh with drinking, smoking cigarettes and everything else is to get rid of all those things; yes, finish the tequila, cigarettes, and whatever else and then I will start fresh on tomorrow.
 
Well that tomorrow took about a couple of months to actually come.  So what did I get when I was baptized?  I wasn't delivered from my sinful nature.  So what am I supposed to do now?  Well, it took me a while but I learned what I actually got when I was baptized.  Calm down, I'll tell you.  I got a beginning to an end.  I got a start to a finish.  What do I mean?  I had the chance to begin to change, begin to become that new creature in Christ because I was reconciled by God.  Being baptized was the beginning to an end of that sinful person that I was.  A start to a finish in the race that Paul talks about.  I was now in the fight for my life and not sitting on the sideline anymore.  It was a beginning to end my reckless behavior to my body, to my spirit-man.  LET US PRAY!
 
Heavenly Father I thank you for my life on today.  Forgive me for my sins and Father I am praying that You do for me what I am not able to do for myself.  Save me Lord Jesus from myself.  I pray that each day I strive more and more to be the woman that You saved, Father I pray that you remove from me anything that does not bring glory to Your name, and if I mess up, I know that I am reconciled to You therefore, there is no condemnation for me, in Jesus name, Amen!
 
If you enjoy reading my daily spiritual uplifting food, you can purchase a copy of my books, "Breaking Shackles" or "Mighty Woman of God" for less than $10, visit www.amazon.com or www.createspace.com.  Thank you for your support.

Monday, October 13, 2014

IS YOUR CUP CLEAN?

Good morning, Woman of God.  I speak blessings upon your life on today and that God will give you peace and joy as you follow after Him.

(Psalms 19:12 and 51:10), "Who can understand his errors?  Cleanse thou me from secret faults.  Create in me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit from me.

I was washing a cup the other day and I washed the inside really good, and just ran the rag over the outside of the cup.  Then I heard the Holy Spirit say, "Clean the outside of the cup just as well as you clean the inside".  My reply was, "Well, we don't really use the outside of the cup".  I did what the Lord told me to do, washing the outside as well as the inside.

Then I heard the Spirit of the Lord say, "That's the way my people are presenting themselves to the church and the world.  They only cleanse the outside of themselves because that is what people see first and my people are dirty on the inside".

My Testimony:  I used to be an Administrative Assistant at my job.  I dressed very well; suits, heels and the whole nine yards.  If you were to see me on my way to work, you would never ever think that I had a drug problem.  I was clean on the outside, little did anyone know how dirty I was on the inside.  Little did my employers or co-workers know that I was carrying joints laced with cocaine in my purse.  Little did anyone know that I would go buy drugs on my lunch hour.  This was a weekly routine for me.  You talk about someone that should have been dead and gone, it was ME.

Once I started attending church, I keep the same drug routine.  The only thing that changed was that I didn't get high before church.  Once I got home, that's when I would smoke and drink.  Don't think that my church was lacking anything, it was all about me.  Did I want to change, Sunday after Sunday getting in the deliverance line?  I expected something miraculous after laying out on the alter, slapped with oil, but that didn't happen.  It was still up to me to hold on to it.

One Sunday, the Sunday School Teacher was anointing everyone with oil before we went into the classroom.  Once I sat down, something so different began to happen to my spirit.  That's the way that I can explain it.  I began to cry, not only did I just cry, but I cried the whole time (not out loud, tears just streamed down my cheeks).  The minister placed a box of tissue on my desk, but she didn't say a word.  She just continued teaching the lesson.  I cried for one hour straight, I am not kidding, a whole hour.  The Holy Spirit worked on me the whole time.  Even after class, the minister didn't say a word.  That was the day that the Lord cleaned the inside and outside of my cup.  I was delivered, never drinking or doing any kind of drugs.

The ten-step programs did not keep me from using drugs, abusing what God gave to me.  It was the Spirit of the Living God, (the Holy Spirit) that cleansed me, washed me, and welcomed me in His loving arms.  If you're in this type of situation, keep going to church don't let the devil speak to you in your ear saying, "I don't know why you're going to church".  He will remind you of all your faults, making you feel guilty every day and every time you try to clean the inside (your spirit-man) of your cup.  Satan's job is to kill you with the spirit of shame and defeat. There is a saying when you go to AA or NA meetings, "Keep coming back, it works if you work it".  Keep going back to church, it works if you work it.

Woman of God, our Lord and Savior does not put a spirit of shame upon you.  No matter what you have done, He is always willing and waiting to forgive you.  The Lord wants to encourage, comfort and love on you.  His compassion for you is never-ending, it will never end.  God is full of mercy, it's up to you to receive His mercy; that's the first step for your deliverance.  I have heard women say that they don't attend church or pray because they know in their hearts that they will do the same thing again, smoking drugs, drinking, cursing and sleeping around.  Imagine how I must have felt day after day, Sunday after Sunday, Bible Study after Bible Study.

