Michelle
As we’ve spent time crying out before the Lord, the Holy Spirit has been dealing with our ways. This is not the first time He’s dealt with our ways. Each time He comes, He addresses something new or digs deeper into matters of the soul.
I speak out of being reproved by Jesus for thinking and positioning myself against someone, whom I’ve considered to be undeserving of a gift. If I were to say that this individual has caused me great pain and anguish, some would agree that buying a gift for this individual would be outrageous. Oh contraire! My reasoning, which was based solely on this individual’s actions toward me, was not acceptable to Jesus and it did not allow me to justify myself. [click to continue…]
Michelle
As I review the past few days, I consider how I’ve had to be truthful with friends and relatives. What seemed like a foolish exercise to me, started with me quite awkwardly speaking up in truth to others. I think the awkward part was initially being able to raise the issues for discussion and truth telling.
I discovered that after I took the bold step of bringing up a number of issues, that needed to be addressed with different individuals, being honest and walking in truth became much easier. Sometimes, there are things that are so hard for me to talk about and in the past I’ve tip-toed around them and backed-out of [click to continue…]
- Michelle
Something caught my attention this week on the Pilgrim’s Progress broadcast that is so vital to my Christian walk. As I recall, Pastor Ray placed emphasis on the walk of faith in a Christian’s life. He indicated that when a Christian seeks and discovers God’s will, that person is to transition into taking a faith stand and trust Jesus that His will is done then wait to see how He changes the physical realm.
At times, I find that transitioning into the kind of faith where I can trust Jesus to move in the physical realm is difficult or that my faith simply has no legs. I think this difficulty of mine is based on me not being able to [click to continue…]
Michelle
Yesterday, I spoke with a cousin, who I know will usually be quite frank with me. He said something to me that I was taken aback by. He told me that my standards very high but at the same time, he urged me not to lower my standards. I was surprised that he told me that I was uncompromising in my beliefs, although, I’m not really surprised. How can I bargain the truth of Jesus Christ with what the world has to offer or how the world says I ought to live?
He actually made the statement at the end of our conversation. In fact, I was checking up on him to see how he was doing and if he started doing the things he said he would in getting right with Jesus. In my simple understanding, [click to continue…]
Michelle
I’m a little tired today. Having obeyed the voice of Jesus and walked faithfully before Him, I’ve been a target over the past few hours and with my entire being, I’ve been fighting the arrows of the enemy. I’m so tired and vulnerable and the only thing I know to do is to cry out to Jesus for His strength to keep me standing.
I’m hiding myself in His word and each time rising in faith as I walk through this momentary trial. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been standing on a particular scripture, praying each day and night that the Lord would lead me in His righteousness, that steadfastness would be found in my heart [click to continue…]
Michelle
Listening to the broadcast, Pilgrim’s Progress has been such a joy and there’s a song that wells up in my soul. It goes something like this:
As I journey thro’ the land, singing as I go,
Pointing souls to Calvary—to the crimson flow,
Many arrows pierce my soul from without, within;
But my Lord leads me on, thro’ Him I must win.
Refrain
O I want to see Him, look upon His face,
There to sing forever of His saving grace; [click to continue…]
Michelle
Sometimes there are moments when someone makes a statement and you know it’s true but in that moment in time and space, you know you have no evidence (tangible or intangible) to show its authenticity. Last week, I heard a brother make a statement on the fact that as Christians, we’re sheep who have a shepherd that leads and speaks us. It’s a statement that I wholeheartedly agree with it and as a sheep, I was in a place where I didn’t know what the will of Jesus was on a particular issue.
Let me first say that Jesus guides my feet as I walk in humble obedience to Him. The reason why the words spoken by this brother were so challenging was [click to continue…]
- Michelle
I had an experience yesterday that made me cherish The National Prayer Chapel. I wasn’t ashamed nor did I have to offer excuses for the attitude and responses of the brethren, as some feel compelled to do.
Having worked with my boss over the weekend to meet a proposal deadline, I found myself sharing with her, the care and concern for the company, offered by members in our church. As I talked with her, her ears peaked with curiosity. It seemed so unnatural for her to hear of people whom she has never met, to be praying for the company. She was overcome with thankfulness and responded by saying: “You have a [click to continue…]
Michelle
Over the past two months, I’ve been watching the Lord knit my heart to His. Recently, I’ve considered how God used Joseph and Esther while they were both young to save His people. I took courage and delighted in the fact that God is still looking for faithful young men and women that He can use.
