Not Missing the Memories Along the Way!

Ps 80: 3, 7, 19 - Restore us again... Restore us again... Restore us, cause Your face to shine (in pleasure, approval & favor on us)...

Ps 81:8, 10 - ... if you would listen to Me! (10) I am the Lord your God Who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide & I will fill it. 

Do you feel like sometimes you are thinking to yourself, "Restore me Lord, Restore me. Restore me." Or, "Just get me to 'that' place. Get me where I want to go. Get me there. Can I please just 'arrive.'"

Like a crop takes time to grow, so does your harvest. This morning as I journaled, read the Word and listened to the Lord, I felt like He was gently nudging me to remember, "If you will just listen to Me, I will fill your every desire." Similar to what the Psalmists said in Psalm 81, "...open your mouth wide & I will fill it."

As I was listening, I got a picture of a woman. She was standing in her kitchen area, holding a cup of warm coffee. As she peered out the window, steam floated off the fragile china-like mug. It was a brisk morning, fall was upon her and her family. She was not where she wanted to be in life, far from where she thought she would be at this point. Though, she smiled nonetheless. For today, she was going to enjoy and drink in every moment of what her day would bring. She was going to enjoy her kids. She was going to revel in the moment of laughter when her child said and did something funny. Today, she was going to enjoy the journey on the way to where she was going.

Maybe you feel you are in a "Joseph" place in your life. Be it in the pit or prison, maybe just accused of  something you did not do. But as it says in Psalm 81:8,10 - "If you would listen to ME! I am the Lord your God Who brought you up out of the land land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it." 

During this time, if you and I would listen to the Lord, HE will fill our every desire. Even during this time where we are on the journey to where we want to go, maybe seemingly far from our final "dream" destination, BUT, if we would listen to the Lord, He will even allow this journey-time to be enjoyable. Like the woman I saw, in the midst of the journey, we will be able to not miss the memory moments. We will be able to ENJOY every step of the way.

And like Joseph, do you know where our journey will end if we choose to listen to the Lord?! It will end up FUL-FILLED! And you will not miss a laugh, the first tooth your child loses, funny dance time, birthday surprises, game night, dinner joy .... buried away forever, in the recesses of your mind will be each memory and moment that you did not miss during this journey. When you reach the ultimate destination of your dream or goal, you will not feel like the journey was in vain because it is filled with precious memories along the way.

Today, the place where you are at, choose to find the JOY in each of todays moments. Close your eyes,  and take a snapshot of "this" moment, the funny faces of your child. Save the picture in your mind, they will not be young forever.

Enjoy today, find it's JOY. When you reach your final destination, you will have a photobook of amazing memories!

Is it Dark? GOOD IS COMING!

Jeremiah 1:11-12 -  Moreover, the word of the Lord came to me, saying, Jeremiah, what do you see? And I said, I see a branch or shoot of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter]. Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.

Did you, like me, find it odd that a tree or anything would be blooming in LATE winter? Winter is not the time for things to bloom. When I've read this scripture, I've often thought this, but this morning I actually looked up when an almond tree should bloom and it is NOT in late winter. Almond trees should bloom in early spring, and optimally when there is no chance of a frost.

What does that mean to you? Do you feel you are in darkness? Does your situation seem bleak right now? Do you feel you are in the wilderness? Friend, let me tell you, wherever you are right now have faith, says that Lord that "I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it." The LORD, though it may seem like a dark and dreary time for you, it may seem cold, gloomy and dark.... like winter, but have FAITH that the LORD IS ACTIVE in your situation. What's even better, that the LORD can make things BLOOM at the most un-optimal time! You may be in a "winter" right now in life, be it job challenges, financial, health, family, business, stress of busyness.... whatever your "winter" is, HAVE FAITH that even in this time, the LORD IS ACTIVE in the background. Expect good things. Expect that even during this "winter" season, this "dark" time that in the background the Lord is alert, active, and working on your behalf to make things come out in YOUR FAVOR in the long run! That in the MIDDLE of it all, He can make things bloom. He can make flowers even in the winter. 

EXPECT GOOD. You are a child of the MOST HIGH GOD, choose to believe today in the LIGHT and not in the darkness. Choose to believe that though you may not see it yet, GOOD IS COMING!

Be blessed!
xoxo.

Favoritism or Favor?

Genesis 37:2-5 - ... Joseph, when he was seventeen years old, was shepherding the flock with his brothers; the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father’s [secondary] wives ... Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than all his children because he was the son of his old age, and he made him a [distinctive] long tunic with sleeves. 4 But when his brothers saw that their father loved [Joseph] more than all of his brothers, they hated him and could not say, Peace [in friendly greeting] to him or speak peaceably to him. 5 Now Joseph had a dream...

If television/media wanted a good juicy story with infertility, jealousy, favoritism, sibling rivalry, scandal, attempted murder, imprisonment, wealth & riches, rise to power and salvation of a nation because of one man's dream, they would not have to look any further than the story of Joseph. What a story!

Let's take a look at two people. Jacob & Joseph. By the end I want you to answer the question of, Whom do you most relate too? Let's take a look at the story and a few dangers before we really dig down to the main premise.

The age of today's High School senior, 17 years old, Joseph was doing the menial things of life. Nothing real special or elite, he was tending flock. He was out in a field, herding them, making sure they stayed together, making sure none wandered off. At some points of the day, he most likely sat on a rock watching them, completely bored as they ate grass, no iPhone to look at and check his FaceBook, no AngryBird game to play. He just sat. Sat looking at sheep. But, Joseph had a dream. He was given a dream by God. Ultimately, his dream revealed his brothers and parents bowing down to him. If Joseph did anything wrong, it was telling his brothers his dream, which in his dream he was positioned himself in a place of authority, favor and power over them.

Now, unfortunately, if we really wanted to pin Joseph's problems on someone, we could look back to his father, Jacob (Israel). Because of his love, Jacob was the main contributor to setting his son on a path of hardship. "Love?" You may ask? How could love set someone on the path of hardship? Jacob's love moved from not only love, but to favoritism. Favoritism brought Joseph down to the pit. Thankfully, in the end, God's Favor brought Joseph to the palace.

The short version back story, Joseph was the first son to Jacob's favorite, most beloved wife, Rachel. Because Joseph was Rachel's son, born in Jacobs old age, Jacob loved him more than ALL his other children. In the eyes of Joseph's older brothers, their father didn't even see them through the love he had for Joseph. Joseph was the fair-haired child, the loved, the favorite.

Think about how you are with your own father. What is it, growing up & now as an adult, that you have always desired the most? I don't know what it is with children and their fathers, but I would bet you would say one of the following: to make dad really proud, for dad to love me, to have attention from dad, for dad to spend time with me. Something about a son or daughter, making their father proud is one of the most important life goals I think most of us have.

