Your APPOINTED Time WILL SURELY COME!

Habakkuk 2:3 - For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day.

Galatians 6:9 - And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.

Have you been trudging along towards your goal? Some days almost painfully. Waiting, hoping, praying, pleading, desiring with your whole being for the time to come when the appointed day has arrived?! Has it seemed like an eternity in the pursuit of your dream, your goal a reality, but you are ready for the goal to not just be a goal anymore, but an accomplishment!

Friend, this morning, I hope to breath hope back into your soul. If you're growing tired, I hope that The Word this morning can provide a new joy and expectation to you!

It was five years ago, I was working in banking as a Merchant Sales Rep. Every day was a day to chase the next deal, call the next prospective client, email the next Business Services Officer with an update on their latest referral. Though each day was a race to achieve my monthly sales goals, the days became mundane. The alarm clock would ring in the morning and I would just pull the covers up over my head. I desired to do anything but go to work. Upon waking, I would go to the bathroom and think, "Maybe I'll be pregnant. Then maybe I can get out of this job?" Don't get me wrong, it was actually a really good job. I enjoyed the sales aspect of it, and I enjoyed performing, but I was ready to be done.

I remember being out running in the afternoon. I would have my iPod with me, and as I would leave our 800 square foot, 2 bedroom apartment, I would hit the pavement to run around the lake. About half way into my run, I would hit this spot on the lake where I could walk down to the water and the trees shaded me. The song, "I AM FREE" off the iWorship, Promise Keepers CD would come on.  I would stand on the shore of the lake, my headphones on with no houses too close, eyes closed, I would lift my arms up high in the air and with all that I had I began to belt the words out,  "I am free to run! I am free to run! I am free to dance! I am free to dance! I am free to live for you! I am free to live for you! I am free! I am freeeeeee!!!!" 

I longed to be free. I longed for freedom with such intensity. Tyler Jr was so real to me, though I hadn't yet laid eyes on his face. I knew him, though we had not yet met. I thought about him.

That was 5 years ago. Now for over 3 1/2 years I have been resigned from Corporate America and a stay at home mom! During those runs, during the time of crying out, I had NO idea that my appointed time had almost arrived. I was RIGHT UPON my appointed time. Literally 18 months away, I entered into my appointed time.

Just like Jeremiah talks about how God knew us BEFORE we were even in our mothers womb! YOU were appointed a specific time to be born. Just like YOU were appointed the EXACT time of your birth, YOUR DREAM has been given an EXACT appointed time of its fruition! There is an appointed time, an appointed DAY, a due time and an appointed SEASON!  God HAS NOT forgotten about your goal! God has NOT forgotten about your dream. God is LINING everything up for you so that your APPOINTED DAY will be a glorious one! A day of rejoicing! Not just ONE day either! BUT, so that your appointed day can bring joy that will spring forward into the NEXT appointed season of your life!

FRIEND, your job? What is your job? Do NOT give up! Do not lose heart about your goal! It may seem like it has been taking forever.... but friend, I look back on my runs around the lake.... and all I can think about was that it seemed like an eternity ago. I have enjoyed 3 1/2+ years of being a FREE MAMA! And I LOVE IT! Your APPOINTED DAY could be TODAY! It could be TOMORROW! Your job? Do not grow weary! Work with diligence. Work with joy. Do not allow frustration to hold you down. Frustration is from the enemy. Have FAITH that GOD IS! God IS working everything out for you and YOU WILL NOT MISS IT! He has DESIGNED you for greatness! He has designed you with a PURPOSE! He has placed desires in your heart and HE WILL HELP YOU to FULFILL them!

Friend... today, don't grow weary, but pursue on in PEACE. Pursue on KNOWING that GOD has an appointed time for you. And TODAY could be the day you meet the person God has been preparing for you that will CHANGE YOUR LIFE!

Stay steady. Stay on the path. Continue to SEEK the Lord FIRST. Your appointed time WILL SURELY COME! Now that is a promise to SHOUT about!!!

#226 - Wake Up Your Brain!

Proverbs 30:2-3 - Surely I am too brutish and stupid to be called a man, and I have not the understanding of a man [for all my secular learning is as nothing]. ³I have not learned skillful and godly Wisdom, that I should have the knowledge or burden of the Holy One.

Proverbs 31:10a - A capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman--who is he who can find her?

Brainless. Have you ever went through your day and just felt like you had your brain turned off? Like you left your house without it? You left your brain & your cup of coffee on the counter as you headed out the door for work. Then... you went about your day just taking whatever came, accepting it and adjusting accordingly. Good & bad, you just accepted it.

