What a wonderful message delivered by Pastor Dan on Sunday Jan 22nd.  Defeating strongholds is something we can all use guidance and lots of prayer to navigate through.

Scripture Passage(s):

• Joshua 6:1-19
• 2 Corinthians 10:4-6
• Hebrew 11:33, 34

1. Identify your Jericho – Be clear about your area of difficulty.  Denial won’t solve your problem.
2. Faith overcomes strongholds – Believe in God’s promises.  Believe that He will deliver you from any unclean, unjust thing.
3. Silence Unbelief – Negative self-talk and/or negative relationships will only make matters worse.

How do you get faith?

1. It comes by revelation.
2. It comes by knowing God.

I got a call the other day from a distraught young lady.  There were quite a few unpleasant events that had happened to her over the years and she had reached the point where she was just sick and tired of being sick and tired.  She was emotionally spent, depressed and ready for something good to happen.  This is one of many calls, emails and letters that I receive that have the same familiar trend.  Our conversation was brief but powerful.  At the end I felt as though I’d known her forever but then again each time I am confronted with such a situation, they seemingly all end this way.  I suppose it’s what I’m meant to do.  My assignment.  After a while, I began to feel overwhelmed.  Overwhelmed about the number of women who are “out there” hurting.  Hurting in much the same way I had been hurting years ago and I began to weep.  Weep for the lost, the hurting, those in despair and most of all those who do not have their own or have abandoned their personal relationship with God.  I asked God why?  Why have I been sent down this path?  Am I even equipped to do this?  I called my husband for he always has a way of consoling me but this time, he wasn’t available.  I reached out to a dear friend to meet me for just a quick 10 minute coffee break but this time, she wasn’t available.  I sat quietly at my desk and reached for my bible.  As I thumbed through it searching for just the right scripture, I got an email notification from a dear Finally Free To Be Me sister-friend.  As I read through her response to an email I sent the group, I was immediately struck by the scripture she included in her response.  It was Jeremiah 29:11 that read “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.^“  I felt an immediate calm.  A feeling of peace.  All the questions that had begun to circle around in my head were gone.  I was at peace.  It was at that time that I noticed my fingers had landed on Isaiah 40:31 which read “Yet, the strength of those who wait with hope in the LORD will be renewed. They will soar on wings like eagles. They will run and won’t become weary. They will walk and won’t grow tired.  Armed with these two scriptures, I said OK Lord.  I hear You.  I understand that You will equip me to carry out Your will.  You have all that I need, my job is too trust You and follow.  And so it is!

Much love and blessings

Are those holiday ornaments on your desk already?  That’s the question I’ve gotten from quite a few people at my place of employment.  My response has ranged from an evil side-eye glance to a hearty laugh.  I suppose it just depends on my state of mind at the time.  I almost removed them once just to avoid the question but I’ve decided to leave them up.  Why?  Well, because.  They bring me joy and that’s enough. The reason they bring me joy is because the last 3 years I have dreaded the onset of the holidays.  They haven’t felt or meant much to me since my mother passed almost 3 years ago.  I spent the first year in tearful reflection trying to fake some sort of holiday spirit for my daughter.  She wasn’t fooled at all.  Last year was the worst of all.  I somehow lost track of a whole 24 hours due to a deep depression.  I honestly could not recall what happened which completely freaked me out and sent me running into my therapist’s office in a full on panic attack.  I had not felt that magnitude of a panic attack in at least 6 years.  It was awful to say the least.  I now know that for that 24 hour period my husband lovingly watched over me as I slept, talked gibberish and displayed other erratic behavior.  He bathed me and held me tight until I was “myself” again.  I love this guy!  The point I want to make here is this year, 2011, is the first year in a long time that I truly feel ready to ENJOY the holidays!  I am so looking forward to them.  I’ve already began looking at old photos and videos of how my Mom would get the house all decorated while filling our home with the wonderful smells of the holidays.  Instead of making me cry, I can feel myself smiling.  With that said, YES!  Those are holiday ornaments on my desk and they just may be up all throughout 2012.  Who knows?  What I do know for sure is, I’ve reached a point in my life where I don’t need permission slips from others to be OK with my decisions or OK in my own skin or deny myself happiness in order to accommodate the insecurities, hang-ups and the like of others.  I am truly FINALLY FREE TO BE ME.

Much love and blessings! 

• Trust in yourself.  Your creativity will flow and life will be easier to handle.
• Raise your energy level and ability to concentrate by practicing deep breathing.  Breathe in deeply and exhale completely.
• Exercise on a regular basis.
• Bathe weekly in your favorite bubble bath or essential oils.
• Eat more fresh fruits and veggies.  (Check out your local farmers market)
• Choose challenge and change.  You’ll be better for it!
• Ask for hugs from those you love.
• Do something that will make you feel good about yourself; have a massage, buy yourself a special treat, or take a day off.  Without the kids!
• Talk to and love the child inside you.
• Stop blaming yourself and others.
• Begin each day on a positive note.  Buy a book of daily devotions or inspirational mottos and read one every morning when you arise.  The first 15 minutes is critical to your overall state of mind!
• Ask someone you trust to tell you what they like about you.
• Communicate with nature.  Take walks, explore the nearby woods, or even just sit outside on the grass and appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells.
• Sit quietly and listen to your heart; it often gives the best advice.

What a wonderful thought to start the day.  Enjoy!

He doesn’t promise sunny days;

just a rainbow at the end of a storm.

He doesn’t promise silver and gold,

but to provide for your needs.

He doesn’t promise to make your life trouble free,

just to give you the strength

to see things through.

He doesn’t promise all the answers,

just that He’ll direct your path.

He doesn’t promise you understanding,

but faith that will see you through.

He doesn’t promise freedom

from despair,

only joy and peace in believing.

He doesn’t promise that

you’ll never fail,

just that your strength and hope

will be renewed.

He doesn’t promise

you’ll have no fears,

but that He is always there.

Most of all, He promises

unconditional and everlasting

love.

Source:  With God by Your Side…You Never Have To Be Alone by Blue Mountain Press

Finally Free interview begins at the 16:52 timing mark and last about 7 min.

I had a friend visit this morning. He arrived early, sat down with me and chatted for a while about how things were currently going for me in my life. After very carefully and compassionately listening to all that I had to say, He stood up, walked over to me, leaned over and gently held me for awhile. Then, after reassuring me not to worry, that everything would work out for me and be just fine, He asked me if I knew of anyone else that could use a visit from Him. I immediately thought of YOU my dear friend. I gave Him your name and He knew where you lived. I asked Him to bless you and yours with peace, happiness and abundance. He gave me another reassuring hug, thanked me and I walked with Him to my front door. He told me that he was on His way to YOUR place. Listen carefully for the knock!

Revelations 3:20 – Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (NIV)