Minding My Own Business

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
Matthew 6:27 NIV

About a month ago, give or take a week, the Spirit of Prophecy (http://ft111.com/ ) had a word that really resonated with me.  In it, the Lord talked about anxiety.  He said that we should view anxiety as something outside of our boundaries; something we do not have any right to entertain.  The Lord said His children need to understand that anxiety is none of our business.  I laughed out loud when I read it.  I felt spanked and relieved at the same time! 

This meant I did not have to be anxious about anything anymore because it was not a part of my life.  I also felt like God was telling me to knock off all the worrying I’d been doing because it was wasting my time and His. 

 

Lately, I’ve been making a conscious effort to remind myself to mind my own business.  You see, my business does not include anxiety in any way.  It’s definitely a process to get to where He’s calling us, but well-worth it.  The circumstances of life still exist.  However, the peace and calm I’ve been able to tap into during times of pressure help me want to mind my own business daily!

I just had to tell somebody.

Peace be with you…

 

India N. Keith

In Your Element

Let the LORD be magnified, which has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.
Psalm 35:27b

Recently, I have been in awe of the many abilities of God’s people.  My husband and I watched a track and field competition the other week.  I think the athletes were trying to qualify for the Olympics.  To see the women and men move around that track as naturally as if they were breathing was beautiful.  And then I saw the contestants on So You Think You Can Dance.  The young men and women were so graceful and agile.  They could do things with the human body most of us will never do in a lifetime.  Over the weekend I watched HGTV.  There is this show called Cash and Cari.  This woman re-purposes items and facilitates estate sales for the living.  At one point she talked about what she does and I tell you her eyes were gleaming.  The joy she described as she searched through dark, dirty, cellars, basements, barns, etc for a gem was just beautiful.  Cari set a goal of how much she anticipated the estate sales to make at the start of each show and never fell short of her goal.  It must have been a marathon because I had to watch half a dozen episodes or so.  I’m not one for antique shopping and the like, but I was captivated by how well she did what she did.  I could not stop watching.

I’ve heard people say a person is in their element.  I’ve even said it myself.  I’m not sure I really stopped to think about what that means.  Nevertheless, I’ve been getting a wake up call.  I really hear God speaking loudly to me about doing what you do best and loving it.  God is proud when He sees us doing what He gifted us to do in an excellent way.  It wasn’t that I have never seen a person run a race or watched people dance before.  What struck me and still plays in my mind is the perfection of the gift.  The athletes, dancers and designer had developed their gift to such an extent the gift had become alive. God loves to see this.  God is happy when we are prospering in our gifts.

Doing what God has gifted me to do with excellence is something I’m working toward.  And, considering I’m not alone in this pursuit, I will be successful.  I just have to keep perfecting the gift.  I know those women didn’t wake up one morning and run 400 meters in less than 2 minutes and those dancers didn’t learn to glide effortlessly through the air in one day.  It took practice and years of it for some.  I shouldn’t think I will be excellent without practice either.  Practice, in some cases, does make perfect.  I’ve seen it.

Peace be with you…

India N. Keith

Creating Your World

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV

You know how God has been telling us He would like us to enjoy the pleasure of life.  I have been trying to figure out how I get to that point and still complete everything I need to get done for my family and ministry and myself.  Well, this morning it became very clear.  One can not have freedom with out planning it first.  It seemed a bit oxymoronish, but it is true.

You see I realized this morning that my day goes by so fast and I don’t get anything accomplished if I have no plan.  This may seem elementary to some of you, but it was a real eye opener for me.  I have to make sure I have a plan for each and every day if I want to enjoy the freedom of life my way. 

I simply can not afford to waste my time.  Otherwise, I feel like I miss out on all the fun stuff because I have so much housework to do or I’m feeling guilty for basking in the rays while my kitchen sink is full of dishes.  I am finding that to create the life I want, I must view my housewife and mother duties as a full-time job. 

When I worked outside of the home, I knew what the days looked like.  I had a start and end time to my day, I had deadlines-some self-imposed others given to me.  I knew how to finish what needed to be finished by the deadlines.  It was a dancing game some days, but it was fun.  I enjoyed the programs I had the opportunity to create and the people I encountered in my role.  Of course, there were parts of the job that I did not like very much, but you get that with any job.

So it is with my new life.  All of the same rules apply just in a different arena.  I must have a start and end to my day.  I must pace myself so as to get what needs to be done completed in a timely fashion.

To be successful and enjoy the pleasures of life there are four things I must have in my tool box:  Organization, Discipline, Efficiency and Consistency.  Without these four traits I can not enjoy the good life.

