Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says The Lord.//Keeping heavenly thoughts in an 'ISIS filled news' world

For it is written, "Vengeance is Mine. I will repay." says the Lord. Romans 12:19b

The Lord is a Man of War: The Lord is His name! -Exodus 15:3

At this point in time, it is safe to say that no one in America has not heard about the rise of ISIS. Thoughts about how we should be handling this particular extreme degree of evil, what action we should take, etc. may vary amongst people, but one thing is for sure, everyone is aware that they do in fact exist and that they are persecuting our brothers and sisters in the Middle East and some from the West as well at an alarming rate.

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night. Nor by the arrow that flies by day. -Psalms 91:5

While it is easy to let our thoughts go towards all the awful things we would like to repay them with and how much we want to obliterate them, what is Heaven calling us to do?

**To be clear, I'm not saying we shouldn't stand up for ourselves and I am very pro "our military going over there and taking them out". I just don't think that alone is the answer. Our world has so many problems and they have been getting increasingly worse over time. We treat the symptoms, not the disease.**

America's problem is we have become numb to reality, numb to the world, and very self absorbed. The phrase, "first world probs", made me laugh at first, but now my husband and I talk about how true and sad it is! We worry about such little and meaningless things, while our fellow sisters and brothers overseas are losing their lives. We take our freedom for granted and whether we are aware of it or not, we do nothing about it.

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. -Romans 8:34

As Christians, we need to be bombarding heaven's gates right now with prayers. God wants us to intercede on behalf of the Middle East! Jesus LIVES to make intercession for us; why won't we intercede like we should for our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted day by day? For an evil like ISIS to fall on their face before a Holy God and turn from their wicked ways? For our government to stop trying to be politically correct and get spiritually correct?

Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. -Hebrews 7:25

Billy Graham's wife once said, "If God doesn't punish America, then he'll have to apologize to Sodom & Gomarrah." As much as I don't want to see His wrath poured out on us, what choice are we leaving Him? It's easy to think, "I'm living my life the way I should; there's nothing else I can do." That is a lie from the pits of hell.

...For we are not naive to Satan's schemes. -2 Corinthians 2:11b

We can always do more. We can always pray more. Every last one of us. Even the most fervent prayer warriors can always increase in Him. Satan wants us to believe that there is nothing we can do. He wants us to keep our heads buried in the sand. But again, we are not ignorant of his devices. We need to be flooding heaven with prayers. 

I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing. -1 Timothy 2:8

What should we be praying for specifically you ask? How do we pray for such evil? As hard as it may be, pray for ISIS. Pray that they will have such a revelation and encounter with The One true God, The Holy One of Israel. Pray that they will fall on their face before Him, the holiest of holiest, and will repent and turn from their wicked ways. This isn't always an easy thing to pray for, but even ISIS isn't beyond redemption or saving. 

Bless them that curse you and pray for them that persecute you. -Luke 6:28

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Luke 5:32

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. -1 Timothy 1:15b

Pray for our government. Pray for our pastors and our churches. Change has to come from the inside out. 

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. -1 Timothy 2:1-4

Pray for the Holy Spirit to fall on the Middle East! Pray for our brothers and sisters: for peace that can only come from The Prince of Peace, for comfort that can only come from The Holy Spirit, for endurance and strength to keep fighting the fight that can only come from our Redeemer, and for a shield of protection that can only come from The Lord Almighty.

My Redeemer, THE LORD ALMIGHTY is His name, is The Holy One of Israel. -Isaiah 47:4

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. -Matthew 5:4

Pray the blood of the Lamb over your family by name and over your house. Satan and his demons cannot go where the blood of the Lamb is!

For they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb. -Revelation 12:11

Pray, pray, pray! He desires this of us! He WILL answer us! We must pray with confidence that He will be faithful and answer us when we ask in the name of Jesus!

But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord. -James 1:6-7

I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. -John 14:13-14

For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations. -Isaiah 56:7b

This awful state of our world doesn't mean we just give up and throw in the towel. We keep the fight until Jesus comes back for us! In the meantime, we pray for as many souls to be saved, as many hearts to come to know Him as possible.

