GO TAKE A BATH!!!!!

“Go take a bath and don't forget to wash behind your ears. And while you are at it, be sure to scrub your dirty ankles too! And ALWAYS wear clean underwear on a daily basis because you never know if you’ll be in an accident and end up in the emergency room.”  Boy does that bring back memories of growing up. I can still hear Mom say it to me & my siblings. And of course; I sounded just like her while raising our three daughters.     

Let me share a little story about one of our daughters; who will remain nameless. She was around 11 or 12 years old and went thru a phase where she not only hated to take a bath but she fought against the idea of one every chance she got.  Regardless of the daily instruction I would give to her to “Go take a bath”; there seemed to always be a battle of the wills; hers & mine. Now get a picture of her stubborn attitude. In an attempt to convince me that a bath wasn’t necessary, she would actually smell her armpits and announce proudly, "I DON’T SMELL"!

And then one day…….”IT” HAPPENED!

When I was at work, I got a phone call and had to rush her to the emergency room with a possible appendicitis.  After a complete cat scan, we found out it was some type of viral infection that needed to run its course.  Unfortunately, she was so sick that they had no choice but to hospitalize her because she couldn’t stop vomiting & was extremely dehydrated.  It wasn’t until after she was placed in her hospital room, laying there practically lifeless that I noticed, not only was her ankles dirty, she was completely filthy and desperately needed a bath. Before you ask, let me just tell you….YES….I took time to bathe my weak, sick little girl right there in her hospital shower.  Why? Because as her Mom; I was having a hard time looking at my daughter in that filthy condition; I love her more than words could ever explain and I knew better than anyone else what was best for my little girl. 

The Lord does the same thing.  He loves us enough to tell us to bathe spiritually every day. And yet, I can’t count the number of times He would send His Holy Spirit to prompt me; take a bath Cyndy; use the scriptures I’ve provided to scrub the dirt and filth off of your mind and make sure you clean all the way around your heart too. Of course I would respond with the same stubborn attitude; denying I was doing anything wrong, finding ways to justify my sin and spiritually smell my armpits trying to convince the Lord that “I don’t smell”. 

And then one day…….”IT” HAPPENED!

Sin took its toll on me and I was becoming spiritually crippled; finding it difficult to focus on the road I had been traveling on.  My vision became blurry and I lost all sense of direction.  How could this have happened?  How could I have wondered so far away from the Lord?  And in desperation I cried out, “Where are you, Lord?  Your word tells me in Joshua 1:5 “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And yet; when I look for You, I can’t see You.” As my dirty, lifeless “spiritual” body lay there all alone, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me that He is still exactly where I left Him; behind the path I chose to take.  My will won out; but at what price?  If only I had followed His will instead; where would I be and is it possible to get back to His will from here?  Then before I could utter another cry, the Holy Spirit ran a “spiritual cat scan” on me, located all my sin and immediately started mending my wounds; bathing me with His word; reminding me to not stray from His commands and to hide His word in my heart so that I wouldn’t continue sinning against Him.  (Psalm 119:10-11) 

Before I realized it, I slowly started to stand up again; attempting to walk according to God’s word; stumbling along the way and yet sensing the Holy Spirit pick me up as I moved forward; encouraging me to return to the Lord with all my heart; with fasting, weeping & mourning; taking off the “old spiritual” clothes I was wearing (Joel 12:12-13). 

The Holy Spirit also reminded me how important it was to clothe myself with Ephesians 6:10-18, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.”

So there you have it; I have no more excuses.  The Lord loves me enough to remind me to take a bath, scrub the dirt and filth off of my mind and make sure I clean all the way around my heart.  Then all I have to do is get dressed in a fresh pair of “’spiritual” clothing He supplies for me on a daily basis.  And then it's up to me; I just need to pick it up and wear it.

Why did He do this for me? Because He is my Heavenly Father; He could not look at me covered in sin & filthy conditions; He loves me unconditionally; and He knows better than anyone else what is best for me; His little girl. 

What road are you on, “Your Will” located on Destruction Boulevard or “His Will” located on the corner of Favor & Blessing’s Highway?  It’s never too late to turn back to Him.  Can't you see?  He’s still where you left Him.

