First, lead is to lead through something and not like a pencil’s lead. You got to love our English language. I forgive my teacher from 2nd grade for what she did. I know it’s little, but it was a big deal for me at the time when I wanted to be good and do things the right way. When asking her how to spell the word that goes with the sentence “have to?,” she asked questions to determine if I was looking for “half” or “have” as the spelling choice. She decided from what I said the answer was “half.” When I received my paper back, the answer was counted wrong and the only thing on the paper that was wrong. It was supposed to be “have.” She helped me with this answer and it was wrong. I digress.
Control…
I am a female or woman and therefore am thought to be the one who wants to control things. In some ways, that may be the case and sometimes it’s not the case. This issue goes all the way back to Adam and Eve according to some interpretations I have heard. I feel this is not a female issue only, but a human issue in general. We are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Regardless of this issue, God loves us and loved us so much to send His only begotten son to come to earth and die for our sins. We are to practice self-control and not control of others. In this case, I was asked to share my testimony and I didn’t want control.
What attacks came?
I had an issue come up with family on one side and then the other. I had issues in my own home. Satan wanted to come to steal, kill, and destroy what would be fruitful from me sharing my testimony to help others in their walk with God. The devil was trying to take my focus off of what God had for me and others and focus on the issues at hand. Even as I am typing to share this, there’s a distraction coming in my house. There were delays in the time to practice and prepare the message for sharing. This would only be a five to seven minute testimony of a timeline of 20 years to cover. It was stressful. I worked and prayed over what needed to be shared, and pushed forward.
How do you prepare?
I am not one to speak in front of large groups of people. When the opportunity came up, I knew God wanted me to share. It was already in a post on Facebook and had to be broken down for the group I would share it with. For this to come to pass, I knew that I could not rely on my own strength, so I gave it to God. Over the weeks, I tried to take it up in my own strength and power, but kept giving it back to God. There was no way I could do this on my own in my own strength. I was definitely knowing my limits and growing in faith to trust that God would pull me through. God delivered, pulled me through, reached many, and all glory goes to God. I couldn’t have done it without Him.
Spiritual Junk Food…
God shared with me, in a talk on 93.7 the Light, about how those who speak to people could be feeding them junk food through their sermon. I prayed that God would not have me give them junk food. I also needed to pray for my hand to be steady, my voice not to shake, that I look at the people as they need and not at the back of the wall, that each person who needs it receives it and heals with what was shared. Then, I prayed about having my voice not go hoarse before the day of speaking, as that’s another way attack can come. The only attack that came soon after was that the well ran dry and showers were not allowed at camp. There may have been other small battles as well.
God’s love for all…
This and what God did through me to help others shows what love God has if we trust Him and His strength and timing. I was happy if the story touched one person. The group size was 140 ladies and then staff in the kitchen who could hear. I was approached by so many people who didn’t have the exact situation as me, but could relate it to their situations. I was the prodigal child, in a rough situation. God brought me through, brought me out when I was ready, and then brought me complete healing from it 20 years later. He used that to reach others through my testimony. This was all for His glory and not mine. I will share my testimony on another area of the website called “Testimonials.”
One person…
There was one particular person. I met her through a conference that Hope 100.7 had at Camp Chautauqua. The beds were full and she happened to be on the bed right next to me at this overnight. Another person and I had separately told her about Hearts of Beauty retreat. She decided she would go. I couldn’t remember her name to share a cabin, but prayed God would place her where she needed to be. In between those overnighters, we both realized we were at Answers In Genesis at Cedarville University at the same time. It amazes me that God places these people in our paths and connects us, when we don’t even try. It’s like when you show up to something and you and another person are wearing the same or a similar shirt. So many connections that God sets up, or “God appointments.”
Taste and See that the Lord is good…
God is with all of us all the time, as His word says. We have His breath in our lungs, as He breathed life into each one of us. We are created in His image. He loves us where we are at, but wants abundance for us and we can’t stay as we are. This is not that we will lose all the things we like and have to do things. This is Him making us individuals who connect as a whole in a body. We need each other. We are above the animals and earth. There is a dominion we possess through Him, without Him we are nothing. B-A-S-E Scriptures to look up: B-1 Corinthians 15:2-4; A-Romans 3:22; S-Romans 12:2; E-Romans 10:9.
How To Establish a Spiritual Base for my Life…
B- Am I willing to Believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for me and showed He was God by coming back to life? A- Am I willing to Accept God’s free forgiveness for my sins? S- Am I willing to Switch to God’s plan for my life? E- Am I willing to Express my desire for Christ to be the director of my life? PRAY ~ “Dear Jesus, I repent all of my sins, please forgive me for all the wrong things I have ever thought, said, and done. Today, I want to follow your plan for my life, have peace with you and make you my Lord and Savior. Please give me the wisdom and the power to follow you every day and forever. Amen.”
God vs. Satan…
God: Satan:
Stills you. Rushes you.
Reassures you. Frightens you.
Leads you. Pushes you.
Enlightens you. Confuses you.
Forgives you. Condemns you.
Calms you. Stresses you.
Encourages you. Discourages you.
Comforts you. Worries you.
The list above…
This list with God vs. Satan shows you when you are hearing what the devil wants you to believe which are lies vs. the truth God has for each of us. God wants good for us. Satan wants eternal death while God wants to have eternity with each of us. God wants that none should perish. We have this life on earth, but we can have eternal life with God after our physical body is dead. When you hear or feel the lies in this list coming against you, rebuke them. That worry has no right and not authority in my mind, I captivate the thought and give it to God. God, help me work through this lie of the devil. Thank You for Your help, God. I lift this up to You, Lord, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Wow, you have it all together…
I want to assure you that I don’t have it all together. In some ways, I am giving it to the one who can handle it. Then, in other ways, I try it in my own strength first without God. I share not to have you feel lesser than me, but to lift you up to the truth for you to be set free. No longer a slave to fear, but a child of God. This song was played at Church yesterday morning for us. ((No Longer Slaves (Official Lyric Video) – Jonathan David and Melissa Helser | We Will Not Be Shaken)) This is me adding Math to English, lol. We will have trial and tribulation on earth, but take heart, God has overcome the world. In His word, the Bible, He has already won the war. Jesus died and rose again, the fight was finished then.
Prayers…
Please lift up all who come to the blog you had me start, Lord. Them coming across my blog and choosing to read it was not an accident, but a divine appointment. I prayed that they would find it and heal from anything that hinders them. You, God, are bigger than anything that comes against us and we trust in You. Thank you for covering and helping the readers through each big and little event they have going on. You are an amazing Father. Some may have bad experiences with their father, but You are not like that of a human father. You are a heavenly Father who loves us and didn’t choose for these things to happen to us. You gave us all freedom of choice in our lives and unfortunately humans hurt each other. We forgive them, Lord, give them to You, and ask that You bless them.
Continued…
It doesn’t make sense to bless them, Heavenly Father. They wronged us. They deserve this and that. But You, Heavenly Father, say revenge belongs to You. You, God, will take revenge on them as You see they need. You know their situations and their hearts, Lord. We do not. We don’t know the pain and hurt or the deceit that happened to get them there. We are all sinners and fall short of Your glory, Lord. Through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, You became our Kinsmen Redeemer. We could not reach heaven without this sacrifice of Your only begotten son. We thank You and praise You, God. Help us see what You need us to see and move to full healing. In Jesus’ mighty and precious name, Amen.