The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self controlled, so that you can pray. -1 Peter 4:7

The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One WILL save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing. -Zephaniah 3:17

There is coming a day very soon where they will be no more war, no more sadness, no more pain. Regardless whether they acknowledge His deity now, one thing is for sure, they WILL bow then. Let us pray for them to recognize Jesus' deity here, so their souls can be saved. 

For it is written, as I live, says The Lord, every knee shall bow to me and every tongue will confess to God. -Revelation 14:11

That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things on earth, and things under the earth. -Philippians 2:10

He shall judge between the nations, and rebuke many people; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. -Isaiah 2:4

Put your faith in the God who has always been! It is by His will that we were created, that everyone on this earth was created, and He is in control. Let us do our part now!

Arise, shine, for your light has come and the glory of The Lord has risen upon you. Deep darkness covers the peoples. -Isaiah 60:1-2a

And they do not rest day or night saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" -Revelation 4:8b

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things and by Your will they exist and were created. -Revelation 4:11

"To Our God" by Bethel

Up from the ashes Your love has brought us
Out of the darkness into the light
Lifting our sorrows
Bearing our burdens healing our hearts

To our God we lift up one voice
To our God we lift up one song
To our God we lift up one voice
Singing Hallelujah

Chains have been broken eyes have been opened
An army of dry bones is starting to rise
Death is defeated
We are victorious for You are alive
Hallelujah Hallelujah

We'll make His praise glorious glorious, glorious
For His name is glorious, glorious, glorious
Make His praise glorious, glorious, glorious
Shout His name Glorious, Glorious, Glorious

Watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzZmE5Ngeqo

A Life Changing Weekend // Trip to PA to visit Andy & Leigh

Ever since our cousins, Andy & Leigh, and their two sweet girls, Norah and Elyse, moved away, we have missed them dearly. We are so happy for them and what they are doing in The Lord's name up in PA at YWAM, but we miss them nonetheless. We went up to visit them this past weekend and I also took a doula/childbirth educator course intensive through goMidwife and got certified while I was there also (more on that in another blog post). While we had been dying to see them and wanted an excuse to come visit, the "excuse" that arose was this doula class! I had been wanting to become a doula for quite some time and when Leigh told me about this opportunity, I was thrilled! I could go up there, take this course, spend time with them, see their church, meet their newest sweet baby Taylor, etc. What a great opportunity! Seriously, how could things work out any more perfectly?

Initially, Zach was not going to come. He was going to stay home with Mason and go fishing. I was going to take Savannah and Gavin and my good friend, Michelle, was going to come with me too and also take the doula course. I started to think that this may be the last time Zach would be able to see his cousin, Andy, for a long time, and that he really should come with us too. I explained this to him and also that I wanted Mason to see Elyse, etc. He didn't immediately say okay and he wanted to come, but I knew he likely was going to end up coming and that made me happy. I did really want him to see his cousin and I also really wanted him to see where they live and go to church. Although seemingly coincidentally, it definitely was not, Leigh called me shortly after I talked to Zach about how he should come and said the same thing! I told her I would get him to come and I wanted him to come too. I went to Zach again and relayed Leigh and my conversation to him. He agreed that he should go.

So on Friday, Zach, the kids, Michelle, and I all started our trip to Harrisburg, PA. It was a pretty easy drive. It was just shy of 7 hours, which after many 15 hour drives to Texas, this was a breeze!
When we got there, we had to immediately drop Zach off at the church, Life Center Ministries, which is directly across from Andy & Leigh's house, because Zach was going to play in the band with Andy from 7-9pm for the 24 house of prayer. We dropped him off and went to the house to see Leigh & the kids. After eating a quick dinner and sweetly reuniting, we all drove over to the church together to worship and watch the guys play.

I was in awe and so moved at the 24 hour house of prayer. The presence of The Holy Spirit was so incredibly tangible in that room.

I looked up at my husband playing drums with the band and for the first time ever, he too looked moved while he was playing. He just had that look on his face like he was just taking it all in. I sat in a blissful state watching my kids dance around so sweetly with their cousins to the music and also watched a beautiful young girl dancing freely with her wrap to the music. It was so amazing to watch her be moved by the Spirit in that way and not care at all what anyone thought of her doing so.

