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...