My world requires me to organize my days projects, be disciplined enough to complete them when I don’t feel like it, be efficient enough to get things done during my babies 20 minute naps and consistently start and end each day with prayer.

As Paul said, I’m not there yet, but I’m better than I used to be.

Hope you are too!

Peace be with you…

India N. Keith

Time Well Spent

I woke up this morning with a message from the Lord.  He is concerned about how we are spending our time.  It’s not that we’re not busy doing things.  We are very busy.  He wants us to know we are too busy to enjoy the time He has given us.

As I was contemplating all of this I popped a movie in the DVD player called Eat Pray Love.  Julia Roberts stars as the main character Liz.  The book has to be phenomenal because the movie gripped me from the first scene.  God really wanted me to watch this movie this morning.  I learn from movies.  I also learn from books.  These are the two surest ways for me to get a point and He knows it.

His message to us today is about our time and what we should be doing with it.  These are some of the things that please Him…

Be Your Real Self

We spend so much time focused, even consumed, by the mundane, energy-sapping trappings of a commercial life.  But, is it really the life we want or the life someone said we were supposed to have?  There is a line in the movie Eat Pray Love where the main characters love interest tells her to stop waiting for something to happen.  That is so true!  How many times do we sit around waiting for something to happen instead of going out and making it happen?  You create the life you want with each moment you live.  You decide your life by what you do with your time.  Make good use of your time.  We’re all unique and created to marvel in that uniqueness.  People say Christians are boring.  Maybe we are, but we’re not supposed to be.  We’re supposed to give ourselves to our own personality.  My way of living doesn’t have to look like yours.  It just has to have one singular purpose; to glorify God.  How we do that is our choice to make. 

Failing Wonderfully!

I’m loving my life right now.  It’s the life I asked God for and He gave it to me.  I must add that I did ask Him for His will over my will just in case I was not listening very well!  I’ve learned that His will for my life is so much better than anything I could think of for myself.  So, when I saw an opportunity to do what I wanted with my life, I took it.  I could have kept waiting to do what I’m doing now.  I tried it once before and failed miserably.  But, like the medicine man said in Eat Pray Love “Ruin is a gift.  Ruin is the road to transformation.”  I would not be where I am now if I had not experienced a form of ruin in the past.    Yes, it did transform my life.  I did not embrace all of the experience when deep in the heart of the work of the transformation.  I actually cried and fretted a lot.  Now I see how much it was necessary to my growth.  In the book On Becoming A Leader, Warren Bennis interviews a successful leader Marty Kaplan.  Kaplan attributes much of his success to his ability to have an “appetite for experience.”  He goes on to say that one needs to have “…a kind of fearlessness and optimism and confidence, and you’re not afraid of failure.”  You see--failing is a perfectly good use of your time!

Selfless Devotional Work

What’s yours?  Our time should be spent doing something for others.  We are supposed to help someone in need.  How we help is up to us.  Opening our hearts to hear what that is from our source, our creator, is an excellent use of our time.  If you are already listening, good for you!  If not, give it try.  Your whole life will be better for it.  And, you just might make a world of difference in somebody’s life.

God says to us today: use your time wisely.  Don’t waste it. Cherish it.  Love it.  Enjoy it.  I give it to you for your pleasure.  Time is what you make of it.  Make it good!

Peace be with you,

India N. Keith

His Day

 

I had an interesting experience yesterday.  I was planning what I was going to do for the day, which was basically give the house an overhaul, when I got up to get started and heard “No.”  I stopped for a second to make sure I heard this and then I heard “This is My day.”  Okay, I thought Lord.  Well, what am I supposed to do on your day.  He said, “Sit down.”  From that point forward, at different points throughout the day, He shared with me what He wanted me to be doing.  God instructed me to clean on Monday.  He wanted me to rest, watch World Harvest Live, play with the kids, not watch TV, spend time outside, eat dinner at the table as a family and enjoy the day. 

I guess the thing that threw me was that what He wanted me to do seemed like a lot of play when I had so much housework to do.  I was thinking that getting the house in order for my family was giving Him glory when it was actually not His hearts desire for me.  What I learned as the day went on was that He wanted me to worship Him with my time.   God desired for me to seek Him first to learn how He wanted me to spend my time and then go worship Him His way.

Yesterday was a great reminder that we can get really busy thinking we are doing something for the Lord when we are actually far off base.  He has a plan for us everyday, but especially on His Day.

Have you asked Him how He wants you to worship Him on His Day?  Not just during your church services, but before and after church service.

I learned that the whole entire day is important to Him. 

Peace be with you…

India

LOVE IS...