When Zach and Andy's two hour segment was done and they and the rest of the band walked off, Leigh, Michelle, and I walked over to meet them. Zach just looked at me and said, "that was amazing!" I whole heartedly agreed. I told him I had never seen him appear so moved while he was playing. He said, "that's because I haven't. Those people were truly worshipping and they were worshipping in a way I have never experienced." I just smiled and felt immense joy. This was what I had been waiting for.

A little over a year ago, I encountered the presence of The Holy Spirit for the first time. I was in a dark place after my Mam-ma died and while in her church, I was surrounded by The Holy Spirit and His love. I realized right then and there that while I believed in God and knew more about God and the Bible than most people, I had strictly head knowledge and not heart knowledge. I had lived my entire life without encountering His Spirit, His Holy Spirit. My life was forever changed. (I will have to do a separate post with the story in its entirety later.) All this time though, I have been waiting for my husband to experience this as well. It was very evident to me that he was in the same place now that I had been in up until August 2013. He too believed in God and grew up learning about Him, but he did not know The Holy Spirit and that was very evident to me as his wife. I gently tried to talk to him about it several times and more importantly, I prayed for him constantly. I knew that it was going to take more than me gently bringing the issue up to him; it was going to take something supernatural.

All day Saturday, I was in my doula class with Michelle and Zach was with Andy & Leigh and all the kids. He worked on their heater some. They all picked me and Michelle up for lunch and I nursed Gavin during that time also. I tell you all this to point out how low key the weekend was for Zach. He picked Michelle and me up at 5 and we all went back to the house and ate dinner. After dinner, Zach made his famous cider that Leigh had requested he make long before we even actually made our way driving to PA. After putting the older kids to bed. we all sat down in the living room and talked while Leigh and I nursed our babies. They told us some amazing supernatural stories of things they experienced The Holy Spirit do while they were overseas in Nepal. We thoroughly enjoyed hearing all these stories and were in awe of what they had been fortunate enough to witness The Holy Spirit do. We decided to watch the movie The Holy Ghost together. Zach had to go outside and get his computer charger (we were watching it on the computer) and what happened next, coupled with the seemingly small, yet so supernatural, events that happened prior, changed Zach, my husband, forever. 

I am going to paste his story that he wrote to Andy after we got home below, because I think it's important for my readers to read it from his point of view. I have edited and removed a few personal details of the message that were too personal and did not need to be shared. Everything else is exactly as he wrote it though.

I'm reading the book "The Forgotten God." Actually I'm listening to the audio book ($8 on audible) I am just blown away by how much I have missed out on all of my life! I have never felt the power of the Holy Spirit until this weekend. I have always thought it was impossible to walk in righteousness. I would pray and read my Bible but there was never a passion and fullness to my walk with God. I would inevitable just stop reading my Bible and I would stop praying altogether for months at a time because everything just seemed so pointless! I talked about my problems to a few people but none ever revealed the power of the Holy Spirit to me. I was told that I didn't understand the power of the Cross and that I didn't understand the love of God, which was partly true. But... The problem was that I have never understood the power of the Holy Spirit. I have only been taught that the Holy Spirit is like a conscience that tells us what we should and shouldn't do. I have always thought that if that is all that God gave us as a parting gift.... well.... It was LAME.

Over the past couple of months God has really been preparing me for this weekend. I have had a feeling that there was something more that I just didn’t understand. Brittani has been hounding me about my lack of passion about life, and my disinterest in God. It got me thinking more and more about God and trying to figure out what I was missing. I spent hours just trying to figure out what the missing piece was. I wasn't supposed to go with Britt this last weekend. I was going to go fishing with Mason all weekend. Brittani called me at work one day and told me that she thought I needed to go with her.... I wasn't happy. I told her I would think about it even though I knew in my heart that I needed to go. Then she said Leigh called and suggested that I should go too. I knew there was no getting out of it then! lol

In the days leading up to the trip I could feel God preparing me for something, but I didn't know what it was. I could just tell that It was going to be life changing. I don't know how I knew it, I could just feel it in my heart.

The night we played at the prayer meeting I was hesitant to chime in and play 1) because I was a little nervous and 2) I was just in awe of those ladies heartfelt worship. I could just see that they were communicating with their God. That was so different than what I am used to.

