The Butterfly

It all started with the idea of painting a butterfly. At the beginning of the cancer journey a friend of mine prophesied over me proclaiming new life. She saw hundreds of butterflies around me. That could have been the catalyst for the idea of painting a butterfly.

This year our eight year old granddaughter got an idea in her mind to do a school project on a butterfly. She began her research on butterflies that ended up with her collecting caterpillars and those in cocoons as well. One gave birth to a beautiful butterfly.

Well I finished my painting and sent a picture to her dad. She called me and told me that the butterfly I painted was the same kind that came out of the cocoon she had in captivity. It was a Monarch butterfly. It was a beautiful and colorful butterfly and we both had one.

So I take hold of this divine timing believing Lord you are speaking life into me; into my body, mind and spirit. Life is breathing upon me.

It Takes Belief

The peace of God will guard my heart and mind while I'm in Christ Jesus. Peace brings about His joy. The Joy of the Lord is my strength and it is yours as well.

Have you ever noticed Gods will manifest in our bodies minds and emotions? Have you seen it? Have you experienced a miracle? Well I have had one and if you know me you have seen a walking miracle!

All it takes is belief. Belief on the part of the person involved. You could be the believing person even if you are not the receiver of the miracle. However it takes relationship with the divine Kingdom to sustain that miracle. It took me a year washing my mind with His Word to continue to build my strength.

Today there is no difference. I need to do my part. Jesus already did His. I am grabbing a hold of my healing and going to believe He will finish the task that man cannot.

"Lord, today we come to you as believers in the word knowing Your will is yes! I am healed. Yes I'm ready to receive and serve in Your Kingdom. Today is the day You have made perfectly designed with Your will in mind. Today Lord we forgive ourselves as you have already forgiven us. Hold us fast to your will and your ways. Help us Lord with our unbelief and double mindedness. In Jesus name we pray."

Co-laboring with God

Did you know that the Lord wants to co-labor with us? He wants to work each of us individually to reach others for His Kingdom.

One of the most fulfilling times in my life was when I co-labored with one our sons at his place of business. It was easy to work for him because he allowed his employees to be themselves and work at what they did best. He allowed me the freedom to use my creativity in what I do best, which is cooking. This was the time I got to know my son as a friend and companion not only as boss. How rewarding it felt to work alongside and support him in his endeavor in life.

The spirit of the Lord is putting out the same request to us. He wants us to get to know Him by co-laboring with Him in this open field. He will use our natural talents and add His supernatural touch to draw others into His kingdom.

Just like working with my son-he was boss, he altered my recipe yet he gave me the reigns when we finished achieving the goal. Our goal then was to produce yummy chowder while keeping the cost reasonable.

Co-laboring doesn't always mean things run smoothly. There are always times of trials that will either strength or weaken your relationship. As for my son and I, we choose to have a deeper and stronger relationship by walking through the trial together.

Right now you might have a trial such as a sickness, financial struggles, or even an emotional breakdown. You can choose what you want. The Lord is calling you to deep to deep places with Him. Get ready. Dig your roots deep within the word and watch and see what the Lord has in store for you. Promises of healing, renewing, peace and strength are there for you. Keep your eyes focused on Him. His love and peace and joy are abounding in your direction.

"Lord, today we come running to you. We know You are there performing a new thing within us. Thank You for Your peace and Your strength to make the goal a reality. The goal-a tight relationship with YOU!

Amos 3:3 NIV
Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so?

Sanctification

1 Thessalonians 4:3 reads "For this is the will of God even your sanctification...." Let us stop right here. God not only wants us as family-as a member of His Kingdom, He wants us sanctified, made more and more into His image by changing our character flaws with His holiness.

He tells us to be holy as he is holy. I don't know about you, but I have a long way to go to become holy. It is only by remaining in Him can I achieve holiness.

"Lord make my circumstances, illness, or lack be used to sanctify me. Draw me closer unto You. Change me molding me into that holy person you created before the beginning of time. In Jesus name I pray."