I Corinthians 13:4-8 NIV

Love:

• Is Patient
• Is Kind
• Rejoices with the Truth
• Always Protects
• Always Trusts
• Always Hopes
• Always Perseveres
• Never Fails

Love is not:

• Envious
• Boastful
• Proud
• Rude
• Self-seeking
• Easily Angered
• Keeping Record of Wrongs
• Delightful in Evil

Do a heart check today.  Which are you more of?  If you are more of Love is not, Love more.  If you are more of Love, Love more.

I know there are easy people to love and then there are the hard ones.  We must love them both.  Without this most important character trait, we can win the Nobel Peace Prize and still not bring joy to the Father’s heart.

If you love Him, love them.

I’m doing a heart check today.  I hope you do to.

Peace be with you,

India N. Keith

When You Know That You Know

Good morning everyone!

It's been a while!  I've missed writing to you and sharing what the Lord has put on my heart.  Well, when my eyes popped open this morning the meditation of my heart included this message to you.


I'm sure there are people out there who will relate to this message. I really hope it hits home with you as it did with me. So, anyway, I have been noticeably absent from this blog. If you read it, you know this. I have been struggling with the issues of life. You see about four months ago I made a decision that has changed my life. It was a significant decision for me and my family. I decided to stay home and raise our newborn baby. It was something I always wanted to do prior to getting married. My husband and I talked about it and he agreed.
 

My husband was onboard with this decison, that is, before marriage and two house mortgages and three car payments started staring us in the face. We tried to figure out ways to manage it all and have our family. Great ideas where thrown around. I even visited a work daycare center and took a tour asking a million questions about my baby's safety, development, etc. I asked family members to care for my child while I worked full-time. Yet, in my heart, I knew none of these things were what I was supposed to do. I knew that I was supposed to quit my job and raise my child myself. My husband and I talked and talked (with loud voices and not so nice facial expressions at times! ;) ) about this issue throughout my entire pregnancy. I gave in to the pressure and we decided on the daycare at my work. I was never comfortable with this and always told him so. After the baby was born and I was home with him, I just kept looking at him and thinking how could I give his life over to someone else? How could I leave his little soul for someone else to speak into, to tell him who he is, to teach him about my Heavenly Father? How could I put myself before his needs? He needed me. He didn't ask me to have him. I decided to create this life with my husband and his life was now our responsibility. Raising my son was what God wanted me to do. I asked God over and over if I could leave my job and stay home with the baby. He said "yes." The rest would be a faith walk.
 

Some faith walks are a breeze. Others make you break out in a sweat. And then there are those that require you to know that you know that God has told you to do something. This is one of those faith walks for me. This is one of those times where I have started on a journey and I can not turn back. I don't know all the specifics, but I know it is bigger than me and requires me to fulfill it. I must know that I know even when it gets tough. This awareness that God's ways are not our ways must permeate my soul and hold me up when I get weak.
 

I am about to share details of my journey. This is my journey. This post is about my faith walk. Please hear me loud and clear. This is about my direction from God. Please do not be angry with me because I have chosen to listen to God.


A few weeks before it was time for me to go back to work, I decided I couldn't do it. I had to quit. My supervisor was so gracious with me. I am forever grateful for her kindness. She made it easy because she understood my plight. She let me leave with my dignity in tact. Thank you Lori McKenzie!


Since that time, it has been a beautifully difficulty journey. My husband is still trying to cope with it all. I am doing my best to be a great wife and mother. Our eldest is about to start kindergarten in the Fall and our youngest just turned six months old! I love my life. Eventhough it has been hard, and I mean H-A-R-D, I would not give this up. I've had to make real sacrifices that have hurt my flesh. I just keep reminding myself that I'm supposed to die daily so I must be doing something right!
 

I will tell you that the hardest part of this has not been giving up my nice income and the material things it bought for me. The hardest part has been dealing with what others have said about me. I struggle with trying to justify my decision to people who do not understand. There are quite a few. Some of them have told me to go back to work and make some money. It was getting to the point where I started to believe all the negativity around me. I know this because during my prayer time yesterday, I heard myself repeat an ugly comment someone I love had made to me. I quickly repented, but realized the ugliness was getting to me. I was beginning to feel condemnation for doing what I knew God had told me I was supposed to do. Let me tell you, this is a horrible feeling. You feel almost trapped and wondering what in the world is going on. But, God!
 

