My Mom

I’m missing my Moma so much today.  She passed on to glory December 31, 2012, and I was there with her, had to be the one to follow her last wishes, and tell the ICU team not to “resurrect” her with the defibulator – I was so NOT ready.

Today I miss my Moma so much, I remember her last words, several of her last instructions about a certain friend (after her prayers over the situation)…  I miss my Moma, her love, her wisdom, her heart for us all, our daily conversations, her opinions (no matter whether we agreed or not); her prayers and her insights, her oneriness, her laughter, and how she made every place they moved feel “like home.” 

Daddy said to me recently, “You are your mother’s daughter.”  I had no idea where this conversation was going… but we had been talking about Christ… (he’s not always open to that subject – it was a rare moment indeed).  How so Daddy?  You never, ever quit.

Nope Dad – I won’t.  I will never quit loving you, never quit praying, never quit.  Never.   Until we all make it into His Heaven…into His kingdom, never.  I believe, with Moma, that we would have none lost, not one.  Not even the current prodigals.

I love you Moma.  And today, I so wish you were here – instead of there…I could really use the sound of your voice, your comfort, and a really good hug with a glass of your iced tea.  I love you Moma… I know we’ll see each other again – but eternity, today, seems so far away.

Hugs, Your #1 Daughter

Women’s Issues

Link to insightful articles.

http://juniordesouza.com/womensissues.htm

(Warning Signs) ~ Lonely Women in Ministry ~`

I did NOT write this article.  And it’s a TOUGH article.  Yet NEEDFUL.

I AM a woman in ministry.  I have struggled with loneliness.  AND, sadly to say, I have seen women that operate like this.  So Sisters, for the healing, for the sake of the truth, and the salvation of your heart and those around you ~ please read Junior DeSouza’s article posted below.  It’s excellent.  So are the rest of his leadership articles.  The link is provided.

By Junior DeSouza ~ http://www.juniordesouza.com/leadershipministry.htm

Blessings,

Debra

Lonely Women in Ministry

An Exquisite Creature & A Subculture of Loneliness 

The female gender is an exquisite creation. Women are divinely enriched with captivating beauty, emotional versatility, radar-like intuition, and managerial talent. While us guys are grunting, hitting, colliding, shooting, and doing just about everything primitive under the sun (and somehow getting paid for it), the gals perfect every circumstance with delicacy and genius. The soothing balm of a mother’s words, the heartwarming smile of a playful little girl, the romantic strokes of a maiden, the time-tested discernment of a grandmother…could we imagine life without feminine polish?
Yet we find ourselves in a sub-Eden situation, where forbidden fruits, sinful choices, gender confusion, and devilish snakes have produced a subculture of lonely women. This subculture has encouraged extreme feminism, whereby men are less than relevant and destitution is traded for domination. It has empowered pornography, whereby women convert their loneliness into raw cash and social power. It has driven millions of women into exhausting marketplace careers, where loneliness is exchanged for the rewards of vocational success.

Finally, this subculture is surfacing in Christian ministry. While the women of Babylon often look to the aforementioned as their flotation device, the women of Zion are looking more and more to ministry. However, if anesthetizing loneliness is ministry’s major motive, problems and tragedies are imminent.

Two Kinds of Loneliness
        Loneliness happens in two main circles, the social (outer circle) and the relational (inner circle). Social loneliness is the feeling or fact of being unconnected to a social niche. A social niche is a mini-community in which mutual interests and activities are shared, like sports, extra-curricular activities at school, volunteer work, book clubs, movie watchers, dancing classes, exercise groups, health clubs, local church fellowships, or simply a handful of individuals with great social chemistry. A niche acts as an ecosystem, whereby essential life-giving interactions sustain all involved. Niches define our social life and enjoyment, our “outer circle”.

Relational loneliness is the feeling or fact of being nonintimate with key individuals. In general, this means three persons: familial (family), fraternal (a close friend), and romantic (a romantic partner). These three types of intimate relationships comprise our “inner circle”, those with whom we share souls and daily life. In these we lose a part of ourselves, only to gain a part of another.
Humans gravitate to drastic behaviors if one or both of these lonelinesses persist. The horrors at Columbine, Virginia Tech, and LA Fitness were all rooted here. You and I personally might not resort to murder, but in all honesty, how many of our reckless, extreme behaviors came from being lonely? It is not enough to be social but not relational (the social butterfly with no intimate relationships), or relational but not social (the social caterpillar with one to three very deep relationships). There must be an outer circle and inner circle, social animation and relational intimacy. Without both, loneliness will linger and affect us in some way.
Providential loneliness There is a season of loneliness that is providential (God-orchestrated). Elijah had one at Cherith (1Ki 17:1-6), as did Jeremiah (Jer 15:17), Jesus (Lk 4:1), and Paul (Gal 1:16,17). In fact, anyone who goes the distance with the Lord will also have lonely seasons. In these times the Holy Spirit is weaning us from our codependence on people, an emotional detox, freeing us from excessive trust in man, attaching our soul at the deepest levels to the Father alone.
Providential loneliness is only for a time though. Elijah was not at Cherith long, Jesus was in the desert forty days, Paul was in the Arabian desert less than three years (he went to Damascus the remaining time). It is not God’s will for a Christian to be lonely for many years still going. This is not the testimony of Scripture. Rather, it is an indication that personal and interpersonal problems exist.

