When does the Refining stop?

Hello sweet friends. I have missed chatting and sharing with you recently. My current life trials and struggles have been trying, yet I know my Father has gone before me and prepared a pathway for His plans. The recent events of losing a biological father and a precious sister have left me with a layered mountain of emotions along with memories of the dark valley lasting five years which began in 2013 when my brother passed.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Those difficult years produced a ministry-Refining! God knew the process I needed to endure to produce a great work in me and through me. He made sure the world would see this ministry as a reflection of His glory and that I could not take credit for any of it. The only part I played was humbling surrendering to His authority and giving up control over my life.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Romans 8:18

Being refined hurts! Yes, it burns every life dimension. It molds you into something beyond your imagination. And–it doesn’t happen overnight. The days, weeks, and years are grueling. There are times when the overwhelming burdens feel like a life-sucking, unbearable weight you cannot endure. Yet, the Lord promises He is with you and He will carry the load for you.

knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. James 1:3

God knows the exact precision of time in the fire. (Don’t I wish I knew His timeframe!) Although we all wish for this to be a once in a lifetime occurrence, the refining process can happen often. The ebb and flow of the Father’s purification requires great faith in His miraculous outcome. Frankly, it is a personal choice. A decision no matter the pain and cost to remain under His authority.

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 Timothy 3:1

Let me share a story with you from the following source: http://www.ribessj.org/the_silver_refiner.pdf

GOD SITS AS A SILVER REFINER AND PURIFIER
(Malachi 3:3)
The Story

A Bible lover was puzzled by this Bible statement. He called a silversmith and made an
appointment with him to watch him at work. He didn’t mention anything about the reason
for his interest, beyond his curiosity about the process of refining Silver.

As the silversmith, was at his work, he kept holding a piece of silver over the fire and let
it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle,
of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.
For a while, our man thought why God should hold us in such a hot spot; then, he
remember again Malachi’s verse that says: ‘God sits as a refiner and purifier of silver,
and asked the silversmith whether it was required that he sat there in front of the fire all
the time.

The man answered yes and added: “Not only I have to sit here holding the silver in my
hands , but I have to keep my eyes on the silver all the time it is in the fire, until is
fully purified, If the silver were to be left a moment too long in the flames, it would be
destroyed”.

Our Bible lover was silent for a moment. Then, he asked the silversmith, “How do you
know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled and answered, ‘”Oh, that’s easy –when
I see my image reflected in it”
(Adapted from a story of unknown authorship)

Lessons from the story:
* In moments of trial. God holds you in his hands and intently looks at you.
* When you feel the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eyes on you.
* He keeps watching you until He sees His image reflected in you.

SO, in this season I will cling fast to the fact that God is embracing me from head to toe and intentionally looking upon me as His daughter He loves dearly. When the grief hits, the earthly dealings overwhelm, and there seems to be no end to the mess left behind, I will see God all around me. He sees me and knows my pain. His loving gaze upon my life will fill me with His joy and He will give me strength beyond compare. I will continue to draw close to Him as He shapes me into His image. The Lord has BIG PLANS for His ministry through all of this. I cannot wait to see what is yet to come. But for now—I must endure the flames and understand the purpose of this trial.

Our family would love your prayers during our days ahead. Please know you each play a large role in our grief process and we are extremely grateful for you. If you would like to add to the memorial of my sister, Shawn Colleen Welborn, we would request a donation to be made to the American Cancer Society or your local Breast Cancer Center in her honor.

Big Hugs, lots of Love, and sincere Prayers…until we meet again.

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Jeremiah 24:7

August 23, 2021 2

The Unseen will Be Revealed

*The great Day of the Lord is near, near and rapidly approaching. Listen, the Day of the Lord—there the warrior’s cry is bitter. Zephaniah 1:14*

Happy Friday friends! I pray this day finds you filled with God’s joy regardless of the circumstances and issues you are facing in life. Today, I feel the need to remind you, as well as myself, that we are all properly prepared to handle life through our belief in Christ Jesus. We are welcome to approach the throne of God and can boldly lay our burdens at His feet.

