HERE COMES 2015 !!!

The Lord gave me the following verses this past month, with regards to the season of life I have been walking in with personal family hurts (a lifetime of memories for the enemy to use in his arsenal).  It's been such an encouragement, and brought much joy/hope, as I have walked thru the holidays focused on Him, the blessing of my family unit and extended family of Christ, as well as His promises to me in His Word.  I trust Him completely with all that the New Year brings.

“Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:19

Isaiah 61 was big for me, especially verse 3: "To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

The past few years living overseas has brought trials, triumphs and especially big breakthroughs in my walk with the Lord; I am praying for more of the same in 2015.  I never want to find myself "dull" in my faith; but don't get me wrong, I enjoy green pastures and still waters, but everything is being used by God for our good (Romans 8:28).  Especially the trials and pains.

The Lord faithfully gave me scriptures for each situation of this past year.

He also blessed me with the ability to "break free" from heavy bondage and strongholds; brought on thru the hurt caused by others (unforgiveness and unresolved issues stuffed down; wanting to forgive but not really knowing how...until He met me in that quiet place).  He reminded me often that He is no stranger to rejection-esp from family; it's what drove Him to the cross so that I would have victory over my sin, rejection & hurt caused by others, and every other trial brought on by life - because He overcame the grave.

"Nothing touches us that has not first flowed through the fingers of our God. That’s why we can trust Him completely."   Chuck Swindoll

He taught me a new approach to the things I was dreading (like being a "pastor's wife" and hurtful relations) through this little phrase:  "Don't despise the very thing that God is using to drive you to Him.". 

I learned how to take my thoughts and hurts directly into His presence and allow Him to speak His truth in difficult situations (rather than waste time revisiting those things and allowing bitterness and strongholds to come in).  My mind is often my biggest battle field.  He gave me this scripture:  

"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete." 2 Corinthians 10:5

By doing this, He reveals where I may have wronged others (Psalm 139:23-24); allowing me to "come clean".

These are ways that I can remain completely surrendered to Him daily; by staying in His presence and treasuring up scripture in my heart to enable me to do battle when the enemy attacks.  It also instills in me His Perspective and heart towards others. The ability to choose love, grace and mercy over all.  After all "Mercy Triumphs over judgment" (James 2:13) and "love" is the greatest gift (1 Cor. 13:13).  It's "choosing" "the more excellent way" (1 Cor. 12:31).

Time in His presence is to be purposeful (not lengthy but purposeful), and I found how important it is to just sit in silence and ask Him to simply "speak" (Jeremiah 33:3)

I do not know what He has in store for 2015 but I know that my desire is to abide in Him "daily" (John 15), with no expectations; other than to know that whatever comes my way, His hand is on the pulse of it and He is true to the promises in His Word. 

CUTTING COOKIES

Thus begins the CHRISTmas baking season.  This first round of homemade cookies is for tomorrows' Christmas celebration with our beautiful friends at Casa Sanctuary.

Baking Christmas cookies takes time and patience.

Today I was noticing all the shapes I have to choose from in my cookie cutter bag; I went with the trees and snowflakes because of time (icing and decorating).  It got me thinking as I cut, baked, cooled and iced tree after tree, after tree, after tree.  They all looked the same...

How boring would it be if the church of Christ was the same?  If we all looked and tasted alike?

Sometimes the church can make the mistake of "cookie cutting" people; expecting them to act and look a certain way.

I grew up in a very "religious" environment; once people got "saved" they put these very expectations on them.  If you didn't act and look a certain way, you were at risk of being judged as possibly being not saved...I never dressed the way they wanted me to; I grew up in North Hollywood and shopped a lot in thrift stores on Melrose with my friends.  These expectations kept me far away from the church as a teen.

Now, I dont say we should step all over grace and keep our old sinful ways, nope; but God is working in each of us in different ways and we can trust the Master Baker to work a great product as His Holy Spirit resides and works in others.  He has also created each of us with certain looks and tastes/styles.  However, we should be free with giving grace and love thru the power of Christ (not ourselves); remembering that while we were yet sinners HE died for us (Romans 5:8).