Last night, after a particularly rough day, my husband and I were up late watching tv. I turned on TBN and Pastor Fred Price from Ever Increasing Faith Ministries was preaching about marriage and the role of husbands and wives. He touched on material possessions and wanting them at the expensive of your children. He talked about the husband's role as provider for the wife and the wife's role as caretaker of the home. He discussed when these roles are not fulfilled and how it is generally due to wanting cars and homes and other material items. He said God designed marriage for men to bring in the finances and women to care for the children and home. He also said there are circumstances where the women must fulfill both roles because the man has not fulfilled his responsibility. God understands this. However, in situations where there is a husband and wife and a choice, the choice should always be the children. Pastor Price said there will always be a new car out there and homes are being built everyday. But, what will you say if your children turn out to be less than God designed because you wanted the house and car more?
 

I tell you at this point I almost cried! I had to stop my tears. This was the exact thing I have been trying to say to all those who downgrade me for choosing my children over my house and my car. I know God told me to do what I am doing. I know in my heart, my mind, my soul and every fiber of my being. I am on the path God has set before me. I am walking out His directions day by day as best I know how. I don't know what the path looks like three steps down, but I know what this step I'm on looks like and what it requires. Stormie Omartian wrote a book titled, "Just Enough Light for the Step I'm On." Read it. It will help If you are following a path God has put you on and others don't understand. Ok, you don't even really understand the significance of all of it! This book helps you deal with the, I'll call it, "the situational blindness."
 

I've learned many lessons in the last four months. Some of them I enjoyed. Others I really, really disliked. One lesson I learned is that following God will cost you something. For me, it has been material things. I am giving up my house and my car so that I can do what God has asked me to do. The decision to sell these things instead of going back to work so I can pay for them was painful. I have enjoyed both of these things for years! I mean I worked hard for them. But, they are nothing compared to what God has asked me to do for my little boy.
 

I also learned that when God asks you to sacrifice your will for His will, He does not mean you have to sacrifice your dignity. People have tried to take my dignity from me because they do not agree with my following God's directions for my life. I learned not to let them. My dignity is mine and they can only have it if I give it away. I'm not giving it away anymore. I'm not asking for their approval or for them to understand. I don't need them to understand. I just need to obey God and leave the results up to Him.
 

One of the greatest lessons I learned was a reminder. I subscribe to a daily word called The Spirit of Prophecy by Bill and Marsha Burns. I recommend this word to everyone! I'm including the link to the latest one. You can subscribe to it from there. http://ft111.com/.
 

A while back, I don't really remember how long ago, it could be a couple years; The Spirit of Prophecy had a word from God that really uplifted me because of what was going on my life. The word said that when you are doing what is right you do not need to defend yourself. You do not need to do this because righteousness needs no defense. God will vindicate you. Watching Pastor Price last night was God reminding me He will fight all of my battles if I let Him. I have decided to let Him.


So, this morning I awoke with a renewed, refreshed and restored confidence in what my God has asked me to do. The best part is I can stop defending myself!
 

My Daddy reminded me that I don't have to! :)
 

Peace be to you,

India

For the Single Ladies #5

After I knew for certain to whom God had giving me as a wife, I was lead to purchase Stormie Omartians Power of a Praying Wife.  I was then lead to get a prayer partner with whom I could pray and believe for my mate.  My prayer partner was in a similar situation in that she knew to whom she was to marry as well.  We prayed nightly for our spouses from the prayers in the book.  We prayed for 30 days, fasted and spent a lot of time in the presence of God.  We said different prayers each night.  Some of them became nightly prayers to cover our husbands.  Once the 30 days were up we repeated the prayers until we were instructed by God to take another step.  My prayer partner and I prayed the same prayers in the book together each night.  However, during this process, it became clear that our faith walks were in different areas for our husbands.  You will find that what you need to walk through with your mate will be different than what others have to deal with in their relationships.  This is where you will live by your daily word from God.  God’s personal revelations to you about what is happening with your mate, how you are to respond and when you are to act will be vital to the success of your relationship.  You may encounter highs and lows as you navigate through this stage.  Be ready.  Translation:  Be prayed up!

It may seem weird to pray for a man you are not married to in the natural realm as if he is your husband.  But, nothing happens in the natural realm that has not already happened in the spiritual realm.  If God has told you this person is your spouse, the marriage has already taken place in the spirit.  You are waiting for it to manifest itself in the natural realm.  This knowledge is not for you to get ahead of yourself.  Until you say “I do” in the natural realm, you are not to engage in marital relations.

Your prayer and worship time during this phase of the process will become intense and beautiful.  It will be the last days that you are able to just focus on your relationship with your heavenly father.  Once you are married, you have to add another relationship to the daily prayer time.  Please do not do what I did.  Do not stop your daily time with God once you receive the gift God has for you.  I’ve heard it said many times by women who have been married for any length of time that what you do to get a man is what you’ll have to do to keep him.  This is true for your prayer life and the health of your marriage relationship.  If you had to pray and spend time in the presence of God to get him, you have to do the same to keep him.  Maybe even more than before because now you know about all of his flaws!

