One of the things I love doing is educating the Body of Christ. Many of us have been walking with God for a long time and we do not realize that some believers/Christians who are new or fairly new in their journey may not know why they should or should not do certain things.

The number one reason why we should give our Tithe (our tenth of what we earn) to the church we attend, is because God has commanded us to.  Hosea 4:6a says; My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. (Please read the scripture in it’s entirety) It’s a strong scripture. I remember when I received the revelation that just not knowing any better won’t keep you from reaping the consequences of what you are or are not doing. It also reminds us that is we call ourselves believers we are responsible for reading Gods love letter to us (the Bible). It is the only way we will know how to tap into the fullness of the blessing the Lord has for us.

In Malachi 3:8-9 God asks Israel a question; Will a man Rob God? Yet you have robbed me. But you say in what way have I robbed you? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed me, even the whole nation. He goes on to say in Malachi 3:10-12 Bring all the tithe into the storehouse that there may be food in my house. Test me on this says the Lord God Almighty, and see if I do not pour out so much blessing that there will be not be room enough to store it.  I will rebuke the devourer on your behalf so that it will not destroy the fruits in your soil and your vine in your field shall not fail to bear. Then all the nations will call you blessed for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord.

When my husband and I received the revelation that when you give your tithe, God promises to rebuke the devourer (the one who devours, John 10:10) on our behalf, we really became excited to give. We noticed that when we would tithe our money seemed to stretch and when we did not we were either in lack or just enough. As believers our money is probably the last thing we totally give to God. I am going to make this a two part blog as the subject is so extensive. There are so many scriptures in Proverbs and yes, even in the new testament that encourage us to give. Giving is for our benefit. It makes a statement to “the one who devours”, it says I trust the Lord with everything. Malachi Chapter 3 is the only place you will here God say “Test me in this” and then He makes a promise. I encourage you to ready the entire chapter. Meditate on it and ask Holy Spirit to reveal things to you. I welcome your questions and/or comments.

The Lord has been showing me how He really is in control of everything. While He may not cause some things, He allows them for the purposes of protecting us. A good example is when suddenly the Jezebels that are in your church or ministry make an exit. Usually, they will not make this exit until they feel they have done an adequate job of convincing people that the Leader is not following God, Not hearing from God and not walking in love. As a result when they leave, many others leave with them or shortly there after.

As men and women of God we are puzzled by this ungodly behavior by someone who loves to “give the appearance” that they are super spiritual. 2 Timothy 3:2-5 says, “For men shall be lovers of there ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud blasphemers,  disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers, incontinent,  fierce despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof”.  While these mass exodus trouble us and shake us, we must realize that this is Gods way of cleaning house. Also, most always, it is people whom you trusted and saw as Godly. They work really hard to get close to the Leader but once they can’t get their “own way” they start exhibiting the traits outlined in 2 Timothy 3:2-5. We must recognize that God is allowing all this shaking to protect the Church/Ministry from being completely destroyed by this demonic force that drives these Spirits.  The enemy is cunning and he knows the  best way to tear something down is from the inside.

We have to remember we do not have a war with the people. As it says in Ephesians 6:12 “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places”.  What I am getting at here is that the Lord himself fights for us. He is Jehova Gabor “The Lord Mighty In Battle”. He cleans house and speaks over your Church/Ministry “Live Again”!  Be encouraged that God has removed the cancer and as such the Church/Ministry can begin to be healthy again. It’s not really dead…….It is about to resurrect bigger, brighter and more effective than its previous state. Oh Hallelujah!! Thank you Jesus!! As Jesus said in Matthew 16:18 The Gates of hell can not prevail against the Church.

This may be one of the most controversial and critized subjects. If you hang with me for just a moment, you may get a different perspective. While I agree that church hopping can be dangerous, I am also a firm believer that there are real reasons to make a change.  You will never find the perfect church or even a church where you fit in. The reason for that is, God did not make us to fit in, in this world. I Peter 2:11 says “Sojourners and Pilgrims abstain from fleshly love which war against your soul”. (NKJ) The same scripture in Passion translation calls us, “resident aliens and foreigners in this world”. Those terms alone indicate there is a reason we don’t fit in.

