What A Way To Start



I woke up with a startle. My heart was pumping, and I could feel fear trying to grip my heart. I came out to my study where I have spent most mornings and decided to I assess why I had begun my day in a panic. Thoughts of my daughter and how I had seen a soar on her gum came to me. I had put on some medicine and prayed for her — no worries. Then I heard the voice of the accuser say, "Her sore is not gone. It has turned abscessed. You are such a neglectful mom. She is going to hurt because of you." I felt like this all came out of nowhere.

I started speaking in tongues and opened my bible. I even rebuked the enemy and told him to go. My heart began to slow, and I purposed to check my daughter's mouth and confirm that she was ok. The kids would not be up for another hour and no matter how much discomfort I am in "I DO NOT WAKE UP SLEEPING KIDS!" I began to read and talk with the Father and again fear came knocking. Heart racing, my stomach turned, and I felt sick. What in the world?

Back to the Word I went. Heart pounding! I began to sing to worship my God and my friend. I went in circles like this for the next hour. Peace settled, and I continued to thank God for a fruitful day walking out the steps of grace instead of being lead by fear. My kiddos woke up promptly at 6:02 a.m. and came for snuggles then, bathroom visits and puppies to tend. Then I heard the Father. "Go look at Kayley's mouth and let's have a good day."

I refused to hold my breath but instead choose to expect health. I pulled K's lip back and looked. Beautiful, healthy pink gums over shiny white baby teeth!!! My God is Faithful!
This was literally the first hour and a half of my day today. The purposed threat wasn't real, but the opportunity to embrace fear and be tormented was very, very real. The attack has stopped, and Peace won! This stuff happens, but we always have a choice.

Not every thought that we have is our own. Some are from God and others are from the enemy. 
Keep going!
Don't stop! 
God is for you and His plans and provision for you is more than enough.

2 Corinthians 10:5 (TPT)
We can demolish every deceptive fantasy[a] that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought[b] and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.

Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in you.

Isaiah 26:3 (The Message)
People with their minds set on you,
    you keep completely whole,
Steady on their feet,
    because they keep at it and don’t quit.
Depend on God and keep at it
    because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.

Encouragement



I love to encourage my kids! I cherish the chance to remind them of what they have already accomplished when they get frustrated. It is a treasure to me when I get to walk beside them step by step and help them not get discouraged in the process. I often have a greater understanding of the payoff right around the bend. It is my pleasure to remind them to keep going! 

I have yet to find a better encourager then God! He will root us on and release courage exactly when we need it.  This has been true in my own life over and over again. We need to get something straight though. God is not a hype man. His words are not merely a scheme to get our emotions stirred and our heart pumping. Our God has nothing to do with vain attempts to egg you on into a temporary state of positivity. My God whose words formed the entire galaxy and spoke life into the very depths of the oceans, His words have more gravity then we can fathom. The reason God's written Word doesn’t seem to motivate you like the latest gym commercial is simple, you are looking for temporary hype instead of a faithful encourager.  

 If we honestly took the promises written in God's word and the words of hope whispered to our heart by the Holy Spirit as solid truth, motivation as we know it would not be necessary. We all have tired moments and tough days and God meets us right where we are, but things that merely make our flesh feel okay is not God's focus. It is the daily returning to these anchoring life-giving words that will propel us forward. Our spirit will take the lead, and our sometimes sluggish soul and body must follow. God will not be your hypeman He will be your promise keeper and the one who holds the light to your feet as you move towards all He has prepared for you! This partnership will produce life, but it does require active agreement from you.
Open the Word, be encouraged and Keep Going!

Psalms 100:5
For the Lord is always good and ready to receive you.
    He’s so loving that it will amaze you—
    so kind that it will astound you!
    And he is famous for his faithfulness toward all.
    Everyone knows our God can be trusted,
    for he keeps his promises to every generation!

Hebrews 6:13-15
Now when God made a promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater than himself, he swore an oath on his own integrity[a] to keep the promise as sure as God exists! 
 So he said,“Have no doubt, I promise to bless you over and over,
    and give you a son and multiply you without measure!”
So Abraham waited patiently in faith and succeeded in seeing the promise fulfilled.