One important thing to remember is that your prayers are not meant to control your mate or God.  Your prayers are meant to move all of heaven and earth to act in your favor.  To bring about God’s intended outcome.  You have decided to align your will with His and your prayers help keep you on track.  Your worship time helps you stay in tune with God and aware of what He wants for you.  Never give this up.  Your relationship depends on it not to mention your personal joy.

Keep in mind this process is not magic.  It is a faith walk.  Do you believe and trust that God will send you a mate?  Do you have faith in how God asks you to relate to this man while you are yet to marry?  Are you able to put aside what the world says and do what God says no matter what it looks like?  If so, you will be successful in your faith walk.  Enjoy the process and your final single days!

Peace be with you…

India

For the Single Ladies #4

Dating is such a common thing to do that we don’t really think about how we do it. There is actually a right and a wrong way to date for a believer. Besides the basic no sex standard, I wasn’t sure what else believers did or didn’t do when they were dating. When I was single I picked up the tape series I mentioned last week by Taffi Dollar and remembered a couple of principles that made a lot of sense. There were two that stuck with me. The first being that dating does not mean you spend a lot of time alone with your interest during the courting period. Doing so sets you up for temptation to rear it’s ugly head. It is so much harder to get out of a tempting situation than it is to avoid one altogether. Godly dating should be done in more public places and group settings. This way you get to know the individual. Most people put on their best face for you during this dating period. The more friends who can share what they have observed in the guy helps to form a fuller picture of him. You will want to observe how he interacts with his friends, your friends, etc.

 

The second principle that stuck with me was that you are not just dating a person, you are dating their family. Spend time getting to know the guys family. He should also spend time around your family. This time will help you observe family dynamics, communication patterns, spiritual beliefs, etc. His family will likely be around if he becomes your life partner. Also, your family’s perceptions of your guy can be invaluable. They probably know you better than anyone and love you like no one else. Your family can assist you in making the second most important decision you will make in life when the time comes. (I’m referring to accepting his proposal if you missed that!)

Earlier I talked about the no sex standard. This is such a foundational principle for believers that I would like to expound on it a bit more. I have found that we Christians are having as much sex or more sex than non-believers. It is not hard to figure out why. God created us to be sexual beings. That is why it is so important to put proper boundaries in place during the dating period. Ed Young from Ed Young ministries preached a message dealing with this topic that was televised in November 2009. I took notes on it and kept them so I would remember that how I dated was very crucial to my spiritual walk. The message was titled the “Sexual Revolution.” You can look it up at edyoung.com. The main points of the message were: 

• You are not to be naked before the marriage bed with your boyfriend or fiancé.
• Sex outside of marriage is unnatural
• Sex affects your soul and mind
• I Thessalonians 4:3-8 tells us that God’s will for us is to be sanctified and set apart which requires us to control our body in a holy and honorable way
• Date only like minded people who have the same vision and values about sex
• God wants to save us from abuse and confusion
• God wants us to treasure sex, honor sex, walk in purity, freedom and holiness

   

This will be a new way of dating for some of you. It will be worth it in the end. Ed Young says that every time God tells us to make a radical decision, He will make us awesomely happy and we are just one step away from that blessing.

 

Faith Step #4

   

• Make sure you have received your “yes” from God about your mate
• Be certain you are ready to receive this gift from God
• Find a prayer partner you trust with the personal details of your life
• Purchase The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian

Until next week, happy dating Gods Way!

 

Peace be with you…

India

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother’s Day!

Before I actually gave birth I considered myself a mother.  The one thing I could not figure out was why no one else did.  I still remember Mother’s Day 2005.  A family member handed out Mother’s Day cards to all the mothers gathered at my Aunt Mom and Uncle Dad’s home.  All the women opened their cards and I was waiting for mine when I was told that I did not get a card because I was not a mother.  I cried like a baby on my Aunt Mom’s shoulder that day.  I will always love her for the love she showed me in that moment.  That was and is a true mom. 

Even after I married and became a mother of a precious little boy, others still refused to recognize me as a mother.  But, I knew I was a mother and did not care if anyone else accepted it. You see what I learned, later in life, is that it is not the giving birth or adoption or fostering of a child or marriage that makes one a mother.  It is the spirit with which one loves another.  Just because someone has not giving birth to a child does not mean they are not a mother.  In fact, I have had several mothers throughout my life.  Only one of them actually gave birth to me.  And, some of them have not been women at all.  They have been men who have a mother’s love. 