 

We need to be clear about this. Providential loneliness is brutal yet brief, harvesting better and more wholesome relationships in the next season. Perpetual social and relational loneliness betray character sins needing illumination, sanctification, and transformation. Let us resist using God’s name and work to keep our defense mechanisms intact. For many Christian women, that primary mechanism is ministry.

Ministry, A Powerful Narcotic
        Loneliness amidst public service is an oxymoron that aches to the bone. Yet, those of us in leadership know far too well that ministry is a most potent narcotic, capable, for a brief moment, to stop the emotional bleeding caused by loneliness. Tasting the powers of the coming age, joy unspeakable and full of glory, spiritual authority and power, social influence, public admiration…on and on goes the list of ministerial opiates.
Flavoring the bait even more, we are in a time when droves of men are unsubscribing to their leadership call. Like Jonah, they are fugitives of Heaven. This leaves chasmic vacancies in churches and ministries for any semi-talented person to seize. Though it is 100% legitimate, necessary, and biblical for women to be in public ministry, such leadership vacuums are enticing many deeply wounded women to exploit the moment. Many of them are highly unprepared and barely surviving.
A good number of these sisters are genuinely designed and destined for ministerial leadership. That is undeniable. Deborahs, Esthers, Priscillas, and Phoebes are everywhere. However, their unpreparedness and melancholy emotional state put them and their followers in serious danger. As we cheer these alpha girls on in their ministerial exploits, we are indirectly contributing to their eventual implosion! How? By failing to address the overwhelming loneliness that drives them and their ministry.
We have all witnessed high-profile Christian women failing and falling in recent decades. The relational failures, ethical indiscretions, financial extremes, doctrinal weirdness, and questionable choices have left us saddened and confused. We are all capable of such stumbles and falls, are we not? Yes, you and I both. That is why we need to slow down, back up, and analyze the present scene. And, form wise initiatives to protect, prepare, and preserve every daughter of Zion.

 

