DISTRACTED

(John 11:25-26), Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?

I dedicated my life to the Lord Jesus Christ, when I was 19 years of age.  I was reading a book and at the end was a simple prayer to pray and ask the Lord Jesus Christ to come into my life and my heart. My first husband was in the Nave and we were living in Misawa, Japan.  I used to take long walk in the part at night because it seemed like every star in the entire world was in Japan. I began reading my bible and praying every day.

At first it was difficult understanding the King James Bible, but I managed to somewhat understand enough to know that Jesus Christ was the answer to all my needs and wants and that prayer was the most effective tool when it came to having a relationship with the Lord. I had a prayer life and I was in love with Jesus Christ.  The walks in the park was my special time with Him and I loved that special time.  I enjoyed being in the presence of the Lord and I knew that I never wanted to give that up.

When I returned to the states I was divorced and very lonely. As I got older and life became more complicated, I ventured down a different road than the one that God wanted me to take.  I had my first son by the time I was nineteen years old and already going through my first divorce.  I would still pray, but I had no prayer life.  I began hanging out with the wrong crowd of people and made a lot of wrong decisions.

I started drinking, smoking marijuana and cocaine.  That became a part of my lifestyle.  I didn’t go out partying on the weekends because the type of partying that I was doing wasn’t exactly legal.  I found myself in places that I would have never, if it were not for drugs.  I looked over a lot of things in my life while I was addicted.  I spent time in rat infested houses just to do drugs.  Just by looking at me, you would have never know that I was an addict.  I was a working class addict.  I worked in corporate offices and wore suits to work everyday.  I went through drug rehab and still went back to doing drugs.

One day I found a pocket bible in my 13 year old son’s pocket.  He had been carrying it to school.  I asked him why he had it in his pocket and he said, “Just in case I need it”.

Then I remembered a promise that I made to God when I was that 19 year old young lady that took long walks in the park praying and just having conversations with the Lord.

That my kids would be raised in the church.  So I started going to church.  Did I stop doing drugs and drinking?  No, I didn’t.  But I did begin to pray more and ask God to deliver me.  Was I delivered right away?  No.  But I kept going back to church.  I would go to church and come home to drugs and drinking.  Was I mocking God? No, because I kept on praying and kept on going back to church.  I recognized that I couldn’t be restored without the Lord. 

One day, after service, I went to Bible Sunday School and as we were going into class, our Sunday School Teacher was anointing everyone’s forehead.  I got my forehead anointed and went to find my seat.  Once I sat down I began crying.  I cried the whole hour.  The teacher didn’t say anything to me, but she did put a box of tissue on my desk and she kept on teaching.  That was the day that I was delivered from alcohol and drug abuse.  It was sealed because I kept going back.  What I didn’t get from the 10 Step Program, I received from my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Woman of God, if you are at a point in your life where the devil seems to be wreaking havoc, it is because he wants to keep you distracted and keep you from the Lord’s promise.  As longs as Satan can keep you concentrating on the things of this world, he will keep you from the blessings of God. 

Satan wants to keep you distracted by using any means necessary, so that you will not be in the ministry that God has for you.  He wants to keep you distracted, so that darkness will overshadow the light of the Lord.  The more blessings that God has for you, the bigger the distractions will be in your life.

If you are distracted, it is time for you to be released from the hands of the devil.  It is time for you to start your ministry.  In fact, some of you that will read this message know that you have a ministry inside of you that needs to be birth.  Every time you try to pick yourself up, the enemy pushes you back down.  You take two steps towards God and he pushes you back three steps. 

The devil is cunning, wicked and very deceitful.  Don't let the devil keep you distracted any longer.  It's time for you to go forward and not look back.  Move forward into the ministry and spiritual gifts that God has ordained for you.

TAKING TWO STEPS

Good morning, Mighty Woman of God.  I pray that you are blessed and highly favored of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you follow after Him.  I speak peace and abundantly love unto you from our Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, I am going to give you a message that the Lord wanted me to give from my spiritual daughter Nicole Lofton's book titled, "The Women's restoration Devotional".

(Hebrews 12:1), Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."

How many times has something happened and you felt stuck?  Maybe you felt like every time you even attempted to move forward, something else happened.  Maybe you cried out of frustration or maybe you felt as if you were going to lose your mind.  I have felt that way before too.

I have been in that place where it seemed like taking a step forward really resulted in taking four steps backwards and I began to wonder why.  I realized it was mostly because I was more focused on the problem instead on the problem solver (God).  Sometimes I was so focused on the problem that I could not see that there was a reason for what I was going through; it was indeed for a bigger purpose.

