I Need Divine Intervention!

Usually by the end of the year I kind of have a feeling about what may be transpiring in the next year. This year I did not. It is in the second week of the year and I am just now seeing some of it. I had determined that I was going to commune with God much more this year because I know I am weak right now in my relationship with Him and I did that by turning off the TV more and listening to more Praise and Worship music, which stirs my spirit, and beginning a new online Bible class. I sure have missed that.

The last several years I have allowed myself to get mired down in the pit again because of frustrations with my health and relationships. Have you ever said, “God, I thought I would be so much further by now. Why do I keep falling in the same pits? What am I doing wrong?” But when I look back I don’t remember hearing an answer either from myself or God. God “can” get quiet at times but don’t doubt that He is always at work. Many of us have situations that we have been praying about for many years and it seemed at times things were going to change for the better but then we find ourself right back at the same point dealing with the same thing again. How many times do we have to go around the mountain. 

As I cried out to God for answers to a certain situation this AM I said, “God, I need divine intervention in this–please help.”  After sitting down quietly and making a clear decision about my circumstances I heard in my spirit these words, “Your decision is divine intervention.” Wow!  As I thought about it I could see how it could be true Through reading His word and recalling what He has shown us and communing with Him more He will show us how to make decisions that are from Him and not us. Of course the decisions have to be lived in our lives from that day and I pray that I will have the strength I need to carry out His desires but He did say He would never leave us nor forsake us didn’t He?

When You Truly Understand Who ” He” Is

A few months ago I locked my blog to private because I had no desire to write. I wondered if the blog had served its purpose and it was time to move on; however in the last few weeks or so I have been receiving revelation and enlightenment about this Christian journey that is hard to express. All I can say is that when you truly understand who He is  life can become uncomfortable but a good uncomfortable. He does not condemn us–He loves us too much to do that. There is so much He wants us to  gather from life through His eyes. So I will begin anew on this Road  Back”.and attempt to share my Road with those who may end up here by someway or other. Have a good 2012.

Passage John 1:14:

¹⁴And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.  (Amplified)))) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Completely Whole – Paulette Harper (A Book Review)

Whether we want to admit it or not we are all searching for more meaning and purpose in our spiritual life. We may be tired of disappointment and defeat. Sometimes when a person first becomes a Christian they’re told that everything will now change for them. That is true but without inner examination (God looks upon the heart) they may spend the rest of their Christian life wondering why they still can’t seem to overcome the hurdles in their life. Are they still hearing those negative hurtful words spoken to them on a regular basis by adults in their childhood or by their wife or husband in that failed marriage? Have they been able to forgive them? Did their business venture fail and they fear trying again? Are they stuck in the past? Do they have problems in relationships? Ms. Harper’s book will show why we are still struggling and how we can begin to move on to complete  wholeness which is intended and sealed by our salvation. On page 37 Ms. Harper says this,

“Our minds must be washed in the Word, and our hearts renewed. Approaching the “new” requires you to be clean upon entering.You cannot enter that which is unfamiliar to you with the same mindset and attitude.” In otherwords if we are still holding grudges or reacting to things the old way it is most likely we will stay stuck.

This book is chock full of wisdom and truth. One review I read said it is an easy and quick read but for me it was exactly the opposite because of the wisdom that I wanted to chew on before moving ahead. This is a book that is great for new Christians and seasoned Christians alike. We are all in the process together but the quicker we admit to ourselves and God what areas we struggle in and eagerly grasp these truths and wisdom we will become enlightened to the steps we need to take towards our complete wholeness.

Some may call this a self help book but it is much more than that. There are millions of self help books out there and some can dupe us. They are  what I call “feel good” books but many contain untruths. This book is solidly backed by Biblical scripture and can be used as a great self-study/self-examination. As we immerse ourselves in these truths change will become complete wholeness in Christ and purpose will result.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A sought after speaker, certified life coach, minister and author. As inspirational and motivational speaker, Paulette’s desire is to motivate women to reach their God given potential through conferences, workshops and seminars. Combining enthusiasm with an energetic speaking style, audiences describe Paulette’s presentation as inspiriting, enriching and encouraging. She is committed to speaking a message that is always uplifting and edifying. As a writing coach, Paulette is the visionary behind “Write Now” (releasing the word in you) literary workshops designed to coach aspiring writers in the areas of creativity, development and publication of Christian books. God has given her a desire for writers especially those who want to write for the Lord.  Through these workshops it is her aspiration to provide information that will help aspiring writers dream come to reality, by providing tools, resources and opportunities to help them succeed. Paulette Harper Johnson serves in ministry with her husband Sr. Pastor Tony E. Johnson at Word of Faith Worship Center in Bradenton,Ministry location: www.wordoffaithfl.org

Guest Post Today “Instruments of Obedience”

Today I humbly have a guest post on Melinda Todd’s blog, “Trailing After God“. I hope you will stop by Melinda’s blog and catch a read as well as  Melinda’s writings which are very real.  I have been very blessed to be introduced to The LeadHer organization which connects Christian Women  Bloggers. You really need to check their webpage and Facebook page.