Loneliness-driven Ministry
         I spoke at her church for a few days. Soon after I left her email came. She was a Bible teacher for some twenty years, at her home church and abroad. Marriage had been a revolving door for her, each one accompanied by extramarital affairs. She poured out her grief in the email, confessing her unbearable loneliness and lack of inspiration for ministry. She was on the verge, at risk, borderline. Just enough pressure and temptation would tip her into sinful choices again and recycle her darkness even deeper. She is simply one of an entire subculture of lonely women in ministry. Their stories are all so similar, and so are the signs.
Angry undercurrents One of the most common side-effects of loneliness-driven ministry is anger. If we listen carefully and long enough, we can hear angry undercurrents in her teaching, preaching, and approach. At times she might spiritualize it as “righteous indignation” or “holy boldness”, but time and God almost always reveal a deeper frustration with loneliness and failed relationships.
        There is such a thing as righteous anger (Eze 3:14, Jer 15:17, Jn 2:14-17). However, there is a misunderstanding when this alleged anger is excessively recurrent and hesitates to give way to the more tender fruits of the Spirit. Ongoing seething, irritability, hostility, aggression, bitterness, and cynicism is a sign of a problem, not a sign of being spiritual or prophetic, even if it is dressed in such rhetoric. A pig in a tuxedo is still a pig.
Hypersensitivity The lonely have an emotional sunburn, making them overly sensitive, touchy, petty, and hasty judges. Because of the empty void for close companionship, coupled with memorable experiences with rejection, the lonely overreact to the slightest hints that history might be repeating itself–even if the words or actions of others are innocent. In this way they themselves often sabotage the very connections they crave.
Authoritarianism and control Authoritarian themes often run through loneliness-driven ministry. Pet scriptures pertaining to authority are obsessively quoted, preached, prayed, pushed, and guilted on followers. And why? Harping on authoritarianism scares and forces people into staying close, compliant, and controlled–remedying loneliness for a time. Every, and I do mean every, authoritarian leader I have ever known was lonely. Certainly more issues existed, but loneliness was in the top three every time. Alpha girls need to question if they are misusing authority to compensate for non-intimacy.
Difficulty in dealing with men, especially certain types Difficulty in relating with men is a sign many lonely women notice themselves. More specifically, this difficulty often surfaces when dealing with men who resemble previous rejectors, abusers, attachments, or, strong men in ministry who might challenge her personal fortifications. Cross-gender interaction is often a telling one.
Social indiscretions The pairing usually goes like this: lonely woman, sexually dissatisfied and overworked man, and you know the rest. The equation does not always equal a full-blown affair or sexual impropriety, but the preliminary indiscretions are often there. Though both persons are fully responsible, this writing is about lonely women in ministry, so I will have to focus there for now.
A perpetually lonely sister in ministry might convey indiscreet behavior in talk, glance, dress, body language, innuendo, or behavior (one, some, or all of these). Though any one of us can stumble into such folly, these subtle or obvious cues persist season after season in the lonely female leader. The longer the loneliness lingers unaddressed and unresolved, the more likely the social indiscretions will intensify into sexual ones. We’d be terrified at how much this happens. No one would have guessed what the Bible teacher/speaker who emailed me was doing in private.
Attracting other lonely women Leaders reproduce after their kind. We attract and reproduce what we are, not what we say. Our social environment reads our subconscious cues and clues, and whatever we convey determines who comes to us. All this happens at an instinctual, subconscious level. That is why we continually draw the same types of people and spirits into our life, until we look inside by the Holy Spirit and sanctify our deepest self (1Th 5:23, Jas 4:8). Then we will convey new cues and clues to our environment and draw new elements into our life.
Lonely sisters in ministry reproduce after their kind. Their ministries and churches are often filled with other lonely women, much more so than the typical church demographic. In my experience, such fellowships are riddled with drama and pettiness. On the other hand, whole and fulfilled women reproduce after their kind, and they successfully challenge the lonely around them to ascend and transform. Not only this, they draw wholesome men into their world, and successfully partner with them in life and ministry.
Performing in ministry Loneliness-driven ministry often depreciates into a performance. For loneliness to be medicated, the people cannot become displeased with the leader. This would defeat the whole purpose of “loneliness-driven ministry”. What remains is a mixture of gifting and performing to keep people close by. Whether it’s showmanship, stylism, hype, watering down, appeasement, or excessive technology, true ministry becomes compromised by the deeper emotional goal.
Financial extremes Finally, the ministering lonely pull to financial extremes–excessive saving or excessive spending. You’ve heard the saying, All men want is sex, and all women want is money. Of course this is not true all the time, but it is true enough to diagnose gender inclinations.
        Many females logic something like this, Men will fail me, people will fail me, but money is something I can count on. I can’t control people, but I can control money. When people fail, money is seen as a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. The result is financial extremes, excessive saving or excessive spending. In a ministry context, this means greater and greater Christianized luxuries and technologies, or, a paralyzing fear of taking necessary financial risks for ministry development. Either way, the most important financial priority–Christ’s kingdom and people’s needs–are marginalized or bypassed altogether.

Overseers, Observe and Care
        Detecting loneliness-driven ministry is the jurisdiction of ministerial leaders, overseers, pastors, or anyone superintending other leaders. When our spiritual daughters, sisters, mothers, and colaborers show the signs, we need to care enough and be strong enough to mercifully address it. We need to be observant enough to recognize it in the first place. We cannot ensure that every lonely alpha girl will chew and digest the wisdom of such intervention, but we can have a blameless conscience by being sensitive superintendents. Proverbs 27:23: Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds.
I tremble for the archleaders that are more preoccupied with money, popularity, and keeping their machine running than the personal development of those in their sphere. May we be sobered by this truth: superintendents who could have, but did not, intervene in the lonely female leaders around them, when those sisters stumble or fall, the superintendents will also be responsible and have a reckoning with God. There is a serious word from the Spirit to us in Proverbs 24:11,12: Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, “But we knew nothing about this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?

Time For A Time-Out?
       To the beloved daughters of Zion, sisters in Christ, and colaborers in the Lord’s vineyard…if you are steeped in loneliness-driven ministry, could it be time for a time-out? Consider taking a season off. Solve and dissolve your loneliness by going back to the basics. Develop a great social life and intimate relationships with a few. I’ve had to do it before, many others have done it, and it spared us a very embarrassing day of reckoning down the road. And your ministry will come back more pure and powerful than ever.                     
        Many ministering females are praying night after night for a best friend, or a husband, or a more enjoyable social life. Could it be that God would answer these prayers immediately if they pressed pause on ministry and play on social life and relationships? Could it be that a season of biblical counseling and interpersonal development would be the bridge into the desires of your heart? It might be time for a ministry time-out. I leave you Proverbs 22:3: A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

“People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.”

