Harvest Time

Greetings!

This past week, Pope Francis made his first visit to the United States. It has been fascinating to watch. And, for a couple of weeks, people of all races, and denominations were glued to the television to see where he was going, and what he was going to do next. Folks have been nicer, and probably more loving than they have been in a long time. Prayerfully, he will leave a residue of peace and love that will last at least a few days anyway. 

I just saw an interview with a family who drove 13,000 miles to get a personal visit with the Pope, and another group who walked over 100 miles. That people go to those extremes to see someone is amazing. Don't get me wrong, I think it is wonderful that people are flocking to see a man of God. If nothing else comes out of this visit, the fact that God was the focus...even for a little while was awesome.

I pray that God will continue to make His presence known, and that people will be open to learning more about Him. Even though I am not Catholic, I am for anything, and anyone that will bring people closer to God. All of us who profess to love God have to step up. We have to begin to tell others about the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus Christ. We have to be willing to get out of our comfort zones, and talk to people about how good God has been. We can’t afford to be shy when it comes to the salvation of our brothers and sisters. Of course, we can’t force God on anyone…and we shouldn’t…that’s not our job. But we can plant seeds, and if we are good farmers, if we focus more on others than our own comfort, then our work will surely reap a harvest for the Lord.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Transformed

Greetings!

What a blessing it is to be loved by God. His love for us is so amazing. I guess you are wondering what brought all of this on. Well, this week was my visit to Bestowed Blessings.  It is a home for women in transition. I’m not sure that is the correct way to describe it. For me, it seems to be more like a birthing center. It is a place where dreams are re-imagined, and where women can re-group, re-focus, and then re-turn to a place of power and victory...transformed.

Every single time I go there, I am so extremely blessed, and this time was no different. We very seldom meet with the same women longer than one or two visits, which is good, because that means that they have prayerfully moved on to bigger and better things. We visit the home every three months, but we missed our last visit, so it had been six months since our last visit. God had given me a topic to discuss…well, more like a workshop. But, since it had been so long since our last visit, I wasn’t sure the message was still relevant. I kept trying to come up with a new topic, but God was not budging. I am so glad that we were obedient.

I have a co-laborer in this ministry who not only prays for us, she also prays for me. She is a powerful intercessor, and God is doing a mighty work in both our lives in this season. This session was relevant and timely. I guess a better word would be...anointed. Even our arrival was timed. We hardly ever get there at the same time, but on this day, we pulled up together.  As we went through the session, we quickly realized…God was in the midst. His presence was definitely in that place. They were open, receptive…, and ready. God is about to move like never before, and I am so excited about the possibilities.

Until next time…

Be blessed

Stronger than gold

Greetings!

"So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold--though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world"  

--1 Peter 1:6-7

Our faith is important to God. Not for Him, because He already knows who He has called us to be in this life. But, it is for us. Peter is comparing our faith to gold, and if you look at a piece of gold, it looks pretty strong, right? God is saying that our faith is even stronger.

When the refiner purifies gold, he first takes ore, and he puts it in the fire with temperatures somewhere over a thousand degrees. As it melts, all of the impurities rise to the top. The refiner then skims off all the dirt and what is left is pure gold. He sometimes does that over and over until it gets to the place the refiner needs it to be. But, here's the thing, the refiner can't change up the process...it's always the same. He has to use some form of testing...whether it is fire or some other form of heat, something has to be done to bring out the impurities, and that is what God does for us.

He uses the things we go through to bring out the best in us. It may seem like forever...it may seem like you are not going to make it...it may seem like the odds are stacked against you, but hold on...everything has its time and its purpose. Know that God is there with you, and He will always see you through.

Until next time...

Be blessed