Not Afraid

2 Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (KJ) For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. (NIV) God didn't give us a cowardly spirit but a spirit of power, love, and good judgment. (GWT) John 14:27 I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.(NLT) Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (NASB) 

Everything has an opposite…

Everything has an opposite…

Psalm 107

1-Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever
2-Let the redeemed of the Lord say this ~
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe
3-Those he gathered from the lands from east and west,
from north and south
4-They wandered in the wilderness in a desert way;
they found no city of habitation.
5-Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6- Then they cried unto Jehovah in trouble,
and he delivered them out of their distresses,
7-He led them also by a straight way,
that they might go to ta city of habitation.
8-Oh that men would praise Jehovah for his loving-kindness,
and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9-For he satisfieth the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he filleth with good
10-Such as sat in darkness and in the shadow of death
being bound in affliction and iron
11-Because they rebelled against the words of God,
and contemned the counsel of the Most High:
12-Therefore he brought down their heart with labor;
they fell down, and there was none to help
13-Then they cried unto Jehovah in their trouble,
and he saved them out of their darkness

Everything in the earth has its opposites.  All that goes up must come down.  If you go out, you had to first go in.  If you have the ability to turn left, you have an opportunity to turn right.  Dark streets are filled and brightened with its opposite, light in the form of lamp posts.   

At some time in my life I lived opposite all that I live now.  I was fearful but now am both bold and courageous.  Once my ears were closed to all things beautiful but now I can hear even the birds as they sing.  My lips were bound with silence but now I speak with power and authority.  My eyes saw with limits in black and white but now my vision is full of vivid colors.  My heart was closed and I could feel nothing but now my heart is open to love with every fabric of my being.

Most of all, I once was lost, but now am found.  I was lost without hope, lost without focus, lost to my burdens, lost in my mind, lost to strongholds, lost without faith…But finally one day at my lowest point I decided to change.   I wanted better and therefore decided; in order to have better I must first think better.  I decided to change my mind, making every negative a positive, turning every wrong turn into a right turn.

Now my hope is built on a solid rock.  I am no longer bound by the past, ill thinking, deceit, manipulation, or words…not even my own words.  I am no longer dead but I am now alive.  Free to live a fuller, healthy, more vibrant and fulfilling life.  Why?  Because I declared it from my mouth and spirit and am living it!  I am actualizing positives even with negative forces trying to tear down that hope which is now built.  Certainly, everything has its opposite.  How are you handling the opposites in your life?

Psalm 107 says give thanks to God which when I think about it, means we possibly murmur and complain during difficulties.  I say make the change, decide to rejoice and give thanks instead and in advance.  Psalm 107 goes on to say the people were in the wilderness, a city with no habitation.  They were hungry and thirsty but just as they cried out in their trouble; God delivered them from their distresses.  He took them from a desolate place to a place full of life with resources.  The text goes on and on proving the point of opposites.  Everything empty became full and so forth and so on.

I want to encourage you this day, every pain has its end just as Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a time and place, a season for all things so make up your mind to see your opposites workout for your good.  The word declares it in Romans 8:28 all things work together for good.  Again I ask, how are you handling the opposites in your life?  During day 7 of this consecration declare from your mouth that your negatives are your positives! Speak LIFE!!!

Go ahead, whip me...

This morning during our daily time of prayer, day six of the prayer lines holy consecration, Brother Jamal began to pray. Typically all phone lines are muted to keep out background noises but this morning I neglected to ask the callers to mute their phones. Half way through the prayer a woman began fussing at her children in irritation of what they were not doing. She was so loud she over powered the prayers of Brother Jamal. The Holy Spirit told me to interrupt the prayer and to ask all callers to mute the phone but I did not listen. I acted in my own mind because I did not want to be a second disturbance. Although the young woman had stopped for a moment the holy spirit told me that she would say unfavorable things to the children because she was frustrated but again, I did not correct her, nor yield to the spirit and in less than two minutes she began fussing at the children again but this time she used foul language and I could hear the gasp from those on the line. I had to come forth and stop the prayer and then correct her and all the callers.