We also should never put our own personal convictions on others, that are not Biblical - that would be "legalism".  I am so thankful for the ladies I know who have the most amazing quiet and gentle spirits, I glean from the gentle and spirit filled words that pour from their lips; I long to "get there".  Yet, I am also thankful for the gals that are openly passionate and vocal about Jesus (and love a good pair of shoes), like Beth Moore - can I get an "amen?"   "anybody?".  I love that we all come from different countries, backgrounds, triumphs and trials; so that we can be there to lift others who may be walking familiar roads to us.  (2 Corinthians 1:4).

Thank goodness in my bag of cookie cutters, I found the stocking, candy cane, snowman, angel and star.  This way I can make beautifully arranged gift plates for my neighbors; they will be colorful with sprinkles (or not) and candy balls (or not), and two colored (or not).  It's much more exciting than a plate full of trees (note: there are snowflakes for tomorrow too ;o)).  Do we really want everything "vanilla"?  Isn't it great to spice things up from time to time, and have a little rocky road or rainbow sherbet?

I think the church should be very much the same; all of our colors and decorations coming together beautifully.  And a HUGE sprinkling of the love and grace of Jesus.

"There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles." Romans 3:30

"There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28

"In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us." Colossians 3:11

Law of Love (Deuteronomy) & The Year of Release

Good Stuff !!! I am going thru Beth Moore's The Law of Love (Deuteronomy).  So powerful. And no homework, just power packed videos (I need no homework right now ;)))
Some powerful thoughts I was left with, in case they might bless you:

1) When He wants to take us out of something; its so He can take is in to something.
2) Why did they read the Law every 7 Years at the Feast of Tabernacles?  The tabernacles were their little hut/dwelling places, and the 7th year was the "year of release".  It was a time to be rid of shame and regret and go back into the promised land.
***This was written for ALL - every generation and even for the foreigner.  The only ones who could not partake were the "dead".

???Dont we all want to be released of whatever it is that has us in bondage - so we can go in and take hold of the promised land He has waiting for us?
???Dont we all have those situations and relationships where He has said "go" and we have stayed too long? Or are stuck in regret having not obeyed to "go" and it has us frozen still in that place.

Personal Application:  When things are "hard", I often ask God "what am I doing here?"  I was in bondage to many things in America; being in Romania - at this season - is my promised land.  It is where I can flourish in Him and be fruitful and i have grown tremendously (so says my hubby ;)); He speaks many things to me, where I might otherwise be "too busy" to hear them....

Thank You Jesus, My Redeemer and the Holy Spirit who convicts, moves, and speaks to us today. THANK YOU that I dont have to wait 7 years to be released from whatever bondage I am in, but I can enter your presence in prayer right now - and you promise to meet me!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."  Matthew 7:7 (Jesus speaking)

A Word For My "Mama" Friends

Special moment for me in church yesterday. My heart was blessed by a special touch from the Lord, as my son played & sang a worship song he wrote for the Lord. He then came and humbly sat by me for the rest of the service (usually chooses to sit with friends). There are times when every mother of young teen boys asks "Lord, am I gonna make it thru this age?" (absolutely been there) or (better yet) "Will this child of mine survive this age?". My James ("the just") is a VERY active/adventuresome, compassionate (yep its there), competitive, independent, and very funny/quick witted young man - all of which are great when guided by the Holy Spirit (and at moments, very weary-ing). Seeing this "worship" side of his heart overwhelms me with gratitude to the Lord. Thank You Lord for the work of your Holy Spirit in his life. Truly He is "the Lord Who Sees" (Gen. 6:13). I am especially thankful to a woman the Lord sent to me at the Missions Conference in Austria Summer of 2013. We met only briefly, as I was talking to someone else in their group (they were servants from CC Modesto who came to minister/serve us missionaries). This woman came up to me the next day, sometime after breakfast - it was a still/beautiful morning at the Castle, and she said "The Lord wants you to know, that James is going to be okay" (tears of gratitude flowed). She then prayed with me, to entrust James into God's care; that's all. I have carried that Word in my heart since. I am praying for each mama that reads this; for God to speak a special Word to minister to you at this moment regarding that child you are concerned/heart breaking for (regardless of age). May He overwhelm you with His presence as you seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13-14)

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”. Matthew 11:28-30

He wants you to get into His presence and give that child to Him; let Him speak His truth into whatever the situation is. Ask to hear His voice and have the grace to do whatever He asks of you in your specific situation (even the "hard").

