Nothing Is Impossible With God!

When it seems the odds are against you;

"Nothing is impossible with God." - Luke 1:37

"All glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think." - Ephesians 3:20

And as if that wasn't enough to convince us of how big He is:

"God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us." - Hebrews 6:18

Now, no more worrying! He's got it handled - get some much needed rest tonight, friend!

Last Friday I attended the Joyce Meyer conference here in Houston, and was blessed beyond belief! Not because Joyce is awesome, (even though she is!) but because of the power of the Holy Spirit! Only the Holy Spirit can bring unity in the body! Let me explain;
Just a couple of Sundays ago, our Pastor at our local church was speaking on the meaning and value of “feet-washing” and how it was a symbol of humility and a servant-heart. At the end of his sermon, there was a corporate foot washing that took place, ushering in a move of the Holy Spirit as people walked in obedience to Jesus’ example.
The following cell (small group) meeting on Thursday at our house was a follow-up to that teaching, and we discussed further on the principle itself, and what is means to be servants in his kingdom. Then we washed feet in our kitchen, and the move of the Spirit was powerful, bringing healing, restoration, and softening hearts for Him. The Lord began to really speak to me about being a true servant, what it would mean for my life as I know it now, and I began to mull over what all this meant.
That following Sunday, Juan and I flew out to Alabama, on a trip where we were seeking the Lord’s direction in our lives, and in the ministry He is calling us to. While we were there, I visited a Christian bookstore, and came across a sculpture of Jesus washing a disciples’ feet. I broke into tears, realizing that the Lord wasn’t going to let this matter fade from my heart or intentions! I bought the sculpture, and it sits in my office as a daily reminder…
So the week we got home was the Friday at Joyce Meyer’s event. Just guess what she spoke about? That’s right, the principle of being a true servant, of washing other’s feet…
She washed feet right up there in front of us thousands, on her knees, teaching the principle as she acted on it. Guess what I did? Yes, I cried!
I love, love, love the teaching of the Lord!

I Love It When God Shows Off!!!

I love how God is never just concerned about one individual when he shows off. Rather, He is always concerned about performing goodness for all His kids! I have been walking out a struggle with back pain, which has been “diagnosed” as a congenital defect in my lower back. Most of my family has suffered with this issue to some degree, and I have struggled before with the fear of “ending up” like two of my brothers, who both have had numerous surgeries and take strong painkillers to deal with the intense pain that they live with.
So this week in particular, as I have been dealing with the MRI news, and referral to a surgeon in Houston to explore pain relief options, I have battled the fear. My own words that I have spoken over many, “I am healed by His stripes, etc.” kept flooding back into my mind all week. The confessions work, the Word works! The pain, however, was still there.
I have the most wonderful testimony of our amazing God and what He did for me last night at our cell meeting!!! We were discussing the importance of transparency in a cell setting, and reading out of James 5:13-16, just as Pastor has been asking us to do. We were trying to answer the question, “If we as a cell could be more transparent, what would that do for visitors, and each other?”
We broke out into groups of two for prayer at the end, and I gathered myself for prayer with my dear friend and sister, Yolanda R. She was having a difficult time preparing to pray, as public prayer has been somewhat of a struggle for her to overcome. She was self-conscious, hesitating to begin, when I told her “Look, Sis, you’ve got to pray for me, I need a touch from the Lord tonight. You have the same Holy Spirit in you, and you can do this!”
She began to pray somewhat timidly, then grew bolder in her desire for the Lord to hear her and touch me with healing. At some point just a few moments into her prayer, I received full healing of the pain in my back. The radiating discomfort into my left thigh ended as abruptly. I couldn’t believe it right away, so I didn’t speak up. Besides, Yolanda was praying so earnestly at this point, and her purity towards the Lord as she interceded for me was so apparent, I didn’t want to interrupt her!
Right after she prayed that I would “do somersaults the next day because I was healed,” I couldn’t take it anymore! I lifted my head, and told her, “Yolie, there’s no more pain!”
She couldn’t believe it either. We were grinning, and I said, “Isn’t it just like God to show off, and not only heal me, but use you!”
She had been too timid initially to even pray out loud, and God showed her! He wanted her to know that He was in her, and working through her! I just love how He does that. I believe that is what He means about transparency in His body, so that one part of the body can step in and help the other part when they have needs. He has something even greater in store for you. Do you need healing? Agree with just one more believer that you are healed, and pray earnestly to Him for manifestation. I give all praise, honor, and glory to our Heavenly Father, Amen.

Finding our Identity in Christ

Job 1:8 (NIV) says, "Then the Lord said to Satan, 'Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.'"