The trials that we face are to make us stronger, but sometimes they confuse us, they also tend to distract us, and eventually they hold us back.  when we put all our focus on the problem, the problem takes over.  We have given that problem strength that it didn't even know that we had.

In the scripture referenced above, God tells us to "lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and run with endurance the race that is set before us".  We have to push our problems to the side letting them know that they have no power over us.  We know that we cannot tackle our problems on our own; we need help from God.  In order to receive that help, we have to be willing to hand them over to God and let Him help us.  Let's work to keep our mind on the problem solver instead of the problem.

ME:  The bible says, "I will keep those in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on me."  I was also reminded by the Spirit of the Lord that, a lot of times, in certain circumstances in our lives, we ask God to help us with our problems; but there is also a time that we have to just say, "Father, I won't ask you to help me, I need for you to just take over.  You don't need my help, I'll just mess it up anyway by trying".  That is what God means when He says, "Take your hands off the problem, completely."  I have found that simply saying, "Spirit of the Living God, please do for me what I am incapable of doing for myself, in Jesus name, thank you."  AMEN!

WE FALL DOWN

I pray that you are all blessed and highly favored of

our Lord Jesus Christ.  And that you are growing spiritually.

Proverbs 24:16, For though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity.

I was talking to my oldest son the other day and he told me that when he looks at my life, he is able to be encouraged.  You know sometimes it takes a real person, someone not famous to look at and say to yourself, "I can do that, I can make it". 

You see my oldest son and daughter were with me when I lost my apartment due to drugs.  They were with me when I had to give them to family members because I had to go to rehab center.  They can recall the times that lights were off.  Even though I had a great job, it went to drugs.  They can recall watching me get abused by ex.

When I left Chicago to move to Vegas, I had a servant of the Lord spirit.  I was used to teaching bible study and ministering every other week in church.  But when I got to Vegas, that all went out the window.  I enjoyed those darn slot machines.  I lost sight of my Lord Jesus.  I would say that I had definitely fallen again.

Each time that you fall down, get back up stronger.  Let that fall mean something.  Each time that I fell, it seemed to me that I got stronger and stronger.  The Lord lifted me higher and higher.  The way that you can get stronger is because you grab a hold of Jesus a little bit tighter, just touch the hem of His garment.  The next time you fall down, let that fall mean something, get back even stronger. Put up your dukes and say to the devil, "Is that all you got?"  A just man/woman falls 7 times.  

Jesus is my BFF and I won't unfriend Him and He won't unfriend you. PRAISE GOD!

I pray that you are well and that you have had a joyous holiday.  I thank God you and continue to pray for you daily.

(Psalms 119:105), Your Word is a lamp unto my feet.

(Psalms 27: 1), The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?

(John 8:12), When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Lighthouse - A tall structure topped by a powerful light used as a signal or beacon to aid marine navigation.

Navigate - To record, plan or control the position and course of a ship or aircraft. To follow a planned course on, across, or through.

Hold on now, I'm going somewhere with this.  I just need to set the stage.  If I were to put those two definitions together, I would say that a lighthouse is a large powerful structure used to keep ships on course.  I can also use those definitions to say, "Jesus Christ is a powerful Light that can keep us on course or guide us to follow the plan that He has for us; before we were born.

If I were to describe how my life used to be without Jesus Christ navigating me through the windstorms of my life, I would say that I was lost at sea.  I could not see His beacon of ling to put my life back on the planned course.  I couldn't see His powerful Light that eventually guided me through my drug addiction.  I couldn't see the Lord holding back the raging sea of physical abuse (that could have killed me) so that I could passed safely through the waters.

I have seen movies where a ship was lost at sea, and it was too dark for the captain to tell how far it was for them to reach land and suddenly there is a powerful beacon of light shining bright enough to navigate the captain to the dock.

Woman of God, when you are going through difficult times and your circumstances seem too dark to bare; trust the Lord to navigate, and keep watch over you.  He will guide you to the Light (Himself) safely.  Just because you don't see the Light doesn't mean that He is not there.  Maybe you need to change your course and follow the Lord's  plan.  Maybe you are at the point where the Lord is telling you to stay on course, but you can't see Him.  The Lord's message for you today is to stay on course, follow His plan for your life and you will see His powerful Light that is navigating your through the dark seas.  You see, Jesus Christ's Light is stronger than your darkness.  Amen!

Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Your Son Jesus Christ to be my Light.  My prayer today, Father is that you continue to be my guiding Light.  Everywhere my footstep travel You Lord are with me.  I thank you Lord that through the rough seas of my life, You are with me.  I know Lord that you will never leave nor forsake me through my darkest hours.  I love you Lord, I pray Lord by the power of the Holy Spirit that I walk in a Spirit of Peace right now, in Jesus Name, Amen.

Don't forget to sign up for the 2nd Annual Women's Conference in Chicago, the first week in June.  I know that it seems far away but planning to hold a nice event takes a lot of time.  I want everyone to be comfortable so the renting of the space is very important.  Also you can purchase a copy of my book, "Mighty Woman of God", for less than $10 at www.amazon.com.  Thank you and be blessed.

AS SOON AS . . .

Good Morning, Mighty Woman of God!

I pray that you are all blessed and highly favored of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I speak blessings of peace and restoration into your life. 

"As soon as" - - - I have heard this saying so many times.  I have ministered and prayed with a lot of people on the street and after prayer would them to visit the church.  They look at me and say, "I will as soon as I get myself together". 

Without Christ there is no "as soon as".  The church is for you and the church is for sick people.  It is not a place to come once a week to show off your new garments or hats.  It not a place to come to visit your girlfriend and catch up on all the gossip and it's definitely not the place for you to go to meet men.  If you are in a anointed church, filled with the Spirit of the Lord, you are in the right place. the Lord Jesus will pour out His spirit upon you and you will be at the "as soon as" place in your life.

If I had waited for the "as soon as" in my life, I would probably be dead.  I had to get to church, I had to get to Jesus.  When I first started attending church, I was damaged, on drugs and sick.  There was no way I would have made it if it were not for Jesus reaching down in the depths of hell and saving my soul.  You can keep sitting around waiting for the "as soon as" to happen in your life, but I promise you it will never happen without the Lord.

We never know how much time we have.  What is "as soon as" is the day that Christ comes back?  Are you still saying, "as soon as".  Don't you know how valuable your life to Christ is?  If you don't, let me tell you.  He died so that you could live, not live it up.  He's calling you today, and you don't have to wait for Sunday to walk to the alter.  He's calling you into restoration.  Restore your relationship with Christ today.  Give your life to the Lord today and let Him take care of the "as soon as" part.  LET UP PRAY!

Heavenly Father, I give you honor and praise today for my very life.  Lord, I pray for your strength in my area of weakness.  Lord, I pray that you take away the "as soon as" out of my mouth that I may run to the alter just as I am.  Lord, I know that I am a sinner and I pray that you forgive me for my sins against you.  Thank you Lord for dying on the cross for my sake.  Now Lord, I give you my life, in Jesus name, Amen. 

REPENTANCE . . . FORGIVENESS

Good morning, Mighty Woman of God!  I speak that the blessing of the Lord will overtake you as you seek after Him.

Today is a message that is truly dear to my heart.  Sometimes when I think about the people that are stuck because of the BIGGEST LIE that the devil constantly uses against us.  So bare with me, I am so praying that this message will FREE you from being a prisoner of your own mind.

What if Jesus were to come back today and say to you, "Daughter, I've missed you, your prayers, the way you used to worship Me, then you stopped.  Why?"

DAUGHTER:  "Lord, I tried to come back but I just felt like a hypocrite.  Even when I tried and my hearts desire was to do better, I couldn't face you knowing that all the while, I've got this demonic spirit to fight.  Lord, I felt like I let you down.

JESUS:  "Don't you know that you can't fight that battle alone.  You need to fight spirit with spirit.  You are not fighting against flesh but against principalities . . .  Why didn't you believe my own words?  (Isaiah: 43:25, "I even I, am HE who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.  (Matt. 26:41, "Watch and pray, that you enter not into temptation: the spirit is indeed willing, but the flesh is weak).  I know your spirit, my daughter and I also know that there are some days that you give it all you've got to be obedient but that flesh is still dying.  While your flesh is dying, your best weapon is ME.  Don't you know how much I love you, my daughter?  Didn't you believe (Rom. 5:8, But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us).

Woman of God, not only have I heard from people that they don't pray or attend church anymore because they have not repented.  When the man or woman of God stand before us and read "unless we repent, we will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Now I'm not taking that scripture and turning it around to serve our purpose or contradict your pastor.  But the Holy Spirit gave me a revelation on that scripture.  This is exactly what the Spirit of the Lord says to you, God says, even a just man falls seven times, as long as your hearts desire is to repent, that's the heart that HE can use and work with.  God says that we don't accept HIS FORGIVENESS.  We read about it over and over and tell others, over and over but when it comes to ourselves, we are too hard on ourselves.