This gives me HOPE! What about you?

Scripture clears backs up these thoughts in Hebrews 4:14-16, Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens-Jesus the Son of God-let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time.

PAUSE—God knows and He will come through!

Thank you for your grace to allow me to “squirrel” prior to this posting. Just felt it necessary to share my own inward struggle and thoughts before I wrote the main segment.

The Refining ministry is continuing their Monday night online studies of Major Wisdom through Minor Prophets for the remainder of 2021. We recently started Zephaniah and boy, Chapter 1 was a dozy! There were a few who stated it seemed like a scene from a horror show. However, the valued learning and deep discussion shared during the hour was, once again, an overwhelming blessing to my heart. I am blown away each time we meet—this week God revealed hope and compassion even in a difficult passage.

Our ministry believes in infusing Scripture into daily living. Each week, we are challenged to allow the Lord to guide us and press into the message He has individually-based on our Bible intake.

Thinking about Chapter 1 of Zephaniah, I approached the garden to see if we had any new produce to harvest. I took my phone with me because I wanted to capture the beauty and growth.

SIDENOTE: WOW! If you could only see our garden. It is the most remarkable, overgrown jungle ever because we have received more rain in the past few weeks than we normally receive in a year. Yes, we live in Texas, but we are in the “desert” for the most part. We have never had a garden this abundant.

Once I had a chance to review the photos, the carrot picture caught my attention. I began thinking about Zephaniah. The people of Judah seemed to be flourishing just like the tops of our carrots. Everyone seemed to have what they needed to survive. They believed in God and worshiped Him. However, they also paid homage to other “gods” with their daily acts and rituals. Their hearts were receiving a fatal cocktail.

Zephaniah came as the last warning to Judah. He wanted them to take an inward look and focus on their roots and fruit-the unseen! Just like the roots and carrots growing underground in our garden. Their hearts-a place where fruit can wither or grow.

Our heart generates our thoughts which then produces our words, actions, viewpoints, etc. When we are filling our lives with proper nutrition, God, the fruit we produce can be pleasing to the Lord. However, Zephaniah Chapter 1 clearly states that we cannot partially serve God and partially serve “gods” with the expectation that we will not experience harm to the fruit we produce. We will eventually wither and die! OUCH! It distorts our thinking of ourselves as well as others.

Our carrots will not produce an abundant harvest in the fall if we occasionally expose them to contaminated water. They want pure, clean goodness overflowing with all the necessary nutrients. No matter how beautiful they seem above ground, the measure of their true work is revealed once their “roots” are exposed.

This made me take an inward inventory is so many ways. What do I fill my heart with daily? What do my actions, words, and thoughts reveal? Am I guilty of syncretism-mixing true worship with false? Do I fall into a complacent state when it comes to praying, worshiping, studying, reading, witnessing, etc.? Are there times when I limit my intake of God and allow worldly “junk” to enter His vessel?

Yes-all that from Zephaniah Chapter 1-plus so much more.

Listen, I am but a simple woman trying to do my best to love and serve God with all that I am. I mess up more than succeed-trust me! However, in this spiritual pathway, this I know for sure: God loves us beyond measure, and He will not give up on us.

So, with an earnest heart I cry, Father God fill me with your goodness, weed out the junk I have allowed, let my fruit reveal You, Oh Lord, help me lay my burdens down, and heal me from within so all that I do is pleasing unto You. I am sorry Lord for my disobedience and my unclean heart. I need You, Oh I need You! Reveal the unseen with compassion and help me stay under your authority regardless. I love you Father God!

July 16, 2021 2

Nahum: A Fatal Blow

Photo by Mike on Pexels.com “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” Nahum 1:7 (NIV)

Happy Friday my dear friends. I hope you have an exciting weekend planned. They always go by so fast.