It’s that simple folks.

Be blessed my face book family & friends and walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,
Cyndy

STICKS & STONES

Do you remember this old saying we learned while growing up?  "Sticks & stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." Yeah, right!  Who came up with that saying anyway and is it really true?  Not hardly! 

Quite possibly you are a victim of cruel, harsh words from the time you were a child.  When someone called you a name or even implied something bad about you; didn't it hurt?  How easy was it for you to forget those words or do they still ring clear in your ears?  Some words may have wounded you so badly that it has damaged your self esteem and possibly hindered you from the very calling God has placed on your life.

Or maybe you actually resort to name calling; tearing a person down until they are knocked out cold emotionally.  Perhaps that person offended you in some way and the only way you know how to respond is by lashing out with hurtful remarks or names.  

It’s easy to know when I’ve been offended; and much more difficult to see when I’m the offender.  Unfortunately, I can relate very well with both scenarios.  But many times, the Holy Spirit has chastised and convicted me of how I respond to someone in the heat of anger.  And it’s not always a pretty picture. 

God’s is very clear about the words that come out of our mouth.  Did you know that we actually have the power of life and death just with the use of our tongues?  It’s true!   In Proverbs 18:21 NIV it tells us that “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

And the Lord wasn’t just talking about the unbeliever.  Oh contraire, my friend!  He was speaking to those of us that call Him our Lord and Savior.  Don’t believe me? Read it in James 3:9, where it says “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.”

And it’s very easy to justify ourselves by saying, “It’s just the way I am” or “I really didn’t mean anything by what I said or called that person.  They are just words.”  Not so fast brothers & sisters, for you see, God removes that excuse from our lips as well by digging deeper within us; our hearts.  In Luke 6:45 NIV we read, “ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”   

Simply put; whatever is in our heart will eventually come out.  So the truth is; it’s really a heart issue.  Ouch!  The bad remarks and bad names are buried in our hearts, waiting to come out at the next person that crosses our paths the wrong way.  Not a good thing and definitely does not please the Holy Spirit! 

If you can relate, don’t be discouraged. Rejoice in knowing the Lord loves us enough to reveal our sins and even shows us a way to fix it.  But it does take willingness from you to heed to the Holy Spirit and requires you to be completely honest with yourself.  Simply take a moment before God.  Be honest with Him and confess your sins; then sincerely ask the Lord for His forgiveness.  True repentance will start the healing process.  If possible, take the next step and apologize to those you’ve offended; even if you think they deserved it.  Then make it a habit to pray scriptures like Psalm 51:10 NIV, “Create, in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”

 

If your heart is clean before God; the fruits of the Holy Spirit will flow freely from your lips.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV                                                                                             

It doesn’t get any simpler than that folks! 

Be blessed my family & friends and walk in the Lord’s total favor! 

Love you all!

Cyndy

 

About Our Father’s Business

For quite some time I have sought the Lord, asking Him to use me in ways that would glorify Him. I asked that He open up doors of opportunity for me to reach the lost & hurting people; share His great salvation plan and restore hope to those who feel like they’ve reached the end of their road.

Many times I think about the different opportunities He has placed in front of me; especially this past year. Most of the time, I do my best to heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit; watching for open doors where I can share the love of Jesus and be a witness. Yet I also realize there have been times where I’ve completed missed His direction; ultimately grieving His Holy Spirit.

But think about Jesus for a moment. He ministered to those around Him; wherever he went. At the age of twelve, He went with His parents to the temple in Jerusalem to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. But when Joseph and Mary left, He stayed behind. When they realized Jesus wasn’t with them, they hurried back and found Jesus sitting with the teachers of the temple. The bible says all who heard Jesus was astonished at His understanding and answers. However, when His parents asked Him why He stayed behind, His response was, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” Luke 2:49 NKJV

In Matthew 5:1-2 NKJV it says, “And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them.” When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Matthew 8:1-3 NKJV

Luke 8 NKJV tells us that He went through every city& village, preaching about the Kingdom of God. But that’s not all He done. As He walked from place to place, He ministered to those who were lost, blind and hurting both physically and spiritually.