I want to take this Mother’s Day to say thank you and I love you to those gracious people.  This message is to all those who, while you have no children you call all those with out a mother yours.  You love us and care for us. You fill in where our mothers can not.  You teach us and show us how to love as only a mother can.  You are special.  You are a gift from God.  Your spirit is the true reason for this day.  You are love personified.  If God Himself came off His throne to walk and love on this earth, He would look like you.

Have a wonderful Mother’s Day!

Love,

India

For the Single Ladies #3

As I was preparing for my mate, the Lord required me to bring an end to all relationships with males who thought I might date them.  I am speaking about males who either were interested in me or I was interested in them.  I had to let any male from my past know that I was not an option for them.  He is not talking about calling up guys out of the blue and telling them to get lost.  NO.  He is talking about not leading anyone on thinking he might be the one.  If God has not told you he is the one to marry, stop any courting type relationship immediately.  You won’t have to search for these guys.  Some of them will seek you out when you least expect it.  Be prepared.  See this as an opportunity to seek God for direction.  If He tells you “no”, bring closure to that relationship.  If He tells you “yes”, you’re on to the next step.

While you wait to hear “yes” from God, study and live the lady walk.  Get ready to receive your mate.  This may not happen on your timetable.  It will be on God’s schedule.  And, believe it or not, God’s schedule is based on you.  When He sees you are getting in position to receive the gift He has for you, then He can begin the process for you.  If you are not in position, the process can not begin or you will miss the guy when he comes.  You will be looking to the left when you should be looking to the right.  Pay attention to the Spirit.  He will lead you every step of the way.

Remember, you can’t receive the man who is to become your spouse when someone else is in the way.  Steve Harvey was on TBN talking about how he was expecting to get this car he had been wanting for a while.  He talked about cleaning out the garage and making space for the new car.  He had an illustration of the garage cluttered then sitting empty until he brought his new car home.  Steve Harvey said he had to prepare the garage for his new car and had to get rid of what was taking up its place.   Otherwise, he would not have had room enough to receive the new car.  You will have to go through the same process to be ready for your mate. 

Faith Step #3

• Learn about Godly Dating
• Study the difference between dating God’s way and dating the world’s way
• Which form of dating would a lady choose? 

Taffi Dollar has a tape series on Dating God’s Way.  I listened to it years ago.  I think it will be a refreshing look at a topic we all think we know how to do.  But, do we know how to do it God’s way?  This is a serious question that you need to answer.

Peace be with you…

India

For The Single Ladies #2

Definition of Lady:


A lady carries herself in such a way that others take note when she walks in a room.  You know that lady you always notice because she has this composure that is gentle yet commands respect at the same time.

A definition I found online says,

Polite dignified woman: a woman who behaves very politely and with dignity

Another reads,

A well-mannered and considerate woman with high standards of proper behavior. 2. a. A woman regarded as proper and virtuous.

The Lord provides us with His clear explanation of what a lady is to Him in Proverbs 31:10-21 and 1Peter 3.  I recommend reading some of the different versions of the bible to gain a more complete understanding of what God expects of a woman who desires to be a lady. One of the easier versions to understand is The Message Remix.  It provides the scriptures in more contemporary language for those of us needing the text made plain. 

Becoming a God-type lady is a process.  It requires spending time in His presence so He can transform you. The change takes place as you let Him mold you.  He wants you to understand how to be a lady so that you understand your worth.  If you understand your worth, you will not settle.  You will not settle for less than you deserve; not from yourself, a man or anyone else.  You will have a standard and the man that seeks you as his wife will measure up.

Being a lady requires you to operate with a level of grace in your daily living and interactions.  It is a skill most wives will treasure as they work to create an atmosphere of peace in their homes.

Definition of a Gift:

One defintion says,

Something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

Another says,

Something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned

These definitions highlight the fact that it does not cost the recipient anything to get a gift.  It is yours for free.  God wants you to know that He will gift you with the mate you desire when you prepare yourself for the gift.  You will have to do nothing to get this gift, He will send him to you.  Don't go looking for your gift.  If you have to work to get it, it's not a gift.  The word says that a man that findeth a wife, finds a good thing.  Let him find you.  Let him do the work.  Yours is only to receive.

Definition of Receive:

A definition of receive reads,

To take or acquire (something given, offered, or transmitted); get.

Another definition is,

To come into possession of : acquire <receive a gift

We all know people who do not know how to receive a compliment.  These individuals brush off the kind words, become embarrassed or begin to tell you how they are not deserving of the compliment.  There are many reasons for this, but the end result is the same.  The rejection of a free gift.  Most genuine compliments are not sought out, but given freely by someone who does not expect anything in return.  So it is with the Lord.  When He gives us a gift, like His son, He does not ask us to pay a price for it.  This is a good thing because we would not be able to afford the gifts God gives to us.

