Today is the 23rd for a few more hours anyway.It is the biblical number of DEATH. It has been a GLORIOUS day here! The sun has been shining, and few clouds have come. Yet, here I am at the end of the day, being led to post on death. Death is not just literal.

The word of God says there are seasons for everything, a time to born and a time to die. In fact, every day we should be experiencing a death of sorts. Allow me to explain a bit. Every day when we are seeking GOD and HIS ways, it is required that we DIE. We have to die to old ways, habits, ideas, and any idols that may be in the way.

If we don’t, there is literally HELL to pay. But if we do, only HEAVEN awaits, as we seek to work with GOD and LOVE HIS people.

This means, that the OLD must pass away every single day! Not just with physical bodies as our heart beat ends, but in our emotions and our spiritual self as well. We have had people get upset with us because we have shared our testimony. They usually get mad or irritated because something in it is true, and it convicts them. God convicts, the enemy condemns.

Our prayer is that we don’t condemn others, and sometimes we have to walk away, when we are led to do so. Part of this is like a death. If we let it, that death can consume us. We have been literally at death’s door. One time in 2009, when Sarah E had gotten out of the hospital, I got very ill. I contracted pneumonia. There was a point where I went to our doctor, and he could barely hear my heart beat. It was so faint. He was quite concerned.

But, oh the LION of JUDAH!!!!!

My husband had a cancer experience 2x and Sarah E has as well. GOD healed them both!!! The first time my husband was 21, when he had a cancer experience. His parents were terrified so he had surgery immediately. It was not a complete act of faith, however, the prayers for comfort and healing did come to fruition, in God’s time. The second time, God was even more present. My husband knew he had to choose LIFE or DEATH.

Thankfully, HE did not choose DEATH, at least not physically. He did however realize that to live as God desired, He would have to continually die to self. We all must! The word says this.

On Good Friday, Catholics and other sects who have decided to follow the Roman calendar of the high feasts will celebrate the day that Jesus died. It’s sad that this day isn’t tied to Passover which is so clearly a part of the story. But that’s another topic…

I’d like to draw your attention back to the people who asked the Romans to kill Jesus. They go by the fancy names of Pharisee, Saducee, and High Priest. These are fancy bible words. Which means that I usually read over them like the names in a Dostoevsky novel. Bt lets take a deeper look. The Pharisees were the religious leaders and the town council and the religious court system in Jerusalem. What is the equivalent today? For the Catholics that would be the Pope and the Bishops. The very people we loo up to for spiritual guidance. For Protestants it is your bishop and your pastor and your favorite television evangelist.

Let me say this again. The people who killed Jesus were the popular pastors, the high ranking bishops and the most powerful Jew on Jerusalem. So if he were to come today it would be the pope, some big names on TBN and the neighborhood pastor. Does that sink in differently now?

Looking a bit deeper, who was Paul? He was a zealous Pharisee who was paid by this same high council to exterminate, persecute, jail, and kill the followers of Jesus. So that adds your favorite evangelists to the mix of people who were violently against Jesus.

There was also the crowd. The group of you and I who listen more to the religious people than to Jesus and the Father and decide to follow along. We too have shouted for his death.

What was it again that Jesus did so wrong? He went about preaching and teaching to huge crowds. He healed them all of infirmities and demons. He hugged little children and forgave sinners. He never sinned.

I caught myself saying Pharisee slowly and heard fair-I-see. Watching Les Miserables I realized something. The law is always fair, or seem that way, as I see it when I am enforcing it. Yet the fair-I-sees were the ones who killed Jesus. They could not see it his way, they were blinded by fairness or law and not able to see grace.

Likewise I then said Saducee slowly and heard sad-u-see. So these people too were sad that Jesus could see prophetically what the Father was doing, so they were jealous of his insight. How may times has tradition killed new insight?

As we go into this spring season, please celebrate Passover with your family and think about how the religious leaders treated Jesus. Use this as a time to reflect on how much you have religion vs a personal relationship with Jesus Himself, and what He did for you and me.

In His Grace,

D

It took a few times to get started on this BLOG entry. Anyone know why. 😉 Before anyone gets too excited this is NOT about money. This is about God’s definition of RICH. His word says in order to be prosperous we must seek first the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, look at this world and what it seeks.

