Tag Archives: forgiveness

Be Healed.

When you surrender to the Lord, invite Jesus to come into your heart and do a healing work in your life, just watch Him. He will do it.

And, when you walk through this process with the Lord, and the Holy Spirit brings you healing, be healed. Be healed.

Leave it. Leave it all in the past. And move forward in your purchased freedom — a heavy price fully paid by Jesus.

In John 5, Jesus healed the leper. Then, He told him, “Pick up your mat and walk.”

Though his identity had been tied to being under, though his identity had been tied to being sick, overlooked and forgotten, Jesus healed Him and told him to get up and walk out of that history — out of that identity. It was time to move forward.

In John 4, Jesus saved an adulterous woman from being stoned to death by an angry mob. When every condemner had gone, Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” He saved her life, and then He called her to walk into a new life — a life no longer plagued by her sin and her shame.

I feel convicted that, for some of us, including myself, we need to understand the moment we are in – the healing we have been given by God – and we need to make a deliberate choice to leave our hurt, heartbreak, feelings of rejection, feelings of victimization… we need to leave it in the past.

If you have invited the Lord in to do a healing work in your life, and He has healed you, be healed.

In Ecclesiastes 3, it says, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to weep and a time to laugh … a time to mourn and a time to dance … a time to tear and a time to mend.”

For some of us, the weeping has taken place – maybe even for decades – the mourning has happened, taking from us long enough, and the Lord has come in to heal us, bring us laughter, and bring us dancing. He has healed us. So, let’s be healed. Let us enjoy the freedom He bought for us.

If you gave Him your past and He has healed the past, quit telling the story. It is another person’s story — not your own. It no longer belongs to you, and you no longer bear the weight of sharing it.

I shared a story the other day of the past, and it felt so odd to me, so alarming. I felt like I had hijacked someone else’s story and was parading it as if it was my own. I was so confused by how unsettled I felt by telling it, when it is historical.

I asked the Lord why I was so bothered, and He revealed to me that it is because He has healed and restored me — that story no longer belongs to me. I surrendered it to Him, He released me of it, and it is now gone. I am a new creation, the old has passed, and I am made new. Therefore, it is not my story to tell.

Working with the Lord to be healed is a beautiful thing. When we go to Him and ask Him to reveal truth to us, He will. He showed me very specifically what part of my history is gone, because I am healed, and what I need not speak of any longer, because I am healed.

Perhaps, like me, you have surrendered hurt and heartache from your history. However, because it became your story, you adopted it as your identity. But, I believe that the Lord wants me to share with you what He has shared with me:

You are no longer sick.
You are no longer in shame.
You are no longer a victim.
That person no longer exists.
Those stories no longer belong to you.

You are free.
Walk free.
The Lord is writing a new chapter in your life and giving you new, beautiful stories to replace those with.

I love you all.

Repenting

Pride is a sin. Vanity is a sin.
Sin separates us from God.

Pride separates us from God.
Vanity separates us from God.

Pride makes it about me instead of God.
Vanity compares me to others and puts me above others, above God.

I repent for pride in my story. I repent for the times I took glory for things God had done for me and in my life.

I repent for vanity – for the times I put my reputation and others’ perception of me above my love for our relationship, above my love for the Lord.

As I look back on my life, on my career, I see where I had pride. I see where I had vanity. And it repulses me. I am repulsed by my own sin.

I don’t need consoling. I need to call it out for what it is so that it stays far, far away from me.

It is by the hand and graciousness of God that I have ever had any cool opportunity and the provision we have needed to pay our bills and supply for our family.

I will be honest… pride can reverse itself, as well, making me want to hide any neat thing I have ever done now, to share any stories or even my gifts sometimes, because I am afraid I will get some of the glory. But that too, I am realizing is pride, because I am keeping the praise under wraps instead of giving it outwardly to the Lord for what He has done in my life.

So, today, as I look ahead to a big, new year, where I will need to use the gifts, lessons, and experiences God has given me to lead as I am called, I surrender my pride. I surrender any false humility. I surrender sin and the shame of sin.

I cast off any stumbling block that has me at the center and relinquish it to God… thanking Him for the opportunities I have had, as well as for the discipline He has provided me to make me a worker who can be used in the field… because, as long as we have ourselves at the center, instead of Him and others, we can’t be used in the Kingdom of God. And I want to fulfill the call the Lord has for my life.

PRAYER

Thank you, Lord, for every blessing and opportunity you have bestowed upon me to be a blessing to others and to provide for my family. And, thank you, Father, for disciplining me over these past 8 years to make me usable in your Kingdom.