In Mark 5 we hear of how Jesus set a man free from an unclean spirit. And remember Jarius; the ruler of a synagogue who’s daughter was about to die? He asked Jesus to come and lay hands on her so that she would be healed. As Jesus was going to Jarius’ home, another woman who suffered from a blood disorder reached out just to touch His garment so that she would be healed. Immediately Jesus stopped and asked, “Who touched My cloths?” And when the woman came and fell down before Jesus, His response was full of compassion as He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

These are just a few examples of Jesus being used; wherever He was; at any given moment.

Plain & simple folks; Jesus didn’t miss an opportunity.

And so I ask you, “Have you walked thru the open doors placed before you? Look around. There’s a mission field right where He has you. It may not be the pulpit you’ve been waiting for; or an invitation out to evangelize before millions of people. But it may very well be the pulpit God has placed before you at this time. It’s an opportunity you don’t want to miss.

It’s not about us and what we think.

It’s about being “About Our Father’s Business”.

Be blessed my family & friends. I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,
Cyndy

Circumstances Are Nothing To God!

Recently I’ve had to make some major decisions that could ultimately affect my life and my family. I didn’t know which way to turn. All I knew is that I needed a breakthrough. I prayed & prayed and found no resolve. Seemed like only trials & temptations kept springing up before me; confusing me even further. It wasn’t until our church was called to fast & pray this past January that I started to see the breakthroughs I needed. Oh, all the results I had hoped for didn’t come to pass; and certainly not the way I had anticipated. However, I could see God’s hand working in ways that I didn’t expect.

The first thing He did was to start working on ME; on my thinking, my actions; my heart. He had to bring me to a place where all that mattered was Him and what He had in store for me personally; not my circumstances. Truth is; until I was ready to face my own issues, there would be no resolve for other issues looming over my life. During that time of praying & fasting I faced many trials and of course temptations that would challenge my faith; forcing me to ask myself if I really trusted God the way I claimed I did.

Since that fast in January, I have felt led to fast & pray again in March. Except the results this time was a bit different now that He had me back on the right track and was able to minister to me regarding my circumstances. I was actually open to His direction. The next thing I learned is that circumstances are nothing to God; yet I am everything to Him.

In Matthew 17, we hear about a man that needed a breakthrough; a healing for his son. His son had epilepsy; and yet Jesus’ disciples were not successful in helping his son. Not even Jesus’ disciples could help him! These were men that were the closest to Jesus. They were his running buddies to put it into more modern terms. But fortunately for the man, the story doesn’t end there. When the man saw Jesus, he knelt down beside Him; begged for mercy and asked Jesus to heal his son. Without hesitation; Jesus took authority over the situation, commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man’s son and within an hour, he was healed.

Matthew 17:19-21 (NKJV) “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Do you need a breakthrough; maybe a physical healing; a new job; family or marital restoration or possibly deliverance from temptations & sin? Do you have a desire to serve God and allow Him to be Lord over your life; yet it seems regardless of all your efforts to serve Him, there are always trials or temptations that emerge in the face of adversity; trials that tempt you to take a different path than what God has laid before you? Possibly a stumbling block you continually kick away; only to find it resurfacing time and time again. It’s as if it taunts & tempts you to jump on board for a joy ride adventure! Maybe you’ve even prayed and sought God; asking that He remove it forever; and still it lingers and rears its ugly head at your weakest moment; leaving you to feel absolutely hopeless in an already bad situation.

Well, you’re not alone! Everyone has experienced it at one time or another; and if other believers say they never struggle in this area, they aren’t being honest…with themselves. Circumstances, trials & temptations come in various forms; and they come to everyone!
If you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to have worked, what more do you have to lose but to do what God’s word tells us to do for a breakthrough? 
 

· Fast & pray

· Be open to God’s direction

· Be ready for change; in you & in your circumstances

It’s that simple folks!

Be blessed my family & friends!  I'm praying the Lord's total favor overshadows each on one of you!!!!!

Love you all,
Cyndy

Oh Lord, Don't Lose the Harvest!