Here in the story of Joseph, we see all Jacobs son's, born before Joseph, and they ALL recognize that they are NOT their father's favorite. They see "Dad" pouring all this love and affection into their younger brother. They see "Dad" giving their younger brother special gifts, the greatest of the gifts extremely & very evident to show the partiality. It's an elaborate, colorful, very decorated coat from Hollister. (Ok, maybe it wasn't Hollister... but it was so cool, it was the Hollister of that day!) This coat, given to Joseph, set him apart. So.... what began to happen in the hearts of Joseph's older brothers? They began to get bitter. They began to have malice in their hearts, hatred. All from a parent doing ONE dangerous thing, Showing Favoritism! Favoritism that eventually led to a plot of murder!

What if Jacob would not have shown favoritism? What if he would not have set Joseph up for this "so-called" journey of unfortunate events? His brothers throwing him in a well to die, staging his death by bringing his coat to "Dad" with animal blood on it, saying Joseph was killed by an animal. We all know what happened next, sure Joseph, was mourned by his father, but Josephs brothers ultimately ended up selling him as a slave to the Midianites. From slavery, the journey began. Sold to Potiphar, promoted to supervisor over Potiphar's house, wrongfully accused of attempted sexual advancements to Potiphar's wife, imprisoned for years, while in prison promoted as "Head" of the prisoners, then ultimately elevated to 2nd in charge to only Pharoah, after interpreting Pharoah's dream. A fairytale ending, right?

What would have happened if JACOB, if DAD, would not have positioned Joseph to be the HATED little brother? How uncomfortable for Joseph. He probably just wanted his brothers to like him, instead they couldn't even say a nice "Hello." Joseph was put in a place of hatred by his family, by ALL his brothers. What if Jacob, Dad, would have shown ALL of the brothers equal love? I dare say that Joseph could have avoided years and years of hardship, maybe even enjoyed growing up with fond memories of his brothers.

Granted, yes, we do know Romans 8:28 worked out in Joseph's favor, all things worked together for Josephs good. But, WHAT IF, Joseph's dad would not have showed that favoritism? The end of the story, Joseph was 2nd in command over ALL of Egypt and was able to be directed from the Lord how to SAVE the nation from the famine that was about to happen.

Who do you most relate with?

• Jacob. Are you SHOWING favoritism on someone. Through your love, are you setting someone up for ultimate hardship? Be it from their siblings, or peers? Has the depths of your love, elevated to favoritism? It's not to late to repent and ask for forgiveness!  (James 2:9 - But if you show servile regard (prejudice, favoritism) for people, you commit sin and are rebuked and convicted by the Law as violators and offenders.) 
• Joseph. - Now Joseph had a dream... - Do you have a dream?! Does your dream feel like something that is so great and so big it's overwhelming? Friend, allow God to lead and direct you in this dream. No matter how big or how small, no matter what you are going through right now... maybe you feel like you are in the pit? Maybe you feel like you are imprisoned by a job you despise. Maybe you have been wrongfully accused, and through all your work of excellence, you've been stripped of your dignity. Friend, wherever it is that you are at right now, PRESS ON! Do you realize that YOU could be on the path to SAVING A NATION!?!? You could be on a path, as ugly as it may look right now, YOU could be on the path of CHANGING HISTORY! Press on! Do you have a dream? Friend, PRESS ON! Don't let that dream die within you. Pursue that dream and allow GOD to elevate you to a place of favor!

Who do you relate to? Are you the one showing Favoritism, Jacob? Or are you the one allowing God to elevate you to favor, Joseph? It is YOUR choice who you want to relate to. If you need to, make a change today. Line up with where you know you need to be, that is in line with God!

Will you share your story? How you have experienced the results of Jacob or being the Jacob? Or the dreams of Joseph? I'd love to hear from you! 

#253 - Christmas Overwhelmed?

Romans 9:21 (NKJ) - Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

John 15:1-7 - I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
² Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit.³ You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you].⁴ Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.⁵ I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.⁶ If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.⁷ If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

Proverbs 31:15-16 - She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.¹⁶ She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. 

Good morning! Honestly, as I sit here sipping my 2nd cup of coffee, writing in my journal and just spilling everything in my heart and mind to the Lord, one sentence came to mind, "I'm ready for things to get back to normal." As I thought about it, that was a bit sad because it's ONLY December 6th!! The Holiday season is JUST starting. My whirlwind started at the beginning of November, North Carolina Leadership Conference, Florida Birthday with Grandparents, Georgia Thanksgiving, Kansas Business Trip, Mom's Night out Christmas Party (at my house), and blah, blah, blah... they were GREAT, but life has been anything but normal!

Do you know the feeling I'm talking about? I am not even unpacked from one event, to just dump my suitcase out and pack for another.... while the pile grows of things that need to be put away... or new suitcases come out while the others remain unpacked. 

So... here I sat, this morning in my Quiet Time, just spilling out my brain onto paper. Telling the Lord of all the things that I need to fix about myself, feeling frustrated and a bit like I'm still in the center of a whirlwind. Remembering the weird dream I had last night, waking up in a frenzy because I had "lost my basketball shoes and was running around looking for them and I didn't want to get left." (Weird! I don't have basketball shoes and haven't played since I was in 9th grade.)  So my dream was just another reminder of one area in my life I need to improve on...... argh..... getting more organized and being on time! 

I stopped my frenzy of all the things I "NEED" to do, the areas I "NEED" to improve on, the tasks that I "NEED" to get my head together on... I stopped. Then, I proceeded to just LISTEN. 

As I listened, this was what I heard: 

Amy....it is all about staying connected to Me. Staying connected to the TRUE VINE. I will prune you & as a potter shapes, I will shape you. I will direct you in your tasks & priorities. 

Immediately the verses that came to mind were Romans 9:21 and John 15:1-7.

What happens when a branch is disconnected from a vine or tree? I had a "Mom's Night Out" Christmas Party for my mom's group on Monday night. Beforehand, I went out back and cut some branches off pine trees, got some sprigs of pine to make a centerpiece and decorate some random places. I even found a "Charlie Brown" looking pine tree and cut that down to decorate in a corner. Well... currently, my "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree in the corner of our eating area is staying artificially alive. It is in a vase with water. BUT, it will not stay alive forever. It is currently being artificially kept alive. It is disconnected from it's root system. As soon as I take it out of the water, it will begin to brown, dry up and die completely.

The reminder to me this morning.... as I've been feeling overwhelmed, a bit in a frenzy, my "To-Do" list of Christmas presents and exchanges growing, this morning as I slowed down long enough to LISTEN to the Voice of the Holy Spirit... I got a great reminder! Stay connected! Stay connected to the TRUE VINE. As I stay connected, like the potter directs the shape of the clay, the Holy Spirit will direct me. He will even direct me in keeping me productive on the tasks I NEED to be productive in. He'll direct me where to go and when to go. "No Amy, don't go there right now, they won't have what you need. Wait until Wednesday." Then, the store will receive a shipment, put items out and the item I was looking for will be newly placed on the shelf. I will not spend time in vain, or toiling because I will have taken time to listen.