Do you want the harvest that lasts?

There is no judgement here intended, because we have been captive to the world and bound by it before. It took the constant LOVE, GRACE and MERCY of God to set us FREE! Whom the SON sets free is free indeed!!!

So many have said to me, and likely to my spouse, “I wish I had that kind of faith.” Great news, you don’t have to wish! We don’t have the kind of faith they see, it is GOD’s. Our faith started small, as a mustard seed, like many of you. God called us to join it with HIM and HIS FAITH.

When we did this, He began to produce orchards of trees with Godly fruit! We have seen visions and many glimpses of what God is doing behind the scenes. Now for those of you who do not understand this, that is OK In the beginning, the only way we knew it was real is GOD would bring them to pass.

Our goal is not to make anyone like us, and our prayer is that God transforms each person in the Body of Christ for HIS purpose and GLORY. Every day we commit to meet people where they are and not judge. To LOVE as JESUS did. Some say that is too nice, but there is a time and season for everything. There are times for every level of HIS LOVE.

In the beginning when the evil arrives, we fight it with LOVE. There may be a time that as God steps in and disciplines in process, it does not look loving. But if you want to be RICH, seek GOD. Ask HIM to rid you of what must GO!

He took 5 loaves of bread and 2 small fish and fed 5,000 people. There is nothing impossible for God. Many have sold their lives and souls to the world. Look around, and you can see it. Many are lying and saying they love GOD. They are rich in money, but not in LOVE. It may look pretty from the outside, but darkness is in charge behind the scenes.

There is absolutely NO PEACE!

So, we ask today Do you want to be RICH??? It is RICH to be FREE, it is RICH to be JOYFUL, it is RICH to be LOVING. The money is a minor part of it. It cannot be forefront. We have been RICH in money before. We lost everything in some people’s eyes. We often had not a dollar to our name. But, we had GOD and still do, and more importantly HE has US!!!!

We were led to walk away from everything we knew. We left everything behind and followed HIS path. It was a HUGE LEAP of FAITH in HIM. The biggest we had ever taken, and consider we have had major supernatural healing happen. This was even more of a challenge, believe it or not, and yet it was such a no brainer. Because we knew that if we stayed, we would be disobeying God.

We have learned the HARD way not to do that! Obedience is better than sacrifice, however at times it IS a sacrifice. Thankful that as we hide in HIM more, it sure doesn’t feel that way. 🙂 So when were we more rich? Was it when we had lots of money in the bank? Or is it now?

Because I believe it is NOW, with what at times seems little to spare, we have PEACE. For almost 8 years we have been bombarding Heaven with our prayers for this. This peace which we have cannot be stolen, and GOD will restore, replenish and resurrect ALL that was. That, we can be certain of.

We forgive our enemies and trust GOD to deal with them. When God calls us to handle something we do, and He doe sit so it succeeds. Perhaps the question “Do you wanna be RICH?” is similar to Do you want to be well? Jesus asked that.

In the Psalms God reminds us that when we look for our enemies, they will have scattered!

So, do we as a BODY desire to do it HIS way on HIS terms? Meaning giving up comforts, and following HIM so He can make us fishers of men? Only He knows for sure. But know this, when your heart is pure and naked before HIM, He honors that.

Yesterday I looked at a tube of toothpaste that we brought with us from WA when we moved. We have had that same tube of tooth paste for months. God has caused it to be brand new every day and sustained us. I know it is a simple thing to us, but not to HIM.

Every little thing is beautiful, an a gift of LOVE that we must treasure. So today, ask yourself do I want to be rich in the world or in God. It is convicting, and yet when we choose HIM FREEDOM eventually comes.

Our prayer if for those willing to be RICH in GOD, that LORD you purify us for your GLORY! Any evil forces that are causing problems we surrender to you and we thank you Father for having your way and Holy Spirit for doing so in LOVE.

In Jesus name and blood,

Amen

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rich

Definition of RICH. It is NOT about the money in GOD’s KINGDOM!!!!

We all err sometimes but GOD keeps no record of wrongs, so we should not either. Forgive, be FREE and be RICH in GOD’s LOVE!

