Days of Deception - Truth is Your Sword!

This is a powerful message! (Matthew 7:21-23) Proof in the word of God that our works are just that...."works" and no reflection of our true relationship with Christ. We may prophesy, we may drive out evil, we may perform miracles....but as it says in verse 21 "only the one who DOES THE WILL OF THE FATHER" will enter. Hence, just because we perform works (which don't get me wrong, are valuable to build up others and build the church) doesn't mean we are doing the will of the father (His entire will). The only way to know what the will of the Father is, is through knowing His word. You'll never truly have a relationship with Him or KNOW him if you don't know His word. We should also be careful and mindful of those who pick and choose "portions" of His will from the Bible and claim to be a teacher, preacher or prophet. Yet totally negate other principles of the word and truths of God's will that are written. This is how we get misled, become blinded and end up with a distorted truth ourselves. Revelation 22:18-19 is very clear!

We need all remember that there are many great teachers, preachers, leaders; and there will also be many sheeps in wolves clothing who aren't doing the will of God at all; but rather deceiving many with their mighty "works" while compromising the truth and leading people to praise them instead of Jesus. At the end of the day HIS WORD is your truth and HIS SPIRIT your compass! Keep your spiritual senses always alert as God warned us that in the last days false influences would come. My advice....separate the sheep from the wolves WITH the sword of God's word. And when you are blessed to find teachers, preachers and leaders who you can truly see are doing, living and breathing the will of God, pray for them and support them. Their callings will NOT get any easier in the days to come. God bless all the sheep doing the will of God with pure hearts, right motives, aligned with God's word. And always remember we too have to regularly check ourselves in the mirror of God's word. Even sheep can sometimes get confused and wander off course and out of His will. Love you my friends ❤️ #weareinthedaysofdeception

MINDFUL not MINDLESS

Love not hate, nurturing speech not gossip, truth not fluff, commune not competition, edify not degrade, compliment not compare, fully embracing not being selective.......so many other important basic principles I could list that helps us build and encourage each other, but marinate on this. Who, what or where can we all make a shift to be more of a builder than a breaker? We ALL fall short in this area somewhere and can do better. 

The breaking of someone's spirit can happen in the loudest of ways or very quietly. It can happen in the obvious or subtle. Many times we may even be unaware that we've played a part in putting a crack in someone's spirit; be it by a word, conversation, action, or neglect. 

Even those moments when the Holy Spirit prompts us to move by showing an act of kindness or love yet we dismiss it....that plays a part in the breaking down of one's spirit. Because in that moment, God wanted to MOVE in that person's brokenness to build them up and show them love and He chose us as the vessel; so if we miss it....then what's truly lost in that moment?? Could be that persons healing, breakthrough or moment of joy an encouragement for the day. 

We can all love better, care deeper and build others by simply being MINDFUL not MINDLESS when it comes to those around us. Whether it's your immediate circle or a stranger....be mindful. ALL that we do (and ALL that we DON'T do) has an impact! 

I ask God and anyone I've been mindless to, to forgive me. God helps us to grow and love more like you with every passing day! Amen! ❤️

Who's Leading Anyway???

"We Dance"

His Lead - I Follow

I have a passion for music and dance. I think they are two of the most beautiful gifts ever given to mankind. I've experienced a LOT of dancing in my life. Most of it was not exactly glorifying to God. Perhaps to the men in the clubs or the empty drink left on the bar. But certainly not to God. 

Thanks to many turns of events in my life, I now find myself, my spirit, dancing for ONE. It's the most beautiful, intimate, freeing, life-breathing dancing I've ever experienced. My spirit is never still and HIS dance floor is the only one for me. My spirit is always moving with His rhythm, with His heartbeat. To me, my walk with God has been very much like dancing. Sometimes a beautiful Ballet, other times a fun Salsa, even a Tango from time to time. As with any dance, one leads, one follows. I can't lie, I've not always been the best follower to my partner. I've often stepped on His toes or just fumbled the dance all together. But He always takes me by the hand, lifts my chin, and starts to sway with me again. Fortunately after some rough tumbles and trips, I've learned to allow HIM to lead and have become a much better follower. The thing about dancing with God is, no matter how many times you have to repeat the steps, start over, practice or rest....He never stops taking you by the hand ready and willing to continue His role as lead. 

The most beautiful dance and incredible experience thus far for me, above all else, has been watching promises from God come to pass in my life. I'm not speaking of specific scriptures or promises in the Bible, as incredible and life giving as they are! No, the promises I'm specifically speaking of right now are those most intimate, directly spoken promises made to my spirit from my Father in heaven; those breathed directly into my heart in a such a way there is NO denying who it came from OR that He will bring it to fruition. 