It really is amazing!!! Because Jesus ascended into Heaven and left this earth, what a gift we have! But, even the disciples argued with Jesus. "NO Jesus, Don't go! Don't go!" Jesus responded, "But I am telling you the truth: it is better for you that I go away, because if I do not go, the Helper will not come to you. But if I do go away, then I will send him to you." (John 16:7 GNT) The Helper, Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit. Isn't it awesome that WHEN we got saved the HOLY SPIRIT comes to live inside of us!! I remember growing up and as a child we would say that Jesus lived in our hearts. Well, it wasn't actually Jesus (since he was human and it would be hard to fit him in our heart), but it was the Holy Spirit. The Spirit part of the Trinity. 

Why is that such good news today? Right now? Because SINCE we have the Holy Spirit living inside us, we have COMPLETE ACCESS! All we have to do, is quiet ourselves enough to listen! John 10 talks about the shepherd and his sheep, "...sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵ Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 

How cool! When we accept Jesus into our life, we have the SHEPHERD leading us. BUT... we must tune our ear into HEARING and KNOWING His Voice, so that the other voices (ie: the voice of the enemy), when we hear those, we will NOT follow them but flee from them. It's a process and it begins with just choosing to quiet ourselves and listen. Shutting off the TV, the radio, our iPhone, getting away from the hustle and bustle, before our kids are awake... and with no distractions, just sitting and listening. 

So today.... are you feeling the "Christmas Overwhelmed" feeling? My suggestion (to myself!!), STAY CONNECTED. Being connected to the TRUE VINE is crucial more than ever during times like this. I feel so much better after just having a true quiet time this morning. Stay connected. Don't allow yourself to be cut off from the vine! The life cut off from the vine is ARTIFICIAL and TEMPORARY.... it's inevitable that someone cut off from the True Vine will not last. So, this holiday season, stay connected. Allow the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you, to save you time, free your life from toil, to direct you to be at the right place at the right time. Allow the Holy Spirit to position you for Divine Favor!! :) Because as a CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH GOD, that is EXACTLY what our Father wants for HIS  children! Divine favor! 

Be blessed! :) 

#221 - Comparing!

Proverbs 18:24 - The man of many friends [a friend of all the world] will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 31:30a - Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain...

She has more friends than I do.
She's prettier than me.
She always has such a cute outfit on.
People invite her places all the time.
Her house is nicer than mine.
She is so nice.
She's always buying something new.
She is always doing something fun.
She & her husband always go out to eat.
Money doesn't ever seem like a big deal to her.
She's so good at making things.
She throws lots of parties.

Who is the "she" in your life? Who are the "Joneses" in your life? Are they there? Do you find yourself frequently discontent only when you look at the life of someone else? If you are truly just looking at your life, living your day, you actually like it.... you enjoy your life, until you compare it?

It's interesting, I found the Holy Spirit revealing some things to me this morning about this very issue. As I reflected on the "Joneses" in my life, I found myself realizing, all the areas where I felt inadequate or insecure (ie: all of their strengths), mirrored a lifestyle that would not even fulfill me. As I thought about my true perfect day, it would not be doing the daily and weekly activities that the Joneses did.

Tyler was sharing with me about a recent audio he listened to. It was by Marita Litweiller (author of Wired That Way). She went on to describe personality types. How opposites attract. What brings energy and life to different people. What energizes one person would be completely draining to the next person. They were not designed for that 'strength.' Where one person is energized by working out, running, lifting weights... the thought of being so "die-hard" would be draining to someone else. Equally, the bubbly wife always entertaining guests week after week, would be draining to the next mom. We were not all designed to be the same. We were designed to be different. We begin to get drained when we are trying to BE & DO those things that are a strength of someone else. Whether your a "one-person friend" or a "30 person friend," it's OK! You were designed just that way!

In the King James Version of Proverbs 31:30 it begins with, "Favour is deceitful, beauty is vain..." "Favour" in the Hebrew is also defined as "acceptance." "Deceitful" is also described as: in vain, disappointment, lie, wrong. So we're not just talking about the charming and graceful woman here in verse 30. We can look at it in a whole new way! We could also say this, "The woman who focused on being accepted is deceived, disappointed, living a lie. She is operating in vain."

Our desire to be accepted, to be like the "Joneses," to be like that co-worker who seems to have it all together is all vain. It all brings disappointment. I've heard this phrase that is helpful: "You will only ever be SECOND best if you try to be someone else, but you can be #1 at being the best YOU!" 


You can finish #1 ALL THE TIME when you are focusing at being the #1 YOU! When we compare, we will always find ourselves disappointed and discouraged. What are YOUR strengths? What is YOUR perfect day? What makes YOU happy? Focusing on those questions will help us to really experience fulfillment in this walk through life as a Christian. You are not called to be like "her." Be the best YOU and feel the wonderful release of pressure you've placed on yourself to be like someone else!

 

#218 - Don't Fret! Expect Favor!

Good morning! Well.... I'm officially 33 weeks pregnant today. I get to go to the Doctor this morning to check and see how Trinity is doing. :) Whoo-hoo! Our little girl is growing and SO is mama's belly! I measured my belly the other day.... I have definitely surpassed Tyler!! I am currently 44 inches around. Whoa! I have also graduated out of most of my bed-time t-shirts and have started snagging Tyler's t-shirts. Ha! All is well though. Trin is healthy, I am healthy, Tyler & Tyler Jr are healthy.... and we are all excited to meet Trin in a few weeks. Wow! Could be as soon as 35 days and I will be full-term. It seems closer when you break down the days. I'm definitely doing my best to enjoy each day! Tyler Junior will soon not be an only child getting all the attention, so I want to enjoy this time. Although, I must say, it will be nice to have my body back! :)

Ok... ok... let's get into the Word this morning so I can scoot off to the Doctor. :)

Proverbs 15:15 - All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances].

Proverbs 31:25 - Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

Have you ever found yourself asking questions similar to these?: How are things going to turn out? Will it be good for me? Will I like the outcome? 


I've found personally that it really takes an active effort to keep my thoughts on the positive, rejoicing over the future, though I may not know the exact details of how circumstances will turn out. I don't know if you can relate, but in a time of change it can be easy to err on the beginning of Proverbs 15:15, allowing anxious thoughts and forebodings to creep in. What are "forebodings?" The dictionary defines it as a strong inner  feeling or notion of future misfortune. Proverbs 15:15 tells us that days are made evil because of this very thing, dwelling on the possibility of future misfortune. That is what makes ALL THE DAYS evil, by dwelling on the potential negative that COULD happen.