In His Grace,

E

Today, on the 16th of this month, the biblical number of LOVE it is impressed upon me how important change is. Yet, how often do we fight it tooth and nail, and kicking and screaming? Change can be a GREAT thing, but it can also feel unbearable and crushing at times. One thing we know for absolute certain NOTHING happens without it.

It is inevitable that LIFE and our world is constantly changing. with TV, we change channels when we don’t like something. When we have families, change happens when more children are added to the mix. In school, change happens from year to year as we graduate from grade to grade.

So why is it, that we as people are quick to point out changes in others, and not so much in ourselves? Well, we have a theory on that. Could it be because pointing out what needs to happen in others is easier? I mean this world is all about doing things the easy way right?

There is even a store with an EASY button. Here is the conundrum though, God says it is NOT supposed to be easy. We are NOT supposed to get comfortable in a place and stay there. We are, on the contrary, called to push through the comfort and seek HIM even more.

Not that we should never enjoy God and what He does in our lives. We absolutely should!!!! But, only enjoying it, and not sharing it, is not what we are asked to do. Our family has had a lot of stuff, and less stuff. The less we have, the more grateful we become!

Yesterday, we made a purchase, one we were not 100% sure of. It was not hugely expensive, and that is why we made it. We got home, and it did not work for the purpose it was designed for. So, the natural thing to do is to take it back.

Praying about whether to do so, or pass it on? Or, should we hold on to it for later. HIS timing is perfect, ours is NOT. He never makes mistakes, or poor choices, but WE do. Thank GOD for GRACE! His grace truly is sufficient and we are grateful that it is perfected in our weakness, NOT our strength.

Case in point, my wonderful husband faithfully was up all night with GOD again, till 7am. We have a tradition of Saturday morning brunch. He usually cooks it. So, I was led to wake him lovingly. and ask if he was willing to do so. He dealt with it in humor, and I am grateful. He now trusts that God will give him strength to carry out the task!!!

Now, for those of you who do not know our testimony, THIS is amazing!!!  It is truly God’s love in action! Now, had He said no, that would have been ok. Because God gives us grace to learn. His heart is for God’s ways and HIS purposes. For that reason, it is a blessing to be married to him. 🙂

If we are NOT prepared to change, it is going to come anyway, and ultimately the more we fight it, the more forced it will be. So why not just submit? Bad changes happen, but we have the choice and privilege of standing on God’s word and promises. What a beautiful gift and treasure!!!

God says where our heart is, our treasure will be also. So, is your treasure in change? Cause I am learning to LOVE change!!!! God makes changes for HIS purpose and our good. He works according to a measure of FAITH.

Are you willing and ready for GOD to change you? Because THAT is the way circumstances begin to change as well. This is something we have lived and walk out daily. Years ago, I prayed for God to please change my spouse. Someone in wisdom said, he will change you first. He did, and it was hard. In some ways, like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. He is faithful though, and getting out of the comfort zone was and IS so worth it!!!

People say often to us, I wish I had that kind of faith. Our response, we have faith in GOD, not US or anyone else. He does NOT FAIL! He does not LIE! He can use anything and anyone for HIS purposes! HIS LOVE is eternal! You can too! Anyone can have faith in HIM, all it takes is a beginning. We began with faith the size of a mustard seed!

So today, as a family, we encourage you to seek GOD for what changes need to happen. You will be amazed what He reveals. Change is good, effective and fruitful! Be transformed today!!!! Love to you ALL!

It is coming one way or another, it HAS to! So choose to embrace it and GOD who brings it!

In His Grace,

E

Today, when I was woken up I felt strongly led to write on this topic. The topic of judgement. It is not a really fun topic like LOVE, JOY, PEACE etc…but it is a needed one. The word of God says we are to be fruit inspectors. It says we will know people by their fruit. Now, there have been some times in my life where I had majorly rotten fruit, literally. Let’s talk about that. It smelled, it had gnats, it got moldy. Can anyone relate?

This picture is a reminder that when we choose LOVE, the FEAR dies, and so does the rotten fruit!!!

Yesterday, I was making a smoothie, and partially because we live in hot climate, bugs are more obvious. As I was getting the fruit, I began to think about the power that had been given to those bugs. Meaning, that they have irritated the dickens out of me before. I used to get so annoyed, and I used to try hard to make them leave. 