It all came together during our evening talks. God was using you to reveal the missing piece I have spent my life up to this point neglecting to see. I saw the true gift that God left behind for believers. It is so much more than a simple good angel on my shoulder telling me what’s right. There is true power in the Holy Spirit! I mean there is an overwhelming, life altering, and healing power in the Holy Spirit! It all makes perfect sense now!

(Background)
I have allowed the Devil to use some family drama as a tool to destroy me. I have never felt so much hate and bitterness. That hate and bitterness became my religion. I woke up with it and spent time with it all throughout the day. I even went to bed thinking about it. The devil had systematically removed every good thing in my life and replaced with so many evil things to the point that I sincerely didn’t think I could ever recover. I knew that evil was targeting me because every time I would start to climb out of my pit of sin he would hurl so much stuff at me that I would lose heart and fall back into the pit.

(Back to the story)

Right before we watched the movie “Holy Ghost” I was just floored. I could finally see the way that God intended my life to be lived. I could see how all of my hopelessness and bitterness could be remedied by living in the Spirit. It was so simple!

You asked me to go grab my computer cord out of the car. As I was walking to the door to go get my charger I was thanking God for revealing to me a completely new understanding of the world. I opened the door of your house and stepped outside. Every hair on my body stood on end. I could literally FEEL evil all around me. I stopped for a second and got enough balls to walk to the car. On the way to the car I could see a dark face out of the corner of my eye just floating with no body along side me. I got to the car and grabbed the charge and closed my eyes and the words you spoke minutes before came to my mind “We don’t focus on the darkness, we focus on the light.” I walked back to the house and I could still see that dark face following beside me. I kept saying, “we focus on the light, we focus on the light” over in my head. I opened the door and literally jumped in the house! The hairs on my body immediately relaxed! The powers of evil are useless against a house full of the Holy Spirit. I became SO acutely aware of the battle that we are fighting in.

Ephesians 6:12 “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

I don’t know if you could tell, but after I came in to bring you the charger I was absolutely wigged out. I have never been so freaked out in my life. The chains of the devil had been broken, I was free, and the devil was pissed. It took me about 10 minutes to calm down enough to actually be excited. The knowledge of the Holy Spirit changed my life and the futures of my children., and that pissed off hell. I don’t think this is the last time satan will be pissed at me.

The last couple of days I have felt so filled with the Holy Spirit. In the past My experiences with God felt very fleeting, but This is different. There is no way to go back after you have seen and felt the Holy Spirits power.

 I was watching Zach intently while we were talking and visiting with Andy & Leigh and I was filled with such joy because of what I saw. I knew he was filled with The Holy Spirit and I knew his heart and life were changing. When I heard about what happened when he went outside to get the charger, I was further reminded myself of how powerful The Holy Spirit is. For the forces of hell to feel threatened in such a way that they are going to physically send a demon on a failed attempt to attack him, the power of The Holy Ghost IS real. It is so eery and real to me that the house with all of us in it was off limits to hell and its demons. They could not enter because the Spirit was there and also dwelt within each of us inside. However, that did not stop it from lurking outside just waiting for Zach to come outside fragile and vulnerable, young in the sense of his relationship with The Holy Ghost. They were too late, however, and powerless against the power of The Holy Spirit that had recently taken residence inside of my husband. This attempted attack just made him further realize the true power of The Holy Spirit.

We went to church the next morning with Andy & Leigh and were again, just floored by the overwhelming, very tangible presence of The Holy Spirit in that place. Worship there was not a show, it was not about talents, it was not about anything but God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. They were worshipping in such a way that it was as if no one was in the room- just each person and their God. We worshipped God together in a way like never before that morning. We were both, along with so many others, absolutely consumed by The Holy Spirit.