Our Confession:
My heavenly Father is very proud of me. I am special to Him and he holds me dear to His heart. I am unique among all of His creation. There is none like me in all of the earth.
It pleases Him greatly that I have chosen to trust Him, shun evil, and live blamelessly and upright before Him all the days of my life.

In this modern day world, where we seek to "find ourselves," may we remember that He already knows us, and He created us to be who we are. Through Christ's work at the cross, we are able to live blameless and upright on earth. We just have to choose to accept this truth and walk in it.

Those Fickle Emotions!

Our emotions are so fickle. When we allow our emotions to rule our lives, we have entered a trap. When we learn how to rule our emotions, we are no longer trapped by a deceptive enemy, but walking in a freedom that knows no boundaries!
I’ve lived both ways, and I’ll gladly take this life of freedom that I am so blessed to now lead!
I used to listen to my emotions before the truth of the Word, making serious life decisions based on how I “felt.” It was a poisonous mistake, and I paid dearly for that mistake. The truth of God’s Word, when listened to, acted upon, and seen as the ultimate decision maker, will change your life, I guarantee it. God’s Word works EVERY time. Letting our emotions run us, and putting them before God’s Word, WON’T. Let me explain what I mean by this principle.
Several years ago I was struggling with some very personal issues, and one was a fear of submission to my husband. Although we got along, I truly desired a pre-conceived idea of romance between he and I. I constantly asked for “signs” of his love or commitment to me, such as gifts, dates, and words of romance. He, being the strong, and slightly stubborn man that he is, didn’t budge. The point is, that whatever he was doing right in our marriage, like providing well for the kids and I, I held in lesser importance to my “need” for unrealistic attention. My dissatisfaction with him grew, and as my emotions became disgust, I didn’t even realize how deeply my mind had transformed. I had gone from a mostly happy wife of almost ten years, to actually despising him, and seeing only the negative about him. As I fed my disappointed emotions with other’s biased opinions, and no time invested in God’s Word, I gave myself license to see the “D” word as an option.
Long story short, we did end up in a very painful divorce, wreaking havoc on ourselves, our health, and our children. I lost my best friend, my lover, my covering, and my future – and for what? For what?
Funny how reality, in all its cruelty, can give us a new take on life. Things got really, really horrible, really, really quickly and I regretted giving up on our marriage. My ex-husband, however, wasn’t necessarily ready to make up and make out. Now I was experiencing some really ugly emotions as I dealt with rejection, betrayal, and tremendous confusion. And for what? Jewelry that I never received on my birthdays? The flowers I never got? Sure, to be fair, there were more issues than that between us. Enough to split up this family? Issues big enough to cause damage to ourselves, our children and their future? I don’t think so, especially looking back from now.

Hindsight really is twenty-twenty, and I am so grateful to a very BIG God, Who saw fit to redeem this marriage, this family, and this anointing that the enemy did not want in action. Since those years ago, my husband and I are remarried, we are excited about our future, and we live a healthy, prosperous life. Jesus gave us then, and gives us now, the power to do so. We both rule over our emotions for the most part – of course we have our “old man” moments! The reality is now, that the man I had once grown to despise, is once again my best friend, my lover and my partner in parenthood and life, through every event, decision and trial. Through the good times, and the bad. My emotions sometimes spill over with affection and love for the same one that I had once allowed myself to hate.
But it takes more than a big God to turn around a failed marriage, or a failed career, or a delayed life due to disease, addiction or unbelief. It takes us deciding! Deciding to take full responsibility for ourselves, and for our own shortcomings. It takes a decision from us to forgive – to forgive others, and to forgive ourselves by the power of the Holy Spirit. It takes a complete renewing of our minds, which can only be done through the power of the Word and owning every truth it reveals! It’s a process, and it’s worth every minute, every tear, and every heartbreak. Most of all, it takes us bringing those rogue emotions and flesh thoughts into captivity. Jesus gives us the power to do that. All you have to do is ask Him.

Listening - Oh What an Art!