Now, I not stating this for the people that continuously say, "God knows my heart" and you purposely sin and do wrong and you don't even pray about it.  I'm talking about the ones that lay on their face before God and pray, worship, praise and scream out, LORD HELP ME!!  God even though they know that they have to work on some things.  A hypocrite is the person talking about everybody else sins and still dealing with the same thing.

The reason why I wrote in my book, "Breaking Shackles", a lot about the sins that I struggled with, prayed about and was delivered from is because 1st I love God so much that I am willing to put myself out there to be an open book for you.  I love God so much that I care about what He cares about most and that's you.  The longer you stay away, the easier it becomes for satan to trick you into thinking that you let God down.  I'm so glad that we serve a God that is never nor will ever be surprised by what we do and the trouble that we sometimes get ourselves in.  If you are someone that stop doing the things that you love doing (praying, singing in the choir, praising and worshiping) because you think that you're a hypocrite, GO BACK, you have a heart that God can work with.

Ladies, if you are interested in attending the 2015 Women's Day Event, please sign in through my facebook event or my email (deirdrehunt506@gmail.com or deirdrehunt506@yahoo.com.  Come on out, no matter where you are in your spiritual walk.  God has something for you.  Don't let the enemy trick you into thinking that you are too far gone.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for your love and strength that you show towards me.  Father I pray that as the women read this message that they come to you with a loving heart and accept Your forgiveness.  I pray that they accept Your love.  I speak peace over their mind right now and no weapon formed against them shall prosper..

EVEN IN YOUR DARKEST HOUR

Hello Mighty Woman of God!  I pray that you are blessed by our Lord Jesus Christ and that you will follow after Him everyday.  Make everyday of your life count for something in the Kingdom of Heaven.

(Isaiah 41:9-10), I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you.  I said, 'You are My servant; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

With this testimony, I fought with God like Jonah.  "Lord, is there something else that I can tell?  Lord, this is a mistake and something that I want to keep for myself.  I don't want anyone to ever know that about me.  God reminded me that it's not about me, it's about the ministry and those that will read today's message. 

Even after teaching Bible Study, preaching on Sundays and striving to do what is right and keep God besides me, I mess up big time.  While living in Las Vegas, I not only had to deal with the demonic spirit of gambling but I had to deal with my anger issues.  Mind you, my life changed dramatically when I left Chicago.

I was definitely in my darkest hour.  I never thought that the Lord would still be watching out for me.  So even though He called me, anointed me, set me aside for His glory, I MESS UP.  What I learned during that period of time (38 days and 37 nights), God still got the glory.  I ended up in 3 different jails, facing charges in each one.  But the one thing that I kept saying to my family was, "God is keeping me comfortable".  When He could have turned His back on me for straying so far away, He didn't. 

I ended up teaching bible study, which the Lord used me greatly to blessed the women, there were over 20 women that I ministered to.  Even when I was tired, they helped me along the way.  With no money to pay me, my bed was always made by someone.  They would order goodies for me and even make sure that I had tea every night.  God used me in a might way and I was comfortable.  There were even times that I laughed harder than I had in a long time.  The second move was lock down in a cell for 22 or 23 hours a day.  Still God kept me comfortable, He really did.  I read more and during my 1 to 2 hours out, the women surrounded me to pray for them or to tell them what God had to say to them.  I should have lost my mind staying in a cell for over 22 hours a day, but I didn't.

What you should get from this is that I messed up.  I had to pay the price according to the law but according to God's law He didn't leave me alone.  He set the ground work for me before I was born and He knew that I was going to go to jail someday (I didn't but He did).  The difference between the saints of God and those that are not saved is that God will keep you comfortable, no matter what, even in your darkest hour.  Even when you mess up so bad, He will keep you comfortable.  The above scripture applies to you and to me.  If you find that you are in your darkest hour repeat that scripture to yourself and believe it with your whole heart and soul.  PRAISE GOD!

Heavenly Father I thank You and give you all the praise for keeping, even in my darkest hour.  Thank You for keeping me comfortable even when I mess up.  Lord I pray that I receive Your love and forgiveness when I ask and I thank You that You uphold me with Your right hand and cover me securely with Your left hand.  Father I pray that You help me to forgive myself as You have forgiven me, in Jesus name, Amen.

If you are interested in reading some more of my devotionals you can purchase "Breaking Shackles" or "Mighty Woman of God" at www.amazon.com or www.createspace.com for under $12.00, thank you for your contribution, God bless you.