sistere's Blog

Grace and peace.



On Sunday, I had the opportunity to give a reflection to the congregation. There were a couple of things on my heart to share, but one particular thing just stood out. As I was sharing I believed that I had spoken about what the Lord told me to go with, but as I sat down and begin to reflect on my reflection, I somehow thought that was not the Word for the day. But since then the Lord began to reveal some things to me. He gave me "revelation" on my reflection. And that is this If God tells you to speak a Word share it. I thought that no one wanted to hear that Word, but God said, maybe not at that moment but that is not for you to decide. Someone may not need it at that moment, but the Word is a living Word and someone will need it when they have a NEED FOR IT. So bless God, I may not have needed it the other day, and maybe someone else might not have needed it the other day, but I needed it today and God knew that and He is faithful. And His Word is yet true! Praise the Lord!



God had me reading the Book of Nehemiah a few weeks ago. And in Chapter 6, vs. 1- 4, it says this... Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you? Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner. The last verse just stuck with me. Again, it says again, "Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner." The NIV says, "Four times they sent me the same message, and each time I gave them the same answer." Hear this: FOUR TIMES, THE SAME MESSAGE. God said this to me, Nehemiah, the prophet of God, was rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem for protection from their enemies. He had started this great work back in Chapter 4 and received some opposition, but the opposition went away for a time. How many of you know that the enemy of your soul comes and he opposes you for a while but then he goes away for a season. So Nehemiah received some opposition, but they went away after awhile so he was able to overcome it and kept on building. But after hearing that Nehemiah was close to finishing the wall, his enemies, the enemies of God, Sanballat and Tobiah returned. And after seeing just how close Nehemiah was to completing his great work they try to stop him from finishing by telling him they had to have an important meeting. And each time that Sanballat and Tobiah came back, the Bible says that Nehemiah answered them the same way. He said, "Why should I come down to you? I am doing a great work and I WILL NOT come down." They came to him, FOUR times saying the same thing and each and every time, Nehemiah answered them the same way. "I AM DOING A GREAT WORK and I WILL NOT COME DOWN." God wants you to know that the enemy of your soul is out for your destruction. That work that you are doing for God is a great work. That promise of God that you have been holding on to, is a great promise. That healing that you have been confessing over yourself, or your loved one, is a great healing. That Word from the Lord, that God will provide for you and you shall be the head and not the tail, you shall be above only and not beneath, that your loved ones shall be saved, that your seed shall be mighty in the earth, that's a great Word. God says to hold on. He says to keep confessing. He says to keep believing and waiting patiently on Him. Because the enemy will come. And if he has come and has left, he has only left you for a season. He is coming back. And he is coming back when you are the closest you will ever be to that GREATNESS coming to pass in your life. And each and every time he comes back to you, telling you not to believe, telling you things contrary to the word of God, you MUST answer him the same way you've always have. The same way and in the same manner that has been allowing you the victory up until now. Speaking and believing the Word of God. When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, satan came to him three times trying to stop him from fasting. Essentially Jesus told him, "I AM DOING A GREAT WORK AND WILL NOT COME DOWN." And every time satan came at Him, Jesus answered him the same way. With the Word. Whatever you have spoken to that enemy that lined up with the Word of God, you need to keep telling him the same thing. Be consistent. Be steadfast. Be immovable. Always abounding in the work of the Lord. Keep confessing that Word. And keep telling that enemy "I will not stop believing. I AM DOING A GREAT WORK, I AM BELIEVING A GREAT GOD, AND I WILL NOT STOP." Amen. Hallelujah!



And know this when you do this, your blessing is at hand. Because right after Nehemiah finished that wall, all kinds of things begin to happen for the people of Jerusalem. The wall was completed, and things just started flowing. Their was a revival in the land. Their fellowship with God was restored. The people received the protection and the healing they missed. The city was repopulated. All because Nehemiah, through the grace of God (he acknowledged that God's hand was on him in Chapter 4 - we do nothing on our own). Nehemiah did not stop doing his great work. And did not stop believing his great God.



God is good. And He's real!



Be blessed.