In Luke 10:2 NLT, we see where Jesus instructs others, “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.”

For many years I’ve done my best to witness to those around me.  Wherever God may have me, my prayer is that He will use me for His glory and that I would be affective for His kingdom.  Although I’ve failed miserably, I know there were many times He was pleased that I obeyed Him quickly.  And granted, there were times when I would see the fruit of my labor.  Unfortunately, there are still many fields where I generously planted seeds; yet very little has been harvested.  Lately these fields seem to be at the very heart of my soul.  As I cry out to the Lord, I find myself asking in desperation, “Oh Lord, don’t lose the harvest!  Send laborers in the field where I sowed; laborers to water the seeds and more laborers to gather the harvest.  Just…don’t lose the harvest!”   

When we consider the world and its sinful ways, it is clear that moral decay has taken deep root into the hearts & lives of so many people.  But as laborers called by the Lord to reach the lost and the hurting, it is our job to be witnesses to the ends of the earth. 

Regardless of where the Lord has you planted, there is a harvest field just waiting for you to either sow seed, water or pull the weeds…...or maybe it’s time for you to simply  harvest the fields.  Whatever you are called to do, do it quickly, without hesitation and do it as unto the Lord.  Maybe for some that means to tell others about Jesus and how much He loves them. While maybe others are called to walk in love towards others regardless of how they are being treated.  Clearly those that hurt others are hurting inside themselves.  Maybe your act of kindness is what is needed to break thru the toughest shell of a man. And trust me when I say, I know firsthand, that walking in love towards those that hurt or offend you is not an easy thing to do.  But it is something we as believers must do.

Maybe you’re like me; just waiting for the fields to be harvested after so many long years of sowing.  Allow the Lord to use others in your field.  After all, it’s not our field and it’s not about us, my dear family & friends.  It’s about the Lord and His glorious kingdom that await those who believe that Jesus in the Son of God. 

If you are a believer, you have your place in a field.  Allow the Lord to show you where you can be used. And understand, just because you may sow the seed, it doesn’t mean you’re the one to keep watering it or even the one to harvest the fields. The Lord may very well move you to another field once the seed is planted.  Be open to His will; not your own.  Whatever you do, don’t sit back and say, “Let someone else do it”.  If you don’t go, who will?
You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest. But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest.  John 4:35 NLT

Oh, Lord, Don’t Lose the Harvest!

Be blessed my family & friends!  Praying that as you seek a closer walk with the Lord that His blessings and favor will pour over you like a flood!

Love you all!

Cyndy

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9 NKJV

Walk With Integrity

^“For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.  He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.  Proverbs 2:6-8 NLT

Quite a while back, a past coworker shared a story with me about how they didn’t like their boss at their last job and so in an attempt to get even, that person and a coworker overbooked the hotel they worked at.  Knowing there would not be enough room once the guests arrived for the night, they both quit their jobs the same day this was set to happen; knowing their boss was none the wiser. This person laughed while telling me; as if it was something to be proud of.  My heart was grieved when I pictured the innocent people that ultimately paid the price for someone else’s wrong decision.  And I have to be honest when I say that person’s character or integrity spoke loudly that day.

The character of people tends to intrigue me! I am guilty of watching how others respond in any given situation.  Inevitably, I’m faced with searching out my own heart as to how I would have responded if it were me in that same situation.  And sad to say, there are times when I realize I would have responded in the same way; if not worse. And so I challenge myself to stay in check with the Lord; what His Word says and coming to the reality that only the Lord can help me make the right choices in life. Only the Lord can help me rise above offenses or heartaches others may cause me; whether knowingly or unknowingly.      

So many times I tend to forget about the offenses or heartache I cause the Lord.  Times I know He asks me to witness to someone and I don’t. Times He asks me to forgive someone and I struggle with everything inside of me to do it quickly. Or even times He asks me to go that extra mile to help or encourage someone and I allow other reasons to get in my way of doing what is right.  All of these things reflect my character and who I am in the Lord.  Am I perfect?  Far from it! Yet, my heart is set on doing what is right before the Lord. I know without doubt, that in my weakness, He is there to strengthen me along the way.  ^“So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly.”  Ecclesiastes 7:25 NIV

 
How is your character these days? Need a slight character adjustment? 