You are so gracious and so kind, Father. I surrender to you, Father. I give you both my pride as well as my shame, and I thank you that you have created beauty where my pride and vanity had produced ashes. I thank you that you discipline those you love, and that you love me so.

Help me be more like you so I can be a part of your Kingdom work to the effective measure you have intended, in Jesus’ name.

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son” (Hebrews 12:6).

Those Who Called Us Higher

I was sitting here thinking about all the people who have helped us along the way… Yet, some of them, we have formed a subtle indignance towards — a parent, teacher, pastor, doctor, trainer, boss, or friend — for doing so.

We have decided to be offended, instead of grateful, for their help… many of them just genuinely supporting us or calling us higher, because they love us, motivated by genuine care and concern.

I wonder how many genuine relationships we shunned because of our sensitivity towards correction.

As I age, I look back at some relationships over the decades – at some people – who I felt offended by or irrirated with because they took a genuine, healthy concern for my well-being.

Out of a desire to control my own life, yet feeling as if they were impeding upon my independence, I shook them off. Yet, later, looking back, I see that they cared more for me than those who agreed with or applauded me at the time in my childish ways.

As I age, it becomes clearer that I wasn’t always right. Like a toddler whose mother knows best yet their will and desire for independence reigns supreme, I shook off wisdom and correction that was for my own good.

Yet, as time marches on, I have come to realize that they were not trying to shut me down. They were genuinely trying to help me — to not waste my time, resources, or give away important things. I realize that there is a lot I didn’t know that they did, and they cared enough to share it.

And, as I age, instead of thinking I know everything, I gain the perspective that I simply don’t know everything and that I didn’t…

I realize that I need to open my hands to thank and hug those who helped, even when I took it as critical. I realize I need to open my heart to hear from Godly people even when its hard. I need to open my hands in generosity. I need to release my pride and receive instruction. I need to open my mind to learn more than I know. Most importantly, I need to open my hands in surrender to the Lord.

Thank you to my parents and to every teacher, pastor, doctor, trainer, boss, or friend who put yourself out there to help make me better from a heart of love and concern. In some cases, it has taken awhile for me to lower my wall and receive it, but I draw from those lessons daily — some bestowed even decades ago.

God Doesn’t Yell.

God doesn’t yell. He whispers.

It is His kindness that leads us to repentance.

If you hear a voice screaming at you – accusing you, chastising you, belittling you – ask God to remove it, because it hasn’t come from Him, and it doesn’t belong.

God would never call you fat and tell you that you don’t deserve to eat. He would show you how precious you are to Him and give you a desire for healthy things.

He wouldn’t blackmail you into a corner of shame. He would shine a light to show you the way out.

He wouldn’t tell you that your life has no meaning. He made you on purpose, with purpose, and has a role for you in His Kingdom.

He wouldn’t tell you that your sins define you, so you should give up. He would encourage you to give it to Him, trade that for hope, and show you a new way.

If you struggle with difficult, accusatory, shame-ridden thoughts, ask God to come into your thoughts and your life and fill that area and bring you healing.

He will, because He wants you well. He wants you whole.

God doesn’t yell. He whispers, because He is safe, because He is loving, because He is Home.

Our Guard & Our Guide

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

There is no playing around with or entertaining dark forces. When children and teen movies try to normalize and familiarize our kids with dark rituals, highlighting them and making them light, we are out.

We can’t get used to this just because companies we used to trust are slowly seeping in these messages. How badly do we need to be entertained?

Have you ever watched something and you feel grieved or just gross?

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)

I thank God for leaving His Holy Spirit here to guard and to guide us. If we can’t find anything on TV or movies that feels right, let’s just shut it off. There’s plenty more to do.

I want to be sensitive to and gain my whole confidence from Jesus. I’m not willing to make allowances just to be relevant and to not been seen as the weird Christian. The stakes are too high. And, when it comes to my kids, I will do my very best to protect them – not just from physical harm but from spiritual harm. Its no laughing matter.

“What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

And God will give us wisdom and courage as we seek Him. We are not weaklings, but we are strong because of Him.

“Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority and power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”

“… And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

“Listen carefully: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents, and innocent as doves.

“So do not be afraid of them, for nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, or kept secret that will not be made known.

“What I say to you in the dark (privately), tell in the light (publicly); and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim from the housetops [to many people].

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

“Therefore, the one who confesses and acknowledges Me before men [as Lord and Savior, affirming a state of oneness with Me], that one I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father who is in heaven. But the one who denies and rejects Me before men, that one I will also deny and reject before My Father who is in heaven.”

‭‭(Matthew‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬, ‭7‬-‭8‬, ‭16‬, ‭26‬-‭28‬, ‭32‬-‭33‬)

Only Jesus.