A servant of the Lord,

Sis. E

I was reminded of something that the Lord revealed to me a few years ago. The issue actually came up after I received an email about someone texting other Christians about the love of Jesus. For whatever reason, the person that sent the text had the other person's number to text him, but I guess only for certain things?! Anyway, so the person that sent the text began to receive all these emails stating how wrong he was for sending an unsolicited text, an unsolicited text about Jesus Christ, mind you. Come on... we receive countless numbers of emails, text messages, phone calls that we did not solicit, nor do we want. But we receive them anyway. What are you going to do about it, really? We have too much time on our hands and spend too little time on our knees if we get caught up in unsolicited whatevers! Yeah, some people say I am missing the point that you should not send anything unsolicited no matter what it is, and who you are. Christians, included. But you know what when John the Baptist was in the wilderness preaching the gospel, there were plenty who did not want to hear it... he was preaching unsolicited. Nobody (human) asked him to go out there and preach the gospel. He was led by the Spirit. When Jesus told the disciples to go and knock on people's doors to spread the gospel, the people did not ask them to come to their dwellings. They went unsolicited. BUT Jesus sent them. They were led by Him. So bring that to today, if we go out and spread the gospel, and share it with people who did not "ask" for it, by whatever means the Spirit leads us to do so, I have to believe we are being led by the Spirit of God and doing the will of the Lord. Especially if that is your calling. Some of us have that call on us so strong that we just have to share it... with those who will listen and even if with those will will not. But it's like fire shut up in our bones! Jesus told the disciples (and I believe He did so just for us - He has already walked out our steps), if they don't receive you, shake the dust off your feet and move on. So if you believe that you are being led by the Spirit of God and you send an unsolicited text, email, letter, stick a flyer or postcard in the mailbox, or even call somebody, and they are offended by it and don't receive you, shake the dust off your feet and move on.



Now this person that sent the text, the person who received it cursed him out. CURSED HIM OUT. And I will say this about that, in 2 Samuel 16, v. 11-12, And David said to Abishai and all his servants, "See how my son who came from my own body seeks my life. How much more now may this Benjamite? Let him alone and let him curse. for so the Lord has ordered him. It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day."



David was being cursed by Shimei, a relative of Saul. In fact the Bible says he was cursing continuously. And it wasn't just insults or words from a foul mouth, he was asking God to destroy David. He threw stones at him. He called him a rogue, which means a "useless piece of trash." He hated David and blamed him for Saul's demise. When hearing that David's men wanted to kill him, that was their response, but David told them to leave him alone.



Two things, one, don't ever get to the point, where you think you can speak to or about the man or woman of God like that and think that you are going to get away with it. It won't happen. God looks out for his leaders. Second thing, David knew enough to know that vengeance is the Lord's. He will repay. He knew that if he endured what was wrong, the cursing and the threatening, and did not take the matter in his own hands, God would avenge him. David thought it was good to be afflicted and believed that the Lord would bless him for it, through it, to make up for what Shimei was doing to him.



The Word says this, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be EXCEEDINGLY glad, for great is your reward in heaven."



Saints, we must endure. Whatever comes our way, for whatever reason, even if you sent an unsolicited text desiring to bless someone and they curse you out for it, let it alone. Shake the dust off and most of all rejoice. Because God sees and He will repay to us (and to them), our just reward!



It was good that I was afflicted that I may know thy statutes! Praise God for good affliction!



Be blessed and encouraged.

A servant of the Lord,

Sis. E









http://sis.e.home.comcast.net

http://www.ongoodground.org

Grace and peace.



I've shared recently how music is the voice of God and so many times a song just ministers to my heart when God wants me to get something. The song is called "Say A Prayer" and it is by Donald Lawrence. You know we go through things and somehow we manage just to sit back and let them happen to us, without asking for intercession or saying anything to anybody. Not really wanting to say anything because we want to be what my husband and minister likes to term, "Super Christians" and put on the facade that all is well and NOTHING CAN STOP ME. And that is all well and good. It's a good thing to hold your head up and endure through your trails and tribulations. It's a great testimony when you are "growing through" something and the whole world does not have to know it. Glory to God! But you know what we are not here by ourselves. We are all just as much dependent on each other as we are dependent on Jesus, that is why the Bible says do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together in the house of the Lord. We feed each other. We nourish each other and we strengthen each other. And God has put that in each and every one of His children, (those who desire to do His will). This is what I heard, (just to tell you how good God is) "Lord, I come to You. I ask You to grant my request. The prayer I pray today is different from the rest. The enemy is threatened by the gift You placed in me. Hear my earnest prayer, cover me. Jesus say a prayer for me. You know what I need. Go before the Father and intercede for me. The enemy desires to sift me as wheat. But like You did for Peter, say a prayer for me." And this is what God spoke to me... He has placed gifts in His children. Gifts to encourage others, through whatever means He deems necessary. But if we ourselves are discouraged, others cannot be encouraged, because we are the ones that God has ordained to come across their path and to speak a word of life into their situations. To give them hope. To strengthen them in the journey. And God said to ask Him for help when we are down that we may continue strong in the faith that others may continue to develop in their faith. He said I need you to be where I want you to be. And then He reminded me that the enemy of my soul wants nothing more but to steal, kill and destroy me.