Refining ministries have been conducting short studies over minor prophets via Zoom. We take one chapter a week, read it on our own, dig into deeper meaning through personal resources, and then come together and discuss. This has been a delightful experience.

Over the past three weeks we have been focusing upon Nahum. I know—I hear you—why in the world Nahum? I thought the same thing when we studied Obadiah and now when my mind wonders into the judgement zone, I remind myself of the takeaway from Obadiah. The powerful messages that have surfaced from many overlooked books in the Bible has been transforming thoughts, actions, and hearts!

Today, I would like to share with my learning from Nahum.

Let me start with a bit of history: After studying all three chapters, I was appalled from the evil and violent empire of Assyria. They had become a force to be reckoned with and gained major worldly power and possessions through oppression and direct disobedience to God. Their destruction and deception gained them outward attractiveness because of the status they displayed. Nineveh, the capitol, felt protected by its enormous wall and had allowed their ego to reach great heights. They had overtaken the ten northern tribes and were working on a plan to obtain the two southern ones. Disgusting cruelty and gross acts can barely scratch the surface of the levels they went to gain worldly power.

Nahum warns Nineveh that their time is up. God’s justice is coming and His righteous anger will be carried out in the days ahead. They refused to take refuge in the Lord. They wanted to worship their gods and trust in themselves. In chapter 3, verse 19 Nahum tells them, “Nothing can heal you; your wound is fatal. All who hear the news about you clap their hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty?” Their lust of being “top dog” and doing whatever it takes to get there has now caused a fatal blow to their existence. OUCH!

Our sweet Father gives us a choice of how we want to live. Also, He is the only one who knows our inner part (heart). His goal is to remove sin in our lives and bring inner peace. (Deut. 4:24; 5:9). So, when I went to the Lord in prayer to get His perspective on Nahum, this is what He revealed to me:

What choices am I making that may lead me to destruction?
Who have I possible destroyed, injured, or scarred with my words or actions?
How can I abstain from allowing worldly ways to creep into my life?
Is Chapter 2 a prescriptive of a pathway I am traveling?
Am I obsessed with power, little gods, or anything else which will lead me to sin and a hardened heart?

OVERALL TAKEAWAY:

Put my trust only in God. (Nahum 3:8-10)

Deal with sin because it cuts off my fellowship with God.

Failure to follow God leads to painful consequences. Possibly, a fatal blow!

Yes, all this from the little book of Nahum. Powerful-life changing wisdom and advice! Come join us June 14^th as we begin a new three-week study over Habakkuk. I promise you too will have a mighty takeaway and you will always remember Habakkuk. Major wisdom through minor prophets is worth embracing!

June 4, 2021 3

Crown the Sword: Ch. 3-How Can I just LISTEN to God?

“In Zephaniah 3:17, we are assured God is with us. We are even told His love will quieten us, and He will rejoice over us with singing.” However, how quiet do we have to become in order to really hear God’s voice? In our daily world it seems there is never a quiet moment. For instance, what do you hear right now? I hear the typing of the keys, a space heater, the ticking of a clock, the laughter of my husband, the jingling of the dog’s tags, and the sound of the television in the distance. (and this is a quiet night at home).

Life pulls and tugs for our attention. In our fast paced environment, we have perhaps forgotten how to intentionally stop and just listen. I am talking about refraining from responding, listening past the words, and tapping into the true nature of the one speaking. Seeing beyond what you know and hearing the voice of God deep within your heart. Disciplining your mind to comprehend a new perspective and training your ears to be in tune with a higher being. Devising your perfect quiet time agenda and exercising it routinely. Oh in a perfect world you say?

Think about this…let’s focus on your best friend. How did you get to this point in your relationship? By spending very little time together and when you did-you did all the talking? No! There was give and take, moments of listening, times of seeing past your own viewpoint, days when disclosures occurred, and if they were a really good friend-having those hard conversations no one else would approach. And why are you willing to do this and so much more–because you value them and they value you. A free gift of love and trust. A beautiful bond with deep rooted understanding and insight. You would stop everything and just listen if they called right now. Plus, you could pick out their voice in a crowd blindfolded. You know them and they know you.