But, here is the point, those bugs have a purpose. Why did that purpose bother me? I felt led to stop the purpose. Now, this is likely because THAT is how I was originally trained. I grew up in a household where a LOT of FEAR was present. Not to say FAITH was never there, but when the major challenges arose. It was not often the candidate in office. 

This is likely because that is how my parents were trained, and their parents before them, and so forth and so on. I remember when I was young someone saying to me, ” you’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” This because the vinegar kills the bugs. I never understood this then. But, thankfully now have an understanding about HIS Grace.

God’s grace is sufficient, enough so for us to pay attention to the FRUIT of our lives, and that of others. To judge from a place of HIS LOVE, not from a place of a judgmental spirit. Because doing the latter will only produce rotten fruit.  

We, as a family have many friends and family members with rotten fruit. But, we also have many that have beautiful, sweet fruit! You become who you surround yourself with, and also WHAT you surround yourself with. That is just a fact. One of the things we have had to repent for is accepting the rotten fruit in our lives. 

People have this defeatist attitude at times. We have all been there, where we are like, “well, there’s nothing I can do about such and such.” Saying out loud, “it is the way it is.” Well, it does NOT have to be the way it seems! Am here to say YOU have, by God’s authority, been given the ability to say, ” NO! I will not accept the ROTTEN fruit!” 

Now, let’s elaborate a bit. That does not mean we don’t accept hurting people, or people who have tough circumstances. I had someone say to me once that because we were so focused on where something came from, we were missing ministering to the people  the compassion of it all. I believe that can be true, we CAN miss that. But, saying NO to rotten fruit is more about rejecting the stuff, not the people. Meaning, rejecting the BAD like sickness, pain, etc, and honoring the good.

So, who are we to judge? I cannot count on both hands the amount of times I have heard someone say this, ” don’t be judgmental.” It is like a broken record, even from my mother, God rest her soul. I 100% agree we should not be that. However, I do think there is a fine line between observation and judgement.

Whatever people think of us, GOD loves us. Because of this, we are honored to receive that LOVE and work for HIM. It means we have more FREE time, and we can enjoy way more time together as a family in HIM. there is way more PEACE, JOY, HOPE, REST, and LOVE in our lives now. Because we starting seeing the fruit of GOD’s LOVE. Not only seeing it, but working with GOD to help others see it too. 🙂

As God’s children, we are HIS mouth pieces. He does not have to use us to share HIS LOVE, but He chooses to. We were created for many purposes. But, the number one purpose was to LOVE!!! 

Today, on Valentine’s Day, who are we to judge? Well, we are God’s babies, that is who!

He said in Genesis that we were given dominion over the earth!!! That is the ability to speak to it, as He did. For it is HE in US that does so!

So are you all tired of getting judged and criticized. Waking up irritated and empty? I am 36 years old, and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who I was, and not nearly as much learning who GOD was, or wanted me to be. Thankfully, He reached out to me and showed me HIS LOVE and that it was safe there, and always will be. 

God bless you ALL, we are praying for you daily. If anyone has a request feel free to FB me, or comment. 

Happy Day of LOVE! When we inspect the fruit and surrender the rotten stuff to GOD, He makes it luscious and beautiful!!!! Let HIM transform your fruit!

In His Grace,

E

OK, so today it is impressed upon me that we talk about revenge. Because it is really popular nowadays in the world. How many times have we heard a child say, or said it ourselves, “they asked for it!” Even so, we should not retaliate. Because that makes things so much worse. In the beginning, when it first came out, I liked a show called Revenge. But as the show went on, I grew weary of it.

My husband says that watching shows relating to the enemy is “game film.” We have watched a lot of it, covered in prayer, and in some cases with people who unbeknownst to us, were really not just dancing with the devil, but serving and worshiping him. Sad huh? However, God protected us, and we are grateful every single moment to live and breath and be used to minister HIS LOVE.

So, the point is this, at first we felt betrayed, angry, hurt, and took it ALL personal. Then, we felt really convicted fast, to let it all go. In fact, we were convinced that our lives and lives of others depended on it.