This morning before I got into reading the Word, the Holy Spirit addressed this very issue with me. Here were some of His thoughts to me:

You have a lot more choices than you really are aware of. Choices to accept things & live with them, or simple choices NOT to accept certain things & live with them. Many believers go on with life never thinking, just accepting! If you & others would wake your BRAIN up, you would realize areas, little, simple areas of victory you COULD be walking in. These victories causing you to be more productive with less toil, happier & more fulfilled than you could have thought. 

Little, simple victories. I'm all about victories in my life! For me, part of what the Holy Spirit was referring to related specifically to energy, or lack there of.  Being 35 weeks pregnant, I have definitely had LOTS of times recently where I have been completely drained and in need of a nap. I've got to the end of my rope many days and had to sleep. The Holy Spirit addressed with me, speaking to my energy levels BEFORE getting tired. Speaking to my energy levels during a time I felt fresh. As it says in Romans, calling things that are not as though they were. Sure, we all have choices. I could leave my brain off, and when fatigue hit, just go with it and take a nap. Wrong, no, not necessarily. BUT what the Holy Spirit was wanting to reveal to me was this, I do not just HAVE TO accept what comes. I have choices! You have choices! So often, our brain is turned off to our rights as a believer, the promises that are ours. It takes a conscience effort to keep our brains turned on. To really evaluate, Is this right? Should I accept this or choose something different? Is there something better? What does the Word say?"


As it talks about in Proverbs 30:2 and Proverbs 31:10, we can live being stupid or being intelligent. Proverbs 30 talks about the stupid man living off merely his secular knowledge and this knowledge is as nothing. How awesome that as believers we CAN walk in skillful & godly wisdom. We have access to not just walking through life accepting what comes our way, but with our brains ON, and being tuned in to the Holy Spirit, we truly can live a better life! We can life a blessed life even in the simple areas. Even in the simple day to day activities like housework or grocery shopping or having energy! We can look to the Word for ANY situation we are going through and apply the Word, confess it & walk in it. Specifically for me & energy, I could choose to apply the Word this way:

Thank You Father that Your Word says in Isaiah 40:31, "But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." Father, since Your Word says it, I'm going to believe it! Therefore I CHOOSE to have ENERGY! I choose to be RENEWED! Thank you Father for giving me energy! Thank you for being true to Your Word and performing it! I praise you that I can have a day filled with energy, energy that YOU promised! Thank You FATHER for ENERGY TODAY!!! 

Do you see how easy it would be turn on or off our brain? For me in this situation, to turn off my brain and accept fatigue without even a second thought. Or turn ON my brain, accept the WORD of God & His promises and receive energy! Unfortunately, many a days have went by where my brain has been turned off in this area, and I have just accepted fatigue.

What is it for you today? I challenge you today, don't just accept what comes your way today. Filter it! Do you REALLY want to receive it? Does it REALLY line up with the Word of God? Wake up your brain and walk in the promises that God has for you!

#213 - The Path of Clarity

Proverbs 4:12, 18  - When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble. But the path of the [uncompromisingly] just and righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines more and more (brighter and clearer) until [it reaches its full strength and glory in] the perfect day [to be prepared].

Proverbs 31:18b -  ...her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night ...

It's early in the morning, and you are standing in the forest. The early beams of light are shining through the trees onto the path. The vision is magnificent. The light morning fog is lifting and the path before you is lit up as the rays embrace its outline. There is no mistake. You know exactly where you are going, the path is leading you. Your direction is sure. With the light as your guide, you begin your journey to your next destination.

Clear & open. No questions. No confusion. Clarity. Do you just want to know that you are on the right path? Headed the right way? You CAN know. Proverbs 4 tells us our path is clear & open, like the morning light shining to give you direction it makes your path brighter and clearer! Clarity. The questions are subsiding, the fuzziness of decisions are coming into focus. You CAN know exactly where you are supposed to be. You CAN know the exact path and direction that you are supposed to be traveling. Isn't that good news?!

The Proverbs 31 woman keeps her lamp on. Her lamp burns continually, just as the light of dawn, the light reveals areas where we may not want to step. The light magnifies areas we want to avoid so we do not stumble.

What is the "light?" How can I have it? As a believer, the light within us is continually burning, the Holy Spirit is continually at work within us to direct us on this clear path, this path of clarity.

I was reminded this morning to acknowledge the Lord more frequently throughout the day. When a question arises, or a decision needs to be made, to take a moment and stop. Stop and ask. Even if the question is just in my head and I pause long enough to acknowledge the leading of the Holy Spirit, He will direct me. Often, a question that I need to ask is this, "Holy Spirit, what should I do next? I'm feeling tired and fatigued, do I just press on to finish this task or should I take a break?" He knows exactly what I need to do in order to complete the tasks that HE has laid out for me for the specific day. In acknowledging Him, I do not stumble. He shines clarity on the tasks at hand. He makes my path clear. He shines light on the activities that are on my "to-do list" that may be in vain, the activities that may add no value that I just "thought" would be good. HE will direct me with clarity.

