Tag: fear

Discernment

Warning: Long fear shame rant.

As Christians, can we just stop claiming everyone has a spirit of fear if that person feels “OFF” or negatively “AWARE” of something and we don’t?

Next time you want to spank someone for “fear” why don’t you first stop the judgment and offer to pray to see what God is saying about the situation?

At times, I have been accused of having a spirit of fear, meaning I was being paranoid about nothing. The person I was speaking to wasn’t on the same channel as me. Then later I found out I was right. It truly was something or SOMEONE that I needed to stop, drop, avoid or take spiritual authority over.

30 years ago when I was an atheist, I frequented a Burger King by my apartment. I kept telling people there was something off about the guy at the drive-thru window. One late night, as I handed him my money, I locked eyes with him and we both jumped! I some how knew he was evil, and he knew he was busted!

2 days later, on a local news channel, they showed him being arrested at his job for murdering his girlfriend and disposing of her body several months earlier. God was even showing me back then what was up.

Fast forward 5 years ago, I was the last person to leave work and was locking up when a man walked into the building with his 5-year-old daughter looking for a catalog of our products. He told me he was in the area and wanted to add some of our products to his very successful internet store. I got creeped out even though he was with his daughter and told him to come back in the morning.

I told some friends later that I felt like he was lying and they were like Jeanne! He came in with a kid! Yes, and Ted Bundy was an attractive man with a fake cast on his arm. Not everything is as it appears to be.

Several days later, he was on the local news as the police were looking for him. He was from New York and was running some local scam listing and selling products from high-end manufacturers that he never shipped.

God has given us our emotions for a reason. Sometimes the fear or “heightened awareness” you feel is truly from God and warranted, even if other people don’t agree with you.

Or the fear is a warning.
Or a time for discernment.
Or maybe it’s false and trying to stop you from what God has planned for you.

But…FEAR is always a reason to stop, discern, and take action. Even if that action is to send the false fear away.

Ask God for discernment and what YOU should do next. Just because another person doesn’t agree with you doesn’t mean God isn’t speaking directly to YOU about the situation.

Several times in the last month I have MISSED it, because I let others talk me out of what I was picking up. MISSED IT!!!!!!

Don’t ignore your Spiritual Spidey Sense

Sometimes it isn’t FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL.

Fear shame rant over peeps!

Happy Mother’s Day, Mama Bears!

Agenda

“The dying have their own agenda”

The night before Dan launched the hospice nurse sat us down for her “hard talk”. She told us “The dying have their own agenda as to when they are going to leave this world. So if you’re someone who is going to feel guilty or cheated because you weren’t there when they take their last breath, you need to get this. They might leave just when you step out of the room. Don’t wait. Tell Dan tonight how much you loved him, share good memories, and it’s okay to tell him that you will miss him but that you will be okay. It may not seem like it, but he can still hear you.”

I was glad for her frank talk but I thought he can’t be leaving this soon. Just that morning, another hospice nurse had told us that Dan had probably 4-6 more days. I had to go back home for a day, but maybe he would hang on until I returned. Besides, I didn’t even know what to say and didn’t want to break down. Dan had told me earlier in the day that I needed to be his “positive reinforcement” and to believe for his miraculous healing.

Several hours later, I slipped into Dan’s room and sat on the bed. I leaned down close to whisper in his ear so a group in the next room couldn’t hear me. Lord please help me to say goodbye.

I was surprised at how easily my feelings for him poured out of me. I told Dan I loved him and was grateful for every minute I had gotten with him. I shared some special memories of him and our trips and asked forgiveness for not always being a pleasant redhead. I shared that I had never felt loved by anyone as I did by him and that he had helped to heal a big hole in my heart. I cried as I told him that I would miss him terribly, but that I would be okay.

I sat back up and looked down at Dan’s face and saw one large beautiful tear coming down from his left eye. I knew he had heard me and I wanted to hold onto that precious perfect moment forever. The presence of the Holy Spirit filled the room and I could feel God’s eternal love for both of us. I was sad, but yet I felt joyful as the realization hit me that I would see Dan again.

Early the next morning, I briefly stepped out of Dan’s room to dig something out of my purse and seconds later he left. Like, I am not waiting around for you to find some gadget in that Bermuda Triangle purse of yours. The purse he bought me because my old one wasn’t “big enough”. I was like WTHeck? I was just talking to you!