God had me listen to the song and then He directed me to the Scripture (Luke 22:31,32) it says that Jesus is speaking to Peter and the rest of His disciples and He tells them that He has equipped them to go forward and to declare the gospel and to do His works, and then He tells them that the enemy, Satan has asked for them, that He desires to sift them as wheat (the amplified says this "Simon, Simon (Peter), listen! Satan has asked excessively that [all of] you be given up to him [out of the power and keeping of God], that he might sift [all of] you like grain," and then Jesus goes on with the remarkable part and He says, but be encouraged, because I have prayed for you." And then He goes on and He says, "But I have prayed especially for you [Peter], that your [own] faith may not fail; and when you yourself have turned again, strengthen and establish your brethren."



Get this in your spirit, because just as Jesus was speaking to Peter and His disciples back then He is speaking to us today. He has equipped us to go forward and to share the Good News of His gospel. He has put in us His heart to do His will and though we may get discouraged, we may get shaken along the way, we may "grow through" He is yet mindful of the wor that He has begun in us and faithful to complete it and He is interceding on our behalf. He is praying for us. He is praying for you especially! Isn't that a glorious thing!



Ask Jesus to pray for you. To say a prayer for you. Jesus, say a prayer for me. Say a prayer for me Jesus that the enemy won't rule over my soul, when my feelings get hurt. Say a prayer for me Jesus, that this setback, this disappointment, this sickness, this fall, won't kill me. Say a prayer for me Jesus that my failure to believe at this moment, won't destroy me. Say a prayer for me that my faith won't fail. That I may go on after myself being strengthened, encourage someone else. Say a prayer for me Jesus because the enemy of my soul wants nothing more but to steal, kill and destroy. He wants nothing more but to see me dead. And not just physical, spiritual. Pray for me Jesus. I know the enemy wants to tear me apart, he wants to break my spirit, he wants to hurt my body, and take my mind.... that I can't help anyone else.



Last week was a hard one for me, I suffered some emotional setback in the beginning of the week, I suffered an illness (BY HIS STRIPES I AM HEALED), and even took a fall (physical), but thank God Who always causes me to triumph in Christ Jesus!!!! Jesus said a prayer for me and He opened my eyes and helped me to see, the enemy has no hold.



The song goes on to say this, "For those that you called, you fully equipped. To fight the wind and the waves and captain the ship. So I don't mind the storm... I'm willing to sail. God, cover me, that my faith won't fail. Jesus say a prayer for me. You know what I need. Go before the Father and intercede for me. The enemy desires to sift me as wheat. But like you did for Peter say a prayer for me."



I shall not die but live to declare the glory the Lord! In Jesus' name!



God is good and He is real. Just in case you didn't know.

Be encouraged.

A servant of the Lord,

Si. E





http://sis.e.home.comcast.net

http://www.ongoodground.org

Praise the name of Jesus!