The Christmas Star



This week marks the 18 year anniversary of receiving my healing! My God is faithful, He is Healer, He is all the Word of God promises! Please celebrate with me. I had on my heart to share one of the ways I love to rejoice!! #1 I decorate for Christmas!!!

I love Christmas! I always have, and this is due in significant part to my Grandma, and the yearly magical trips up north for a big family Christmas. It took place in a cozy little basement with a million presents, and the room was full of people who all wanted to be there.

When I was healed, it was in November right before Thanksgiving. I found this beautiful tree topper and loved it so much I wanted to keep it out year round. My mama figured out a way to decorate my bed with the star at its head. Now 18 years later this star is still a treasure to me. It now adorns the top of my family Christmas tree. It is a symbol of my love for Christmas, the color Red but most importantly it reminds me of a firmly held Victory!

Do yourself a favor and print the pictures, wear the t-shirt, make the meal. Whatever it is that reminds you of the victories in your life. Big or small they deserve to be celebrated.

If you don’t want to wander in the wilderness but instead march directly to the next land of promise you must remember. The Israelites spent 40 years wandering the desert because they didn’t rehearse their past victories. They didn’t tell their kids what God did so many years ago. Remember and rejoice!! Celebrating is part of a victorious life! It is also one of the sweetest parts!

My List



Recently I was trying to get to a place where at least something was finished. As a mom, it seems like groundhogs day when I assess what needs to be done. Add in Holidays, or animals or life really and the list gets downright stupid. I had made the mistake of getting tired without returning and allowing God to dictate my day. Then the Holy Spirit told me the following. I wrote it down, and now weeks later He asked me to share it with you. This is a word for every single day. It should be written on my arm.

"Sweet Girl,
I don’t want things done. I don’t want your list full of items checked off so I can add more to accomplish. All I really want is your YES. I want you to celebrate your obedience. When you take stock of, where you are in the day. I want the measuring stick to be that of an obedient heart. I can do so much with a heart that is quick to obey. 
Start celebrating your obedience. Dance with joy when you know the few things you have put your hand to are the ones I asked you to touch! You will be fully satisfied, and I will be set free to move even farther on your behalf."

Without fail when I slow down and intentionally seek to obey instead of dictate, the day is good. What gets done is done well and what falls away has no consequence. Please take the words He sent to me and make them your own. My God is my friend. My God is your friend!

My Sword



I walked passed my couch and saw this beautiful scene. My son had left his lightsabers out, and Mr. Bradley had settled right in. Then the Holy Spirit started speaking to my heart. (That God uses my kids and fluffy kitty blesses me so much.)

A wise warrior rests with his weapon in his hands. In times of peace, they don’t lock away their defense for another day. Instead, they practice and study the way their weapons move. These warriors make them their constant companions.

Do not be pulled into a place where the Word of God is not a pressing matter. Where your time away in the secret place with God is not pertinent because you are “okay.” 

Cling to the word of God. It is your sword, it is our reminder of all God has promised. It reveals His desires not just for ourselves but for those around us. I guarantee if you hide these scriptures in your heart the fruit will take your breath away. The thing is it takes a deliberate pursuit to rest with your sword.

Sometimes keeping our sword at the ready looks like waking up in the wee hours. Other times it looks like a podcast playing while you do dishes. Whatever the method take a moment and pick up your sword. Set it firmly in your hand. When the enemy of your soul comes knocking you will be ready. When your own thoughts start trailing in the direction of fear you will right yourself. This is what rest looks like.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Psalm 119:10-11
With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

The Beautiful



If you are struggling, if your body continues to scream lies to you daily. It’s time to shift focus. I believe that the God of the universe who Continues to give us every good thing. He is also the God of the beautiful. I am not talking about supermodels or classic paintings. I’m talking about the song of a bird, the bloom of a rose and the perfect melody of a child’s belly laugh. Look for the beautiful! Worship the one who made sunsets and the rhythm of the waves as the crash on the shoreline. Sometimes when life gets heavy a return to the beauty begins the connection that produces the breakthrough.

When I was sick, the daily practice of observing and celebrating even minute details was vital. Honestly, the choice to be grateful, to see God in every circumstance was the thread that kept me connected to the path leading me to wholeness. A mate who wants a connection with their partner must first acknowledge the beauty. Then the intimacy comes. Stay in the acknowledgment.