After a conversation today that will set the next leg of my journey in motion, I find myself sitting back and reflecting over the last 10 years and I can see so clearly how everything that has happened in my life, has been to lead me EXACTLY where I stand today on this great dance floor of His. God has spoken to me many times in my life. Caught me during many falls. Encouraged me in many times of fear. Built me up in seasons of growth and taught me priceless lessons of what this journey is truly all about. There have been good times, fruitful times, celebratory times. But there have also been bad times, trying times, stretching times, confusing times, cold times, quiet times......but in EVERY season HE was constant. He gave me His JOY to remind me WHY I'm on this journey to begin with and He gave me HIS strength to carry me through it all. He's given me His supernatural wisdom and discernment to be able  to understand and have peace that it's all strategic, all planned, so that I'd never lose heart in what He was doing in and through me. Have I gotten it all right along the way? Goodness no! But does He turn even my blunders for good? Thank goodness YES! 

Yes, He speaks to me quite often. He'll speak to all of us if we take time to listen. But today, I spent a lot of time in thanksgiving for two very specific and CLEAR times in my life where God TOLD me what He was going to do, in my life and through my life. All I had to do was be a willing servant to the ONE who loves me more than anyone ever will and say "yes" to the ONE who will always have my best interest at heart. 

The first time was about 6 years ago. God was preparing me for one of the most significant and precious things I would ever do on this earth for Him. God spoke through a woman who obviously had the gift of prophecy. He spoke this verse through her: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." I was overcome in the spirit at the same time and while lost in this spiritual realm, I saw a vision. A vision that God wanted me to carry out. TALK ABOUT SCARY! So scary it would be nearly a year before it happened! This vision involved His precious daughters. Loving them, serving them, leading them......what???? Who am "I" oh God??? I'm no one, I'm not able, I'm messed up! But the ONE thing He knew I could do, was love. Love with a relentless, authentic, unconditional deep love. ONLY because of ALL He'd already done in my own life and the love He'd shown me. If I didn't get ANYTHING else, I got the "love" part down. And I fully understood the innermost struggles of a woman. That day began a path that derailed my life from how it previously existed, forever. I began fulfilling this God-breathed vision through the means of a Holy Spirit led group that still exist today for the purpose of loving women to life. Watching His vision unfold and still unfold today in the lives of countless women has been and still is the greatest joy of my spiritual journey thus far. These women have laid hold of His vision and carried it forth in their own arena's of influence. It's moved me, touched me and changed me more than I ever could have imagined. But that's our God, always thinking bigger than we could ever dream. 

Which leads me to the current "song & dance" in my life. 

The second time God spoke to me EVER so clearly happened June of 2014, standing on a cliff in the beautiful country of Northern Ireland, over looking the most majestic scenery I have ever seen. Many of you may have read my blog about it, yep, that same cliff. That experience with my Father will never leave me. 

While I have had the "itching" to go back to school for years in hopes of equipping myself to move on to something I really love to do as opposed to dying in corporate America, I've never stepped out to do it. For many years it was just LIFE in the way. Okay, and I won't lie, some of it was that good ol' fear that I used to love to wrestle with. Still do at times. However, God took me to Ireland to make some things VERY clear to me that I'd been wrestling with. Many full revelations wouldn't come  until months after being home. But ONE was spoken with MOST certainty! God told me I would go back to school; that I would get the education I needed to do ALL He's called me to do. You see, for years, I believed loving on a group of women and watching them go out to spread that love was it! (If you haven't read my blog on "capping" God....it'll explain that a little more). But on this cliff, it was made crystal clear to me that God was not done changing my own personal world, nor was He done using this messed up chic to change the world around her. 

I won't lie, I'm 42. I work full time. I struggle financially. I have little to no free time. Had God told me this  six to 7 years ago, the fear at even the thought of "school" would have crippled me.  But now, after watching Him GIVE vision and FULFILL vision and finally being at a place in my journey where I can SEE the fullness of it ALL, I'm trusting HIM that HE will bring what He says to pass. The past eight months, as I've continued to say "yes" to God, even when I didn't fully understand what He was doing or why, He has removed EVERY obstacle and set me on a straight path that's led me to an education opportunity I would have never found had I been disobedient, doubtful, or fearful; had I said "no". Does it mean I've not felt afraid? No! But I know He is WAY BIGGER than my fear and with Him I can do it anyway! (Philippians 4:13) I can do it afraid! Because His promises, especially the intimate, personal promises given to just us as individuals, HE WILL KEEP and HE WILL MAKE A WAY! Faith is all about BELIEVING GOD will do what He says and doing what HE says you need to do to get there; even IF afraid. 