Marketing slogans tell you to believe in yourself, but you are not God and neither am I. We have a very limited view. I learned a long time ago – the hard way – that I am highly fallible even on my best day. If everything depended on me, it would not last long.

Believe in Jesus. You won’t get far without Him. But, WITH Him, you will see supernatural things happen that you never knew were possible!

When we come to understand His great love for us and HIS power available to work in and through us, we will not have a low or a high view of ourselves. We will feel a deep sense of relief and peace, with hearts full of gratitude and enthusiasm for each day, knowing God loves us, He is in control, He never slumbers, He is limitless, and He is ever-present to us. He’s never going to abandon us.

And He is doing GOOD all over the earth every moment of every day! It is absolutely amazing to see! And He includes us in His great mission here on the earth! It blows my mind.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” – Jesus (John 15:5)

Staying in the Light

“Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character]” (Ephesians 5:11).

The enemy is cunning. He wants you to be confused. If something seems off, stop and pay attention.

Instead of brushing it off and barreling forward, get away from the noises and demands of the world.

Get into a quiet space to hear from the Lord. Create space and time to hear from Him.

Stop and ask the Lord to give you discernment and clarity — to make it clear as day. Then listen up to hear from His Holy Spirit.

Expose the darkness for what it is and let the light in. Seek counsel from a Godly friend or counsel. Pray together.

Read the Scripture to combat the lies with the truth of God’s Word.

Then be sure to obey. Stay away from the fruitless deeds of darkness.

If God shows you to walk away – from a job or opportunity, a situation, or a relationship – as hopeful as you were for it, walk away!

God is our protector, and we need to trust Him at His Word and listen in for His voice and let Him do His job. The Bible says God provides a way of escape. Take it!

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

God is also our Provider, and He will provide a healthy and productive job, opportunity, situation and relationship when we yield to Him and follow His lead.

Do not cower to dark and fruitless situations or relationships, friends!

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

“‘They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 1:19).

A Place for Each of Us

I love this verse: “… in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God” (1 Corinthians 11:11-12).

In my home, in business, in the church and in community, I am not in competition with man, nor am I to be independent of man.

Instead, God has brought us together in community in different ways and settings – as husband and wife, as brothers and sisters in Christ, as co-workers, and as servants – all under the head and lordship of Jesus Christ.

Each of us has something unique and valuable to bring to the Kingdom — in our churches, our workplaces, our communities and to the world. And we can learn from and encourage one another.

I am grateful for my brothers and my sisters — each of you! And I am very grateful for the leadership of, love from, and partnership with my husband. 🤍

Thank you, God, for the beauty of your creation and your good plan for us all.

A Prayer of Release

God, Today it strikes me that you are limitless. I have so much to surrender today, but you can absorb it all and still be good, and still be love, and still be strong.

You are the ultimate Dad – protector, provider, and uplifter — the one who lifts my head. I love you, Lord.

Thank you for always being there when I need you, and even when I think I’ve got it, because you’re always there to catch me when I fall, even in those moments that catch me by surprise.

You aren’t surprised by anything. You’re always ready to protect and guard me. So I can close my eyes and sleep peacefully.

I love you, Lord. You are a good and loving Father.

What Can Wash Away My Sin

Sunday at church, we sang the 150-year-old hymn, “Nothing But The Blood of Jesus.” I felt the Lord impress this message on my heart in a new way.

As I sang, “What can wash away my sin?”, I felt the Holy Spirit reveal to me the many ways I have tried to wash away my sin in my life — the substitutes I have tried to manufacture to make me … to make the situation… right on my own.

As we asked this question through song yesterday, “What can wash away my sin?”, I felt this reminder come to my mind…

Nothing can wash away my sin…

– Not perfection.

– Not performance.

– Not good works.

– Not secrecy or denial.

– Not self-righteousness.

– Not shame.

– Not alcohol.

– Not starvation.

– Not time.

“Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”

There is absolutely nothing that zeroes out our sin and makes us righteous and clean again but the blood of Jesus. Even our very best is like filthy rags compared to His holiness: “How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (Isaiah 64:5b-6).

Yet, He made a way to make us right again – by sacrificing Himself on the cross — sinless and spotless – for our sins. All we must do is believe in Jesus as our Savior to be made right with God. His blood is all we need.

Here is how we know we are made right: “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” (Romans 10:8-10).

I have worked in vain, spinning my wheels, striving to make things better in my own strength or make the pain go away. But it has been futile. Because the truth is, not a single thing can wash away my sins but Jesus, and that is exactly what He came to earth to do for me and for you.

His goodness and His kindness is real, and it brings me to tears. I am made right again by His blood — only His blood. Thank you, Jesus.