                                                                                      Joseph Fort Newton (1880-1950)

Ruth

Been doing a LOT of reading about Ruth lately, her sacrifice and selflessness is amazing.  If you have insights you’d like to share…join in please.  (also been reading more about Deborah and Esther as well).

:-)

Words to Heal By – Blog “Release”

Think I’ll write a statement of warning and “release” here.  This blog will not always be uplifting and positive. 

It was a challenge from a dear friend to start one and for me ~ it’s a project, a way to learn new technology, an experiment, a start to begin to write again after shutting down for nearly 10 years; and a means to continue to heal.

Writing, journaling, has always been a means of healing for me.  Haven’t quite transferred over to the “teacher” only part of me, or the PROPHET only, or Moma only, or the Bride of Christ or Passionate Pastor only – all parts of me… loving and caring yes.

Outraged at times, at the way we hurt one another and the wrongs done in the world – most definitely.   Feel the need to address those wrongs at times (hence the Pharisee article).  But you know, I can say things face-to-face too.  I’ve learned if I process these “confrontations” first – away… then once we get face-to-face, I can be more led by Holy Spirit, gentler, more tender and brutally but lovingly honest.   Confrontation is NOT good with me, if you’ve deeply wounded me or mine, or those I am called to love and cover; or if you have a past history of being an abuser of same.  It WON’T ever be pretty.  It may bring TRUTH and light into your darkness.  (oh, and you’re welcome to do the same with me… with courage and in Christ’s love – of course! LOL).

Okay – you’ve been warned… READ my blogs AT YOUR OWN RISK!  Some WILL be humorous (okay to me)… it’s a toss up… and after all, just a tender place – a creative outlet.

While I love the Lord, the Word of God, positive ministry websites, humor (and those sites too)… The Pioneer Woman (and all her interests)… this is ME.  :-)  You are most welcome to comment… OR to hit the delete button.  LOL

HUGS,

~Debra

 

Operating in the Holy Spirit – or are we?

by Debra Sheffield on Monday, April 18, 2011 at 6:43am

In learning to battle against generational, family strongholds – a very useful book recommended by Elijah List and one of my pastors is Breaking the Threefold Demonic Cord — by Sandie Freed

• Price: $13.99 on ElijahList.com about How to Discern and Defeat the Lies of Jezebel, Athaliah and Delilah. I find it excellent, insightful and detailed – and realized some of these things I’ve been battling for over 20 years now. Get it.
• Jezebel aka Queen of Heaven aka under Baal, wrongful rule over God’s people, wickedness; Athaliah, comes after the next generation, against the young but the rightful king who had to be hid & protected, Delilah – for every woman to read how NOT to be… specifically a book for ALL to read. Current insight for Body of Christ.  Holy Spirit actually told me to get it and read it; and then confirmed that word to me again and again, through posts on Elijah List and then through my pastor.  I obeyed!
• …Daughters in the Lord
• We want pure hearts to worship our King Jesus, and in the right manner – free from ALL idolatry. In humility, we read Who and Whose we are; we also need to study how to come out from under wrong influences, and present ourselves to Him for cleansing, for His bride is going to be spotless and without stain or wrinkle. Study to “show thyself approved.” This book is a recommended read for every woman I know.  Men and women can operate in these spirits, but they are “deceiving spirits” (every unclean spirit is).  How to recognize real and counterfeit.  Excellent and very clear, with great insight on what is coming against our following generations (Athaliah is a very specific spirit sent to destroy the destiny of following generations), how to get free yourself, and knowledge is power, with which you can help others get free…without which we are destroyed.

For EVERY WOMAN IN MINISTRY, for every pastor that ministers to women, for every wife and mother and woman whose husband is also called to lead, this one is an excellent resource – hands down.  This simple $14.00 book is an investment for a lifetime, and for your future generations, so you’ll know how to pray. ~HUGS~ All my love, Debra

• • One more thought – Momas of Prophetic Children – Jezebel ALWAYS comes against the prophetic children in the family; along with Athaliah – to try to destroy generational destinies.  The Jezebel spirit intends to “kill” the prophetic, shut it… down any way it can.  It can happen in a church, or in any other setting, including families.  As praying Moma’s of children that can and do hear God, you need to know what to be alert for.  Jezebel promised to KILL Elijah… I’ve battled this spirit personally, and it comes up in several settings – Queen of Heaven is NOT Mary, it is a demonic principality that wants worship and wants to rule.  Stay alert, stay alive.  Be wise, and pray in the spirit and with understanding.
  • Love, ~ Deb

God, Help Us Stop Living With Regret

God, Help Us Stop Living With Regret.

Languages, Translations, Words

Language, languages, words, writing – I’m not a “Word”smith – not the way I see other writers are, not the way my sons in the Lord are… but I still love Words… and I love THE Word of God.