Most of us have at least one good friend in our lives, some of us more than one. If we’ve been blessed, that person has stood by our side through the years, unconditionally and with the best of intentions. When we think back over the years together, we remember the fun times, the crazy times, and maybe even the hard times. We mull over the conversations we’ve had…how much we have shared with this friend. Wait a minute…how often have we really listened to that friend? When was the last time we dedicated a few moments to hear their heart? Are our memories those of the circumstances surrounding just OUR lives, or our friends’ as well?
It is truly a learned skill to listen, and to listen thoroughly, without an agenda. Most of us have not mastered this skill! Have you ever caught yourself thinking up your response or piece of advice while the person you are “listening to” is still speaking? I do, all the time, and I have to train my mind to slow down, and give that person my truly full attention.
I really want to become a better listener. By becoming better listeners, we would eliminate a large amount of misunderstandings between ourselves and other people. For instance, in Proverbs 18:13 it says, “He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and a shame to him.” If we are not hearing that person’s “heart” or true intentions, and we translate what they are saying in our own perspective, we have are again made a “fool” of ourselves!
People are fickle beings, and we must remember that misunderstanding is one of the enemy’s strong hold in the Body of Christ. If we are not genuinely caring of the next person, it shows. If we do not listen with our Spirit, and instead with our impatient, half tuned out flesh, it shows! We need to realize that listening is an important mission for us, as we work to eliminate offense and confusion in the ranks of God’s army! Proverbs 18:19 reminds us that “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city.”
Proverbs 17:27-28 says, “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.” My Grandma Bev, who moved in to heaven in 2008, left the greatest impression on me of how to listen to someone. She was a wonderful listener, as she never had a differing opinion to promote about whatever I was confiding in her. She would listen for lengths of time, nodding as she truly “heard my heart,” never in a hurry for me to finish. We would take long walks in my teen years, and she always had time for my emotional gut-spilling! Her acceptance of me and who I was filled my struggling heart with peace, and I have never forgotten what it feels like to be fully listened to.
What do you think? Who has been a memorable listener in your life? Share it with me!