I pray that the Lord's message and my testimony will be encouragement and comfort.  I love you with the love of our Lord.  God bless you, my sisters.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

PEER PRESSURE

Good Morning, Mighty Woman of God!
I speak blessings of peace and joy upon your lives.  I pray that you are all blessed and highly favored and that the ministry has been a blessing to you.
 
(1 Corinthians 15:58), Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Christians deal with a lot of peer pressure.  Once you have decided to dedicate your life to Jesus Christ, your friends and family that are not saved, will always try to pressure you into doing the same old things.  They don't want you to try to change.  For some reason, being a Christian can be intimidating to people that are not.  Peer pressure comes in because just like your friends don't want you to change your life, neither does Satan.  He will use your peers to try to keep you in darkness and keep you from getting delivered from things that you need to give up in order to live righteous before the Lord.  Christians deal with a lot of peer pressure because the enemy knows that he just lost a soul and Christ has gained a sheep.
 
Sometimes we tend to try to play both sides of the fence.  When want to keep our friends that we know we should not hang around, and we want to praise and worship the Lord.  It's very difficult to play both sides of the fence.  I tried it and it doesn't work.  What will happen is that the greater spirit will eventually win your soul.  If you are having difficulty dealing with peer pressure, keep going to church.  Keep your bible even closer because the enemy will try to use people to keep you from fulfilling God's purpose for your life.  Your peers don't even know that the enemy is using them to keep you from reaching your destiny in Christ.  If you are dealing with peer pressure, pray that the Lord God will put people in your life that will be able to keep you lifted up and will accept your decision to become a Christian.  Pray that God will lead you to the right people that will be able to make positive deposits in your life and not withdraws.

Once I decided to give my life fully to the Lord, I mean make a decision to stop partying, doing drugs and drinking the peers in my life changed.  God gave me some new friends.  God gave me a new dance and song in my heart.  I never looked down on people, I just knew what I wanted for my life and that was to fulfill God's purpose for me.

Sometimes we just need deliverance from people.  We need to stop listening to people that don't have our best interest in mind.  Maybe you have been friends with that person for many years, maybe your season with that person has passed.  We need deliverance from trying to please people and live up to other peoples' expectation of us.  Stick with the Lord, stay on course and pray for discernment that you can know the difference between a real friend or a friend that is only in it for their value and needs.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for keeping me in perfect peace while I am in transition to becoming more like you.  Father, I know that the road ahead can be difficult so I ask you Lord to keep watch over me and my family.  Father, I pray that you put positive people in my life that can help me and not hurt me, in Jesus name, Amen.
 
If you have been blessed by my daily devotions, you can purchase a copy of "Breaking Shackles" or "Mighty Woman of God" for less than $10 through www.amazon.com or www.createspace.com.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

Mighty Woman of God, I pray that you are blessed and highly favored as you follow whole-heartedly after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 3:13-15), His work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light.  It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.  If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.  If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.
When I was 19 years old, I had a friend that knew how to make pizza from scratch.  She would buy all the ingredients she needed, including the toppings.  Everything was fresh, nothing out of the can. We would get together on the weekends and she always had that pizza.  Well, pizza is one of my favorite foods so I never complained about eating too much.  One day I asked her for her recipe.  She wrote down all the ingredients and step by step instructions to follow.  My first attempt to make that pizza was a disaster.  My second attempt was worst.  I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong, what step was I was missing.  Finally, she actually came to my house so that we could make the pizza together, then I got it right.  It turns out that I was not letting the yeast sit long enough to rise and I was letting the oven pre-heat, which was burning the crust way ahead of time.
Mighty woman of God, if you keep putting the same ingredients in your oven (you spirit), and things don't work out right, you have to change the way you put your ingredients together.  You keep doing the same thing wrong you will get the same results (a disaster).
Now, let's look at this from a spiritual point of view.  You are wondering why you seem to be going around in circles, going through the same bitterness, turmoil and challenges over and over again.  You are not changing the ingredients but you want different results.  You are asking God for the same things over and over again.  Not only that, but you need to look at your instructions again (read your bible).  If you keep doing what you're doing, you'll keep getting what you're getting. 
You need to invite the Holy  Spirit to your kitchen (your spirit) and show you what ingredients to keep and what to throw out.  In other words, what are the things you need to let go of to receive God's best for you.  What ingredients do you need more of?  What friends to let go and which friends to keep.  Maybe you need more water (blood of Jesus, Word of God).  Maybe you need more oil (anointing).  Maybe you need more heat (the Holy Spirit), maybe you need more yeast (prayer), maybe you need less eggs (unevenly yoked, worldly things). 
If you are missing some of the ingredients then every time you are tested by fiery darts of the devil you will not rise up.  Until you have the right ingredients in your oven (your spirit, body, heart), your yeast (spirit) will not rise.
If you would like to support the ministry, please purchase a copy of my book, "Breaking Shackles" or "Mighty Woman of God", visit www.amazon.com for your $10 or less. 