"For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." (Jesus) Matthew 7:8

Obedience in the little and the BIG

I am writing this post in obedience to the Lord.  He spoke something to me and has prompted me to share it.
Tuesday I did some grocery shopping and I usually purchase a case/box of milk that has 12 - 1 liter cartons (we are on metric here; and milk costs about the same price here as in the U.S.).  I got the case of milk from the shelf, checked out - and the cashier takes one of the 12 cartons and just times it by 12 in the register for my price.  I get home, and James put the milk away for me and told me that in the center of my box of 1.5% fat cartons are about (4) 3.5% which costs extra.  I definitely didn't feel right in my inner being about not having paid for something I received, it cost more than I paid, but I wrestled with whether or not to say anything when I went back this morning; mainly because it can just be more confusion for them and I didn't know if I should even bother with it (a little inconvenience ;) ) .  I planned another trip to the same store this morning, and I prayed again about this situation with the milk; I felt prompted by the Lord to tell the store - especially for His witness.  I also asked JeJe what he thought (God just about always uses him for confirmation) and he said "Tell them when you go, and it's their decision what they do about it".  On my drive to the store, the Lord gave me this verse:

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."Luke 16:10

I walked into the store and headed to the Customer Service counter, the gal working it was distracted by the phone ringing and the store manager walked up and asked how he could help me.  I told him I would explain the best I could, in my not so good Romanian, and told him the story.  By now, the girl behind the counter was finished with the phone call, and both he and she smiled and thanked me; both insisted I not worry about it.
As I walked away, the Lord spoke to my heart the importance of building of our witness for Him.  The way we handle even the smallest of things, speaks "volumes" as to who we are and bears witness of Him.  I am not always on my best game for things that fly my way; people taking cuts in line (happens all the time here), aggressive drivers (I grew up in LA but that didn't prepare me near enough for driving 5pm traffic in downtown Cluj) and I need to "choose" to "put on" Jesus every day - He is my best accessory.
The other side of this He spoke to me, was that when He prompts us to do something (from small things like speaking up about the milk, or big things like sharing Christ with someone or doing something in serving Him) - if we don't do what He is asking/telling us to do; are we being disobedient? (I know my answer).  And if we aren't willing to listen to Him in the small things He brings before us, why should He give us the big? Some of us don't want to be bothered with big, but then we are really missing out on what He really has for us (even blessings); and the bottom line is obedience.

"Lord, help me to not only hear your voice but to act in obedience to You, with complete surrender to Your authority; To do Your perfect will and trust the results to You."

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:1

I PRESS ON....

Confession:  Some days are just "hard".  I miss my culture (its holidays; well, except for the one on October 31), my home church, medical care (not so much dental care), my ladies groups, my kids getting to be with their church/home school friends, my comforts, Southern California beaches and sunshine, foods I am accustomed to, and much more.  But I cannot allow the enemy to win by making me like Lots wife - looking over my shoulder to "what I left behind".  When I do that, I am frozen in between two places; and completely ineffective for Him. The enemy is so good/relentless in his attacks and I find myself humbled in prayer:  "Lord, give me grace to walk through this and overcome.  Thank You that victory is in the Cross and your resurrection.".  

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."  Phil. 3:14

I tire of the relentless spirit of religion and spirit of competition in the churches in this place.  It's not just in the Orthodox and Catholic churches. I tire of people rejecting Christ, or even rejecting what His Word says; choosing to walk in their own wisdom.

I cannot allow the circumstances to overshadow the King of the circumstances, and the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; for in it is the power to save!  He conquered all on the cross and in His resurrection.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." Romans 1:16

He is EL ROI ("The God Who Sees") and this has been such a powerful truth for me in being here.  He is Sovereign and sees every circumstance/individual.  As we lift them to Him in prayer and pray against the spirits we see working - and walking in opposite spirits (ie; choosing to have faith instead of letting religion win; choosing to love & be gracious where there is envy/competition) and not allowing them to overcome - but allowing Him to overcome through us.

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us."  Romans 8:37

There is nothing I need to do but pray and stay surrendered in obedience to Him. And carry my sword; battle ready (have His Word in my heart daily).

‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty." Zechariah 4:6

He reminds me often when I grow weary:  Jesus didn't command us to "save the world and build institutions/churches.  Saving and building are His.  He commanded us this:

^" Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20

THANK YOU JESUS THAT IT IS ALL YOU!

^"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.  We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."  2 Corinthians 4:7-10