So, do you know God’s voice? I am venturing to say since you are reading this, you have heard His voice at least once. Remember, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) But God desires for us to know Him more than just this one encounter. The Father desires to be more than our best friend. He wants us to listen to His voice above and beyond all others. It is one way we can grow in faith. In Romans 10:17 we are told, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing my the word of God.” So, how often do you intentionally take time away to just listen.

His very words spoke the world into existence. His very words caused the dead to rise. His very words made the lame walk. His very words changed Saul to Paul instantly. His very words placed life within the womb. Powerful-miraculous-life-changing-transformational words-His very voice! And He still speaks today! God can restore, renew, redeem, and refine us beyond recognition. When we make time to stop and truly listen, our relationship with Him goes from distance to personal. God reveals His attributes one by one and becomes very real when we make Him a priority.

Listen-nothing more and nothing less. Be still-sit in silence-quiet your spirit-and tune into His channel. Train your mind to stop injecting personal thoughts-develop eyes to see beyond closed eyelids-open your heart to more than feelings and head knowledge-and exercise your hearing ability to seek, know, and listen to His Voice. Oh the sweet aroma of His breath!

February 16, 2021 0

Prayer Life, Part 2

*Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors?* Joel 1:2 (NIV)

Happy Sunday friends! How’s your year been so far? Do you set goals and resolutions every January? Are you planning to make some changes in 2021?

This weekend I began studying Joel. As the writer expands upon the locust plague, he speaks of a God of justice as well as a Lord of mercy. Joel clearly denotes the judgment of sin as dreadful and overpowering punishment much like the devastation of wild locust. Yet, the author tells of a mighty God who is willing to forgive and restore anyone who will turn from their disobedience and declare Him as their sovereign Lord.

How often do we catch this vision of God? A father who stands ready to receive us if we will call on Him. The highest of strength and power who is King over all that has, does, and will exist. A Lord who is abounding in grace. A God who is compassionate and relational. Creator of all, who extends salvation through His son in order to call us His sons and daughters.

Since our 2020 experience, how do we see God? If we believe in an omnipotent God, why do we tend to become complacent and take Him for granted? I have asked myself, “Why don’t I pray more than I do?” Have we become blind to the consequences of fleshy living? Are our senses so dull that we have become immune to God’s warnings and pleas? Have we allowed the offerings of this world to dry up our joy as Joel talks about in Joel 1:12?

Joel’s message for me began in Joel 1:2 with the words “Hear this” and “listen”. It captured my attention to exam my reverence to God as my sovereign Lord and to turn away from my self-centeredness and sin. I saw glimpse of my own lukewarm behavior periodically, the kind of thinking and acts far from what God not only requires, but what He truly deserves. And again, I ask “why”?

As my heart cries out to God to restore my emphasis on Him, I feel the Lord asking me, “Who do you say I am?” How well can I accurately describe Him? This indescribable love who has longed for me, shown mercy in so many ways, sanitized my mistakes, transformed my sins for His good, and showered me with blessings beyond my understanding. He has created turning points in my spiritual journey to increase my faith and knowledge of Him and yet again is tugging on my heartstrings to draw closer to Him through a sincere focus on my prayer life.

What about you? Who do you say God is? How is your prayer life?

Please leave your comments, suggestions, and thoughts below. We are all in this together. Lets reach out and help each other in our journey. I look forward to hearing your insight.

To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness. Joel 1:19-20 (NIV)

January 3, 2021 0

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Friends! We look forward to walking through 2021 with you. As intentional partners, we are here to supply encouragement with your spiritual growth posture. Our main goal is to support your personal relationship with God and strengthen your reliance on Scripture. We are preparing for great times ahead in the upcoming months.

Prayers and best wishes from our ministry team and partners! We love you!!