My youngest son posted this for me on FB ~ A mhathair alainn, i mo chroi go deo ~ great – ummm, wwwwhat?  And the following posts from his sis-in-law (like mine) and his Big Sister that followed, showed SHE understood what it meant… So I learned today, how to go to Google Translate (of course he had to tell me the language he had posted this message in)… like a treasure hunt I think.  :-)   Translation!

“My beautiful mother, in my heart forever.”

Awwwww.  Amazing timing today.  And OUCH!  Made me *sniffle* – cry.  Why you ask?

Because I am SO missing my family, and having empty nest emotional issues today, “missing our identity as a family, that will never be for me again” (yes, divorce issues again today) ~ and TODAY this youngest son tells me the meaning of this fun-to-him, encrypted, secret message to me that he posted on FB publicly.  And he boasts that his Sis took the time to go find the meaning, and came back and commented.

His grown & adult but very COOL Sis that make sure she gives GOOD GIFTS, gifts that you actually wanted ~ and she remembers, and diligently goes and finds them and presents them SO beautifully… that same Sis (my only daughter) that MADE sure that I got a digital camera (my old camera died and I’ve grieved it long) AND the batteries and memory card to go with (she knows my non-existent single Mom budget).

Your timing, Lord, is very humbling.

I wasn’t feel so beautiful, Prov 31-ish, or like a very good Mother today… more like looking at all of my failures in magnification!  Tears come unbidden more and more these days.  I hope that means more healing is happening, I hope.  Laughter and tears TOGETHER is a good thing, right?  I hope.  I’m weary with these tears Lord ~ I understand more and more about David’s Psalms… I think more than I ever really wanted too.  ***sheepish smile***thru tears***

Thank you Lord that you love me.  And that my kids, that are SO grown, love me – even in my tears, struggles, and weaknesses.

~ME

Ransomed Heart Ministries

by John and Stasi Eldredge.  Just found their website and rediscovered authors that I TOTALLY LOVE! because they LOVE JESUS SO MUCH, because HE LOVES US SO MUCH!!!!  I have never loved an author as much as I do their (they are a husband/wife team) work~  I am going to post their “Mission Statement” from their website below, because honestly – it just rocks.  Check them out – get a book, get “Wild At Heart” (for men and their wives), get “Captivating” by Stasi too… and then the rest… it’ll rock your life, your faith, and FREE YOUR HEART.  ALL MY LOVE and His, ~Deb

Mission Statement on http://ransomedheart.com/mission_statement.aspx

We agree with A.W. Tozer,

“That our idea of God corresponds as nearly as possible to the true being of
God is of immense importance to us. Compared with our actual thoughts about Him,
our creedal statements are of little consequence. Our real idea of God may lie
buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an
intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for
what it is.”

In other words, if you want to know what a person (or an organization) really
believes, their creeds may not tell you nearly as much as how they live. Or
perhaps, how they pray.

The core of what we believe, live in, and teach may be best captured in our
daily prayer…

---

My dear Lord Jesus I come to you now to be restored in you, to be renewed in
you, to receive your love and your life, and all the grace and mercy I so
desperately need this day. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I surrender every
aspect of my life totally and completely to you. I give you my spirit, soul and
body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover my self with your blood—my spirit, soul,
and body, my heart, mind and will. I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you,
renew me in you, and to lead me in this time of prayer. In all that I now pray,
I stand in total agreement with your Spirit, and with my intercessors and
allies, by your Spirit alone.

[Now, if you are a husband, you’ll want to
include your wife in this time of prayer. If you are a parent, you’ll want to
include your children. If this doesn’t apply to you, jump to the paragraph after
this one.]

In all that I now pray, I include (my wife and/or children,
by name). Acting as their head, I bring them under your authority and covering,
as I come under your authority and covering. I cover (wife and/or children, by
name)with your blood – their spirit, soul and body, their heart, mind and will.
I ask your Spirit to restore them in you, renew them in you, and apply to them
all that I now pray on their behalf, acting as their head.

Dear God, holy
and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s
devotion, all my praise, all my trust and all the glory of my life. I love you,
I worship you, I trust you. I give myself over to you in my heart’s search for
life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life. I renounce all other
gods, all idols, and I give you the place in my heart and in my life that you
truly deserve. I confess here and now that this is all about you, God, and not
about me. You are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. Forgive me for my
every sin. Search me and know me and reveal to me where you are working in my
life, and grant to me the grace of your healing and deliverance, and a deep and
true repentance.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing
me before you made the world. You are my true Father—my Creator, my Redeemer, my
Sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I
trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you to be one with you in all
things, as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love by sending
Jesus. I receive him and all his life and all his work, which you ordained for
me. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving me my sins, for granting
me his righteousness, for making me complete in him. Thank you for making me
alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand,
establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your Holy Spirit, your
love and your favor. I receive it all with thanks and give it total claim to my
life—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind and will. I bring the life and
the work of Jesus over (wife and/or children, by name) and over my home, my
household, my vehicles, finances, all my kingdom and domain.