I encourage you today. When you are feeling weary, having questions, feeling like you are going to stumble.... take a moment... pause... close your eyes and envision the morning light shining in through the trees on your path... envision clarity and ask the Holy Spirit what you should do. He will give you clarity. He will shine light to your path.

#170 - Endure because YOU WIN!

Good morning! We're going to jump RIGHT in this morning. Such great WORD & revelations! Praise God that HE is not a dead God! That He is ALIVE and still speaks to us through His Word, that He reveals things to us, uncovers what seemed like mysteries. Praise God that we have the opportunity as HIS Children to enter into a relationship that can be growing and growing, that we can gain insight and wisdom EVERY SINGLE TIME we are in His presence! Praise GOD! I'm extremely grateful!

We're jumping off the reading schedule to some Spirit led scripture. Let's go...

Hebrews 12:1-3 -  ... let us throw aside every unnecessary weight... which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, Looking away from all that will distract to Jesus, Who is the Leader ...  He, for the joy [of obtaining the prize] that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising and ignoring the shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (3)Just think of Him Who endured from sinners such grievous opposition and bitter hostility against Himself [reckon up and consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you may not grow weary or exhausted, losing heart and relaxing and fainting in your minds.

We are called to ONLY run the appointed course that is BEFORE US! We don't have to think of the section of the course for next week or next year, just the portion of the course that is before us NOW! Just run our race TODAY!!!! Stay FOCUSED ahead.... like a runner, we are not looking down at our feet nor are we looking around just aimlessly taking in all the scenery, we are staying FOCUSED on who is ahead of us, the LEADER who IS paving the way.

Jesus endured the cross, WHY? For the JOY of obtaining the prize. He knew that the PRIZE was greater than what He would currently have to endure. The PRIZE was greater than the pain. Right here, right in this point is where many people quit, they loose heart, they faint. BUT, when we keep our eyes focused on our Leader, and we keep the Joy of the prize in mind, we run with the "end in sight" KNOWING that we have ALREADY won.... WE TOO can ENDURE in the race!

Now wait... it gets better! I've always stopped at verses 1 & 2. I've read those, and then stopped. But, WOW, verse 3 is UH-MAZING! So... it says basically.... "Look, take a look at Jesus, think about it.... He endured the cross, the torment, the pain, the mockery, the hostility, people sneering and snickering at Him.... just think about it, CONSIDER all HE went through to the CURRENT trial you may be going through..." OK.... let's take a pause right there. I ALMOST had to LOL at this point. Consider MY trials in comparison to what HE endured on the cross?! Now if that is not a JOKE, I don't know what is! My trials hold NO water, no ground to what He endured on the cross and leading up to it. But... let's continue. So WHY did he endure and go through all of that? Let's finish verse 3, "so that YOU may not grow weary or exhausted! So that YOU may not loose heart, relax and grow faint in your mind! He endured it not ONLY for your salvation, so that you could live in heaven when you pass, but He also endured it so that the CURRENT section of your race could be run without you being exhausted. Without you growing weary. Without you growing tired! Without you toiling in your MIND! He endured the cross for MUCH more than just mere salvation! Salvation is just the stepping off point!!

Why can you have Unwavering Confidence? Because CHRIST endured so that YOU & I could have VICTORY! Sweat-less VICTORIES! Why can you have JOY in the endurance? Because you know the end of the story! Whatever you are going through, IF you will only ENDURE, be patient, and CONTINUE on this section of your course, YOU TOO WILL BE VICTORIOUS! It says in Phil. 1:6, that HE will carry out what He has began in YOU to completion! Have you started something and not yet had victory in it? BE PATIENT! ENDURE! CONTINUE in your race! And.... if you are a bit brave, you can EVEN enjoy it!! It says that JESUS endured so that you could run your race without getting weary, without losing heart, without getting faint, without getting exhausted. YOU CAN HAVE SWEAT-LESS victories if you will ONLY continue on your course!

**** Pre-requisite **** - IF you do not FINISH the course, you will not see the victory that you have been waiting for! The key is, KEEP your EYES FOCUSED on your Leader! Like running a cross-country race, or track. Keep your EYES on the back of the One that you are following, Jesus! Keep your eyes on Him and RUN right through into the finish line of this section of your race! WIN this section! The race is on-going! It continues! We won't be finished until heaven, so on earth we will be in this constant race..... but I encourage you, when you have the end in mind (ie: YOU WIN) you can have JOY in today's endurance! You know the end of the movie! You know the end of the story! You know that YOU will be the one, standing on the stage, holding the trophy to prove that YOU HAVE ENDURED! YOU HAVE WON!

James 1:12 - Blessed is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive THE VICTOR'S CROWN!!!

Amen & Amen!
That was good stuff! It ministered to me! Praise the Lord!