Spreading Seeds

Song of Songs 4:16“Awake, O north wind,

 And come, south wind [blow softly upon my garden];

Make my garden breathe out fragrance, [for the one in whom my soul delights],

Let its spices flow forth.

Let my beloved come into his garden

And eat its choicest fruits.”

I love this picture of dandelions.  I like to pick them up and blow on them but I have to be mindful that it is seeds I am blowing all over my yard that will eventually grow into weeds. The stories that we as believers share of His love and faithfulness are as seeds in the soil of people's hearts. God loves to blow on them too.  His plan for the world to know Him is you and me and He called us to be witnesses.

Acts 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

I've had the opportunity to go on a few mission trips all over the world and I do look forward to going on more in the future, but if we look closer this scripture reveals the order in the places it mentions.  Jerusalem represents our homes and witnessing to our very own relatives first. Judea is the next region or the surrounding places outside of our homes, like our jobs, places we shop or places we eat.  Samaria represents our enemies.  The difficult people we have a hard time liking. We all have those, right? And to the ends of the earth which is all over the world.  

No matter where we go, we need to remember that we are witnesses.  He did not ask us to be salesmen, lawyers or judges.  A witness tells his or her version of the story.  

Definition of Witness: One who can give a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced.

The blind man said "He put mud on my eyes, and I washed and now I see."  He didn't add more to the story, just what he experienced.  Simple and clear.  This is so good because we try to make things difficult and we tend to overthink just telling the truth. All we need to do is give an answer to what you heard, saw or experienced.  

I remember the day I sat next to a woman on a plane back from Germany.  I was so tired and really looked forward to sleep but with only a few hours into the flight I knew the Lord had a purpose for me sitting next to her.  The way our conversation began and then continued was different and it was just a few hours later after I shared my story with her that we were praying together.   

Can we allow the Lord to blow on our testimonies? He knows where His sons and daughters are and He wants us to go and bring them home.  You may ask, "just by telling my story?" Yes, it's that simple.  Connecting with people right where they are is not complicated, especially when the Holy Spirit is in it guiding our steps and our hearts.  It's not everyone He is calling us to but know that when He does, you will know and be amazed at how simple sharing your faith is.

John 17:18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.

You are a good good Father.  It's who You are.  I thank you for changing our lives forever and I thank you for Your Holy Spirit giving us the power to go out and be witnesses of Your love all over the world.  Give us the grace to respond to You when we enter those divine moments that can change people's lives forever.  In Jesus' Name, Amen!

The True Joy of LIfe is the Trip

Sunny with Pancreatitis?!



I've been in the hospital 3 different times for Pancreatitis since 2006. Doctors have not been able to find an explanation and have run every test imaginable, with no results.  There are no symptoms for this before or after.  On the last attack, they decided to remove my gallbladder even though it showed no sign of stones.  I got to hear a Dr. specialist tell me that if it was to happen again, at least we know it's not the gallbladder. Yep.  I had to hold back tears when he said this.   I've seen God's faithfulness during the difficult and through the unexplained and I can say with confidence that my Jehovah Rapha, the God who heals, has healed me.  We have learned to use our authority as believers and taken back what is rightfully ours in and through the blood of Jesus. 

Last week our precious 10yr old Sunnye, was not looking well.  She laid in her bed and would not move.  She stopped eating and Jef had to lift up her head to give her a drink of water.  We were concerned, and decided to take her to the Doctor.  He wasn't able to find any obvious reason, but decided to draw some blood and send it to the lab.  Her condition was the same since this started on Monday, and it was now Thursday afternoon when we finally got the lab results.  The Dr. said that it was Pancreatitis.  When I heard this, the scary movie theme song was loud on the background.  I honestly didn't know how to process this. 

The good news is that Sunnye finally began to recover by Friday, and by Saturday she was a 100% back to normal. 

I still didn't know if I should be mad or sad.  I could not explain what I was feeling and I needed the Lord's help in processing all of this.  When I don't know what to do, I will still praise Him and thank Him because it is important for me to find a point of praise no matter what.  To find something good rather than concentrate on what is so wrong and allow unbelief to creep in.  I sensed the Lord's peace as I was reminded of the story in Matthew chapter 8, about the healing of the two demon possessed men.  Jesus drove the demons out but they begged Him to send them to the pigs instead. 