When the call was over some people sent me messages saying they were upset, appalled and offended. Many of these callers are new to the more than forty participants we have nearly every morning.  All the callers have invited their family and friends to join them on the prayer line. After taking a cat nap and having dreamed a specific thing about thieves stealing from those who are left exposed and open, the Lord reminded me that none of us are so holy, so pure or so righteous and THAT is the reason for times of consecration such as the one (WE) as the prayer line callers are experiencing right now. People are expecting me to correct this young woman further and beyond what I said on the call but they missed the message in the group text message I sent that morning and its meaning for day six of this consecration period. The message said: “Are you giving God part or all of you? I am your accountability partner, as you are mine. Let’s give God everything, especially the dirty and shameful things. Mouth, mind, finances, children, marriage, heart, hurt, pain…Day 6 has begun and God wants ALL of you!”

The point is all of us are in different spaces and places. Some of us have never cursed. Some of us know enough not to curse in church, on the prayer call or during other fellowship times with the Saints. Some of us have been totally delivered from cursing but we still back bite, cheat, lie, steal, manipulate, doubt, fear, lack faith and the list goes on.

The prayer call is a place for the saved, unsaved and those trying to figure out what side of the fence they want to be on. I will not condemn nor judge this young woman. I won’t point her out or use her as an example. I won’t allow anyone to attack her. I will stand in the gap for her. So if anyone has anything to say, simply say it to me. I will be the whipping post for her. I will take the persecution from all the holy people that live lives perfected without flaw or blemish.

I will go even further being transparent, hearing those words come from this young woman was a mirror, no maybe I don’t curse at my children but in heightened times of frustration or even anger I have used similar words. My heart cried as God used this moment on the call as an opportunity to shine the light on me. God exposed an ugly place that is just as much mine as it was this young woman’s. Maybe it’s not swearing, cursing or using foul language for you but it may be words like, “I can’t! That will never happen for me! I’ll always be sick! I’m never going to get out of debt! My marriage is going to fail! I don’t think these family members will ever change!” and again, the list goes on.

It’s easy to persecute, judge and point out wrong doings, bad habits, ill behaviors and such with others than it is to love somebody right where they are. So again, I’ll be the whipping post. If you have nails, knives, whips, chains, whatever you want to do or say to this young woman to get if off your chest for how you were offended, simply say it to me and guess what? I will take it all no matter how bad it hurts. Her soul can’t be lost because we are holy! In fact, her soul is found because someone holy invited her to the call. So with my little bit of strength and my extremely strong faith, I’ll take her punishment because I know it won’t kill me but it might very well set her back to a place of self-condemnation and ill thoughts. It may wound and even kill her.

Trust me; I know she is already beating herself up enough. You know why…Because no one ever wants to expose the dirt within themselves in front of the Saints. That’s why they clean themselves up first before they come to church or in the presence of “the holy people”. They want to change, that’s why they come in the first place but they have the pressure of faking the funk and acting like they are much better than they really are. Why? Because, none of the Saints embrace filth.

Think about this: The Lord told me to go and hug a homeless woman on a bench. She was filthy but the Lord said it so I did it. He told me to hold her hands which were dirty and so I did. He told me to forget the smell and to smile at and pray for her and so I did. Then He said for me to tell her I love her and that I do care and so I did.