Jesus, thank
you for coming to ransom me with your own life. I love you, I worship you, I
trust you. I give myself over to you, to be one with you in all things. And I
receive all the work and all of the triumph of your cross, death, blood and
sacrifice for me, through which I am atoned for, I am ransomed and transferred
to your kingdom, my sin nature is removed, my heart is circumcised unto God, and
every claim made against me is disarmed this day. I now take my place in your
cross and death,through which I have died with you to sin, to my flesh, to the
world,and to the evil one. I take up the cross and crucify my flesh with all its
pride, arrogance, unbelief, and idolatry (and anything else you are currently
struggling with). I put off the old man. I ask you to apply to me the fullness
of your cross, death, blood and sacrifice. I receive it with thanks and give it
total claim to my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will.

Jesus,
I also sincerely receive you as my life, my holiness and strength, and I receive
all the work and triumph of your resurrection, through which you have conquered
sin and death and judgment. Death has no mastery over you, nor does any foul
thing. And I have been raised with you to a new life, to live your life – dead
to sin and alive to God. I now take my place in your resurrection and in your
life, through which I am saved by your life. I reign in life through your life.
I receive your life – your humility, love and forgiveness, your integrity in all
things, your wisdom, discernment and cunning, your strength, your joy, your
union with the Father. Apply to me the fullness of your resurrection. I receive
it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul and body, my heart,
mind and will.

Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my authority, rule,
and dominion, my everlasting victory against Satan and his kingdom, and my
ability to bring your Kingdom at all times and in every way. I receive all the
work and triumph of your ascension, through which you have judged Satan and cast
him down, you have disarmed his kingdom. All authority in heaven and on earth
has been given to you, Jesus. All authority in heaven and on earth has been
given to you, and you are worthy to receive all glory and honor, power and
dominion, now and forevermore. And I have been given fullness in you, in your
authority. I now take my place in your ascension, and in your throne, through
which I have been raised with you to the right hand of the Father and
established in your authority. I now bring the kingdom of God, and the
authority, rule and dominion of Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home,
my household, my vehicles and finances, over all my kingdom and domain.

I now bring the authority, rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ,
and the fullness of the work of Christ, against Satan, against his kingdom,
against every foul and unclean spirit come against me. (At this point you might
want to name the spirits that you know have been attacking you). I bring the
full work of Jesus Christ against every foul power and black art, against every
human being and their warfare. I bind it all from me in the authority of the
Lord Jesus Christ and in his Name.

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I
love you, I worship you, I trust you. I sincerely receive you and all the work
and victory in Pentecost, through which you have come, you have clothed me with
power from on high, sealed me in Christ. You have become my union with the
Father and the Son, become the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my
Counselor, Comforter, Strength, and Guide. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I
yield every dimension of my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will to
you and you alone, to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all
things. Fill me afresh. Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me in
all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper
into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my
life.

Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual
blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. I claim the riches in Christ Jesus
over my life today, my home, my kingdom and domain. I bring the blood of Christ
over my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind and will. I put on the full armor
of God – the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel,
helmet of salvation. I take up the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and
I choose to wield these weapons at all times in the power of God. I choose to
pray at all times in the Spirit.

Thank you for your angels. I summon them
in the authority of Jesus Christ and command them to destroy the kingdom of
darkness throughout my kingdom and domain, destroy all that is raised against
me, and to establish your Kingdom throughout my kingdom and domain. I ask you to
send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me this day. I
now call forth the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home, my
family, my kingdom and my domain, in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ,
with all glory and honor and thanks to him.

---

For those needing/desiring a few more thoughts…

• We believe the Bible to be the inspired, only, infallible, inerrant,
  authoritative Word of God.
• We believe in the One True God, The Sovereign, eternal Creator of all that
  exists, both seen and unseen. God is eternally existent in three persons, yet
  one God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
• We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in
  His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death through
  His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand
  of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.
• We believe God created mankind in His image. Adam and Eve, the first human
  beings, chose to rebel against God and go their own way. As a result, all of
  mankind became separated from God; the image of God in man was distorted;
  mankind became subject to the power of the devil; and the sinful nature was
  passed on to all their progeny. Because of original sin, unregenerate human
  beings are incapable of pleasing or commending themselves to God. The only
  remedy for mankind’s pitiful predicament is redemption through faith in Jesus
  Christ.
• We believe that when a person exercises saving faith in Christ he passes,
  immediately, out of spiritual death into spiritual life and from the old
  creation into the new, a new nature and a new heart imparted; being justified
  freely by grace, he is accepted before the Father as Christ, His Son, is
  accepted and loved as Christ is loved–having his place and portion linked to
  Christ and one with Christ – forever.
• We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose indwelling
  the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.
• We believe in the resurrection of, both, the saved and the lost–they who
  are saved unto the resurrection of life and they who are lost unto the
  resurrection of damnation.
• We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ.