However, you may find a place where you feel God has called you to and that is the place you should be planted.  Now for the reasons God may direct you to change the place where you worship; 1) you can no longer grow in that environment because Holy Spirit has shown you  some things the Leadership at that church do not believe. 2) The environment is toxic, such as Leadership uses the pulpit as their soap box, control and manipulation is in full operation or worse yet the “Word of God” is being compromised by erroneous teaching. 3) If you have children, your current church has no children ministry and/or the children are not learning the word of God.

All of the above are valid reasons to make a change. The first time my husband and I had to change churches if was painful because my Father and many people we loved and felt connected to were in this church. However, I had been baptized in the Holy Spirit at an Aglow meeting and I was being introduced to the gifts of the Spirit and I was in a church where I got a solid foundation (which is a good start) but they did not believe in moving in the gifts of the Spirit. This was a painful move for my husband and I but a necessary one.  We truly are sojourners and have to walk out our pilgrimage, so if the Lord tells you to change churches it is not a bad thing as long as you are not trying to find some where you will fit in.  When we get to heaven we will all fit in because that is our “true home”.  If you are in a place where your anointing is being squelched, where the worship team has to be conformed to a certain sound because Leadership feels that only a certain sound is conducive for ushering you into the presence, or you are being told what you can And can not do….examples they get upset when you go to a conference that is not in your church, they give words as a form of manipulation, they try to cause division between a husband and wife, or you feel bound, you probably need to run out that door. Jesus came 100% man and 100% God so that we could be free from bondage. God is good and He loves us. If you have young children, please do not torture them by making them sit in adult church. They will be bored and they may even begin to loath church. It is more important for them to be in an environment where they can learn about God in age appropriate ways.

Always seek his direction when making a change.  Pray about it and then listen for an answer.  Check to see if  what you are hearing lines up with His word. If you can find scripture to back up what you believe you have heard it’s a good indicator, that  is indeed God speaking.  Sojourners will sometimes have to move, that is not a bad thing.  Just remember to get planted and there will be times you won’t feel like you belong but if God’s Spirit is in the house……stick it out. You will grow when you become faithful and immovable.

As we approach Resurrection Sunday, many of us read the passages in the Bible or watch movies that tell the story of all that took place leading up to our Lord walking the Via Delarosa (the way of suffering) as we read, watch and remember, we should be filled with an overwhelming love for Christ (Yeshua), our risen Messiah.  We should also remember how much it cost him to die so that our sins could be forgiven. But that is not all, the blood He shed was so that the curse of sin and death over our lives would be broken.  I have to take a Selah (pause and take it in) moment here.

In Luke 9:23 Jesus said to all His followers “If you desire to be my disciple, you must disown your life completely, embrace my “cross” as your own and surrender to my ways” (Passion Translation). How many of us really understand what that means? Disown your life, the world we live in has the “ I have a right to be happy” or the “It’s all good attitude” and sadly many in the body of Christ have that same attitude.  If you have a call on your life (and we all do) then Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit will call you to do some things that may not make you happy.  Forgiveness is one of those things. He will call you to forgive the parent(s) that abandoned you, He will call you to forgive that man/woman that ran out on you and left you to raise the kids alone, after he/she promised to love and cherish you in sickeness and in health, till death do you part, He will call you to forgive the haters that have been defaming your character because they hate your anointing, and on and on it goes.  When you ask Him, why Lord? Why do I have to do this? Jesus, will direct you to His word and gently remind you that walking with Him and becoming more like Him means walking the way he walked. Your own Via Delarosa (the way of suffering).

Carrying our cross means being obedient and loving and forgiving as He did.  Remember the part on Calvary when he looks up and says “Father Forgive them, for they know not what they do”? That is the part that always gets me. People seem to forget that He prayed and sweat blood in the garden asking Father to let this cup pass from Him.  He was so very aware of all He had to endure. The pain, the shame the anguish of feeling alone and being publicly humiliated. Whatever your cross is know that Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit are with you and that carrying your cross and being obedient will bring you victory over the enemy like nothing else. It won’t be easy, that is for sure, but it will be so worth it. You will be free and then Father can use you as He planned before you were formed in your mother’s womb. You will know what walking in supernatural freedom and power is and the Good News of The Gospel will be more real to you than any amount of suffering you endured.