Friday, October 3, 2014

A NEW ENGINE

Mighty Woman of God, I pray that you are blessed by today's message and that you are able to apply today's worth to your life.  Be blessed.

(1 Peter 3:3-5),  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful.
 
I can remember my first car.  I was so excited to have it that I drove all the way home singing a song to my car.  Mainly because I had no radio, but I was intended to use my pocket radio as soon as I got some AA batteries. LOL.  As soon as I got home, I ran upstairs to tell my parents to look out the window and see my new car, I was so proud.  They looked out the window and the look of wonder covered their faces because they didn't see the car that I could possibly be so eager to show off.  What they actually saw was a little 4-door, Nova, Chevrolet, covered in rust but what they didn't know was that it had a new engine.  I was still smiling, admiring my new car.
 
My point to this story is that sometimes not everyone sees things the way you do.  Sometimes not everyone will accept the new you.  They are looking at you from the outside and have no idea what you are actually working with on the inside.  They don't see what God sees on the inside of you.

You were the friend that they used to get high with, party with and gossip with, but the more you seek out Christ, the more He changes you from the inside.  So they are looking at you with their naked eyes but God is looking at you with His spiritual eyes.  God does not see your outside, nor does He care about your outside, God is concerned about your heart, whatcha working with on the inside.  You see, God doesn't care what you are wearing, how good your nails look or how much you paid for your jewelry.  God is so beautiful that you can never outlook Him.  You can spend thousands of dollars on your outward appearance and still you won't impress God.   You may be able to impress your friends, but to God, you are wearing cheap clothes and jewelry.
 
Woman of God, I know that some of you have friends and family members that are clean on the outside but their inner most parts are dirty.  They are unloving, talk about you behind your back, tell all your secrets and are no where to be found when you really need a real friend.  That is the total opposite of God.  His innermost parts are beauty, loving, kind, compassionate and friendly.  He will never tell your secrets, talk about you behind your back and He's always there, wherever you are when you need Him.
 
Just like my car, it had a new engine and it ran better than most new cars.  Once you start living your life according to biblical principals and glorify God with all your heart, it's like getting a new engine.  The outside may not look rich, but the inside is very rich and you won't every go bankrupt.  When tough financial times hit, your new engine will sustain all the challenges of life. 

DO YOU HAVE A NEW ENGINE?  If not, you are going to run out of oil and your car will break down in the middle of the expressway.  Just like old and bald tires, you will eventually run out of air.  The last place you will want to break down at is in the middle of heavy traffic (in the middle of spiritual warfare).  PRAISE GOD!

Heavenly Father, I praise Your Holy name on today.  Father I pray that You get rid of anything on the inside of me that doesn't glorify You.  I pray that you create in me a clean and righteous heart.  I want my life to glorify You Lord.  From this point on Lord, I pray that you are working on the inside and I will yield myself to You.  In Jesus name, Amen!
 
To purchase a copy of my book, "Breaking Shackles", or "Mighty Woman of God", visit www.amazon.com or www.createspace.com, both can be purchased for under $10.  Thank you for supporting the ministry.  God bless you.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

THE STORMS OF LIFE

Good Morning, Mighty Woman of God.  I pray that you are all blessed and highly favored by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

(Psalms 46:1-3) God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  (Psalms 27:5) For in the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling; He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.

Peter notices Jesus walking on water. Peter says to Jesus, "If it is you Lord tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus tells him to come and Peter begins walking toward Jesus.  But then Peter noticed the wind and he was afraid and began to sink, he cried out to the Lord and IMMEDIATELY Jesus reached out his hand and caught him then says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

You are able to see the wind and the storm in your life. But do you see Jesus? As the wind blows harder, don't take your eyes off of Jesus. Peter had the faith to step out, but he lost his faith as soon as the winds picked up. He saw the wind, which means he took his eyes of Jesus.  Don't take your eyes off Jesus, our Savior, our King, the author, and finisher of our life. 

We all go through storms in our lives. At times it could be so windy that we can't see what's right in front of us, bidding us to keep going.  Have you ever been driving and all of a student you are faced with very heavy rain?  The kind of rain that is faster than your windshield wipers can go.  I've had to pull over and wait until the rain slowed down before I could keep driving.  Today, the Lord wants you to stop driving and wait.  Pullover and wait, your storm will calm.  LET US PRAY!

Heavenly Father, I thank and praise You for Your strength in my life.  Lord, I want to walk in Your peace and joy on today.  Whatever is troubling me today, I now let go and give them to You.  The battle is not mined, it's Yours.  Lord Jesus as I go through the storms in my life, I will continue to have faith in You, that you are stilling the waters, so that I can continue to walk, in Jesus' name, Amen.