When we grab hold of a revelation of Grace, the understanding that God has already purchased all we need. The bridge between knowledge and the manifestation can sometimes seem long. It can be a journey of renewing our soul man and letting our fully renewed spirit take the head. I am talking about the times in our journey when the enemy will attack with doubts, questions, loneliness, and despair. Return to the beauty painted all around you. It will begin to play a symphony of Love to your heart. You will receive all God has for you. The light of Jesus has overcome the darkness. Now we can fully receive the beautiful!

Job 12:7-10
“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you;  or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you.  Which of all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?  In his hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind."

Psalm 33:5
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.

Psalm 89:1-2
I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever;
with my mouth, I will make your faithfulness known
 through all generations.
I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
 that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Offense



Welcome to social media.  This is the land of opinions and offense.  I know opening my feed can be a literal minefield of posts. Perhaps a different perspective is on order.

Recently I have found my heart challenged to pray for the people who's posts prick at my own opinion.  To speak blessings over their lives and the kindness of God to be evident. This I know scripturally will bring life. 

Then there are the people who are not in my everyday life. They are distantly brought to my circle by some set of events. I find myself regularly tested and often confused as to what I am presented when I see their feed. Yes, pray for them, yes keep your heart fixed on kindness. If they are not someone God has specifically connected you to pray for walk away. "Oh, but we need to love everyone." yes we do.  Your persistent checking in is not to pray or even think kindly of them.  You deep down are nosey and want to go see what happens next.

Walk away Y'all. If you make a mistake in the unfriending process. You will be amazed at who you bump into in real life. Suddenly that person you unfollowed because 8 years is really too long to be ghosting a person. Suddenly they are right in front of you at the grocery store. God has a way about these things. 

Better to of unfriended and halted your own cycle of judgment.

I have been challenged to honestly sit with the people who the Holy Spirit has continued to put in front of me. I am asked to bless them with my words and thoughts. To pray the actual word of God over them and not my personal preference. It has brought a release in me, and I believe a release of blessing towards them. Anyone up for a little Fall cleaning?

Romans 12:16-18
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.  If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

White Feathers



I saw beautiful white long feathers floating into the hands of many people this morning. The feathers landed perfectly placed to begin to write. Each person seemed surprised that they had something new to proclaim. Though each person's handwriting looked different, the source was the same. It was the Spirit of God proclaiming Freedom over the earth.
God used feathers as the writing implement to show the unexpected ways people will be invited to proclaim their words. Though the mode of delivery may appear to be awkward or antiquated, it quickly flowed with ease, power, and great beauty!
Do not be surprised when new opportunities to share come before you. You will have words that flow from your testimonies of past Victories! You will have insight and a burning vision of what God is doing and what He wants to release in the world around you.
When the feather settles in your hand, you may question it but begin to write! 

Outsiders



As people who have a revelation of grace. When we start walking in the freedom and truth that comes along with it, we look different. Many times our choices seem so contrary to the world around us, and that seems to make us outsiders. Never really fitting in or flowing with the rest of the crowd. 
I am not here to encourage you to keep swimming in the opposite direction or to share that you are not alone in your exile.
Instead, I offer a change of perspective.
Imagine a fortified city.  This city has strong walls, tall towers and a mighty clean river flowing through it. The thing is this stronghold is scarcely populated. The majority of people are actually camping outside the gates. They crowd together taking security that their meager existence looks like everyone else around them.
Then there are the few. The ones who have woken up and look around. They have perceived the shelter, provision, and blessing just waiting beyond the crowd. They have found out who they truly are and the rights that come along with it. One by one they exit the group and walk into the abundance that has always been there.
We are not the outsiders. We are the blessed not because we are special but because we have returned to what has been made available through Jesus.
No longer the outsiders, we are the Blessed, we are the Children of the City!

Ephesians 2:19-22 (The Passion Translation)
So, you are not foreigners or guests, but rather you are the children of the city of the holy ones, with all the rights as family members of the household of God.  You are rising like the perfectly fitted stones of the temple; and your lives are being built up together upon the ideal foundation laid by the apostles and prophets, and best of all, you are connected to the Head Cornerstone of the building, the Anointed One, Jesus Christ himself!
This entire building is under construction and is continually growing under his supervision until it rises up completed as the holy temple of the Lord himself.  This means that God is transforming each one of you into the Holy of Holies, his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living in you!