Do you ever wonder why some people that have been in the Lord for a long time are dried up? If discernment is one of the gifts you operate in (which by the way is needed in these end times), You can always tell by the words that come out of a persons mouth where they are at. If someone is constantly being negative and condemning  chances are good that they are harboring un-forgiveness in their hearts. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34b)

In all my years of serving God, I have come to realize that many in the Body of Christ are operating from a place of un-forgiveness.  As believers we get wounded, disappointed and betrayed.  We must constantly be in the face of the Lord asking Him to search our hearts. Offense leads to un-forgiveness and un-forgiveness leads to Bitterness. When you are bitter it will come out in your speech. Whenever, I hear an angry believer, I wince because I know they are speaking out of the contaminated place in their heart.  We don’t have to stay the same.  One strong indicator that we are not walking in forgiveness toward a person, issue or circumstance is how we react when a similar thing happens. If we are triggered and become negative, or we dig in our heels and rise up with the “How Dare You” attitude, that is a good indicator that un-forgiveness has taken root in our heart. The other strong indicator is when we wake up with anxiety or depression and we just don’t know why we are feeling this way. The culprit is likely to be un-forgiveness.

Forgiveness is a journey. There are stages that we have to go through. Stage 1 – Is taking a truthful inventory of what is in your heart and asking the Lord to help you identify who and what you have not forgiven.  Many of us have a hard time forgiving ourselves, or even God. Many religious folks will tell you, I am not mad at God. But in their private time with Him they may ask “Lord, why are you letting this happen to me”?

Stage 2 – Confessing it out loud (between you and God) that you need help forgiving  whoever or whatever  it is.  In Stage 2, it is important to know, that a person does not have to ask for your forgiveness in order for you to speak out by Faith, and say I forgive.

Stage 3 –  Repent and release the offense.  And when you pray, make sure you forgive the faults of others so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you. But if you withhold forgiveness from others, your Father withholds forgiveness from you.”(Matt. 6:14-15 TPT)  Stage 4 – After you have been truthful with yourself, you have confessed, repented and released, Holy Spirit will do the rest. He will supernaturally remove things, that you give Him permission to remove.  You will feel free and you will not longer react when you see, hear or think about the person or the issue.  Also, you will  no longer be triggered when a similar situation happens. There is no better feeling than being completely healed of an offense.

I truly believe that in 2018, Father wants His sons and daughters to mature and become all that He has called us to be.  Tolerate the weaknesses of those in the family of faith, forgiving one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ. If you find fault with someone, release this same gift of forgiveness to them. For love is supreme and must flow through each of these virtues. Love becomes the mark of true maturity.  (Col. 3:13-14 TPT)

We are approaching the end of the year and with that many of us look forward to changes and the new things God has in store for us. Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV) says “a man plans his way but God directs his steps”. Life is about seasons. The Lord might call you to a place or a people for a season and just when you may be getting comfortable God whispers “there is more”. The Lord moves with forward progression with regard to the plans He has for you. We all love to quote Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) “For I know the plans I have for you says, the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future” I personally sing this over my self all the time (The Promise by Klause Kuehn). What few of us realize, is that in order to flow with Gods plan for our lives, there will be times that you will have to make tough decisions. Father, never wants us to become complacent. He does not want us to compromise the anointing that He has put in us. It is special because there is a specific call on each individuals life. There may be a time we become a part of a house and have purposed to run with the vision only to experience the nudging of the Holy Spirit saying “your season here is about to end”. At first, you may even rebuke the enemy. There are many times we are rebuking the enemy because we don’t like or agree with what we are hearing, but the truth is Holy Spirit is the one speaking. I am so glad that God is not like us because He does not get offended. I can just hear Jesus telling Father, they just don’t understand yet, but they will get it soon. The Lord will allow situations to arise that will take you by surprise and shock and disappoint you. He is allowing you to go through the process to realize it is He who was speaking. If you are serious about walking out Gods plan for your life, there will be many twists and turns and sometimes some curve balls. All of those different things will develop you and get you a step closer to your destiny. If and only if, you are willing to make the tough decisions. They may even cause you to shed a tear or two. Everyone has their own unique, God given anointing. Not one person can teach you how to be anointed or how to flow in your own unique anointing. Only Holy Spirit can do that. I can picture some people telling Paul look at Peter, You need to be more like him. Those people did not realize that Paul and Peter had different anointings, no two people are the same. And they each were called to reach different people and do different things. God did not use molds when He made us. When the Lord tells you to let something go for his sake, He is just getting ready to elevate you. He wants to take you places you will not get to, if you stay in the place He is calling you from. Obedience is better than sacrifice. However, obedience must be to God First. In order for Gods plans to be fulfilled in our lives, we have to follow His leading. Some of the decisions may not be easy, particularly when you are able to somewhat flow in your gifting. But those things should never detain you. When the Lord says your season is up. Trust Him . God knows who the people that have your same DNA are. Those are the people He will ultimately lead you to. When you are around people with your same DNA they will never want to dumb down what God has put in you. Always do what Father is asking, but do so with honor. Walk out of every door with a blessing. The blessing is not contingent on humans giving it to you. They may be incapable of giving it. No one can give you what they do not possess. The blessing is contingent on what God says (Deut. 28:6) You shall be blessed coming in and blessed coming out (NKJV).` Take the good and release the rest to the Lord. In order for Gods plan to unravel in our lives we will need to fix our eyes and incline our ears to Father, Son (Jesus) and Holy Spirit. The amazing three in one who is forever moving on our behalf. He measures our hearts. He sees it all very clearly not through rose colored glasses. (Gal. 6:7) says “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, Whatsoever a man sows that too he shall reap”(NIV). So sow love, peace, honor and joy! On your way in and on your way out.