I believe that the Lord protected me and that this thing had to ask for permission to go into our dog instead.  I praised and thanked the Lord for His goodness towards me and our precious Sunnye in her recovery.  He knew she would be fine and He gave us the wisdom in caring for her that week. 

I have a covenant of Peace with the Lord who healed me and this was a sign of His love and protection over me, and this is how I will see this.  The enemy would love for me to be intimidated and stay in confusion allowing fear to rule my mind but instead I choose to believe that the Lord is very present in my life and no weapon formed against me will prosper! Amen!

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength! Nehemiah 8:10

Joy is not the absence of difficulties or trials.  It is the Presence of some One. 

Thank You Jesus that through You we are filled with inexplicable joy no matter what we go through! 

...you will rejoice and no one will take away your joy!  John 16:22

Where Two Ways Meet

Mark 11:1-4 KJV And when they came nigh to Jerusalem, unto Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount of Olives, he sendeth forth two of his disciples, And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him. And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. And they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door in a place where two ways met; and they loose him.

I'm amazed that before Jesus goes to the cross, He knows that there's a donkey tied up in another village where two roads meet and He tells His disciples to go and loose him and bring him back to Him.  He knows the location and his condition.  He knew that this donkey had never been ridden before and had not lived to his full potential, yet Christ would think of him and call for him to carry the Lord Jesus into the city.  Tied up until the time had reached its fulfillment.

And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment.  Ephesians 1:9

Until the time comes, He is EL ROI, the One who sees me. Gen. 16:13.  The God who sees and knows that sometimes we feel like the tied up donkey that's waiting, that has not yet lived to its potential.  Tied up in the constant conflict between "what is" next to "what could be".  This place of conflict and tension is for many unbearable and it is where we face the temptation to turn off the image of the future and slide back into the "status quo".  If he knows the condition of this donkey, then I rest on the truth that He sees us and knows the reason we have felt like this when we are also deciding between two roads.  Maybe if he would have been loosed earlier, he would have taken the wrong road and would have missed his destiny.  I can relate to this and maybe you do too. 

We are all created with great purpose and chosen to carry the Lord inside each of us everywhere we go. There was a time that what drove me to different roads and making decisions was friends, the discount, more money, the status, the title or the badge.  The motives are different for all of us in the decisions that we make in life. 

I am thankful for a God that will wait, that He may be gracious to me, Is.30:18.  I am thankful for the desire in my heart to follow the way that leads to Him, trusting that He protected me from myself and protected my destiny when I have felt like I was tied up at times.  To be able to say like Moses if your Presence does not go with me, do not send me up from here Ex. 33:15 or have the desire to choose the best when the times have reached their fulfillment to move forward.

I believe the Lord to break the yoke off of our necks and to take us by the hand, just like this donkey, so we don't miss our moments.  I thank Him for the times that He didn't allow us to be loosed sooner but trust that when He looses us, we are ready!

Isaiah 30:21 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,“This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.

Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

The movie was hard to watch but good.  I saw it totally different a few days after we saw it in the theatre.  I could see the hidden message through it and it came suddenly in my sleep. It was as if He was pulling the curtain back giving me fresh insight into what I could not naturally see before: 

"Come up higher My beloved. As you follow Me, you will conquer your fears and be able to go out with greater courage to reach new heights that will eventually lead you to discovering the key to your destination. You could settle and not go. Not conquer your fears and stay. But you would never find the hidden treasures and amazing victories I have in store for you. In the search, (in the journey) you have found some things that otherwise you would never know about people, places and about yourself. That you could do what you thought you couldn't do. You will also find that even though you think you're alone, I know where you are and I know the way that you take - in fact, I went before you and prepared the way. I know that some received you and some didn't. I also send you people to walk alongside you so that you are not alone, which also unlocks great treasure, if you really look and love them where they're at. I know you and I know how you think, so I knew which way you'd go. I know that you have faced many difficulties along the way but in the end I knew that you would seek Me and find Me. I died to set you free. I want you to know that I've always been extremely loud (not hard to hear) and incredibly close to you this whole time".