Later that same day I saw a homeless man sitting outside of the Subway Sandwich shop. He asked for money. I asked him what he wanted it for but only because the Lord told me to ask him. He said he was hungry. The Lord told me not to buy myself something to eat but to buy him what I would have gotten for myself. In other words feed but not just any old thing…feed him well. So I asked him what he wanted and then went into the store and purchased it. There was an old man in the store also and he said the young man was not homeless but that he was a beggar and a bum. He said there was nothing wrong with him and he needed to get a job and take care of himself because he is a grown man. The older gentleman went on to say I should not do anything to help him because he was just plain ole’ lazy. I smiled at the old man and said, “My heart is in God and God’s heart is for all His people. I must be obedient.” So I was. When I went back outside the Lord told me to tell the young man to get up off the ground and get clean. His eyes filled with tears as he told me his story. He knew precisely the three areas God had shown me. Then the Lord said to tell him not to be ashamed and so I did.

Now imagine if I had not listened to God but listened to the man because he was repulsed by what he could see when looking at the young man with natural eyes.

Clearly we sometimes sit in postures waiting for that right word, that right moment to be accepted, the right moment to be encouraged, the right moment for someone to feed us, the right moment to have our needs met, the right moment to be loved.

So again, I say, “I’ll be the whipping post for our sister who is clearly struggling. Maybe it’s her patience. Maybe it’s her timing. Maybe its motherhood – being single with small babies. Maybe it’s a lack of love or self-respect. Who knows? I don’t claim to know but I do know she is struggling. She has just as much desire to be right with God as the rest of us. So judge me in her place. Place the thorns upon my head. Persecute me. I’ll stand in her place. But remember this, by the measure you judge that is the same measure by which you, yourself will be judged.

“He who is without sin cast the first stone”~ John 8:7

“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin?”~Proverbs 20:9

**During our time of consecration God will expose us to what’s truly in our hearts individually and corporately. As Mother Patricia stated during the meditation today, none of us are exempt from pain but we are also NOT exempt from persecution or judgment and neither are we exempt from flaws! Yes we are new creations in Christ but we ALL die daily to the flesh in order to live for God being holy and acceptable.

This blog post is one with many messages to all who read. Take a moment to read it again and to share it with someone else.

OTHER SCRIPTURES MEDITATE ON DURING CONSECRATION:

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.~ Romans 15:1 New International Version

And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices. ~ Mark 12:33 American Standard Version

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.~ Romans 12:9-10 New International Version

I’ve spent a long time in sin’s prison. What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise…it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary. But I need something more! For if I know that law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help!

I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it. I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

It happens so regularly that its predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

~ Roman 7: 15-23 The Message Bible

Romans 13:10
Zechariah 8:17
Luke 10:27

PRAYER:

Lord, bless the eyes of the one who reads this post. Touch them in the inner most, depths of their beings. Remind them of your love for them. Encourage them to open and expose those parts they are ashamed to share with you. Wrap your arms around them and draw them closer to you. Heal the sin sick, the wounded, the lost, the afflicted, the bound. Remake them into what you desire Lord. Help them to love their neighbor honestly as you love us. Lord I thank you for revealing the ugly parts of me that I may be open to your truth and to change that which can only come from you. Help each of us to acknowledge our flaws, face them and then allow you to fix them...bit by bit and piece by piece. Make us whole. My God you are so loving and we do not take your lovingkindness for granted. It is in Christ name I pray for myself, my brothers and sisters, near and far, Amen

I believe in YOU...

Thank you to the thousands who embrace and support me on this journey of Embracing Me as I launch full speed ahead with The Embracing Me Project.  Whether you purchased a book, came out to a speaking engagement, attended a book signing, referred a friend, sent a word of encouragement or remain in constant prayer for me as I go forth on this journey, please know that you are appreciated.

Unfortunately, I did not reach my prior goal of selling 1000 of my latest book "Hell & Heaven at 8" during the 10 day 1000 book push in January. Therefore I was unable to give out as many free books to people in transition; be it abuse, divorce, abandonment or loss of a loved one, as I initially desired. So here I am again, striving to reach a set goal but starting the counter over!