Something To Ponder Today………..There are many believers that wonder why it is other people get promoted in the Kingdom but they seem to be in the same place year after year. One of the main reasons is because they have a rebellious heart. The reason why Saul lost his anointing to be the King of Israel was because he had a rebellious heart. 1 Samuel 15 :23 states “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He also has rejected you from being king.”

When God sends you to a church or a Ministry, He sends you so that you can be a blessing to the “Set Man and Woman” of the house. That means pray for them and help in anyway that God ordains. When you begin to think that you know better than they do, that is a sign that you are operating in Rebellion. Rebellion is dangerous. It will keep you from your God given calling. And it will unleash every demonic thing in your life because rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. Your family relationships, your finances and your calling will be affected when you allow rebellion to take root in your heart. A great Leader is a great follower. A great leader understands that God is a God of order. He understands Protocol because He designed it. There is nothing established or created in the natural that God did not think of first. He is indeed the creator of all things.

Ask God today if there is any Rebellion in you and then give him permission to come with His Holy Spirit Scalpel and cut it out. You will be freeing yourself of every evil work and you will clear the path for you to come into your God given destiny. Be very careful of stubbornness it is a brother to Rebellion. A great leader is always asking the Lord to search his/her heart and remove all that hinders him/her and displeases the Lord.  I wrote this in 2015 it is a repost.

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Have you ever wondered why no matter where God places you whether it is in the secular arena or in Ministry you keep encountering the same spirit.  I have been seeking the Lord on why it is this happens.  I am a strong person who has a lot of confidence in God. So I approach life with a “can do attitude”.  I tend to always encounter a spirit of jealousy or a religious spirit.   When I was a babe in Christ, I use to let these Spirits torture me but as I have matured over the years and have been able to identify certain patterns, I have learned to understand the enemy’s tactics.  In order to overcome the first thing we need to understand is what Paul says in Ephesian 6:12 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places”.   Therefore, we must pray for the person that is allowing those spiritual forces to use them.   The second thing we must do is not engage with these spirits.  Matthew 5:44 & 45a says “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  that you may be children of your Father in heaven”.  We must approach them in the opposite spirit.  So if they are consistently trying to engage you in an unpleasant discussion of some sort, or if they make faces that seem disrespectful then you should find ways to be good to them, acknowledge their opinion but do not engage.  Proverbs 15:1 says “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger”.  Finally, the most important thing that you need to understand is the very thing that that spirit is going after is the very thing that God p[laced in you to change the world.  In my case the spirit hates the favor on my life as a result of being confident in God, it hates that I am not easily discouraged and have a pit bull attitude. The opposing spirit hates it because those qualities that God, Himself gave me cause breakthrough in my life and whatever put my hand to.  What are the qualities that the enemy is trying to break off of you?  Always evaluate things and look for patterns and then ask God for the Strategy to eliminate the opposition.  You will have more peace understanding that it’s really not about you its about what God put in you. 