Don’t beat yourself up over your weakness. Admit that you struggle in this area and trust the Lord to help you along the way.  Remember, Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice over 2000 years ago, when He was wounded for our transgressions. Yet He remained faithful in loving us; despite our sin and shortcomings and despite that He was innocent. Jesus’ integrity was never compromised; regardless of how He was treated.

Making a fresh start with the Lord isn’t just for salvation. Even though you may already be a Christian, there may be areas in your life where you simply just need to make a “fresh start”. I know I do. 

So what are you waiting for? Are you being tested in your integrity lately? Are you willing to trust the only One that is able to help you?  The Lord is more than able to help you submit completely to Him.  And I promise you, some of the things He asks you to do, may not come easy…..at first.  But as you seek to obey Him, you will find that total surrender to the Lord brings ultimate peace to any given situation.  Remember what we are told in Proverbs 10:9 (NKJV), “He who walks with integrity walks securely, But he who perverts his ways will become known.”

Be blessed my family & friends!  I pray that as you seek Him diligently, His total favor will overshadow you in every area of your life.

Love you all!

Cyndy

“Vindicate me, O Lord, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the Lord; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; Try my mind and my heart. For Your loving kindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. Psalm 26:1-3 NKJV

This Is the Way; Walk In It

Ever wonder if the road you’re on will get you where you want to go? So many times I’ve been guilty of taking the wrong turn, maybe ignoring the warning signs that said there would be a detour up ahead or simply didn’t plan my route before I headed out. I’ve even counted on my GPS to be accurate. But let’s be honest, even computerized mechanisms aren’t always dependable. And as you could probably imagine, it wouldn’t take me long to realize I was way off course. A bit frustrated and confused, I’d be forced to finally admit I was lost and I’d have to pull over to a convenient store or gas station to ask for directions. There are also times when I’d be on the right road, struggling to miss the pot holes in my path and inevitably I would hit one here or there; causing the rims of my tires to bend out of shape. Well let me tell you it’s not an easy or cheap fix when that happens.

I find it true in my spiritual walk as well. I could be chucking along a road, happy go lucky, just knowing I’m on the path the Lord has led me too. But sad enough, eventually it becomes evident that I’ve taken a wrong turn somewhere along the way and I find myself uncertain of my next step. And just like the bent up rims, if I’ve wondered off track too far and all alone, it can be a somewhat painful & costly experience as I get back on track, simply because I made choices along the way that were not in God’s perfect will for my life. And to be honest, sometimes, the detours just don’t make sense. It’s at those times that I have to trust that the Lord was protecting me from something up ahead. When this happens, I find it best to just stop and seek the Lord before going any further. I know without doubt that if I seek Him first and trust Him, He will give me clear direction on how to proceed.

What about you? Ever take a wrong road and find yourself just as frustrated? Let me encourage you today! If you’ve found that you’re on a road that is taking you away from God’s perfect will, just stop and don’t take another step. Ask God to show you what you need to do. Sometimes the direction the Lord wants us to go doesn’t make sense; maybe doesn’t appear to be a road that will take us where we thought we were going. Remember, that His ways are not our ways, but His way will always be the best way. That's why we need to seek Him first in all areas of our life.

"Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." Matthew 6:33 NLT

This Is the Way; Walk In It

The road I’m on is blurry; can't see what's up ahead.
I try to hear Your still small voice and follow what You said.
It seems there are curves and road blocks, no matter where I turn.
Oh God, please give me wisdom and help me to discern.

I'm empty Lord, before You, as I bow before Your throne.
Please help me seek Your perfect will and not travel on my own.
Sometimes the road is scary; lack of faith has jarred my soul.
I need Your Holy Spirit, Lord, to restore and make me whole.

I know that You’ll be with me, walking closely by my side.
I trust I'm on the road You choose; not walking by mere pride.
Help me reach the lost & hurting; share Your mercy & Your grace.

Use me as an open vessel as I continue on this race.