Do you see the glass half empty? Or do you see the glass half full? Do you expect favor in the situation you are in? Or do you look at all the possibilities where things could turn wrong? If we broke things down, we could say that Proverbs 15:15 is telling us to SEE THE GLASS HALF FULL! Take on an optimistic spirit. Take on a FAVOR mindset. Be favor minded!

Our Proverbs 31 friend is rejoicing over the future. She has done what she can do. She has prepared what she can prepare. She determines within herself, to now, rejoice over the future. The preparations have been made. Like her thoughts are, "Let the outcome be what it may, but I am going to set myself in agreement with favor. I believe that God is working everything out on my behalf. I am prepared. I am ready and the future is going to bring great things to me & my household! With God on my side, who can be against me?"


Don't fret. Don't care. As it says in the 1 Peter, "Cast ALL your cares on Him for HE cares for you!"  


As you set yourself in agreement with the WORD and not the WORLD, watch God work on your behalf. Regardless of circumstances, regardless of the situation, put yourself in agreement with the Word. Speak it out loud!

"MY GOD will even make my mistakes to prosper! I walk in divine favor! All things are working together for my good in Jesus Name! With God for me, who can be against me? ALL things are possible with God. Favor, favor, favor! God's favor is working for me now!"

Don't fret! Agree with the WORD and watch favor line up on your behalf!

 

#176 - Accompanied by Favor

Good morning! It feels like a Monday. We got back from a conference around 3:30 a.m. yesterday.... so, it ended up being a day of catching up on some Zzzzzz's. :) Praise the Lord! It's great to associate with winners in life, people who are interested in more than just being average, but really aspiring to something great and doing something about it. Isn't it great to be around people who stretch you to want to be better?!

Well... let's get going today.

Proverbs 3:3 (AMP) - Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 3:4 (NKJV) - And so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.  

Proverbs 31:26 (NKJV) - She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. 

The power of kindness. I confess Proverbs 3:4 over my life all the time. Tyler and I often shout it out to each other when one of us is leaving for a meeting, or just to go out to the grocery store. We'll say, "You have FAVOR in the sight of God & man!" We confess for, and believe for favor as we just live our lives. Favor in appointments, favor in the grocery store, favor with people that we meet.... heck.... even favor at Subway! Friday we ate at Subway and I asked the gentleman checking me out if it was "free-cookie" day. I just believed for favor. Guess what? I got 2 free cookies! It wasn't "free cookie" day for anyone else, but it was for me, because I expect favor.

One thing as I was reading Proverbs 3:4 that I noticed was this... it was not the beginning of the "thought," something came before it. There was a "prerequisite" to receiving what it mentioned, "favor & high esteem in the sight of God and man." I had never really noticed it before today. It noted in Proverbs 3:3, "Let not mercy, kindness & truth forsake you." Basically, don't leave home without them. Let them be a guide to your life. Those will lead to the "favor & high esteem" that we desire. I noticed also that our Proverbs 31 friend has the law of kindness on her tongue. She is operating in this "kindness," and from her many great accomplishments,  since she is abiding by this principle, I'm sure she received favor with God & man on her many exploits. Favor when she was buying land. Favor when she was selling her garments to the merchants. Favor as she assigned work to her maids. Favor as she sewed & created things. Favor as she woke up early & spent time in the Word. Because of operating in the "law of kindness" she experienced favor and so can we!

I remember a time last week... hopefully you weren't the person I was following. There was a mini-van in the median waiting to merge into the lane I was driving on.... Me, being the KIND, UNSELFISH person that I am... slowed WAY down, practically slamming on my breaks to let this vehicle merge. It was most definitely one of those times when I felt like I was going out of my way to be nice. What did I expect in return? Simple, just a friendly wave to acknowledge my kindness. You know the wave. The wave that says, "Hey! Thanks for letting me in! That was nice!" When I didn't get the wave I expected, the "nice gesture" since I slammed on my breaks to let this man in, what did I do? The "kind, unselfish" me, in all the sarcasm I could muster, went ahead and waved vigorously to this man. He may not have seen me, but, out-loud I also shouted in sarcasm, "YOU'RE WELCOME! NO PROBLEM! MY PLEASURE for letting you in!" I was basically ticked off at his lack of the "Thanks Wave." OK... not that I'm all proud of it or anything, and I'm sure you've never done that. But as I read Proverbs 3:3, this scenario went through my mind and replayed. I would anticipate the "mercy & kindness & truth" that Proverbs 3:3 is talking about is not associated with "what do I get in return?" Or "what's in it for me?" Sure, I was only looking for a "Thank You wave" as a gesture... but, if I were truly operating in pure, unselfish, kindness, even that wave would have been unnecessary for me. But instead, like when I was a child, I defiantly acted out like a kid! Probably looking & sounding totally stupid if you could have seen or heard me with my sarcasm. All over a wave?! How ridiculous!

The amplified version of Proverbs 3:3, talks about "shutting out selfishness." Living a selfLESS life instead of a selfISH life. Focusing on "I, me, mine." We are encouraged to shut out, to forsake, to put away the selfishness. To not consider the "what's in it for me" or "what will I gain if I do this unselfish act?" The prerequisite to gaining the favor in the sight of God & man that Proverbs 3:4 talks about is AFTER selfishness has been put aside. AFTER the selfish motives have been put away.

The cool thing with God... just because you may screw up once, doesn't mean you are written off all together. Sure, until this morning, I didn't even remember my obnoxious act from last week. But, Sunday night I received great favor in the sight of God & man. Basically received the opportunity to talk to a very influential person on the phone for an hour. Receive guidance & counsel, receive direction. It was nothing beyond an act of God to have this amazing opportunity. It was one of those moments in life that you write down. A moment that you mark up as a "life-changer".... a "game changer." Favor so great that it's unexpected. But what does the Word tell us? Ephesians 3:20 basically says this: "Now to Him Who, by the power that is at work within us, is able to carry out His purpose and do superabundantly, far over and far above all that we DARE ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams." OUR God can & will do MORE than we could even expect for. Even in our "positive expectation of favor," He can even exceed that! That is what he did for Tyler & I on Sunday night. Praise the Lord!


So friend, how about we team up on this together? How about we work towards acting out in kindness. Letting our kindness outweigh our sometimes selfish or childish acts? That even if we are just conscience of it, we can focus on the good, the positive, the kindness. Sure... those mini-van's of life experiences may pop in every once and awhile... but, maybe next time you will think about it before retaliating. I think I probably will. It was like that 5 year old just came out in me! 


Well, have a blessed day! And believe today that YOU will have favor in the sight of God and man! Whatever you are doing, wherever you are going, believe that the FAVOR of God will accompany you! 

#167 - Because of HIS delight...