An Extravagant Gift of . . . Potatoes

from the True Woman network ~ link here.  http://www.truewoman.com/?id=1783 – written and posted by Paula Hendricks on 8-19-11.

---

TrueWoman Blog

 

 Recent Posts

• An Extravagant Gift of . . . Potatoes > Posted on 08.19.11

An Extravagant Gift of . . . Potatoes

Posted on 08.19.11 by Paula Hendricks

I will never forget what I witnessed and participated in last  week. Every year at our staff revival week, leadership chooses a project for us  to raise money for. This year, they decided to collect funds to meet the needs  of those in our ministry. The needs were numerous . . . someone needed a  $10,000 medical device; others didn’t even have enough money for groceries;  several would have to leave the ministry if they weren’t able to raise more  monthly support, etc.

You’ve probably read that verse in Acts 2:45 that says, “And they were selling  their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any  had need.” But have you seen it in action? I have!

Last week, the Life Action family—most of whom raise financial support—gave $133,000  in cash to meet each other’s needs . . . and that does not include the material items given that could double  that amount, including motorcycles, cars, and homes. Here are just a few specific  “giving” stories from the week:

• One family gave the major portion of savings  they had set aside to someday own their own home and have a real vacation. They  gave over $19,000.
• Another couple (with young children) was led to  try to sell their home in hopes they can find an elderly  couple or widow with whom they could help take care of, live with, and bless.
• One single woman gave $10,000. She had been saving the money to bless her future husband, but was excited  about learning to trust and depend on Jesus for her needs more fully.
• Another single woman was led to go to the home  of a family to offer child care and provide the money  necessary for the couple to have a cup of coffee together every week . . .  something the wife had just finished praying for!

But the most impactful gift, in my opinion? A wife and mom  of a large family with little income stood apologetically before us, offering  her all—a garden harvest of treasured potatoes—the  crop her family usually enjoyed and depended on all winter long.

Maybe to you this all sounds strange, crazy . . . wasteful. Why would anyone  give their savings and possessions—especially during such uncertain economic  times—leaving themselves with almost nothing?

I think it has a whole lot to do with this:

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,  that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his  poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).

In light of the offering that was collected, our executive director, Byron  Paulus, encouraged us to prepare for the greatest ministry season ever:

“What if there is a direct connection between what  we give materially and what the Lord gives in return by way of true riches . .  . of His mercy, grace, and love? Luke  16:11 makes it clear that if we are faithful with money, He will entrust to  us true riches. If this is what Scripture teaches (and it is), then we had  better . . . get ready for the greatest ministry season ever!”

(Bring it on, Lord!)

PS: Giving money isn’t the only way to give . . . the  Sullivan family (on staff with Life Action) adopted Andrei from a Russian  orphanage years ago. Last month, The New York  Yankees reunited Andrei with a boyhood friend from Baby House 10. Their  story will bring tears to your eyes!

 Topics

• 30-Day Makeover
• 40-Day Heart Preparation
• Homefront
• Impacting your world
• Marriage
• Relationship with God
• Relationships with Others
• Sexuality
• Singleness
• True Woman Conferences
• True Woman Sightings
• When Life’s Hard
• With Your Kids
• Womanhood
• Workfront

Love this post – link follows… “No, not broken. It just isn’t time yet…”

http://loveinwaiting.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/no-not-broken-it-just-isnt-time-yet/ and I read her article, wonderful article… and then thought – okay, well I AM broken ~ but healing.   ***gentle smile***  And yet – it IS still about timing – whether the Lord is doing repair work, or He has other plans all together, or work to do in between.  Thanks “Love In Waiting” for your heart, and this article’s truth.

~Deb

Hugs to My Friend

I saw you cry tonight.

Just had to hug you close.

Hope that didn’t embarrass you, really (sorry!)

I wanted to wipe away your tears, and tell you it WILL be alright.

But I’m not God.

What I DO know is His comfort.

That HE holds us in the storms.

In fact, HE HOLDS US UP.

Praying for you tonight.

That you know His comfort too.

~Hugs~

–excerpt from God’s Heart for You, Embracing

a portion of a post from (In)Courage today – from God’s Heart for You, Embracing
Your True Worth as a Woman by Holley Gerth …along with a link at the bottom to their current Give-Away contest. :-)

Hey you,

the one wondering if you’re enough,

if you’d be loved if anyone really knew you—

turn your heart this way for a moment,

then lean in and listen close…

Acceptance?