Please always stand before me; help me follow what You say.
Lead me by Your Holy Spirit; then help me trust You and obey.
Pour out Your many blessings; Your favor like a stream.
Give Your servant brand new visions to fulfill my every dream.

©Cynthia E. Bagaglia-Wood - March 24, 2013

So be encouraged today. In the words from King Solomon, “Trust in the Lordwith all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.’ Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT

Be blessed my family& friends. I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!
Cyndy

"This Is the Way; Walk In It."  Isaiah 30:21 NIV

 

 

Do You or Don’t You Want This Divorce?

Thirty-one years ago, a couple made a vow before the Lord and all who attended their wedding ceremony.  As most young couples, hopes were high that life would be an adventure full of dreams and endless possibilities.  Yet early on in the marriage, this couple experienced many bumps & obstacles along their path; some that would prove to be very detrimental to the success of their marriage.  As time took its toll, the obstacles became bigger; while the hopes & dreams started to diminish before their very eyes. What actually happened between the two of them really doesn’t matter.  What matters is how they responded to the situation.  It wasn’t long before the word “divorce” entered the wife’s arguments; soon to be a common word in her vocabulary; and eventually became a numbing sensation towards its actual meaning; the legal dissolution of a marriage. In an attempt to save the marriage, the wife sought out Godly counsel, while the husband refused.  

Needless to say, eventually this couple found themselves sitting before a judge; bewildered at their next step.  After listening to the wife’s testimony, the judge looked at both of them and said, “Folks, I’m confused.  Do you or don’t you want this divorce?”  The couple just looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders; neither one willing to stop the final process because each one was too stubborn.  Each was hoping the other would take the lead and stop it.  Unfortunately, neither one did.   After their last shrug, the judge slammed down his gavel and granted their divorce.  On the way out of the courthouse, the couple looked at each other and said, “What have we done?”  And with that, they both went on their way quite distraught.

 

Throughout the following year, this couple had remained amicable; especially because they had children together.  Although the bumps & obstacles didn’t go away, what took place within the next year, not many anticipated; not even the couple themselves. Their children prayed faithfully & other believers prayed as well that the Lord would restore this family.  And without fail, the Holy Spirit worked behind the scenes.  Little by little, the Holy Spirit drew this couple back to a place of remembrance of what used to be early on in their marriage; the things that mattered the most and what laid ahead for them as they went thru life.  And within that same year, the couple had decided to reconcile and remarry. 

Sound like a fairytale?  Well, I can assure you it’s not.

My husband & I were that couple over 16 years ago.  And trust me; this is NOT nor will it ever be a bragging moment.  It’s actually quite humiliating to say the least.  And I’m not going to try & persuade you that all has been hunky dory after we remarried; because the truth is, it hasn’t been. Just like everyone else, we still face bumps & obstacles life throws our way and no doubt, we will until the very end.  However, one thing is different this time; my response to the situations that come up. It’s different because I made a promise to the Lord before we remarried that the word “divorce” would never enter into our marriage ever again; and I’ve done my best to hold tight to that promise. Even though at times it seemed like it would be the easiest solution, I knew without doubt it wasn’t the right one.  For me, the right solution this time was & is to continually draw closer to the Lord; trusting that He is in control.   I understand that reconciliation isn’t right for everyone and in many cases, no longer a possibility.   Nor would I ever encourage anyone to reconcile with a spouse that may be abusive in any way. Fortunately for us, that wasn’t our problem.  So this blog may not be for you. 

However, I know there is someone out there that needs to hear this testimony.  To be honest, I resisted the Holy Spirit in writing it for quite some time now because I wasn’t ready to expose myself or my husband in such a manner as this.   But the Holy Spirit was adamant that I needed to share this story with you; whoever you are!  The Holy Spirit wants you to know that’s it’s not too late for your marriage to succeed; not too late for healing to take place; not too late to be restored and made new.  He wants to heal your marriage and restore your family; if you’ll just let Him.