Those who know me well (or even maybe a little bit if they're observant) know that I like to listen to music. Let me clarify that. GOSPEL and Christian music. Inspirational, contemporary, occasional rap (though very occasional), Christian, and even some Latino. For the young and the older. And I listen to music all day long, almost from the time I get up in the morning until the time I go to bed at night. Which is something that the Lord spoke unto the heart of my husband, Minister Jeff, a long time ago, when He began to move us into the plan He had for our lives. Specifically, God gave us a vision for our home, and part of that vision, was sharing Scriptures or whatever Word that the Lord had spoken into our hearts on any given day to encourage each other and playing music all day long in our household, morning until night, whether or not we were listening to it. In fact if you've ever come to our house, I'm sure you've heard the music softly playing in the background. We don't ever cut it on because company is coming over, it is on because "company" is already there. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost and God the Father, Himself. Praise the Lord! Anyway, there is a song that Helen Baylor sings and it's called, Music Is The Voice of God. And the truth is that this song never really ministered to me until this very moment. We must have had the CD since it came out (1999), and I must have heard it dozens of times, but I have never really 'heard' it until now. Music is the voice of God. I found that as the music is on, every now and then, something grabs me and I actually hear it... (with it being on so much you can hear the music, without really hearing it). But God... every now and then He captures me with the music and the words and the melodies to the songs and He begins to speak truth into my Spirit. This is why we must be careful about what we hear, what we listen to. It does have an effect on you and it WILL have an effect on you in the days to come. I often wondered sometimes why I am so on fire one day and just so full of joy and victory, and then there are days when it seemingly disappears. And I found especially recently with my stereo system breaking down that it was what I was not listening to in this case. Yes we always have our word. But we cannot read while we are "at work." But we can hear. Faith comes by hearing and by hearing the Word of God. We can always sing our own songs to, but we're accompanied by music. Music is the voice of God. God spoke back then that our house shall be filled with the praises of God through the music, and we have found that playing it all the time, invokes the very presence of God. He said He inhabits His praise. That means He takes up residence where His praise is. In the house, in you, wherever. God is good and He cares so much about us. He spoke those instructions years ago and little did I know that all the testimonies that I have given about a song ministering to my spirit was all a part of His plan to reveal His voice to me when I needed to hear it. Don't tell me that my God is not faithful. Hallelujah! It was not my intent to write about this today, I felt the Lord leading me to write about something and as I sat in front of my computer and begin to type, the music just flooded my soul and He began to speak through it. Through His music. The music that lifts up the name of Jesus. That music is the voice of God. And as Helen Baylor sings, "It's an international language understood by all mankind. Music is the voice of God." Be still and hear it. And let Him minister to you when you need it.

God is real and I love Him.
Be blessed!
Sis. E

http://sis.e.home.comcast.net
http://www.ongoodground.org

Praise the name of Jesus:

Here is something on my heart to share that I shared with our church...

I happened upon this article about oysters and how they make pearls. And it said that when an oyster is irritated, something gets under the skin, usually sand or small particles that are floating around in the water, and in order for the oyster to protect itself from the irritation, it begins to cover the intruder with its substance, and the constant rubbing in its covering the irritation, forms the pearl. And we know what a pearl is... it's a gem. An iridescent gem, priceless and pure. So the oyster takes something that irritates them and makes something beautiful out of it. Extraordinaire. And as I read this, God said, "so it is with Me."

God can take our irritations, and make something beautiful out of it. He can take those things that intrude our shell, our covering, those things that get under our skin, and turn them into a pearl. A priceless gem.

The Bible says that God will turn our mourning into dancing. He will give us beauty for ashes, strength for tears, peace for despair.

God will take the very thing that bothers us, the very thing that irritates us and turn that thing around for our good. If we commit those things to Him, (as our Substance), He'll work something out from the inside of us and will cause those things to be rubbed the right way.

Our impatience with people, He'll turn into love and forbearance. Our bitterness at being passed up for a promotion, He'll turn into joy at a new and better job offer. Our discontentment of who we are, He'll turn into rest in Who He is.

He'll even take our Wednesday nights at the bar, and turn it into Bible Study and fellowship with the saints of God. Sunday mornings at the market and turn it into Sunday morning worship.

The things that people say that hurt our feelings or #!!@ at our skin, God will use to propel us to get better... to be kind, to go on that diet, to stop drinking... to get saved.

I have a song that I listen to every now and then by Maurette Brown Clark and she says, God made something out of nothing, when He made me. And that's just what He does. Those little things are nothing to God. And He will take that nothing and turn it into something and make you better!

So I encourage you, whatever irritants you have in life today, give them over to God, and let Him give you some beauty for your troubles.

God is real!

Be blessed continually!
A servant of the Lord,
Sis. E



http://sis.e.home.comcast.net
http://www.ongoodground.org