What a beautiful day to be alive! We serve a God who is ALIVE, not only is His Word alive & active, like a two-edged sword, but HE IS ALIVE! Jesus is no longer in the grave, he's no longer on the cross, HE HAS RISEN! He is alive and well STILL sitting at the right-hand of our Father! Isn't that good news! That is worth being excited about. I believe you will be encouraged today. If you need encouragement, if you need hope, I believe you are in the right place. Let's get into the Word.

2 Samuel 22: 1a, 2, 20b, 21, 32-33,  - DAVID SPOKE to the Lord...The Lord is my Rock (of escape from Saul) and my Fortress (in the wilderness) and my Deliverer... He delivered me because He delighted in me. ²¹The Lord rewarded me according to my uprightness with Him; He compensated and benefited me according to the cleanness of my hands. For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God? ³³God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free. For You girded me with strength for the battle!

Man! What an amazing chapter! 2 Samuel 22 just blessed me this morning! So many verses, which to choose?!?!

For starters, look at how the chapter starts.... even David, who has been anointed to be the future King, it says that DAVID SPOKE to the Lord. As a quick tangent, we look back at the life of King Saul & David. From the day the people began to sing "Saul has Slain thousands, David tens of thousands." It says in 1 Samuel 18 that from that day Saul was angry & jealous towards David. It goes on to say, "THE NEXT DAY" an evil spirit came upon Saul. Wow! Because of Saul's anger & jealousy he held toward David "out-doing" him, from that day forward, an evil spirit was upon him! The POWER of offense can change a persons life! And for Saul, He went to his death holding offense against David, in hot pursuit to have him killed. But DAVID was delivered because the LORD delighted in Him!

Anyways... that was a freebie... let's move on.... David SPOKE to the Lord. He is reminding God of how He helped David escape from Saul, He delivered David! David is recounting the goodness, the blessings, the benefits of God his Father! Then my favorite line.... He delivered me because He delighted in me.  Wow! What delight just to read that! Just think about it, because of the Lord's pleasure and delight in YOU, His child, he delivers you from your TRIALS, your enemy... maybe it's debt, whatever it is.... because of HIS delight, He delivers you! That's exciting. In verse 21 it goes on to use some words that are exciting to me.... rewarded, compensated, benefited. By staying in right-standing, in a "seeking position" with our Father, in a "pleasing/serving" position with our Father, we can receive the benefits that He has in store. And it is a DELIGHT to Him to deliver us, and bring us into benefits!


Ultimately.... as we enter in to our day, whether completing a battle or entering into one, we can take JOY in knowing that we have been GIRDED, PREPARED, CLOTHED with strength for whatever we are about to go up against! Like David, killing the lion, the bear & Goliath, He was prepared!

In the last 2 days, I have heard not one, but two stories that make me want to shout! AND, I believe it was because of the Lord's DELIGHT that He chose to lead the events. One friend of mine told me that just this past week, her parents came to town with a new van. It had the remote to open the doors, and the back. It was nice. She said they walked in and handed them the keys. "We have done for the others, and haven't really ever done much for you. Here. We bought this for you. We want you to have it!" Fully paid for, taxes for the next 6 months, tags, insurance! PRAISE THE LORD! What a blessing of the Lord! God is good! The cool thing is, He is NO respecter of persons! What can happen for one, can happen for the next! He can do that for YOU! OR maybe, YOU will be the GIVER! What a joy to have the goal of being able to bless someone in that capacity who is in need. Maybe that is a new goal, to be the one in the position to GIVE! But if you need to receive it! Receive it for yourself! Receive what YOU need from the Lord!

Another awesome story.... a friend of mine was in need of money to get her vehicle fixed. She was without a vehicle! She had to resort to walking her kids to school, or where ever they needed to go. Well, wouldn't you know it, someone felt led to give her $2500! He just felt like the Lord laid it on his heart to GIVE to her. PRAISE THE LORD! I can only imagine that tears must have welled up in her eyes as she must have said or thought, "THANK YOU LORD! You HAVE heard me!" She was able to get her vehicle fixed!

Another friend was talking about donating plasma to have money to buy groceries. If she donated twice a week, she could get enough money to get groceries, with a little left over. Plasma! Needles! And that is definitely a viable way to get some extra cash when needed, but PRAISE GOD, our God even has MORE THAN ENOUGH for her! He has MORE THAN ENOUGH to provide for her needs, her husband and her small children! GOD has MORE THAN ENOUGH! And BECAUSE of HIS delight, we can walk in HIS favor, HIS blessing, HIS rewards, HIS abundance, HIS benefits!

Pray this morning! Maybe you are the "more than enough" that God wants to use to bless someone. And  maybe you are on the "need" side. KNOW that as you seek the Lord, delight yourself in Him, HE will delight in you! He will lead you, He will guide you, He will show Himself strong in being YOUR Jehovah Jirah, God YOUR Provider! You have been girded up and made ready for battle. And with GOD on your side, is there a chance you will loose? NO!

#162 - Steer Clear!

EXITING NEWS! TO READ THESE DEVOTIONS, YOU CAN NOW ALSO GO TOO:

www.amyjmccart.com

GOOD MORNING! Man, what a blessing! Do you ever just reflect & think, "Wow! This is awesome!" "THIS" meaning, your life. That you are operating in your gift, you are following your calling, you are excited to be doing what you love, you are fulfilled. That is how I feel this morning! :)
So, yesterday, I picked up my book again. The draft of "Fairytales Do Come True" is completed. I got the "go-ahead" yesterday to dive back in and begin the editing process. The book is right over 74,000 words, I read & edited the first 5 chapters yesterday. Wow! It's so fun! If I could ask you to pray about a few things for me... that would be awesome!

1. I'm thanking God for the Provision & Favor to go to a Conference in July. It's called SheSpeaks, put on by Proverbs31.org. The cool thing about this conference is that it will allow me the opportunity to meet with Christian publishers, bring my book, as well as some of the top Blog posts. It will be a big opportunity for me! If you want to check out the conference details... check out the website... I will be taking the Writers Track (there is also a Speakers Track & Leadership Track). Here's info about what to expect. My goal is to apply before April 15th. 
2. Please pray for me as I am in the editing process of my book. Some key areas of prayer... since it is my testimony, I have changed some names in the book of people who may not want their names shared. Please pray that God gives me wisdom about how to go about it. A few of the main characters played a major hindrance in my life. So what if they ever read this book? I've changed their names... but the role they played, is still the role they played. Please just pray that I would have Wisdom. 

Thank you! :) If you want to read a quick "snap-shot" on the book, I did write a devotion on it: Fairytales Do Come True

OK, lets get going! 

Proverbs 5:4 - But in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged and devouring sword.

Hebrews 4:12 - For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power [making it active, operative, energizing, and effective]; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart.