Remember; divorce was never in God’s plan.  His plan was that a man & woman become as one and remain that way until the very end.  As a matter of fact, God hates divorce so much that in Malachi 2:10-16 (NIV) He warns men against infidelity and breaking the covenant of marriage.  I may be wrong, but, my thought is that He addressed this with the men because men are the spiritual head of the home.  God made man and woman as one, to be in unity with His Holy Spirit, to ensure their children would be Godly offspring and follow after God’s own heart.  

In the book of Matthew 19:4-6 (NKJV) even the Pharisees tested Jesus by questioning him about divorce. Jesus reminded them that man & woman are united into one flesh and no one should separate them. And of course they came back with the argument that Moses gave them permission to divorce.  But Jesus was already prepared to answer them when he said, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.”  Matthew 19-7-9 (NKJV)

I’m not sure who I’m speaking to with this blog; but if you are a husband or a wife contemplating divorce or possibly in the middle of one, I’d like to encourage you to stop and seek the Lord before taking another step. Take time to draw near to Him and He’ll draw near to you. Maybe you’ve opened the door to divorce simply by speaking it and eventually growing numb to the reality of one; just like I did.   The Holy Spirit showed me that just speaking the word “divorce” cracked open the door and gave Satan a foothold into our marriage.  You have the power with the Holy Spirit to slam that door shut again.  Especially if you haven’t heard the judge’s gavel come slamming down on his desk, then, it’s not too late!  Simply repent and ask the Lord to help you; and He will.

Maybe you’re already divorced, yet, amicable with your ex-spouse and neither of you are remarried. Well, it’s not too late for you either. Ask the Holy Spirit to draw you back to a place of remembrance of what used to be early on in your marriage; the things that mattered the most and what lays ahead for you as you go thru life.  God is a God of reconciliation; a God of second chances.  And nothing is too difficult for Him; absolutely nothing!

Remember the old saying, “It takes two to tango?”  Well, it takes three to make your marriage work; the Lord, you & your spouse.  You can’t fix your marriage without each other and it can never be completely healed without the Lord in the midst of it.   He wants you to know that He loves you.  You are special to Him and He has a plan that can restore your marriage; if you’ll just let Him.

Wish I can say “It’s that easy folks”, but reality once again, it’s not always easy.  And I am not claiming to have all the answers; because I simply don’t have them.  The only thing I know and can be assured of is this simple truth; with the Lord, there is restored hope!

Be blessed my family & friends!  I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!

Cyndy

 

 

God’s Appointed Time

Have you been tested in your character lately; dodging all the fiery darts the enemy throws your way? Does it seem like your hopes and dreams have been kicked to the curb and it’s left you speechless?

It's been my experience that when The Lord tests my character, it usually means change is on its way and the Holy Spirit is preparing me for what's up ahead. Doesn't mean it's going to be a bad change; but maybe one that will test my character in hopes of weeding out the parts of my will that interfere with God's perfect will for my life. So many times I tend to look at the road up ahead; speculating on my hopes & dreams coming to pass; only to find God has a different direction all together. And if I’m not spiritually prepared, the change will shake the very core of my character deep within me; leaving me feeling abandoned by God & confused as I try to figure out where I went wrong.

In the bible, we hear about great men of God that had their character tested time & time again; yet remained faithful to the Lord regardless of their present circumstance.  Joseph was one of those men. In Psalms 105:19 NLT, we are told, “Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the Lord tested Joseph’s character."

Think about it!  Here is a man that clearly loved The Lord, yet what he experienced until his appointed time, most of us could never fathom, let alone endure.

From the time Joseph was young, God placed dreams in his heart: dreams that would bring him down a road that would try his character relentlessly.   Out of jealously, his own brothers threw him into a pit; left him to die but eventually decided to spare his life and sell him as slave to the Ishmaelites (Midianite traders). The Midianites eventually sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Genesis 37:36 NLT

But as time went on, the Lord revealed Joseph’s character to Potiphar and he was placed in charge of Potiphar’s household and all that he owned.  But again, Joseph’s character would be tested as Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of rape that would cause him to be condemned and thrown into prison.  Yet, even then, God shined His favor on Joseph and the prison warden put him in charge of all the other prisoners.  Eventually, Potiphar had his chief cup-bearer and chief baker thrown into prison too.  While these two men were in there, they both had dreams that Joseph interpreted; dreams that soon came to pass.  The chief cup-bearer regained his freedom and position as chief cup-bearer to Potiphar and the chief baker was impaled on a pole and left as food for the birds; just as their dreams had warned them.