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. Jeremiah 24:7 (NIV)

January 1, 2021 0

Behold

Somedays…it is not a long post.

Somedays…the words seem few.

Somedays…God tells me to just listen.

Today…He had me hear you!

To all our friends and family who experienced any type of loss this year…You are not alone. Behold the only hope. Our prayers and thoughts are with you. May you know God hears you and loves you beyond belief.

December 24, 2020 0

Overwhelmed? Conquer it with God and His Word

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 (NASB)

Have you ever felt overwhelmed? I have had the pleasure of being there! I have lost count of the number of episodes. However, I can attest to the fact those zany feelings are genuine and definitely stop me in my tracks. It has taken me years to finally address it, call it out, and deal with it.

Two years ago, God was restoring me from an intense pit which lasted half a decade. As He began reconditioning my heart and repairing my life, the Lord had me face one of the largest elephants in the room. (Yes, there were more than one!) This creature had overpowered me several times and left me devastated in handling my very own existence. I even identified myself as one who was best at doing nothing when not knowing what to do. It was time to deal with the paralyzing effects of being overwhelmed.

My dark valley was a discipline gorge delivering many unforgettable lessons. However, the most impactful discovery was the importance of staying in His Word and paying close attention to His directives. My desperation allowed me to cling to The Spirit of truth, God’s Holy Word, and find hope in His promises.

As I began digging deeper into Scripture, the Holy Spirit began prompting me to apply it to my circumstances. God was basically saying, “It is time to put skin on Scripture my daughter”. The Lord started with my feelings of being overwhelmed and spotlighted the root of the issue. ME! My out-of-control desperation episodes where nothing more than lacking the ability to let go and allow God to drive.

The fight is still real and can be powerful at times. However, I have learned to face the devasting lie from the enemy by humbly surrendering to the directives and promises of God’s sweet words- Scripture. I am getting better at calling out those overwhelming thoughts and placing them under God’s authority than I use to be. And somehow along the way, I found freedom by living life as a passenger and giving up control of the keys.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)

Allow me to share three ways I learned to combat the struggle:

1. Surrendered to God: I had to accept the fact life is not about me. As I discovered my purpose through God, it became clear-I had been living according to my plans. I had created blueprints I could not humanly achieve because the truth is: I am a powerless being. God is in control and I am not.

So, as I began humbly surrendering my life to the Lord, those overwhelming moments arose less and less. It became easier to handle the pressures of daily living. Why? Because I was no longer the manager of my life, God was. It still amazes me how giving up the steering wheel allowed my life to be in better working order.

2. Connected with God: Hindsight is definitely 20/20. My overwhelming episodes could have been lessened had I been in full relationship with the Almighty Lord. God showed me His desire-for me to participate in an environment focused upon Him 24/7.

After admitting to my lack of engagement with God and Scripture, I began making Him top priority. I ran to Him about everything in life-good or bad. He became a power source of strength above anything I had experienced. His connection seemed to block out the enemy’s ability to overwhelm my mind. God gave me peace, security, and satisfaction. I began following His discernment and letting Him lead.

3. Submitted to the Lord’s text: Putting skin on Scripture started with drenching my life with God’s Holy Word. For years, I had viewed the Bible as talk uttered by God without acknowledging the supernatural force, potency, and capability it possessed. My viewpoint had to change.

God extended His invitation to infuse my life and He welcomed me to a completely different way of thinking and living through His Word. His empowerment lured me to seek Him on a more intimate level and to bring my life under His absolute authority. I began inserting my name in His Word and fighting off those fickle feelings through declaring Scripture.

Now when overwhelming emotions creep up, I go straight to those commanding verses and claim them. I submit to the power of the Father and ask for His help in fighting off the persuading lies. Slowly, I have learned to let Scripture conquer the battle of my mind. I have found the Lord’s text to be a true defensive sword worthy to be called highly effective.