Proverbs 5 is our classic... it talks about the "loose woman." How God amazes me even this morning, that He can continue to bring NEW things out of His Word! Praise the Lord! Proverbs 5:4 is describing a bit of who the "Loose Woman" is... her characteristics and the deadly role she can play in ones life, IF one lets her! As we skip on to Hebrews 4:12... we also see something else that is described as a TWO-EDGED SWORD! Here we have 2 very opposite examples, ONE bringing DEATH, the other with the ability to bring LIFE! Hebrews 4:12 is talking about how God's WORD is SHARPER than ANY two-edged sword. ANY! Including the loose woman. How the WORD OF GOD has more power than the SHARPEST two-edged sword, that the WORD OF GOD has the power to penetrate. The Word has power to expose us, reveal us, show our hearts and our true deep desires. I believe that EVERY Christian has a deep desire to please God. That deep down, no matter what you're doing in life, whether you are living a life with reckless abandon to loving and serving your King, or whether you are living a life cussing, drinking, or running from God. I believe that IF a person has made a decision to accept Jesus as their Savior, deep down they have this INNATE desire to serve Him, to please Him, to make Him proud. Even amongst the yelling, the arguing, the countless beers, the revealing clothes, the wrong association, that DEEP down even this person has a DESIRE to please our Father! It's there, deep in their heart, a longing, a passion, a drawing to - like a magnet - the King of Kings. Christians have a desire, a longing to be close to the Father!

Something extremely cool about that.... is SURE... here in Proverbs 5:4, the loose woman is luring people in and she is like a two-edged sword. She = "sin", "the World", "bad association", "Wrong motives".... you may not be drawn into what the "outset" of Proverbs 5 looks like... when we just read the words for what they say, many of us think, "This doesn't apply to me, this is talking about a prostitute on the streets trying to lure men in to have sex." But, if you REALLY look a little deeper, SHE is any area that is trying to draw us away.

An awesome thing? Hebrews 4:12 tells us that the WORD is SHARPER than ANY two-edged sword! Including the loose woman! Including sin, temptation, sluggishness, lack of desire, procrastination, lack of motivation.... the WORD is MORE powerful than ANY of that! The WORD has the POWER to PENETRATE! It has the power to get you right in the heart and CHANGE YOUR LIFE!!! When we read further down in Hebrews, the last verse in chapter 4, tells us additional good news.... let's check it out....

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].

HALLELUYAH! That is good news! Even if you have messed up, fallen short, run from God, avoided Him... that it says EVEN YOU can come CONFIDENTLY and BOLDLY to His throne! That even YOU will receive mercy for your failures, your mess-ups, where you've fallen short. And PRAISE THE LORD, that HIS help will be well-timed, coming just when we need it!

UNMERITED FAVOR is favor that is undeserved! You did not earn it. You just receive it. Because Jesus went to the cross for you, died for YOUR sins, and here you have it... YOU are receiving UNMERITED, UNEXPLAINABLE, UNDESERVED FAVOR! A promotion why? Because of favor! Increase why? Because of favor! A compliment from someone un-expecting why? Because of favor! Forgiveness for screwing something up why? Because of favor!

Just a reminder... STEER clear of the loose woman... and ALL she represents. Bad association. Are there certain people that pull you down, draw you away from a relationship with Jesus? THEY are the "loose woman" in your life. STEER CLEAR of them! It may just be for a season.... but the loose woman is the enemy to us drawing near in a relationship with Jesus. 1 Peter 5:8... be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [^[a]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. 


Steer clear and CONFIDENTLY press in to the THRONE OF GRACE! Everything you desire is at that throne! Your dreams, they are there. Your desires, they are there. Your answers, they are there!

#141 - How to enjoy TODAY

Good morning! :) Well... I have a PRAISE report for yesterday! :) The boy turned 15 months and had his 15 month "Well Visit" with Dr. Sooros. This weekend on Saturday he had a fever, and on Sunday the fever had subsided but when he was walking he was extremely off balance. Well... Tyler and I just did what we know to do based on the Word. "Lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." (Mark 16:18) "By Jesus stripes we ARE healed."(Is.53:4-5, 1 Peter 2:24) "When 2 or more come together in together and AGREE upon anything you ask for, it will be done for you by your Father in heaven." (Matt. 18:19) - So... we laid hands on Tyler Jr. and thanked God for his complete healing and restoration. From the symptoms, it would've appeared that he had an ear infection, but we just thanked God that our son was healed! He was whole, restored and walked in divine health! The report from the Doctor was good! He was perfect! :) He's in the 92nd percentile for height and 45th percentile for weight. So... he's tall and slender. :) Such a cute boy! :) It amazes me because he usually eats more than I do! Where does the boy put it?!? So, that was definitely a praise! Thank you Father for being true & faithful to your Word! 


Let's get started! Lately.... I've not been getting past Proverbs. I've been getting so much good stuff out of Proverbs! Psalms will just have to wait. :) 

Proverbs 15:13, 15, 29 - A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken. All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]. The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the [consistently] righteous (the upright, in right standing with Him).

Man... do I know these scriptures Oh to well! But praise God for HIS Word that we can receive truth and revelation! :) I looked up the word "desponding" in the dictionary. This was the definition: to be depressed by loss of hope, confidence, or courage. There was a period of time where I felt like the word of "desponding" would have described me. On the outside, maybe one could not tell.... I smiled and did my best to have a Positive Mental Attitude. But in my heart, hope was shallow at best. My heart had grown weary and sluggish. It was like my heart had been running this race and I was just worn out. If you picture a person in a desert, shoulders hunched over, arms dangling, head hanging low.... or a (not in shape) runner who has run 20 miles, just exhausted.... I picture my heart looked like that if it was walking. My heart was just sluggish, slooping over, tired. My hope, confidence and courage were down. AND... one reason they were is because I was doing EXACTLY what this verse talked about! I had anxious thought and "forebodings". My thoughts were continually in the future, not in the present. I was anxious over the future. I was constantly thinking about the future which paralyzed me from enjoying my "TODAY." I missed the scenic view of my journey because I was so focused on where the end destination would take me. I was longing to live in the future I saw in my mind. I was so longing to live there, that every day in my present was a disappointment because I hadn't "arrived" at my destination yet. 


PRAISE GOD for GOD and HIS WORD! Praise God for my husband. Praise God for revelations! I somehow realized, probably greatly due to Tyler, that I could not live in the future any more. ALL I could control was my today! All I could do was enjoy my today. Sure... have goals, yes! But once I had my goals, work them backwards to figure out what the daily action steps are and then just consistently DO those daily actions. Not dwelling on or staying at the "end" but focusing on the daily actions I can do today. And while doing that, enjoying the journey. A JOURNEY WITHOUT TOIL! Enjoying the smell of the roses along the way. I realizes that being anxious was AGAINST the Word. If I was being anxious, I was trying to control something that was not MINE to control... ie: the future or other people. ALL I could control was my today... my RIGHT NOW. Not next hour or later tonight, or tomorrow. All I could do was control my right now. Enjoy my right now. Tyler STILL has to catch me and correct my thinking because I occasionally still try to live in the future. Or... get anxious, my mind would get bogged down because I'm thinking about all these things I need to learn or do... but they are things that the outcome hasn't even been established!  No need to be anxious. What's the wonderful verse say, "Be anxious for NOTHING, but in EVERYTHING with prayer & petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God." Phil 4:6.