I am so glad the hospice nurse had given us her hard talk. I may have mistakenly thought I had more time to think of the perfect way to say see you later….

Please don’t wait to share with someone how you feel.

Someone needs to hear this…. you can do this and I love you!

Jared

Our young server squatted down at our table to take our order. The restaurant was packed and very noisy so maybe it made it easier to hear us. When he quickly bounced up to go grab our drinks, my sister Carolyn told “Jared” to appreciate how easily he could do that now as when you get to our age it is hard to just get out of bed some mornings. I suddenly blurted out “Are you a dancer? God is showing me a picture of you dancing.” Jared, who barely looked 18, flashed an awkward smile like….where is this going? and replied,” Yes, sometimes.” He looked like a deer in headlights, frozen in place, as I started to give him a word. Carolyn reassuringly interrupted with “she is in ministry and does this all the time.” As in, no your parents didn’t send us here. Ha!

Even though the restaurant was busy, he stayed and listened to what God was saying about him. He looked intrigued until suddenly a look of fear went over his face. Like I was going to read his mail or give some corrections. God whispered “Tell Jared that I love him. Just as he is. That he does not need to be anyone else but himself”

When I relayed this to him, Jared’s smile quickly returned and I saw a lightbulb go off. That for some reason Jared needed to hear those words. God then told me why, but I won’t share that with you :).

We paid our bill at our table and as we were leaving, Jared stopped us “Thank you, ladies! And thanks for the word and God bless you.” I was surprised that he knew the lingo. Must be or have been, at some point, a pentecostal churchgoer.

As I drove away, I felt a sweetness in my heart for Jared. And also for Big Sky Daddy. A good reminder that as believers we are spirit in a body. His spirit. You are connected to the Father at all times and you really do hear from Him. You can help change and heal this world one person at a time. The bible states that believers shall lay hands on the sick and they will recover. That also includes hearing His voice to help yourself or others emotionally heal. How awesome to be used by Him! To help His children see His love for them as you release love, hope, and encouragement. When a word hits home it brings the reality of God to the receiver. That Daddy God knows them intimately and cares deeply. Even if you are already a believer there is nothing sweeter than to see a REAL TIME GOD IN ACTION! This stuff never gets old. For the giver or the receiver.

Please step out when you get prompted. I assure you, it only gets easier and it will help build your faith too. Oh and always leave a great tip, Beloveds. Big Sky Daddy ain’t cheap and ministry is NEVER the tip.

Fear?

The other day, my alarm went off, and as soon as I opened my eyes, I heard, ” My people live in fear because they do not know me.” Loud and clear! No mistaking who was speaking to me. Especially since I’m not a morning person, and I don’t even talk to myself that early.

I keep thinking about what He said. Not in a let’s get out the Bible and look at what has been written about who He is. Not that doing so wouldn’t be important, but I’ve been asking Him to show me who He is to me. I know He is love. That’s a given. We hopefully learn that when we’re 5. But who is He to me? What are my actual beliefs about Him? Not the ones I’ve been told I should have about Him, but the real ones. The honest ones. Maybe some really ugly honest ones.

If He can pull any string on this earth to send out angels, soften hearts, create opportunities, heal bodies and minds, and pull a rabbit out of His hat for any reason, why aren’t we going to Him? About everything?

What fears do we have about Him that get in the way? Or unbelief? What has happened in your past that makes you not trust? Or doubt?

Is it because of something man did? Or didn’t do?

Who are you equating God with?

Don’t bother trying to think about this on your own; ask God to reveal to you the truth. The truth of what is causing a barrier between you and Him.

He can handle it. You’re no surprise to Him.

Then ask Him to fix it. To heal it. To renew your faith in Him.

It’s time for us to get real and honest with God.

I’m tired of living in fear because I do not really know Him. Or who He is or can be in my life if I allow Him in. Totally, let Him in.

Are you?

Always Speaking

“Where are we going?” I asked. “Never mind. Just drive!”, snapped the stranger. “I’ll tell you when to turn.” I glanced back at his sister, a person I hardly knew, from my apartment complex. She just nodded and gave me a look that said better do what he says. I felt ill. You know that fearful little knot in your stomach that tells you that something just ain’t right. So I gripped the steering wheel, as he directed my route as thru downtown Hopkins. ” Ok, pull over here.” The stranger pulled out a large roll of bills and flashed an eerie smile that I will never forget. He peeled off a ten and threw it down on the seat before he disappeared into an alley between a row of buildings.