You’ve got it.

You don’t have to look any further

than the hands of the One who made you,

the heart of the One who loves you.

You’re welcomed, held,

cherished just as you are

and encouraged to grow

into all you’ll become.

So hold your heart and head high;

look the world in the eyes and say…

“I’m His. I’m loved.

I’m already accepted today.”

–excerpt from God’s Heart for You, Embracing
Your True Worth as a Woman by Holley Gerth {available as a book or ebook}

*You still have until Thursday at midnight CST to  make your “In God’s Heart I Am…?”  sign, take a photo of it, and upload it to the facebook page {stop by to
see all the signs–so fun!} to be entered in the big giveaway. Get the details here.*

My Children

Witty. Brainy, Fun

They are beautiful in life

Creative, Loving

Gather Up My Comforts

a blog by Susan, http://www.blogger.com/profile/02098123041529267761

I borrowed this “quote” from her site and I’ve loved her blogs… although she has stopped for now.

“Gather up thy comforts…”

“Is there no blue sky? Have roses forgotten how to
blow? Have birds ceased to sing among the branches? Hast thou not the sweetness
of the love of a single little child? Hast thou no pleasant food– not even a
cup of tea?

“Gather up thy comforts, the greatest, the smallest and thou
wilt be surprised that thou hast so many to gather.”

~Amy Carmichael in
His Thoughts Said… His Father Said… (1941)

PASSION

For Christ!

One of my favorite SPEAKERS who is PASSIONATELY IN LOVE WITH AND A GREAT WORSHIPPER OF CHRIST!

http://www.passioncitychurch.com/watch/#20110220

Louie Giglio – speaking on “Empowered to Carry the Name.”

~Blessings,

Debra

Laughter is good medicine!

We love to laugh and have a few favorite Christian comedians… here is one of my “hands down” all time favorites, “Nazareth.”  I’ll post others, and links to them, in the days to come.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjSaiR6NgvE&feature=related ~ Nazareth is a wonderful, culturally relevant comedian, middle eastern, talking about being in Washington, D.C. AFTER 911.  He is HILARIOUS!  Check it out!  His website is www.Nazarethusa.com.

And this one, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjSaiR6NgvE&feature=related.

Also, from “The Skit Guys” ~ www.theskitguys.com – and their take on “Adam and Eve” – http://skitguys.com/videos/item/adam-eve ~ again, ENJOY~

Enjoy and Hugs,

~Deb

Surprised

I came to help, to serve, to comfort, to do well and work hard, I know He sent me… and was surprised. 

Surprised to find I am the one in need.

Surprised.

Caught off guard – finding that as I give;  you give back, generously, with more comfort and tender care than I know how to take in.

Surprised.

Shocked really, by the mingling of our pain, the hidden places that need healing, the similarities in our lives, His comfort poured out over us together.

Surprised.

To be receiving instead of only giving. I’ve been so long the giver.  I think my “receiver” is broken.

Surprised.

By the love of God, His glory on families, faithful ones, and aging; His grace poured into broken lives.  And  how well you have and do honor Him with yours.

Surprised.

By His Presence, in you.

Devotion: Waiting on God

Devotion: Waiting on God.  I love this post, and their elegant site.  Will be watching to see what else comes from this ministry.  ~Thanks for this one, Debra

Devotion: Waiting on God

11ThursdayAug 2011

Posted by Revolution Chadstone in Soul Food

Tags

Daily Devotion, Isaiah, patient, waiting

 

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” Isaiah 30:18

Patience has to be one of the hardest attribute of a human character. As the society gets faster, the more faster we want things to be do. But some things only comes with time. Often we get caught up with the same thoughts regarding God’s promises, to the point that our eagerness is manipulated to become something else. That God doesn’t care for us, He has abandoned us.

How far from the truth are we? God is gracious and longs to bring fruitfulness into our lives, but His thoughts are higher than ours and so are His ways. It may not be the way we would have chosen for ourselves but it is the best way. How often do we overlook this. As a father, one of the hardest things to do is to withhold things from my son but it is necessary for him to learn and grow as a man. So it is with God’s desire for us to grow into the image of His Son, Jesus.

Make no mistake that God is compassion and desires to bless us; but His blessings isn’t for a moment’s joy, rather it is in the view of eternity. Wait for the good things that He provides for it will not disappoint.

Blessings
Kenny

New Blogger

This is my first attempt at posting and blogging, it’s not as hard as I thought…be patient with me as I learn all of the new technology associated with this form of writing!  I look forward to a new way to communicate with you, new and old friends, and family.

My love and His,

Deb