Spiritual Parenting is a Biblical concept.  Paul had spiritual sons, one he identified in particular was Timothy.  He would write letters to Timothy encouraging him to be bold and courageous and not to Fear.  Today Spiritual Parents are needed because they are able to keep their sons and daughters accountable and help them grow at a pace that will keep them humble and help them to finish well.   Just as with anything else the enemy is always looking for ways to cause divisions in relationships.  I see and experience things and I dialog with the Lord and He encourages me to write about it, and give you something to ponder.  We know that everything that happens in the natural, happens in the spiritual.  In other words in the natural we can have sons and daughters also.  Each child is different. We can not treat our  five year old like we treat our 14 year old.  For instance, My husband and I have a son who will soon be 21 and a daughter who will soon be 17, each one of them has a different curfew.  There are things that my son can do that my daughter can not do simply because of his level of maturity.  Throughout the years this has been an on going complaint for either side “How come he can but I can’t?” or “How come you baby her and you expect so much from me?”.  You see we live in a world where it’s all about me and I dare say, in the Kingdom its no different.  Spiritual Parents need to remember that not all our children can be treated the same because they are just not all in the same place. Let me be clear when I say treat the same, I am not referring to a level of love. Of course we love all our children the same.  I am referring to a level of conversation and a level of responsibility.   In the Spiritual it depends not just on how long they have been in the process but how much they have matured in the process.  It can be condescending (which is not of God) to treat your children in the same way.  Likewise, for the spiritual children it is an unrealistic expectation to expect that, those that have been walking with the Lord for a long time can go back and be like a baby.  The fact is, God expects us to mature so that he can give us more.  It says in Luke 16:10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities”.  My husband and I had a rule that our children could not fight among each other and that competition was unacceptable.  We helped them to understand the importance of family and the importance of them loving each other.  Isn’t that the theme of the word of God?  We should put others before ourselves and we should celebrate when our brothers and sisters are moving forward in their calling.  Everyone no matter how together they seem experiences Spiritual warfare, setbacks and disappointments.  I think this is why one of the ten commandments is “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:17).  Parenting is complex and it requires wisdom, discernment and much communication.  It brings another scripture to mind Luke 12:48b “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more”.

In light of all that has taken place in our nation I feel compelled to write to the Bride of Christ this morning. It is time for the people who say they are Christians to line up with the word of God. It is easy to say you love the Lord but to truly love God you must line yourself up with His will and His way.  America used to be one Nation under God. I am sad to say that the Body of Christ has been divided on so many things that we have rendered ourselves ineffective.  It is not too late to change!!! Proverbs 18:21 states that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and those who love it will eat the fruit of it”.  In other words your words have power to cause death or life. We must begin to quit speaking against political parties and against our president. We must call forth Unity in our Capitol.  Adults are supposed to be able to agree to disagree, agreeably.  Vow today to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

Yesterday as I was having my prayer time, Holy Spirit told me to turn to 2 Chronicles 7:14 and to begin to pray and sing that scripture. If my people who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

It was approximately 7:00 AM, that I was in prayer when God spoke this to me, unknown to me it was right around the time the shoooting in Alexandria, Virginia took place.  God is sounding an alarm!!! He needs his church to arise and take their place. Just as we are all called to share the good news of the Gospel, we are all called to pray.  We are living in a crucial time.  It is time for the church to live the word.  It is time to rise up and be the Army God has called us to be.  Has he not instructed us to put on our full armor? (Eph. 6:10-17).  Has he not told us that the weapons of are warfare are not carnal but are mighty for the pulling down of strongholds?  I know many of you are crying out come Lord Jesus come,  but I dare say that is a selfish prayer.  I personally don’t want to see a lot of people I know and love go to hell.  So I am praying Awaken church!! Awaken America!! Awaken Nations!! Awaken Millenials!!! Like the Lord, I do not want that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), although we know that some will because of their own stubbornness and refusal to accept truth.  I am putting on my full armor and taking my position on the wall and I am admonishing you to do the same.  God will do nothing that His People who are called by His name will not pray, seek, knock and ask for.