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Hi there. I just wanted to tell you a bit about myself. I am a single mom of two wonderful kids, Jacob and Briana. I rededicated my life back to Christ on July 11, 2004. What a day to remember. I started back “church shopping” in late 2002 and early 2003 as my life and marriage fall apart around me. I tried going back to the familiar religion I was raised in, but I couldn’t find God or the help I needed. I visited every denomination possible. It never worked out at the places I tired because either my kids or I just couldn’t connect. In 2003 I took a Boundaries class at Valley Baptist Church and little did I know how God was beginning his work in me. That same year my best friend and sister invited to me Valley Bible. Honestly I don’t remember coming, yet I still have my note sheet from that visit. I visited again in early 2004 but had not really planted my feet. I was still pleading for restoration of the un-repairable life I was hanging onto. Honestly, it was just the fear in me of not wanting to let go and step out in faith.
The day I dedicated my life, I remember calling my sister to meet me. She said I won’t make it today, but you remember where we sat and told me specifically who to look for and to pray with. Now this is all God, (remember I had only been to this church two other times and have not clue of ever attending!) Pastor Jim spoke that morning and all I can say is by the end of service I was crying. During altar call, I raised my hand, and Jim didn’t acknowledge it but said there is someone I am waiting for….my son (who was 7 at the time) raised his hand shortly there after and Jim immediately looked over and said “welcome you two”. At the time I wasn’t sure if my son understood the step he took, but today the Lord has shown me that he did understand, even at such a young age.
During my first 8 months at Valley, life felt like it had more dark valleys than imaginable. But again, God already knew what he was doing, he begin to refine me, ever so gently. He was preparing me to be a servant to him, a mother & father to my kids, a leader in my ministry, and a friend. There have been many rough roads, wrong turns, and just plainly driving the wrong way. Yet God’s faithfulness and patience have always redirected me back to where he intended me to be.
Through my walk with God the three biggest things I have learned are “Forgiveness, Obedience, and Patience.”
When we are hurt by people the hardest thing to do is to say I forgive you. Yet this is something I was called to do with my ex-husband. He became addicted to “crank” in 2001. I became aware of his habit during 2002. With the increase of his drug habit also came a marriage that was both physically and emotionally abusive. At one time I could count the number of affairs he had, now as the Lord places each individual in my path, I have to forgive her and him (again, and again). Unfortunately as of 2007, my ex has still failed court ordered drug testing. Do I still forgive him? Yes, but it is not always so easy, especially when I see the pain in my daughter’s eyes that daddy is not allowed to visit again.
Eph 1:7 - In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.
As for Obedience, I have been called on different occasions to pray for my ex’s salvation. Not to bring him back into my life, but to win his soul for the Lord. It is very hard and trying on my faith because of the emotional pain he still afflicts on the kids. The Lord showed me two years ago what will become of my ex’s life if he continues on the road he travels, yet because my ex is of the world, he would never believe such a thing. So as I am called to, I pray solely for his salvation and nothing more.
Heb 5:8-10 - Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him 10and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek.
Through obedience there has been an abundance of blessings. The refinement is painful, but the glory story for the Lord is so worth every moment of it.
2 Cor 7:15 - And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient, receiving him with fear and trembling.
2 Cor10:5 - We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
And lastly patience. It's defination is the ability to endure waiting, delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset, or to persevere calmly when faced with difficulties. I have learned to be paitence on God for each trial is a growing step closer with him.
Prov 3:6 - in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. {be ever mindful of God and serve him with a willing and faithful heart. He will remove the obstacles from your pathway and bring you to your annointed goal.}
Romans 5:3-5 - Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us.
***I can imagine life without this world, but I could never imagine life without GOD!***
 Ephesian 6:10-20
The Armor of God 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
19Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
March 18, 2008
Spiritual warfare is more common in our lives than we believe. Its starts out as small things, bad moods, grumpiness, fatigue from prayer time. Than before we know it, it grows rather large and spreads beyond our own circle. Its begins to invade the lives and minds of those around us. Again starting out small and unknown and growing just like wildfires do. Have you ever sat down watching the news of how things are mild and meek about what is going on around the county and than all of a sudden all you hear about is death, destruction, adultery, wars, sadness and losses.
You know all us Christians have such different and demanding lives and God was well aware of what our life was going to be like when he created us. Yes he would love for us to give him personal time, just like we give ourselves when we are putting on make-up or doing our hair. But I have never heard him complain, I have actually seen his attentiveness in the mist of my rushing when I say I am sorry Lord, I am running short on time but God please go with me, run with me so I can blabber to you. I don't want to go out into the world without you because I have sinned already by being in a rush. Lord please take my hand, don't let me lead this day without you for the world will consume me and I will have to cry out to be rescued (again).
God wants us to acknowledge him in ever decision we make, ever step we take, ever road we turn onto (yes it seems like extra work sometimes to throw God into it cuz we think we can do just fine), but I have found that my decisions have lead to wrong roads, wrong words and wrong decisions.
To be a Christian is to walk with God and to be able to admit, I AM A SINNER SAVED BY GRACE! I will not be a hypocrite, but I will be honest and tell you I have sinned (again and again) and am still learning from that last lessons cuz obviously I missed a point somewhere. I would rather be imperfect, be able to admit it and say I am saved than to say I am perfect and know that I am condemned!
Once we come to God's point, all of a sudden our life is transformed, we have more time that we will ever be able to account for. Trials will be humongous, but there will be peace in the midst of them. Peace that only Our Father can give. All off a sudden God has his time, because our order of life is his order.
I will stand on the foundation of God's Word, the truth he laid out before me, knowing that no matter what the enemy throws out into my path, my Father who has been holding my hands the whole time, will carry me over without a scratch or a worry. The enemy's threats are just that, threats with no actions because I will not feed energy into them. The only energy I feed is that of the full authority that my Father has bestowed upon me to rebuke and destroy any works that the enemy placed in front of me that are not of my Father.
The battle has begin, I can and will stand in prayer with you against any works of the enemy. We were told last week that the foundation of the church was under attack and to pray, and if we stand back, our own foundations are also being attacked. Because of our salvation and our forgiveness of sins, we no longer live on the foundation we once built for ourselves, even though our flesh still likes to go back and visit every once in a while. But we are learning, by those visits, we remove our self from the covering of God. Let the enemy spit out whatever words he wants (even though they hurt the flesh), but they will not hurt or destroy the spirit of God! Nothing that is not of God will destroy God.
Stand strong and know that by our faith, we conquer all things for the good of God! Its because of our imperfections that we are able to glorify God. A sinner saved by grace!!! Remember we never pray alone and our prayers do not go unheard.
Close your eyes and walk by faith, for even in this world and life-our sight will fail us!
Lets begin to celebrate the victories our Father has already won!!!
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