At one point while we were worshipping, the young lady leading said, "lift your hands high up to the heavens and feel the power of The Holy Spirit run through you from your arms all the way through you." I described it later to Zach as an eery tingling feeling all the way from my fingertips that then traveled throughout my entire body. Zach described it as his whole body being on fire. A few seconds later that same lady said, "Do you feel that? That is the power of The Holy Spirit running through you." You may be wondering why the presence of The Holy Spirit was felt so heavily here and not in many other churches? The Holy Spirit was invited there, He was welcome there, He was desired there, He was BELIEVED in there. When church first began and the worship first started, that same lady said, "we invite The Holy Spirit into this place. We invite him to flood this entire place and consume each and every one of us." Literally, like clockwork, it was like a wave of energy ran through the building. That energy was The Holy Spirit Himself.

I am overwhelmed while writing this now by the power of The Holy Spirit and can literally feel Him running throughout my entire body. I know He is going to use this to bless someone or many, change someone's life or multiple people's lives, just as our's have been changed.

If you have never encountered the love of The Holy Spirit and His presence, ask yourself why? Are you somewhere that the Spirit is not welcome, is not invited, is not really even believed in or taken seriously? Sure you and those around you may "believe" that the Spirit exists, but like my husband, do you not really understand what The Holy Spirit is? I know we have been in MANY churches that the Spirit simply is NOT there. There are various reasons the Spirit may not be present in a church. Again, He may not really be welcome there, He may not have been invited into there, He may not be really sought out or desired by those there, etc. You may be thinking, The Holy Spirit is God, He can do anything; He does not have to actually be invited. You are right; He CAN do anything, but why would he want to come into a place where He is not invited or desired? Where the congregation thinks they do not need Him and that they are doing just fine the way things are? Why do you think when people go overseas they experience so many supernatural things that can ONLY be explained by the power of The Holy Spirit, but SO many people never experience those kinds of things over here in The West? Because those people over there are DESPERATE for Him! They want Him! They yearn for Him! We in the West, however, are so worried about people liking us and liking our church, being hip, being politically correct, etc. and we are not craving the power of The Holy Spirit in our lives! James 2:19 says, "Thou believest that there is one God; Thou doest well: The devils also believe, and tremble." Believing is not all there is! The demons believe and they TREMBLE at His name!! That is more than can be said for a lot of "Christians".

Once you truly encounter The Holy Spirit, you will know, because you will never ever be the same. When The Spirit consumes you, there is no going back. You just cannot go back to stagnation when you know that kind of power and love.

"Hope fills my soul 
The love that You've shown
Bring refreshing like the rain
Peace floods my heart
I've known nothing apart
Apart from Your goodness, God

You are glorious
You are holy, holy
The heavens shout
You are worthy, worthy

Your love frees my soul
And fear has no hold
For You have broken the chains
Now joy fills my life
Your Spirit, Your Light
I'm undone by the kindness of Christ

You are glorious
You are holy, holy
The heavens shout
You are worthy, worthy
My soul cries out
You are holy, holy
The nations will shout
You are worthy, worthy

At the sound of our praise
The Heavens will shake 
And the earth will move"

"Glorious"-Jesus Culture

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkwE7SGZNV4

My One Word 2014

As we neared the New Year, I began to think about what my one word should be for 2014. I wanted it to be something really good, something that would truly make me a much better person throughout the year. I began seeking clarity from God on what this one thing should be. It was not long before I had my one word and knew without a doubt it was the most important thing I could work on this year.

My One Word for 2014 is Rid.

Philippians 4:8 says, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be praise, think on these things."

I want to rid myself, my life, my thoughts, my words, and my actions of anything negative, unholy, or not pure. This means no negative talk, no negative thoughts, no negative anything! If I am sensing myself getting frustrated with someone and just simply thinking negative things alone in my home, I immediately stop what I am doing and begin to pray that God will rid my mind of these thoughts and help my to focus on something more positive today. ....And you know what? I can proudly say it is working! My Mam-ma used to always tell me that most people's problem is they won't ask God for help because they think it is either something too small or too unimportant that it would be silly to ask God for help with it, when in all reality, we should be asking God for help with anything and everything. She used to really emphasize to me also how we should pray specifically for what we need. Don't be vague with God! He is our Rock and anything we do will be easier and smoother with His help and guidance. It is amazing to me how easy it is to rid myself of all things negative when I just simply stop what I am doing and ask Him for help.

Matthew 7:7 says, "Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

I hope you will join me on this journey this New Year with whatever your One Word may be as well. May we all be able to encourage one another in bettering ourself through Him.