Song of Solomon 2:10; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Samuel 22:34; Zephaniah 1:12; Isaiah 45:3; Hebrews 13:5; Job 23:10; Mark 1:2; Matthew 10:40; Acts 13:2; Psalm 139:15-16; 2 Timothy 4:18; Jeremiah 29:13; Hebrews 9:15; John 10:27; John 14:26; Matthew 7:7

The Christmas Trees

Men are like trees planted by the rivers of water.  Green and fertile because of faith in Him, producing fresh and bountiful fruits in season.  Gifts that are well preserved. Never dropping a leaf and always in blossom. Fat and full, chewing on Scripture day and night.
God leads them from place to place in victory parade. Through them, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere they go, people breathe in the exquisite, sweet fragrance. Because of Christ, they give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation.  Shining brighter in darkness, never hiding what they hear or how they live.  Each lit like a Christmas tree on a window, planted by God to display His glory.  Decorated with ornaments that are old.  The memories of who they were and where they came from. Sharing their stories.  The new ornaments embrace the new life they now live and speaking of hope for the future.  The stars a the top of each tree point the way to those that are looking for the One True King, born inside of them.  The angels join them in praise and worship all around.  Joy being fulfilled!


Revelation 2:7 (The Message)
Are your ears awake? Listen.  Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the Churches.  I'm about to call each conqueror to dinner.  I'm spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper plucked from God's orchard.


Mark 8:24, Psalm 1:2-39(MSG), Galatians 5:22(MSG), John 15:5-8; Song of Solomon 5:1, Song of Solomon 7:13(MSG), 2 Corinthians 2:14-16(MSG), Matthew 25:7, Luke 8:16, Isaiah 61:1, Matthew 2:2, John 17:13

No Room in the Inn

Offense and rejection came rushing in like a flood. Just like two friends that are warmly welcomed in my house of pain. They know exactly when to knock on my door and I always end up needing help from my Savior to get them out.


I interviewed for the position and afterward was told that they chose someone else. The first time I went for it I felt like I hit a wall so hard my face was soar. It hurt to smile.  I was inspired and encouraged by all but in the end I was told it was not the right time for me. When the time finally came, I was invited to go through the process again. All seemed just right. This time I actually got to go through the interview process and grateful to be getting another shot, I took a chance. I felt great about it but when I left the interview I took a deep breath and realized that I had braced myself as if about to be punched in the stomach. The blow did come the very next day when I got the phone call and was told that someone else more qualified was offered the position.


As I began to process all of this, I remembered the story of Mary before giving birth to Jesus. How she had to travel a long and bumpy ride on a donkey to another town but when they arrived were told that there was no room in the inn for them. Here she is, pregnant and in labor with God’s only Son and getting the door shut in her face. Any one of us would have expected prior reservations and the welcoming arms of the King and Queen in the palace, because that makes sense to us. But that’s not the way God chose.  The good news is that no room for them in the inn could not stop God's promised Son from being born, but it is probably not how they expected it. 


I may be feeling like a woman who’s pregnant with twins, Purpose and Destiny.  Pregnant with promise.  Feeling uncomfortable and in pain from the hard and bumpy long ride. Needing and looking for a place to rest and give birth but also hearing the screeching loud voice telling me that there’s NO ROOM in this inn for YOU!!!


Not that any desired job or position is the ultimate destination here.  God really cares about the atmosphere that surrounds the people in the place you go to everyday because it has the potential to change everything.  It may not turn out the way we think or planned but it will be perfect in the end.  Trusting in God’s plan to direct us in the right direction requires patience because He’s not in a hurry and He has a time and a purpose for everything. 


I pray to the One Who is True, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. Rev.3:6-8, to be the One in charge of all the doors in my life.  I have to admit that it’s very hard on the flesh to see doors shutting before you.  I have to trust in the Lord’s protection over me and those that are mine. He knows what's best.  My spirit may know and recognizes the Lord’s peace about this not turning out the way I thought.  However, my flesh needs more time understanding why things happen the way they happen and is a constant work in progress.


It is here that His Spirit brings me comfort and tells me not to be afraid. He is with me to bring divine purpose and destiny into my life safely. He will fill the voids of my heart and any sense of emptiness resulting from the changes that are taking place, as I put my trust in Him.


My prayer is that anyone reading may be encouraged in their journey.  To know that the Lord has a great plan and purpose for everything we go through.  The hard places are not in vain and you can choose to see Him directing your steps if you ask Him. It may not be easy at times because we really don’t know the end from the beginning. But, we can trust in a God who does.  And He reminds us along the way that the road we travel is the path of triumph, no matter what.


Revelation 3:8 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My Word, and have not denied My name.