Here I Am!

It has been over a year since I last wrote a post. I can’t even tell you the crazy change that the Lord has done in my whole being, but it is so amazing. I have always ever wanted to be an encouragement to those who feel hopeless, but, I have realized that I have had to feel that before I could encourage people in it. 2 Corinthians 1:4NLT says “He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” I love this verse so much, I just discovered it recently, because it is just one of the ways that the Lord has shown me that our suffering and struggles have a purpose.

There have been so many things throughout this year that I thought, OH, that would be a great blog, but, then I never got to it. I praise the Lord becaues that is something that He is helping me to change. I get to keep getting back up, I keep getting to do all I can to stand, and then STAND again. Ephesians 6:13 – the NLT says it this way, “‘Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ‘

I wanted to share something from today. It is Sunday, August 9th – this week has been such an amazing week of breakthrough. On June 21 of this year the Lord delivered me from a Spirit of Self Pity. I was struggling with feeling sorry for myself and I asked the Lord to please take it off me. It all of a sudden hit me, wait, I can walk out of this and inside of my mind I saw myself walking out of one of the ugliest, heavy, dirty, yucky, Chewbacca type outfit. I peeled it off and when I walked forward, I felt the breath of fresh air, if you will. I felt the freedom from the heaviness. James 3:15&16 says, ‘For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.’ When all we can think of is ourselves, or how we are being hurt or we have the right to be treated a certain way, that is selfish ambition.

After that night of deliverance, the Lord began to “flick off” the old habits that came along with self-focus. I have been able to respond to people now instead of reacting in offense. I get to love people now because I can SEE them, it isn’t just all about me. I am just blown away by the freedom, peace, confidence, boldness and rest in the Lord that I have now. This allows me to hear what the Lord wants to say to others, how He needs me to walk with Him and to stay focused on HIM, not how good or bad I think I am being treated. WOW

My husband and I go to Victory Church in Tulsa, and the Lord gave Pasto Paul such an amazing message. There were SO many good things in that message but one that I want to share. The Title of the Message was, “Still Moving Forward.” NO matter how many times I fall, I get to get back up and keep moving forward. Going forward requires somethings he said, one, humility; releasing what’s behind you; reaching for what is ahead; the right voices around you and direction. You can be going forward but be going the wrong way. Stop and listen to the Lord! Just sit, quiet your mind, I know it is hard form this time, but try, and just cry out to Him. He says “‘Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ‘James 4:8. You don’t have to be cleaned up before you come to Him, He is already calling you. Just reach out – and if you let Him, HE will do the rest of the work in you to make you more like Him. It is SO worth it. God bless you all!