The VICTORY in it? Check out Proverbs 15:29!!! :) What VICTORY! What GOOD NEWS! He hears the prayer of the righteous!!! GOD HEARS US!? Are you born-again? Are you saved? God HEARS you!!! Do you have sin in your life? Well, ask forgiveness, get things right. And then pray to God. Submit your request! God HEARS you! I actually recently was holding "offense" against a few people. When I realized it, I knew exactly what I had to do! Just what it talked about in the new testament. It says something like: If you are holding anything against your brother, leave you offering at the alter. Get up, go, get things right with your brother. THEN, come and make your offering. 


So, even me! I had to get offense right. I had to ask forgiveness from God, and my "brother/sister" in Christ. 


GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS! That is GREAT NEWS! Something DEFINITELY to rejoice about! PRAISE GOD! And do you know, you can have a GLAD heart REGARDLESS of your CIRCUMSTANCE! Because you have the FAVOR of GOD on your side! If things look impossible... just smile and laugh and THANK GOD outloud - I HAVE THE FAVOR of GOD on my side! GOD EVEN MAKES MY MISTAKES TO PROSPER! :) I HAVE GOD'S FAVOR! :) 


Have a great day! Live in TODAY! Enjoy TODAY! Tomorrow has it's own worries. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Therefore, enjoy your TODAY! 

#138 -Do NOT Grow Weary!

Well... I began to read and journal this morning and after reading Proverbs 8... felt led to some reason to go read the Beatitudes... or if you remember... the "Blessed's" that Jesus talked about in the Sermon on the Mount (beginning in Matthew 5). So... as I began to read it was quite interesting. As you know, I usually read out of the Amplified, and it amazes me how things are so amplified. Here's how it starts out... 

Matthew 5:3 - Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the kingdom of heaven!

Proverbs 8:35 - For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. 

It goes on through verse 12, and continues talking about the "Blessed." SEVEN times throughout this part it lists out how the "blessed" are "happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous--with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions." Seven times it repeats itself. Before it even gets to the "feeling" or "the who." ie: Blessed are the "poor in spirit", Blessed are they that "mourn", Blessed are the "meek", etc... 


As we read over Matthew 5:3-12, it is pretty amazing. Before even getting to the "subject" of each verse, we can see what our take should be on LIFE! We are BLESSED. We are spiritually prosperous. WHY? If we are born-again, know that we are going to heaven when we die, have the Holy Spirit living inside of us... we are BLESSED! WHY else? As a believer, we have GOD's FAVOR. God favor's us! His plan is to set us up to WIN! He wants YOU & I, His children to WIN! He's positioned us in a place of favor! WHY ELSE? We have God's SALVATION. Despite what is going on in our day to day life, ultimately we have won the ULTIMATE prize. Our eyes have been opened to our need of a Savior. We have chose Jesus Christ to be the Lord of our life! We have chose Jesus to be our Shephard, to guide us, to lead us. We have chose Jesus to be #1. We have chose Jesus to guide our decisions. When we have a question, we CHOOSE to say, "What would Jesus do?" As a believer, what should I do? So before Matthew 5 verse 3 even gets to the subject of "what person" it is even talking about, it is telling us first of all, reminding us of WHO WE ARE! We are the BLESSED! 


What else? REGARDLESS OF OUR OUTWARD CONDITIONS. That was a kicker to me. Life happens. And with life, their is a continual learning curve. Life happens. But REGARDLESS of our OUTWARD Conditions, circumstances, we can know the outcome for us is FAVOR. Whether money is tight, the outcome is favor. Yah, we may need to learn how to get our finances in order, but we can thank God for favor. Maybe it's family, friends, children, job, car, house, clothes, health... whatever the need, whatever the CIRCUMSTANCE OR CONDITION, we can be thankful that we have FAVOR. "Satisfaction of God's favor." That is good stuff. We may know the end from the beginning, but sometimes not see everything that is going to happen along the way. But praise God that we CAN know that the "duration", the "path", the "journey", the "day-in/day-out" for US, GOD's CHILDREN, includes favor. We can have SATISFACTION of GOD's FAVOR. During those days when you just feel a little bit discouraged... you feel like you are going through the motions, the little things you are doing is going unnoticed... or the little things you are doing have not yet catapulted you to the destination where you desire to be, just KNOW that God's Favor is upon you. Continue being faithful in the little things and it is a PROMISE in God's Word that when you are faithful in the little, you will be given much. Prove yourself now. Prove yourself faithful. God has GREAT and mighty things in store for you. Do not grow weary in well doing. Do not grow weary right now, while you are in the midst of doing what seems like the "menial" tasks that need to be done. Do NOT grow weary. Continue! Continue my friend. God will SHOW HIMSELF STRONG! 


Great and mighty things are in store for you. Do not grow weary!

#130 - Stacked in YOUR FAVOR!

Good morning fellow brothers and sisters!! Isn't it GREAT that God is no respecter of persons! He doesn't pre-qualify us. To hear from him we don't have to have a Masters Degree, or have went to Seminary, we don't have to be a missionary or a pastor. Isn't it awesome that each one of us, the only pre-requisite is to be born again, to have invited the Holy Spirit to live inside of us. Once we are saved, like Jesus said, he sent the Holy Spirit as our Guide & Comforter, to be with us always. At that point, when we have made the commitment to follow Jesus, and have invited Him to be our Lord, as believers, we all enter onto a level playing field! No "office politics", no "political correctness", pure and simple we have DIRECT access to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Like we have an "ALL-ACCESS" pass! Way better than a back-stage pass, we have an "ALL-ACCESS" pass! As much time as we want to spend with Him, He is available! In the board meetings, on the playing fields, in your car as your driving down the road, in your office, in the bathroom, in the heat of battle, HE is right there available for access the moment we ask. He is there! Praise God! What a wonderful gift!

Ps 24:3-4a - Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart...

Ps 54:4 - Behold, God is my helper and ally; the Lord is my upholder and is with them who uphold my life. 

Ps 84:11 - For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Ps 144:1-2 - BLESSED BE the Lord, my Rock and my keen and firm Strength, Who teaches my hands to war and my fingers to fight-- ²My Steadfast Love and my Fortress, my High Tower and my Deliverer, my Shield and He in Whom I trust and take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. 