While I may not have a Joseph or Esther experience, I’m curious regarding the work that Jesus is building in my heart. Sometimes, I find myself asking Jesus to show me what kind of a mold He’s making out of me and what’s His goal. I believe that all of my life experiences aren’t isolated but somehow culminate to [click to continue…]
Michelle
Lately, I’ve been in pursuit of understanding God’s ways and two things stood out— complaining and the move of God during times of disappointment. Letting go of things and letting God have His way is so much better than holding on to them and letting them fester inside of me. In theory, it’s the Christian thing to do but in practice, I’m more familiar with being controlled by anxiety and trying to make things work in my favor. The transition to relinquishing everything to God is gaining newer depths in my heart than it did before.
Not too long ago, I found out that someone I once loved, was [click to continue…]
Michelle
Today, I’m at peace and happy. I don’t have much to share apart from saying that I awoke one morning feeling happy that even in my dreams, I can say no to sin. It’s actually not a bad thing to know that even in my subconscious, I was able to say no. It might not be a big deal to some but for me knowing that I’m choosing not to give in to temptation, says a lot and in some ways, helps me see what’s fueling my motives.
It felt good waking up that morning to face myself and Jesus, knowing that there wasn’t anything that I was ashamed of [click to continue…]
Michelle
Lately, I’ve been giving much thought to the need for making adequate preparation for some of the things that I do on a frequent basis. I find that the slightest postponement of a simple task or an oversight can really throw me off. There’ve been times when I’ve failed in performing a task due to inadequate preparation. It’s gaining my attention since it strikes a parallel for me with making adequate preparation for the Kingdom of God.
I’m not concerned about not being able to do everything I have on my list. What really concerns me are the things that fall through the cracks because I don’t follow through on completely preparing. I had the unfortunate experience of [click to continue…]
Michelle
As I began preparing breakfast, my thoughts began to trail to something that became quite exciting. Some may not, at this very moment, understand why I’m so excited over something that I already know. I can only say that it was the word of the Lord to my heart.
I had a new experience in understanding that I’m a part of the seed of Abraham. It seemed as if time stopped for me and returned to the day when God promised Abraham that in his seed all the nations would be blessed. The promise came closer to me when [click to continue…]
Deborah
My heart is grieved as I think about all of the distractions that take me away from being about my father’s business. I know that distractions can be used as a crafty and cunning device by the adversary. However, I also know that the flesh is so used to dominating in areas of self-centeredness and self-gratification. I struggle at times maintaining discipline especially, when I have health problems.
Most recently, I had a major illness that left me feeling like a dish cloth. The fatigue and all of the intricate details of recovery sucked so much out of me that I could not be about my father’s business. [click to continue…]
Michelle
“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” — II Cor. 7:1-2.
I found these words resonating within my heart, in such a strange way. Undoubtedly, the richness of God’s word has this effect on a man or woman but this time the experience went a bit deeper than water being poured on dry earth. It was the conviction of the Holy Spirit in my heart. There was something contaminating my spirit, which blocked the perfection of holiness.
As I sat and listened to the preaching of God’s word on Sunday and as the Holy Spirit came and made His inspection of my heart, I started questioning my actions [click to continue…]
Michelle
January was a month of great intensity for me. I began the year with a determination to read the bible through in 30 days. Now, I think it’ll take me another five days to finish up since I lost time attending to unforeseen circumstances. While committing to walk through this kind of a fast for the entire month, I don’t think that I’ve ever had to work as hard as I did on my job. I’ve had many late nights at work but they weren’t as intense and demanding, not to mention the added strain of experiencing the pain of death and the scare of a family crisis.
In all of this rocking of my boat, I was pushed to the extreme physically, emotionally and spiritually. [click to continue…]
Michelle
I’m very exhausted, having collaborated on submitting a major proposal at work. I’m placing all my hope in Jesus to see our company receive the award of this contract. I’ve been praying and asking the Lord to show favor to my boss, not for my sake, but for my boss’, as He’s extended much kindness to me over the years.
I’ve also been praying that Jesus will bring new business to our company that’s outside of my boss’s networking and marketing efforts. As I humble myself at the job, I want Jesus to raise up for Himself a testimony [click to continue…]
Michelle
It’s almost 10pm and we’re here with mom at the hospital to check on some pains she felt earlier this afternoon. After my last post, it’s been beyond hectic at work and to face news of my mom being at the emergency was like so unbelievable. I was just on the verge of freaking out but pulled myself together and began praying.