It is my desire to sell twice the amount of books than my original goal. Why have I set such an ambitious goal the 2nd time around if I did not reach the goal the first time? Well that's easy to answer.  Since the last time I sought your support, I encountered even more hurting, wounded, deprived, hopeless and even suicidal people who simply need the proper support and guidance as well as tools to aid in healing.  I have watched women, boys, girls and men from ALL walks of life start over on their journey to fulfillment, completion, healing, restoration and encouragement. They desire to be made whole and I believe that is possible! "Hell & Heaven at 8" stands simply as one tool, not an end all be all.

This is where you and I come in.  With more than thirty countries following this blog, the entire United States having previewed the site and the many responses I receive from you regularly, its evident that we are capable of reaching this goal together! I believe in YOU the readers and supporters and I believe in this movement!

PURCHASE A COPY FOR YOU, A FAMILY MEMBER OR FRIEND BY CLICKING THE LINK TODAY: Hell & Heaven at 8

For group rates & discounts email: GodsGiftLLC@gmail.com

"Hell & Heaven at 8" tells of my life’s journey from girlhood to womanhood, experiencing the hellish disappointments and various abuses of life as well as the pivotal points in my life's journey that allowed me to heal, grow and embrace the woman I was created to be, using each negative as a platform for positive growth and successful development.

Thank you for all the responses thus far and thanks in advance for your continued support! I know I can count on YOU to help reach the goal of 2000 book sales by June 30, 2012! That's 40 days to sell 50 books per week...WE CAN DO IT!!!

**NOTE: Support this movement by tweeting it daily, adding it to your facebook page, emailing it to your friends, family and extended network, call people to tell them about it or text the link...YOU hold the key for other people's successful healing...EMBRACE IT!

Authentically Real Worship

As I embrace this day, this moment, this space, this time, I welcome God into every area of my life. I avail my entire being to Him and I worship sincerely with every fabric of my being. I simply desire to be who and what God designed, created and destined me to be. No more noise clouding my judgment of self. No conflictual messages saying to me what I am not but simply the spirit of the Lord dwelling in me, reminding me that I am beautifully and wonderfully made. Just to simply be in God's presence is what I need. This intimate space is my serenity, it is my peace, it is my joy, it is my strength, it is my confidence, it is my holiness, it is my ministry...being with God, simply being in that quiet face to face space is rewarding. I come out better. Purified! A new thing takes place each time I enter this space. I go to deeper depths and heights unknown to me outside of this quiet place of worship. I silence defeat and know that I am more than a conqueror. I am victorious. I feel like Paul, I am responsible for getting out of chains, bondage and jail. I am equally responsible for entering the upper room, for getting up close and personal with God and I realize He is my EVERYTHING and that without out Him I can do nothing! I am grateful for authentic, true and real encounters with God in, through and by worshipping Him in spirit and in truth that elevate my spirit to a place in Him that is indescribable.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship at his footstool; for He is holy ~ Psalm 99:5

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth ~ John 4:24

Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy ~ Psalm 99: 9

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness ~ 1 Chronicles 16:29

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank you for allowing me, someone who at some point considered myself unclean, unholy and unworthy, an opportunity to develop a relationship with you so that I could see me as you see me. Thank you God for loving me so much so that you avail yourself to me. Thank you for speaking to me. Thank you for wiping my tears. Thank you for cleaning and healing my heart. Thank you for renewing my mind. Thank you for strengthening my faith. Thank you for allowing me to come and worship at your throne. Thank you for being loving, kind, gracious, gentle and especially patient with me. Thank you for redeeming me and the time. Thank you for the process of purging and purifying me. I love you Lord and I bless your holy name for you are worthy of all my praise. Receive my authentic and real worship O' Lord my God. Receive my prayers and I thank you for not withdrawing yourself from me. In Christ name I pray, Amen

*NOTE: Sometimes, out of habit we simply come to God with many request but all He wants to hear is our praise for who and what He is to us. Take a moment to reflect on that which you have and then say a prayer of thanksgiving. Let that too, be authentic and real http://theembracingmeproject.blogspot.com/2012/02/daily-routine.html