I Search For You Lord (Psalm 63)

In reading Psalm 63 this morning these words kept going around in my spirit and then I remembered a song called, “We search for You”. I hope you enjoy this music this morning because when we praise the Lord in song that is all our lips can do at that moment and our soul begins to be comforted.

Psalm 63:1

O God, you are my God

earnestly I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you,

my body longs for you

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.  

Enjoy the music and worship him!  Here is your link:   We search For You

“Broken Women, God’s Grace” -A Day for Poetry

This Friday I will have a guest post on Melinda Todd’s blog, “Trailing After God“. I hope you will stop by Melinda’s blog and catch a read as well as  Melinda’s writings which are very real.  I have been very blessed to be introduced to The LeadHer organization which connects Christian Women’s  blogs. You really need to check their webpage and Facebook page.

Today I thought I would post a poem  I wrote almost 20 years ago after spending a weekend  retreat with the women in my then Sunday School class. This was a class of women only–some married–some not. What  they all had in common was they were either married to a spouse who did not or would not attend church with them or they had been single for quite sometime praying for God’s choice for them.

This retreat was a chance for me to get to know these women who had opened up their arms to me with much love. The evening program would consist of testimonials and when I heard some of them I saw how God had taken them from the deep pits of tragic painful lives to women who were seeking God with all their hearts–including myself.  After I got home from that weekend I was compelled to write this poem.

God’s Grace

As I looked around the room at the many faces

I caught a glimpse of God’s many graces.

The events in their lives they all would tell

might sound like a movie made in hell.

It did not matter if they were young or old

they all shared some pain in their lives as told

But how could they sit there and laugh

in spite of life’s hard knocks and awful bites?

The love of Jesus was in that place

You could see His hands upon their face

The love of Jesus had created a tie

That all these  women could not deny

For it matters not how many the years

And it matters not how many the tears

 God’s love enabled these women to survive

For it’s by His grace they are alive

Asking Why Again?

It seems that we are experiencing more and more natural catastrophes in our land or as better known– “acts of God”.  When I researched these three words, “acts of God” the definition was –a legal term for events outside of human control, such as sudden floods
or other natural disasters, for which no one can be held responsible.  My heart breaks for all those whose lives have been forever altered from earthquakes and tornadoes or whatever their storm in life may be at this time.

Each time something like this happens I am immediately reminded of how Job reacted to his storm versus how his counselors assumed to know “the whys” of his storm. (Job) Those who counseled Job were operating under a spiritual arrogance which caused them to think they knew “why” God was allowing Job to suffer.–He must have sinned thought they.  Probably one of the best things I’ve ever had spoken to me by another Christian was, “Don’t speak for God! out of what may be your own reasonong.”  This was a moment of revelation to me. Who was I to assume I could tell myself or anyone else ”the why” of the storm?  But by humbling myself before the Lord  and acknowledging His sovereignty no matter how hard to understand,  I  could console myself or others that His mercies are new every morning.  As we minister to those who have lost their family members and all their worldly possessions and possibly their health let us hope and pray that they will see the cross of Jesus Christ before them in the aid they receive and it will come out of the humbleness of those serving the one true God, Jehovah Jireh, the provider. We are His hands and His feet to those too weary and broken  to lift their hands or step forward.  Yes, the sovereignty of God is one of those mysteries we can’t understand and in the verse below we are reminded of it.

Isaiah 55:8-9.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,and your ways are not My ways.”This is the Lord’s declaration.9“For as heaven is higher than earth,so My ways are higher than your ways,and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

Lord, give us “your” words to speak in humility to those in need– those who are brokenhearted. Help us not to get stuck on the why but enable us to walk with total and true compassion.  May we glorify you in word and deed and as ambassadors of your Son, Jesus Christ.  In Jesus name. Amen