To those who have been quietly praying for me and my company- THANK YOU! Your prayers and encouragement gave me strength to continue clutching to Jesus, as He’s carried me.
May the Lord Jesus continue to watch over His people and hear their cries.
Michelle
It’s been very tough this week. Having encouraged a friend to keep trusting in Jesus and to not sin, little did I know that I too would be dealt with my share of oppressive circumstances. I would’ve never expected that I would so quickly be in a place where I would have to clutch the very words of encouragement I had offered just a day earlier.
If being wrung out at work because of concentrating our efforts on meeting a deadline was too much to handle, discovering that a co-worker had died at home when he failed to show up for work was altogether, unimaginable and overwhelming. [click to continue…]
Michelle
It’s mid-January and I’m just about halfway through the bible. If I finish my required portion of reading today, I would have just started Proverbs but I’m still in the Psalms.
It’s amazing what’s happened so far since I started reading through the bible again. Oh, boy! There’ve been so many lessons and warnings to my heart. A couple things stood out. One was seeing how God honored David’s love for him through covenant. I’m reminded in my life that God takes covenants very seriously, which includes the ones that He’s made to my heart and those I made to Him. [click to continue…]
Michelle
It seems like while I’m sifting through the things that have a direct bearing on me understanding and identifying what prompts my combativeness, there’s a cross-current from the enemy that wants to topple me.
Some may recall me writing about how I felt as a single person and how I was unaffected by what the Lord would chose for me, be it single or married. Strangely, I was no longer feeling carefree but began feeling troubled. I did notice that there was a constant barrage of questions from persons, who wanted to know when I was going to be married. Without realizing it, I started to let my shield down and the barrage of questions [click to continue…]
Michelle
It’s been eight days since I began reading the bible through from Genesis to Revelation for the month of January. With each day that passes, I’m very conscious of my time and what I do and how much time I’m saving up toward the reading of the word.
I’m trusting Jesus that His word will cleanse me as I read through the bible, especially since I don’t have the victory over being combative. I want my will ‘to be combative’ broken. There’re times when I see it rise up and it hurts me and there’s nothing [click to continue…]
Michelle
Recently, I had asked one of my friends what kinds of events were experienced in 2011. The response was that it was, in part, a year of sadness, owing to the loss of a loved one. I read the messages and recognized that my friend’s heart was still aching over the loss. I couldn’t offer any words of encouragement except to ask the question whether or not Jesus is enough in the midst of the pain.
Oddly enough, I’m faced with this same question of whether or not Jesus is enough in my life. Although, I can’t see Him and even though, there’re times when He doesn’t show up when I would like Him to, [click to continue…]
Michelle
As the New Year is about to dawn, I’m looking forward, with much eagerness, to more growth in Jesus and to overcome things that have kept Jesus at bay, during the past year. I’m encouraged by the gift of grace I received at the beginning of 2011 to break the stronghold of anger and vanity in my life. As I finish 2011 with joy and a shout of victory, I know without a doubt that the hedge of protection in my life is being built, and that I’m able to experience the promises of God, as I take steps toward the Kingdom of God.
Last night, while on the Holy Women’s Conference call, a ministry outreach of a dear sister, we walked through several scriptures dealing with conversing with God. My heart took [click to continue…]
Michelle
Last week the Holy Spirit convicted me and said that it was time to deal with my combative spirit, which would emerge at times when I felt I was right. Recently, we’ve been examining how we’re walking as Christians and what strides we were making in winning the intercession for our souls. We understood that winning the intercession for our souls is important and that it would also give us a place of standing before God, to plead on the behalf of another.
As I grow closer to Jesus, there are things in my life that I’m beginning to see that grieve my heart, as I see [click to continue…]
Michelle
The word false kept ringing in my ear, as I made my way home after having lunch with some friends. While it was wonderful catching up with them, the afternoon get together left me feeling a little troubled.
As I recall, we were wrapping up our lunch meeting but I was very eager to squeeze in one last topic into our conversation before we said our good-byes. Not knowing that my eagerness would soon be swept away by an observation made by my friends. They shared that they get the feeling that Christians would sometimes appear to be false. My heart sank when they told me this; yet I wanted to know what was behind this observation. I wanted my friends to be [click to continue…]