And still Joseph remained in prison for two more years before he would be asked to interpret a dream for Potiphar.  Once again, the Lord shined His favor on Joseph and Potiphar made him governor over all of Egypt. 

No doubt these trials Joseph faced weren’t fun and most likely the roads he ended up on were not the ones he anticipated when the Lord gave him those dreams at such a young age.  Yet he remained faithful to the Lord, regardless of his circumstance. During this time, Joseph’s character and faith in the Lord were both being tested and strengthened. It wasn’t until God’s appointed time that He allowed Joseph’s dreams to be fulfilled.

Maybe you’ve found yourself on the road to disappointment and discouragement lately. Be encouraged! God has not forgotten you. 

In His appointed time, the dreams He has given you will come to pass.

Be blessed my family & friends. I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all,
Cyndy   

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (NIV)

Not Even a Stench of Smoke

Back in December, my husband came home and sadly shared with me that in mid-February, the factory where he worked would be closing its doors.  This was the third factory he worked at since 2005 that ended up closing up shop and my heart just broke for him.  All I could think of was, Oh God!  Not again!  Although I am normally an optimistic person, it took everything within me to stay hopeful; especially around my husband, who, by nature, is typically pessimistic.  And to be honest....there were many days I reminded the Lord of our faithfulness to Him regarding tithe & offerings and His promise to meet our needs.  Regardless of what February had in store, one thing we both knew and agreed on was the fact that we needed to remain faithful to the Lord.
And as luck would have it, February 2^nd he received a call and was told he was done working as of that day.  They were kind enough to offer him a severance package.  Although small, we were grateful that they had offered him anything at all.  

Thankfully, a few job suggestions from various friends & coworkers came our way.  As his resume was being sent out, we prayed & asked God to open the door that needed to open and close anything that needed to be closed. 

Then one day as I was talking with a friend at church, I mentioned that he lost his job and without thinking twice, I blurted out that he would never smell the stench of unemployment this time around.  And when I realized what I had said, I was a bit stunned to be honest.  But then I realized the Lord was showing me that He already had a plan.  We just needed to trust Him.  I soon found myself declaring it to my husband & family members. 

When we read the story in Daniel 3 NLT about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and how they refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar, it blows me away when I picture how the Lord rescued them out of the fiery furnace.  We are told that King Nebuchadnezzar was so angry that he commanded the soldiers to bound & thrown all three of them into a furnace seven times hotter than usual.   It was so hot that the flames killed the soldiers as they threw them in.   And yet the bible tells us that the fire did not harm Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego’s bodies; their hair was not singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.  That’s right folks….Not even a stench of smoke was on them!  Whew!  Talk about a walk of faith!

Let me encourage you when I tell you that the severance package my husband received ended up being more than enough to sustain us until God opened another door.   My husband was out of work for three weeks and just started another job in another factory this past Monday. Filing for unemployment never came to pass.

And in the words of King Nebuchadnezzar, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”  Daniel 3:28 NLT

What do you need to trust God for today? 

Do you need a job?  Remain faithful no matter what your circumstance may look like.  Trust the God of our salvation. 

Is it a physical need?  Keep your eyes fixed on our Great Physician; the one that made you in His image.

Maybe it’s a fresh start with God.  Simply as ask the Lord to forgive you of your sins and invite Him to be the Lord and Savior of your life.   He’s knocking at the door of your heart.  Open it and let Him in.

The god of this world (Satan) would rather see you dwell on discouragement & despondency instead of dependence on the Lord & expectation in what He has in store for you. 

“For the Lord God is our sun and our shield.  He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.” Psalm 84:11 NLT

Be encouraged!  He has not forgotten you!

Be blessed my family & friends.   I pray you walk in the Lord’s total favor!

Love you all!

Cyndy

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31(NIV)