Revenge comes from hate not LOVE. Don’t know abt ya’ll, but we would much rather receive LOVE. Sometimes LOVE is tough, and we have to walk away, after we have given all we have to give. For us, the best way we can LOVE people is to pray for them. Pray that GOD covers each person, with HIS LOVE.

The only way things will ever change is when WE want them to change. SO, we have to get fed up with the world and it’s ways and want more. Do you all want more? I’m not talking about more STUFF! Because that is a plenty all over the place in our lives. Are you tired of barren land? Do you want good things instead of the bad?

Do you want MORE  peace? Was thinking this morning that world peace lies within US! Seriously, the peace is ours, for the taking, we just have to dine on it! In Psalm 23 it speaks about a banquet in the presence of our enemies. Let me just say this, we have had many many many dinners with enemies of GOD. Am certain we will have many more too. 🙂

The goal is to love people where they are, not judge them but be aware of the fruit. Meaning what is their life producing? Our prayer daily is that all the sweet fruit that God produces in us, and through us to others multiplies in HIS world and body. Like a spiritual earthquake!!!!

We are not here to condemn, we are here to encourage and build up. But, there is a time for reproach. There is a time for everything. We must be gentle in the way we do this. My husband said yesterday, that there was a gentleness in me that He had not seen before.

I prayed about it, and I believe that this is why the gentleness appeared. After 36 years of beating myself up, and telling myself I am awful, something broke. I finally realized that just IS NOT true, and that I had to forgive myself 100% to be whom GOD desired. So, I delved into HIS word, and really got FED. I just read and let it wash me clean. I didn’t even have to say I forgive myself out LOUD, I just had to receive HIS forgiveness and LOVE.

Am I perfect, absolutely not. Will I ever be? NOPE

But, I serve, and we all do who choose HIM, a perfect GOD!!!! Hallelujah!

He says VENGEANCE is HIS, so let us step back and let HIM do HIS JOB!!!!

Even if they asked for it, let it go, and give it to GOD, who is the ONLY one who CAN handle it ALL!

Show mercy and it WILL be rewarded!

In His Grace,

E

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, but then, as I became a man, then I put away childish ways and thinking. Now, this verse can apply to a man or a woman. But, how many do it? I like TV for example, but would not die without it. As a kid I just had to watch certain shows, or it seemed like my world would end. Do we do that as adults?

What is REAL? Are the things discussed in movies real? As a kid I remember thinking, “wow that’s fake.” This was when watching a show, seeing interactions with people, and many other scenarios. There were other times, I thought, “wow, that looks so real!.” There was a reason for that. It is real, and the portrayal of the fantasy does not make it any less real.

Abuse is REAL, Hatred is REAL, and so is LOVE. This is a time where we must stand for TRUTH. The only TRUTH I have ever known to be spot on 100% of the time, is the word of GOD. Does this mean that reading the word will create no problems. No, it does not. It states clearly that we will have persecution.

However, reading it, and letting God use it to heal you will eventually STOP those problems in their tracks. Many people judge us and say we are too religious. But, the fact is, we are NOT religious at all, just in LOVE with GOD.

If you were dating someone and you could see a future with them, you would talk about them a lot. I know, cause before I really fell head over heels for HIM, I did this with others. So did my spouse, but now all we want to talk about is GOD.

In the times we live in, what used to be helpful to us, is NOT in the same way. God has not changed, but we as HIS people have. Some for the good, and some, well have clothed themselves in FEAR.

I would like to propose an experiment, for 24 hours, watch your words. Not to say don’t speak, just pay attention to what is said. I am participating too, because words are powerful. The power of LIFE and DEATH is in the tongue.

Even just this morning I had to apologize to God for not choosing my words wisely. This has been a strange week, and God knows. His Grace is sufficient, and weakness has been evident from me. But, having said that, we don’t serve a God who says we are awful. We serve one who loves to hear us say we are sorry, and picks us up and loves on us again and again, as long as we are sincere.

Would love to hear your thoughts on what is REAL…

To us, the only thing that matters is GOD is REAL, and HIS LOVE is HEALING.

Trusting that He will turn it ALL around for HIS good, and the GLORY. ~

In His Grace,

E