Going Deeper

Some of you heard me say for twenty-on years I have lived without Crohn's disease in my body. Twenty- one years without taking any prescription meds. The Lord miraculously healed me. Now I am faced with this battle of cancer. Do I believe the Lord heals? Yes. Have I changed my belief system about healing? No. I can say I have been humbled and I have been in a position to take the Lord more seriously.

Recently I attended a women's group and experienced a slice of heaven in praise and worship and received extraordinarily powerful prayer. I was given a book and many encouraging words straight from the word of God through His loving daughters. The message that night was on guarding your heart while you rest in His peace.

Man I needed that! What about you? Is He calling you deeper? Is life overwhelming? Does calamity and chaos seem to be all around? Then take the opportunity to join me and go deeper into His Word, deeper in His Spirit, and find rest for your soul.

"Today Lord we come to you. Draw us closer to you Lord. Allow us to rest upon Your breast and receive Your everlasting peace that provides us with all we need. Quiet our souls and eliminate anxiety and frustration so we may pursue You above all! In Jesus name, Amen."

This was a Godly connection that led me to re-read our own writings and dig deeper into His word for life and strength for myself.

To Share in His Suffering

1 Peter 4:13 NIV 
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

This is not a cop out for sickness and disease or hardship of any kind. The Lord is sovereign and He wants us healed. When you have done all you can do by praying, repenting, praising, thanksgiving and you have not been freed consider getting closer with the Lord. He is calling us neigh to Him. We should be doing the same. The ultimate sacrifice is when you can offer up the process you are going through right now. The everyday struggle with addiction or sickness or a troubled loved one.

James 4:8 NIV
Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

There is a testimony of faith and faithfulness. For God is faithful and He will show us how to be also. What a small price to pay, that is, offering up our struggles to Him. When you think of what He has done for us by taking on a human form, struggling here on earth, taking ridicule, and resisting temptation all to give us a relationship with the Father, and ultimately giving of his body in the most painful way.

With that being said, Lord, I thank you for the joy it is to align myself with you. I am waiting for the day of your return. Father, take each day as an opportunity to mold me into the image of your Son. May each day be an opportunity for me to give you praise with a thankful heart knowing that the victory is in Jesus Himself.

The Preposition

It is all about the preposition! Did you ever get talked at? Talked at implies that someone is speaking their mind in a forceful abrupt manner. The person doing the talking does not want a verbal response; it is a correction given and you should listen and change. This implies that feedback is not necessary. The person is just looking for you to change and comply with them. It is almost as if they are speaking above you as a dictator and not as an equal.

Have you ever said "I will give them a good talking to."? Talking to is not quite as harsh; however, talking to someone is still considered unfriendly and it could be a word of correction or edification given with little love and affection. The person speaking may or may not want a verbal response. They are in the driver's seat and would not like getting interrupted. Consider how a teacher talks to the class; never expecting communication unless they specifically ask a question.

To talk with someone is the way to go. This is when there is an exchange of ideas and opinions, needs and desires. It is giving and taking; an interaction that causes relationships to grow with love and respect. What we have to say counts. Talking with does not mean there is not conflict at times. Yes, it can be corrective and edifying, but there is love and respect in the relationship. No one speaks down to the other. There is relationship built out of love and kindness.

This is the kind of interaction the Lord wants from us. He wants us to talk with Him, listen to Him, and interact with Him. He wants a time where our hearts connect and our spirits become one. The Lord wants to speak with us. Have you thought about your relationship with the Lord? Do you speak with Him, to Him or at Him?

Lord today we come to talk with you. We want to share our thoughts, needs, and desires with you. We want to know your thoughts and ways! We can only know you by listening to Your response. I confess that I do not always talk with you. From now on I will change my ways to be more like You. Holy Spirit, lead and guide my conversations with You so that my ways, thoughts, and desires become like Yours. In Jesus Name we pray.