The mate you are given is a gift.  Receive him with the confidence that you are being blessed and do not have to pay for him in any way.  Just graciously accept the gift and treasure it. 

Gaining a knowledge of these three concepts: lady, gift, receive is critical to your being ready for the mate you desire.  When he comes, you will know you deserve him, that he has found a good thing in you and you will cherish him and the richness he brings to your life.

Faith Step #2

•  Examine your personal relationships with males who are not your relatives
• Close the door to any romantic relationship with a male whom you do not desire as a mate

Consider why would you need to close these doors?  What purpose would this serve in the marriage preparation process?

Peace be with you...

India

For The Single Ladies #1

I was talking to a woman, a few weeks ago, who was sharing how she wanted to move forward in a relationship with the man in her life.  She wanted to marry this gentleman.  I started thinking how I often encounter women who desire a mate and have not received one.  I know being married was a desire of my heart.  I realized God provided my mate when I started aligning my will with His.  He took me through a preparation process.  I'd like to share that process for any single ladies out there who want to marry the man God has for her.

 

The marriage preparation process can not be covered in one post.  There will be a step covered every Wednesday.

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The information below is only for the believers.  If you do not believe, these directions will not produce fruit for you.  You will not receive the blessing God intended when He sent this information.

 

Believers, God has set out faith-by-faith instructions for us to receive the gift of a mate.  We will join together in prayer and let God make of us signs and wonders to a hopeless generation of women.  Once you have received your gifts, we will teach other single ladies how to receive theirs.

 

God is using specific terms for a reason.  "Ladies", "gifts" and "receive" are His words not mine.  He needs us to know what they mean and why He means them.

 

Faith Step  # 1

 

Learn and commit to your heart the definitions of the following words:

 

• "Lady"
• "Gift"
• "Receive"

 

Meditate on what these words mean to a believing woman. 

 

Check back next Wednesday for the next faith step.

 

Peace be with you...

 

India

Protecting Our Children

A few years ago I bought this book called Protecting Your Children in Dangerous Times by Kellie Copeland Kutz.  I didn't have any children yet, but was interested in making sure I did my part to help take care of my nieces and nephews.   Since the birth of our youngest son, I have been lead to pick up this book again.  I am being reminded of why I pray the way I do.  There is also a prayer at the back of the book that I now pray over all of my family, friends and God's children everyday.  As I am in the process of re-reading this book, I thought sharing some of what I am learning might help someone else out there protect their children in these dangerous times.

First, you want to get the book. You have to read it for yourself to get what you might need for your specific situations.  You can order it from Kenneth Copeland Ministries at 1-800-600-7395.  Ask for customer service and tell them you want item #307787.  The paperback version is $9.99 plus $2.00 s&h for delivery in 5-7 business days.

What I've learned so far from Kellie:

1. Cover your family in the blood of Jesus through prayer
2. Pray morning and night for your family
3. Your family is protected from all tactics of the enemy through prayer
4. You do not have to fear for your children when you cover them in prayer
5. Angels are at your command to do as you pray

I have also learned a few other things from my walk with God.  One morning I was in a rush and getting ready to put the baby in his car seat and run some errands.  I had not prayed yet and thought to myself that I would pray when I got back.  I had just finished that thought and took a step toward the car seat when I heard, audibly, "It is treacherous out there."  I knew in an instant that the Holy Spirit was telling me to decide if I wanted to risk the safety of my family or go ahead and cover them now. 

Since that morning, I have been engaging in prayerful protection of my family every day.  I don't always spend the same amount of time on this vital ministry to my family, but I make sure I cover us each and every day. 

This is what I am lead to do daily:

1. Pray in the morning before anyone leaves the house and at night for my family, friends, ministries, etc.
2. Cover everything that matters to me in the blood because if it matters to me it matters to God
3. Anoint my family with Holy oil morning and night
4. Bind up every demonic opposition and hindering force arrayed against all I love, get specific, you know the ailments, ungodly living and practices that afflicts those you love
5. Cover every prayer in the blood of Jesus and seal it in the name of Jesus as this is protection for your prayers

I'm sure this sounds way out there for some.  It sounded way out there when I first learned it too.  Nevertheless, it works.

Peace be with you...

India

LOVE

Have you ever had to love someone whom you felt did not deserve your love?  Ever have to give more than you thought you should have to?  Take more than any one person should ever be expected to?  Well I have.  And, I was not happy about it.  In fact, I was mad about it.  Why should I love this person when all I get is spit on?  I thought what's good for the goose is good for the gander. ( Now, I don't know what a gander is but I think I get the gist.  If you dish it out, you should be able to take it.)  Right!? Right!? 