So, now when I begin to experience the feelings of being overwhelmed, I am no longer paralyzed and do nothing. God has given me an action plan and a helpmate: His Holy Word. I am now able to keep moving forward thanks to God’s provision.

My “Go To” Scriptures when feeling overwhelmed:

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Matthew 11:30 (NIV)

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

I, even I, am he who comforts you. Isaiah 51:12a (NIV)

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psalm 119:114 (NIV)

How do you overcome paralyzing emotions? Share your suggestions and thoughts below. We would love to hear from you!

December 12, 2020 4

Stress: There is a Positive Pathway

For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. Romans 8:14

Hey friends! Happy Friday to you. I am glad you stopped by today. Like many of you, I have returned to working from home. While doing an online trauma course, the Holy Spirit prompted me to reflect on how to positively respond to stress.

Our world has been crazy, unfamiliar, irritating, heartbreaking, and downright frustrating on so many levels. 2020 has presented challenges far from our imagination. So, let’s talk about it.

There is no doubt about the anxiety produced by the pandemic and worldly behaviors throughout this unforgettable year. However, our response generates a pathway to either a healthy or unhealthy recovery. It is important for us to analyze how to overcome everything we have experienced, are experiencing, and will continue to experience in the next few months.

First, I care about you. You are important and highly valued. So, just stop and take a deep breath. Go grab yourself some water and find a quiet spot to soak in what I have to share with you today. Get comfortable. If need be, come back and read this once you can mentally focus. Oh yeah, by the way exhale!

How to have a positive response to stress

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

We all know pain, distress, disturbances, upsets, suffering, and strain in life can cause major alterations to the body. Remember the physical ordeal you encountered the last time you received shocking news? The outside pressure and tension often affect how the body functions. But what about the brain?

Let me share one point made in the training I attended today. It is a scientific research fact that the brain renovates itself throughout a lifespan based on what we encounter and how we respond. The associated term for the brain’s ability to transform and adapt is known as neuroplasticity. Upon hearing this, I immediately reflected upon my life and thought about the effects toxic stress had on my own brain.

I must say it has been my experience that trauma and stress can have a long-term impact on the body as well as the brain. However, I feel we have some control over its effect to damage or to build resilience. It is all in how we choose to heal.

Regardless, we are ALL going to encounter stress, disappointments, and shock during our lifetime. These incidents and responses are what shapes our lives. Over a lifespan it can give us an appearance of wisdom (and maybe a few gray hairs!). Later in life, we become wise to what worked and what failed when we dealt with bumps in the road of life.

It all comes down to this. How do you want your brain to change? Our brain is going to rewire itself whether we want it to or not just like our body is going to transform as we grow older. The circumstances in our lives impact our thinking. We have a choice to embrace our mental maturity under the influence of God or apart from Him.

Where do you run when all of your “normals” are stripped away and you feel powerless? How do you respond when anger, irritation, and/or anxiety visit your mind? What steps do you have in place to have a healthy positive response to stress?

The key to having a constructive response to trauma and stress was shared in the online training-having one healthy & protective relationship in your life. Yes, I know they were speaking more in terms of an earthly human who is a dynamic encourager, but I am going to take it to the HNL (hole nother level).

GOD! Our healing begins with Him. He is the ultimate source to deliver true security, shelter, and value. If there is one protective relationship we can rely upon, it is God Himself. He is our comfort and helpmate. In His arms is where we can run and find the safety we desire. When we are facing distress, it is our relationship with Him that allows us to return to calmness more efficiently. His great love assists us in facing trauma and stress. As our bond grows, so does the confidence we have in God to be a barrier for future disappointments and encounters.

The quantity and quality of time spent with God is controlled by each individual. We have the power to allow God to make a huge, long term impact on our lives. It all comes back to the major decision of how we want our brains to change. Do we want a worldly mindset or a promising eternal mindset?

In a deep relationship with the Lord we are assured warmth, compassion, and love. These things have the power to miraculously change our thinking and how we respond to life. Through Him and in Him we can find our need for acceptance and belonging regardless of what we face in our daily lives.