His sister climbed into the front seat “Forget about this and forget where you dropped him off.” WTH? What just happened? I was too shocked to ask, and we rode home in silence.
After I dropped the sister off, I went into my apartment complex office to look for my friend Mardie, who was the manager. “Why did you ask me to give Bonnie and her brother a ride? It felt creepy.” Mardie lit up a cigarette and motioned for me to sit down. “Because he broke out of prison and needed a ride somewhere. I didn’t want to do it, and Bonnie didn’t want to harbor him. She went with him so he wouldn’t harm you.” “WHAT??!!! Why wouldn’t you tell me that?” Mardie responded,” Would you have given him a ride if you knew?”

That was 30 years ago, and God brought it to my memory this weekend. See, I wasn’t a Christian back then, and He wanted to remind me that He has always been speaking to me. Always. I could have avoided a lot of trauma and drama in my life if I had known that. Known Him. Believed in Him. Trusted in Him.

I clearly recall that when Mardie phoned me for the favor, something in me said no. I felt in my gut that something was wrong. She called me 3-4 more times, and each time it was a LOUD NO in my heart. I finally gave in because she could be relentless when she wanted something.

God said “You didn’t believe in me back then, and I was still speaking to you. I was warning you. I talk to all of my children. Believers and unbelievers. Some may call it a hunch or intuition. All the same, it is I. How much more will my children hear me if they open their eyes and ears to the fact that I desire to speak to them more than they want to hear. When you choose to hear me and seek to hear me, I am able to better keep you from harm’s way and guide your steps. Fearful is the man who does not trust my voice. ” “Yes, Lord. That is very true. I experience less fear when I choose to add you into my life, and it runs so much smoother. Less drama and pain.”

Wow. My life has changed. A lot! How many murders, robberies, rapes, etc. happen because we are in the wrong place at the wrong time because we chose NOT to listen? Think about it. How many blame God for evil and say He allowed it for some extraordinary reason that we will only know about in Heaven? He loves his children too much for that.

Listen. Listen. Today help me to choose to LISTEN.

Thoughts-Beliefs-Actions

Are you tired of being stuck? You might just be the captain of your own dysfunctional Carnival Cruise!

We store thoughts or information in our minds and store beliefs in our hearts. Thoughts = beliefs = action. How do some of your thoughts become beliefs? By attaching emotions to it. The more times you attach emotions to a thought the stronger that belief gets. That is why it doesn’t take more than a heartbeat to get your blood boiling when you repeatedly think about that person that hurt you. It is more than a memory and it has now become a belief that has a very quick trigger. That is also why it is really important to break that circuit by sharing good stories or testimonies.

Why? Because we have been taught about life from stories since we were small children. Some good. Some bad. Unfortunately, we continue to tell ourselves stories that are lies, no longer true or keeping us stuck. When we share testimonies or hear testimonies of God’s goodness, healing, provision, etc. it stirs up emotions in us. We feel the reality of God! We feel what He can do and will do. It speaks the miracle or action prophetically into our own lives. When enough of those stories get imprinted into our hearts, it becomes a belief. These beliefs give us hope and propel us forward. When we are hopeless we remain stuck. The more it is imprinted, the stronger the belief gets. Good or bad. That is why it is easier to believe God in some areas and not in others. We just haven’t attached enough good or Godly emotions or proof to the areas we struggle in.

Purpose this week to share testimonies of God’s goodness in your life. Not only will it help someone else, but it will remind you of Him. I am tired of being stuck by some of the negative stories I continue to tell myself. It is time to put some emotions to the good stuff, so we can call more of it into our lives. God told me to make the month of March a march forward month. How about you?

Share your testimonies this week and let me know how you not only change the atmosphere around you…..but how it changes the beliefs in your heart!

March on, beloveds!

Tangible God

Why do we want to feel God in a tangible way? So we feel assured. Assured that He is real. That He cares. That there really is a Heaven. Just because we don’t feel Him doesn’t mean He isn’t there or isn’t working behind the scenes. But it makes it so much sweeter if we do.

I have had nights lately where I am screaming “God! Answer me! Tell me that everything will be okay. Tell me how this will work out. And when. How long do I have to struggle with this? Or worry about this?”