Well, uh, no.  NO.  They should not.  What you say!  I know!!  Tell me about it!  I thought the same thing until the Spirit of God got a hold of me in my kitchen this morning.  He let me know something so clearly that I could not help myself.  I had to stop and praise Him and thank Him for saving me from myself. 

I heard God speaking to my spirit today.  It goes something like this:

God:  India if you can't love those who behave in unlovable ways then you are of no use to me.  I place specific people in your life for you to love no matter what storms come.  If you can't demonstrate my love then how will they ever see me? 

India: What God?  You mean I might be the one person that leads your child back to you? 

God:  Yes, that is right. 

India:   How is that possible?  Why me? 

God:   Because not everyone can love the way I am asking you to love.  Not everyone will have the faith in me that you do.  Only a remnant will trust me enough to do what I ask even when it hurts.  I have chosen you for this assignment.  I trust you to give my love. 

India:  You trust me God? 

God:  Yes, my love, I trust you.

                       ------------------------------------------------

Okay, now I don't know about you; but after hearing that God trusts me, my tired soul was reinvigorated!  I am ready for the next step knowing He will be with me all the way and will not let my feet slide. 

I realized something.  The people who dish it out are the ones who need love the most.  They need to be forgiven each and every time they screw up.  And they will screw up for one simple but heart-breaking reason:   they do not believe they are worthy of love.  These individuals act out in some of the ugliest ways and probably act like they are right.  But, know this---deep down in their hearts they know they are wrong.  They know they've messed up and do not have enough self-love to admit it.  Some might even hate themselves which is why they act like they hate you.  They don't.  Not really.

They need you to love them.  They need to see God in you.  And on that day they see God...ohhh what a beautiful day that will be!  They will know, with complete certainty, how much they are loved.  Finally, they will know how to love themselves.  Instead of dishing hate, they'll dish love.  Instead of taking, they'll give.  They will give to someone else what you gave to them.  Let it be love you give.

Peace be with you...

India
Child of the Most High God

Resistance: How bad do you want it?

For the last few weeks I've been getting on the scale in my bathroom and watching the numbers go up!  UP!  Seriously!! Are you kidding?  I've had to battle the temptation to quit exercising and chuck the half marathon goal.  But, God! 

I could not figure out why I was gaining weight when I officially committed to an exercise routine and getting back in shape.  No matter what the scale said I was determined to keep going because I was doing most of the right things.  A food journal was added to my exercise routine because I know weight loss is like 60-70 percent what you eat.  So, anyway, the scale went up again.  I looked in the mirror and told myself I could see inches coming off even if that awful box tried to discourage me.  I kept at it.  I didn't even tell my workout buddy (you should get one of these if you don't have one already!  They keep you motivated.) about the gains each week because I did not want to discourage her.  If I were to be totally honest, I would say I was a little embarassed too.

 I'm at church on Monday night and Pastor Parsely or Damon Thompson said something that brought back my fighting spirit.  One of these men of God, I really can't remember which one, said if you are encountering resistance in your life that resistance is there to see just how much you really want that thing you are being kept from.  The woman in the bible whose daughter was inflicted with evil spirits was used as the example.  Scripture reference anybody?  She did not have the right to access healing from Jesus as he told her he came to the Jew and she was a gentile.  This lady persisted in her request even when Jesus kept telling her no.  Finally, Jesus told her she was a woman of great faith and answered her request.  He healed her daughter from the evil spirits.  Then, the pastor asked us how badly do we want that thing.  That thing you know is yours but you don't possess it yet.  How badly? 

Among other things in my life, I realized my weight loss was something I knew was mine.  I've seen my slender self and I am fierce!   I mean, I can generally lose weight if I workout a couple times a week.   It seemed to me that the resistance was trying to stop me.  After that sermon it all made sense.  Some things are worth fighting for, but was I willing to fight.  Was I going to give up the next time the scale was unkind?  Would I walk away from my goals?  I determined that night not to give up on myself.  I deserve to be healthy and not overweight.

I got on the scale this morning, literally holding my breath.  I relaxed, let out one long deep breath, prepared my mind for whatever I might see and looked down.  OMG!!  Weight loss!!  I could have run at least a few good miles just off that movement down the scale!  Yeah, I want it bad enough.  I'm on my way and I'm not giving up.

What about you?  Anything just beyond your reach?  Have you lost your fight for something worth fighting for?  If so, remember the woman and her tenancity.  She was not stopping until she got what she needed from Jesus.  Don't stop!  He wants to give it to you.  I know.  It's hard. 

How bad do you want it?

Peace be with you...