Who is He? Who is this "One" on your side? Is He illusive or hard to figure out? Is He just this "mystery being" out there somewhere who wants to keep things hidden from us, who wants us to 'play it on our own?' NO. He is alive & well. He is KNOWN to those who want to KNOW Him! He will not stay hidden, He will not stay a mystery. Through the Holy Spirit, He has made it possible for ALL things to be known to us and for us. The key, pivotal factor is, we made have to do some seeking, we may have to do some digging for those hidden secrets or nuggets He has for us. 


If you picture a boxing ring, look at who you have in the ring. One one side, opposite of you, you see a very small but toothless being. You see one who has been cast down from heaven, and has a "ROAR", but no teeth to back it. He has a big "talk" but no "punch" to back it. The only thing he has is the power of suggestion. He can try to make you believe the negative things he may whisper, but the bottom line is, everything he says is a lie. So.... if you go into the match just KNOWING that ALL he says is a lie, you'll be fine! 


Let's look at who is in the ring with YOU on your side! Shall we begin? 

• Your Helper. 
• Your Ally. 
• Your Upholder - if you do happen to slip or almost fall, He'll uphold you. 
• The SUN - bestowing grace, favor, honor, blessing & splendor
• The SHIELD - bestowing grace, favor, honor, blessing & splendor
• Your ROCK
• KEEN (finely sharpened & accute) Strength
• Firm Strength
• Your Steadfast Love - steadfast... a love that won't allow ANYTHING to harm you. 
• Your Fortress
• Your High Tower 
• Your Deliverer 
• Your Shield - blocking any attacks
• Him Whom you trust 
• Him Whom You can take refuge 

Here we look. A scraggly, short, puny, toothless being VERSUS ALL this that you have on your side of the ring. Is there ANY question of who the winner of this fight would be? I'm not a betting woman, but if I was, I know where I'd put my money! The key is going into LIFE, going into EACH DAY knowing WHO you have on your side. Knowing WHAT you bring to the table. You go out with great FAVOR on your side. Favor! Strength! There is no way you can fail with our great and mighty God fighting on your side! 

Is there a way you could be defeated? Technically, yes. One way. If you listen to the suggestions of the scrawny being on the other side of the ring. If you allow yourself the freedom, if you put your guard down long enough for him to begin talking to you, he brings to the ring lies & manipulation. He brings to the ring deceit. Close off your ears to thoughts or suggestions of the enemy, and instead go out and CHOOSE to operate in the Victory that is already yours! The odds are most DEFINITELY stacked in your favor! Operate with the attitude that YOU CANNOT LOOSE! If you are willing to stay in-tune with your Father, and tune out the enemy, the victory is YOURS! The odds are stacked in YOUR favor! Go out and WIN today!

#98 - Obtain Favor

Good morning! Enjoying the nice sound of our fireplace.... and the heat that it is giving off! We had our AC/Heat unit checked last week to find that the circuit board was blown. :-( SO.... we are waiting for them to come out and replace it. Thankfully we were gone this weekend, and thankfully our upstairs heat works. When I woke up this morning, the downstairs was at a nice 58 degrees! Whooooo! Gives us a great opportunity to be THANKFUL for heat! :) SO... the boy and I will be bundled up today. 


Well... let's get started on the Word for today. 

Proverbs 8:24-35 - Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord.

Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom... 

Esther 5:2 - And when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight, and he held out to [her] the golden scepter that was in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the tip of the scepter. 

Favor. What a key thing to aspire to attain. Here we look at a few things.... we see that when we FIND WISDOM it allows us to draw forth & obtain favor from the Lord. How to we "find" Wisdom? As Proverbs 8 shows, we watch for it daily, we wait for it, we seek wisdom out. We also see that our Proverbs 31 friend has "obtained" Wisdom, she has found it, therefore she must have taken time to seek out wisdom, to find it. As I was reading and meditating on obtaining favor, I was brought back to thinking about Queen Esther. What a great risk she made of her LIFE. In Esther 5, one moment she is standing in the courts of the king, completely knowing that since she was NOT summoned by him, just by merely standing there could cost her her life. The queen in that time was only in the presence of the King if HE summoned her to be, she was not with him on her own free will. This day, Queen Esther risked everything, and stood in the inner court of the king's palace waiting for him to see her. 

Why did she do this? There was a decree in the land for Queen Esther's people to be killed, the WHOLE Jewish people to be killed. This would be a genocide. A whole nationality of people to be murdered. An extermination on all the Jews. And for "such a time as this", thankfully Esther was the Queen and was able to put herself before the King to be heard. A risk, yes. But as we see, she obtained favor in the sight of the king, and was able to come before him. 


If you notice in Esther 5:1, it starts off with "on the third day of the fast." Esther spent time fasting, getting before the Lord to obtain Wisdom. Wisdom leads to favor, and Esther obtained favor!


Listen to Wisdom + Watch for Wisdom + Wait for Wisdom = Finding Wisdom
Finding Wisdom = Obtaining Favor from the Lord


Proverbs 8 talks about obtaining favor from the Lord. He is the KING of KINGS. Sure, we can fast to obtain wisdom and ultimately favor, but PRAISE GOD we are not at risk of being killed when we go before the presence of OUR KING. The King of Kings, God Almighty! We can go before the King ANY TIME we have questions. We can seek out Wisdom and LISTEN to Wisdom ANY TIME and obtain it! 


For me personally, I don't always get the details of how things are going to turn out. That is part of walking out a life of faith. I have received instructions at times and when I ask specifically how things are going to go, or what the next several steps are, sometimes the Lord just tells me, "You are on the right path. Right now you don't need to know everything and the 'how to' for everything. Right now, all you need to know is you are doing exactly what you need to be doing. KEEP doing it. KEEP being diligent in this area. When the time is right, I will let you know the next steps to take, but you do not need to know them now because it is not time to take them." 


He sometimes gives me JUST ENOUGH information that I know I'm doing good, I'm on the right path, that He is pleased. I'm not really a "control" freak, so I don't feel a need to know everything and the details of how it's all going to work out, but it is a blessing to know that HE is working things out in my FAVOR. That by SEEKING WISDOM, I am obtaining FAVOR from my KING! :-) And do you know what that simple thing can do? Do you realize what FAVOR FROM THE KING can do? In the situation with Queen Esther, it can SAVE A NATION! It can save MILLIONS of people! Just from ONE PERSON seeking WISDOM and OBTAINING FAVOR from the King!  


What if the King has it in your calling to be today's ONE PERSON that will save a NATION or a people. What if GOD has the calling on your life to OBTAIN WISDOM that leads to FAVOR to accomplish the VERY BIG THING for your life? I obviously don't know what 'your calling' is, but I know that when you seek our King, when you receive Wisdom from our King, you will receive FAVOR and with FAVOR, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. With FAVOR nations can be changed! With FAVOR lives can be saved! With FAVOR, 'odds' don't matter because you are SUMMONED to come before the King. And the King will ask you, "What is your request? It shall be given to you."


Seek Wisdom. Obtain Favor.