So, my friend, how can you better handle stress? Embrace sanctification. By definition this means “the state of proper functioning”. God tells us that He wants us set apart in order to be used as He envisioned. We must realize God planned for us to be on earth during this particular time (Yes, even during 2020). The Father wants to work in us and through us for the purpose He intended.

It is our choice is to live according to God’s plans and purpose. We must decide if submitting to His authority and building a relationship with Him daily is going to be our pathway to resilience. The brain and body will change and adapt, but what influences and changes our trajectory of life is up to us.

Living out life requires intentionality. Who do you want to walk alongside during your lifetime? What will you allow to change your thinking and alter your mind? Is it the way of the world or God?

Sweet friend, let Him transform your thinking. Change your response to stress by seeing your circumstances through God’s eyes. Come adopt the support of the One and Only Protective Relationship you need. God will ensure you a positive pathway and healing. I am praying for you and your daily encounters in 2020.

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18

November 20, 2020 1

Best of the Decade

Happy New Year’s Eve everyone! It is hard to believe today is the last 24 hours of the decade. The headlines are filled with the best of the last ten years for shows, music, movies, gadgets, electronics, cars, technology, and the list continues. Many have the mindset of “out with the old, in with the new” including myself. I have never seen such a line up for Goodwill donations as I experienced this morning.

Decades, years, days, hours-they all have a way of delivering the pieces of our lives. Promotions, degrees, new opportunities, marriages, deaths, sweet babies, travel, health issues, hobbies… You get the idea. Nothing seems to stay the same and we have to acclimate to unfamiliarity whether good or bad. Most will claim it is a matter of a person’s mindset and approach taken prior to any adjustment that determines if they can successfully adapt.

For me, this decade served a priceless gift. It required a humble surrender of all that I am without any reservations. The present was dispensed as a wake-up call and the message was sent to me through every aspect of my life. Many things were taken away yet blessings were supplied. I truly faced the unexpected and found myself inadequately prepared to handle the raging storm from 2013 to 2018. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, my faith in Christ my Savior, and the miraculous love of God, I accepted the refining journey and my outlook was transformed.

The Almighty God heard my cries and answered my prayers according to His will and not my own. (thank goodness!) It required more of Him and less of me. I had to let go of all that was holding me back and learn how to simplify my life so the focus was on Him. I am willing to admit, right up front, that the sacrifice of things and people in my life was heartbreaking. I’d even dare to say, my fleshly human nature of independence and being in control had to be placed on the chopping block as well. And guess what? I wouldn’t change a thing. (okay, maybe I would have surrendered faster!) Why was it worth the misery and pain? Because I received a relationship with the greatest King of Kings which is priceless!

For all of those who REALLY know me, those who are getting to know me, those who have experienced the Refining study, and those who will one day read this blog, here are some of my prayer requests I wrote down during the dark years.

1. Father, grow me to become an impactful vessel.

2. Please fill me with Your truth and employ me to carry out Your Will.

3. Let Your spirit be seen in me 100% 24/7 displaying a good fight.

4. I want Your favor and hedge of protection.

5. Bless my husband, children, mother, and entire family. Keep them fruitful for You.

6. Create in me a pure heart living and thriving completely for You.

7. Father bring change in my life and free me from anything holding me back from You.

8. I want to experience Your promises and identify myself in You.

9. Increase my desire to pray, heighten my spiritual interest, and show me how to use the helpmates You have provided.

10. And most of all Lord, I want to encourage others for generations to seek Your face above anything else in their lives.

Can any of you testify how God responded to my requests? 😊

God hears your prayers and answers them in ways far greater than you can imagine. I am living proof. I would encourage you to write down your 2020 requests and evaluate how to declutter your life so there is room for God to dwell within you at all times.God exceeds the Best of the Decade! He is the priceless gift for all eternity. Best wishes and love to all. Happy New Year! Welcome God into your 2020.

December 31, 2019 0