I am only a couple weeks away from embarking on the next season of my spiritual journey. My peace, joy, and inner strength WILL carry me again. Fear is NO comparison for what God breathes into our spirits! 

In the time following my cliff experience in Ireland and that beautiful revelation I could never adequately describe, a dear friend who was on the mission trip as well approached me. She said God gave her a word for me. My ears perked up and my mind traveled back to all those years ago when the last time someone said this to me, my life changed forever. (Remember, Jeremiah 29:11) As I listened with GREAT anticipation, she said to me: "The Lords says to you, "Remember from whence you came, and fear not where you are to go."

I don't think to this day she even realizes the significance those words would have in my life. Within months, I was left CLINGING to the memories of where I'd come from and all that God had done. It carried me through some very difficult and confusing changes in my life. "Remember from whence you came"....I clung tightly to just that, because had I not, I could have questioned EVERYTHING that was happening, even God, in a way that would not have been healthy. I had to keep my heart focused on ALL He had already done. 

Little did I know the latter part of her words, "and fear not where you are to GO", would be exactly what God was instructing me to do. GO applied in many areas, in many ways to the season I was walking through. He was asking me to GO away from all I've known and  GO into the unknown. The unknown did strike fear, but I have held on to those words, "fear NOT where you are to go". Clinging on to those words, I kept GOing, where ever He said, whenever He said. Not always smiling about it, sometimes feeling lonely about it, confused about it, but GOing anyway. Because His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always better than our own. 

But today, I sit here with a heart so full of gratitude and thanksgiving and love. HE KNOWS far better than I do what I need to do, where I need to be, who I need to glean from, what I need to focus on, areas I need to work on and all that is needed to accomplish me staying on the path that will fulfill the purposes HE has called me to. 

He KNOWS, HE sees, He planned and so He guides. It’s so invigorating and deeply moving that it’s a struggle to maintain my composure at times! I’m literally having a party in my spirit with God every moment of the day anymore! And today, right now, I am moved to my knees as I watch His miraculous ways unfold in my life yet again! I can’t describe it, I can’t convey it, there is just no way to know what I’m saying without experiencing it for yourself. And I hope if you haven’t, that one day you do. NO HIGH has ever been better than the constant high I live on today! I’m so thankful, I’m so humbled. 

In just a couple weeks, I will be going to college to pursue my AA in Ministry then moving on to my BA in Christian Counseling. He said it, I believe it, because I believe HIM. 42, working, struggling, blah blah blah....so what! Those things are NOTHING next to my God! So I keep moving with His rhythm, swaying to the music He whispers in my ear and trusting Him every step of the way.  

Our journeys are NEVER done. Do NOT cap our great God. As long as His spirit is alive within you, the possibilities are endless because HE can do ANYTHING and HE lives in YOU! 

GLORY GLORY GLORY TO MY ALMIGHTY GOD! NONE of this would be possible without HIM! He has moved mountains, opened doors and walked me over EVERY stepping stone I needed to take and moved me through every life transition necessary to bring me where I stand now. He will continue to guide me where I’m headed because the direction is HIS. I don't want to drive my own car...ever, ever again. 

Are you dancing with fear, doubt, lack of courage? Think He can't use you? Think He can't use you? Think there's no purpose or plan for YOUR life? Ohhhhh, my sweet friends, it's just not true. There IS a plan and purpose for you. Read my life verse, but take it a little further: Jeremiah 29:11-13 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." 

He hears you when you pray, and if you seek Him with ALL your heart, you will find Him AND your purpose!

One of my favorite songs is "We Dance" by Bethel Music 

It's the perfect song to describe my love story with my God! If you'd like to hear it, here is a link. 

https://youtu.be/fFfw6OSbUwE

The only thing in this life I would want more than all I've already received is for others to also experience God in the beautiful ways I have. I lift everyone who may ever read this, that they might take a chance and truly LIVE in all God has for them. There is a plan for us ALL, it's our choice whether or not to surrender to it. Truth is, we ALL surrender to "something". Be it the world or God. I can promise you, that surrender to GOD will NEVER return void. I pray you too learn to "dance with Him". 

I love you Lord, my forever dance partner.....

Dena xoxo