Crickets

Then I start questioning myself. Am I in some kind of sin? Am I not doing x, x, x, or x enough? Maybe He is silent because He expects us to take authority and bring it to pass by our faith alone. Geesh. That makes me feel like an orphan. Like Big Sky Daddy isn’t in control or isn’t moving the puzzle pieces. Is He even real?

Wow…..overthinking this aren’t I?

Today, I cried as I started begging Him to fix a couple of things. Then I apologized for begging. That’s not what a daughter of the most High God does. Begging or apologizing. But I still held my breath and waited for an answer.

Crickets

Then I unexpectedly felt this deep comfort. Like the negative feelings simply went away. I didn’t feel extreme peace or hear Angels singing. I just no longer felt negative. I felt like I could go on with my day.

Sometimes God’s presence is simply comfort. No words were necessary. When it came down to it, I really didn’t need to hear Him, I needed to feel Him take the extreme emotions away.

Comfort:

Comfort is to soothe in times of affliction or distress. Comfort is also a condition of wellbeing, contentment and security. ​

Good Word

Rob Grove

Food for Thought – February 12, 2022.
Good Morning Beautiful People: Start out your Saturday by not being pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart and pursue them with great vigor. Don’t be afraid of your fears. They’re not there to scare you. They’re there to let you know that something is worth it, worth the effort, worth the time and worth the fortitude.

Let us not forget that if we want to forget something or someone, never hate it, or never hate him/her. Everything and everyone that you hate is engraved upon your heart; if you want to let go of something, if you want to forget, you cannot hate. Every day, we have to allow ourselves to be loved by the people who really love us, the people who really matter.

Too much of the time, we are blinded by our own pursuits of people to love us, people that don’t even matter, while all that time we waste and the people who do love us have to stand on the sidewalk and watch us beg in the streets! It’s time to put an end to this and start loving those that show you’re a priority and not just an option.

It’s time to give love to those who give love to us through their actions. It’s time for us to let ourselves be loved. Take responsibility going forward for your own happiness, never put it in other people’s hands. Accept yourself, love yourself, and keep moving forward.

Lastly always remember this simple saying “If you want to fly, you have to give up what weighs you down.”💜💜💜

No Weapons

“Isaiah 54:17” No weapon formed against you will prosper. 

God’s word says that no weapon formed against you will prosper. 

He did not say that there would not be any weapons created. He said it….or they…… would not win, flourish or triumph). Read it again. 

I used to know someone who constantly said, “Give thanks to the Lord in good times and in bad. Especially in the bad times.”

I actually had a hard time with that. Why would I be thanking God when things were going wrong? Wouldn’t that mean that God brought it on for some reason? For some higher good? Thank you Sir, may I have another?! 

I’m Big Sky Daddy’s kid! Why couldn’t things always just go right? 

We can easily forget that we have the authority to take hold of the crap storm before it starts. Often, we get a little whisper that tells us before the clouds even begin to form. Nah! I’m just being paranoid. That couldn’t possibly happen. Nope. Maybe it’s your spirit giving you a heads up about that weapon starting to be assembled. You can learn to be calm in the eye of the storm, but don’t you have better things to do? Like, spend those Kohl’s dollars? 

Years ago, I recalled getting this feeling that I was secretly being listened to at work. At first, it felt like paranoia, but I knew it was true in my heart. One of my managers started repeating to me, verbatim, things my coworkers or I had said in conversations in my office. How did he know what was said? Or what I did last weekend? Then I started to have dreams about hidden mics and searched everything in my office numerous times and found nothing. Then one day, as I was walking by an empty office next to mine, the Holy Spirit said “it’s in there, behind the picture that hangs on the wall that is directly behind you.” I walked in and lifted the frame, and there was a wireless lavaliere mic attached to the wire that it hung on. I was shocked, to say the least. Someone walked past and asked me what I was doing, and I returned to my office. 15 minutes later, after most had gone to lunch, I went back into the empty office, and the mic had been removed. Hmmm. How many people were in on it?

Pay attention to what you are feeling in your heart. Maybe it’s true. Perhaps you aren’t crazy or had too much coffee. Maybe you can stop or get ahead of the storm before it builds up pressure. Or play those clouds to your advantage. But no worries if you totally miss it. God can still bring out the sun and create rainbows regardless of whether you get caught in the downpour.

Isaiah 54:17 Amplified 

“No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;

And every tongue that rises against you in judgment you will condemn.

This [peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition] is the heritage of the servants of the Lord,

And this is their vindication from Me,” says the Lord.