Healing - My Story

One of the most powerful areas of God’s Power being real in our lives through the Holy Spirit is in the area of physical healing. Healing. A word used sometimes in a nonchalant way, but power-packed for those of us who have experienced it firsthand! Healing is a physical manifestation in our minds and bodies of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross! In other words, when we have struggled for some time with a malady, we are good and ready to be rid of the infliction. Say for instance, you’ve had massive migraine headaches a couple of times a week for a month now. These headaches are debilitating, grounding you to your dark, silent room and disabling you from your life as you normally know it. Your children are fending for themselves, the house is a mess, and you are miserable. This sickness has you in its grasp…or so you thought!
Let me tell you a story, a story of disaster and disease, rejection and abandonment, but ultimately, of hope and grace and HEALING in our Savior!
Through a series of events in which I made some wrong choices, my husband Juan and I divorced in December of 2006 after almost ten years of marriage, three young children, and oh, incidently, we were Christians. We separated in September of that year, and I began to walk further and further away from a lifelong, deep relationship with God. I was making confused decisions out of rejection, guilt, and shame. Meanwhile, I was working several jobs to make ends meet and living in sin and rebellion, which resulted in the breaking down of my body and mind.
Weakened, both physically and in soul, I believe I “opened a door” to Satan, allowing him to have total access to my heart and health. God is clear about the “curse” of forsaking Him as our God and choosing instead to live in sin and disobedience to Him and His Word. (Deuteronomy 28:20-) The three key things that the curse brings to our lives is 1. Poverty, 2. Sickness/Disease and 3. Spiritual Death. As I look back on that time in my life, I can see that I was clearly walking in disobedience to God, especially since I grew up knowing Him and had served him my whole life. Hence, the open door to Satan, who of course, jumped on that opportunity!
Consequently, I began struggling with a terrible nervous disorder in January of 2007 which left me jobless, homebound (I couldn’t drive due to the possibility of seizures), and practically without family and friends for a long while. Blessedly, there was no physical pain associated with this illness, but the emotional and spiritual toll it took on me was so awful, I can’t even begin to describe it in words. My young children were terrified of both my weird behavior and the seizures that were occuring, I was hallucinating on the medication, and my ex-husband (at the time!) couldn’t bear to be around me. So he took legal action and had my children removed from me and my house. Subsequently, I slipped even deeper into anxiety, depression, and hopelessness. My children had become the only reason I had to live, and now I couldn’t even see them.
At this time, I began to seek God again, but I experienced no answer immediately. I know now that he couldn’t reach me until I repented, and I was still clinging to my sin out of desperation and loneliness. However, I could increasingly feel my physical heart breaking into little pieces, pulling at the muscles and nerves inside my chest cavity. My heart was literally breaking, and I had never, ever felt such sadness and hopelessness as I did at that time in my life.
One day, alone on my couch, depressed and desperate for a change in my life, I cried out to Him like never before. I had finally used up any strength I though I had on my own, and I repented, needing Him in my life just to keep breathing! At that moment, He spoke to me, and my mind, body, and Spirit were instantly flooded with comfort and acceptance! I realized He had never left me, he just can’t commune with sin, so our relationship, just like my marriage, was broken. Communication had been stopped due to my blatant rebellion. Now, though, I was starting again. I felt like a new Christian, and I dove enthusiastically into the Bible, daily prayer and church again.
The seizures and brain disorder though, continued with a vengeance. Soon, in early summer of that year, I realized I was pregnant – out of wedlock, and I wasn’t even in a relationship with the baby’s father any longer. So now my body was not the only one being harmed by this cruel disorder.
Unknown to me however, God was working in my ex-husband’s heart around the same time, softening it and readying it for His will! Juan began to invite me to stay for dinner when I would drop the kids off from their short visit with me, and I humbly agreed, desperate for any extra time with my children. I remember one time, looking across his dining table at his handsome face, eating roasted chicken with rice with him and the kids, and feeling like the luckiest girl in the world! You see, by then I was completely broke, homeless, staying with “adopted family” and still jobless due to my disorder. I had been completely broken in a spiritual sense as well, but the humility came easy for me and with joy, as I was so grateful for the little things. Life had become about surviving, and time was a gift.
By the end of summer, Juan and I were back together again, and I was no longer homeless! I had so much time with my children, my belly was big with a healthy baby girl, and I was slowly recovering my self-esteem and faith walk. I had lost a good reputation, along with all my “friends” over the divorce and sickness. God’s restoration though, is beyond earthly standards, and over time, He restored all that was lost and more!
God was strategically placing the right people in my life, those that spoke life over me (Deut. 30:19-20 my life theme!) and taught me about faith and fear, life and death, curses and blessings…
AnaSophia, my symbol of God’s grace (Ana means grace), was born prematurely three days after Christmas in 2007. She was placed in NICU at four pounds some ounces, having difficulty breathing and eating. The beyond-grand mal seizure hit me a few days later, sending me into the worst experience yet, four days of coma in the ICU, with more days of recovery in the “crazy people ward” after that! I was getting real tired of this disease by now, as it was so debilitating to me and my family. They needed me even more now than ever before, as we were recovering as a family unit from the drama and pain of the last year and a half’s events.
The baby was released a few days after I was, and we tried to start family life again. Two months later, I seized violently in the shower, waking up from that coma/recovery with a broken foot! One day at home, my adopted mom finally spoke out loud over my sickness, “That is enough, it’s just enough.” Instantly, something inside of me lept (I believe it was desperate faith!) and I began to mentally fight against the disorder and my previous acceptance of it as “punishment” from God.
Sometime in March 2008, while I was in church, the leaders anointed me with oil, and prayed over me for healing. One of them spoke up and said that God showed them I was harboring unforgiveness towards someone in my life. Faces flashed before me, as I remembered all the people who turned on me during the divorce, or bailed on me in the time I needed people the most. All of my family members had either turned their backs or directly fought against me for the past couple of years. I began to weep, as a desire to forgive them and truly move on began to come over me.
The next morning at home, I had a session with the best Counselor one could have, the Holy Spirit! I was praying intensely, prostrate on my office floor, about these recent things God was showing me. I heard the Spirit speak audibly, and he told me to get a piece of paper and write the names of those who had hurt or abandoned me, and pray individually over those names for total forgiveness from God for them. I could barely read some of the names, as I was crying so hard, feeling purified and fresh afterwards. Now I was ready for my healing!
The next week at church, the elders laid hands on me again, anointed me and prayed earnestly. The Pastor’s wife said “There is someone you haven’t forgiven – yourself.” At that moment, I broke completely before the Lord, and wept, realizing she was right. As the Pastor prayed over me out loud, he suddenly commanded a spirit to leave in Jesus Name, and I felt a large burden lift immediately, even as the Pastor said “There – It’s gone!!!” It was almost like a puff cloud of heaviness, and it went, poof! And was gone. I was healed, and I knew it. I began confessing the Word of God over myself, and over the previous stronghold of the sickness. I confessed Galatians 3:13, Psalm 103:2-5, Isaiah 53:4-5… There are so many!
In the following days, and then months, when I would feel a symptom coming on, I would say out loud, “Oh, no, Satan, don’t even think about it! I am healed, delivered and excited about it!!! You can’t touch this!” Then I would quote a Scripture to back it up! I even began to testify to others of my healing, especially when the fear of a seizure would try to return. I was on a journey to complete health, as I didn’t even get off the medication immediately. God was building my tender faith, honoring my naivette and carrying me through!
I am so beyond grateful to my Lord and Savior for the way he has touched me. I truly believe that His healing is for everyone, He says so in His Word. I tell this deeply personal story to encourage you in your faith walk! You are on your own journey with Him, and He cares deeply for you. To experience this incredible love that I get to experience daily, all you have to do is cry out to Him, ask Him to come near you!
What about your journey, do you have a powerful testimony of what he has done in your life? I would love to hear it! Do you have any questions about healing and what the Bible has to say about it? Feel free to share them with me, I love to talk about God’s Word! All the answers can be found there!
God bless you today.