I Immediately had a Very Freaky Thought

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Colossians 3:16, NKJV)

We have several bibles at our house. I refer to them “real bibles”. Bibles with pages and maps and commentary. Bibles where I can highlight and take notes. I really like my “real” bible.

But like so many, it became convenient for me to use my electronic bible at church/bible studies, etc. I already had my phone with me so I wasn’t carrying anything “extra". I easily made the transition from “real” bible to electronic bible.

Today, I was chatting with one of my best friends via text and we were discussing scripture. I popped open my handy dandy bible app so that I could copy/paste the scripture to her but my bible app was unavailable. 

I immediately had a very freaky thought. There are currently allegations of being "locked out" of social media regarding a current freedom of speech “hot topic” and the IRS can “freeze” assets, could we ever be completely locked out of God’s Word?

Then I had an amazing thought, we let the word of Christ dwell richly! To many of us, God’s Word is everything. We cannot imagine living without God’s Word. We delight in His Word, meditating on it day and night! (Psalm 1:2) We keep God’s Word upon our hearts, we diligently teach them to our children, we talk of His Word when we walk on our way, when we go to sleep, and when we get up! (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) LORD, thank You for Your Word for it is life and it is healing! (Proverbs 4:22) 

Hold Fast to Your Confession

So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the [a] hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word. (Hebrews 10:23, AMP)

All scripture is God breathed (Hebrews 10:23) God’s Word is alive, active, and eternal. (Hebrews 4:12, Luke 21:33) God sent His word. (Psalm 107:20) The Word is God. (John 1:1)

As we say what God said, refusing to waver, His living and active Word produces fruit! His Word accomplishes! And His Word prospers! (Isaiah 55:11)

As we confess (speak), we are quite literally speaking…Jesus! 

What are you saying today?

Wait Patiently Upon the LORD

Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14, NLT)

God has given me two of the most precious little granddaughters, Caley and Eden. They are very sweet natured, giving, and loving. (Proverbs 22:6)

Last weekend, Eden (five years old) did a quick survey of the gifts currently under the Christmas tree and discovered there were no gifts with her name on them. She took her concern to her mother and the conversation was overheard by her older sister, Caley (nine years old).

Three days later, Caley decided to take matters into her own hands. She took some of her own money, made an envelope, and put it under the tree so that her sister would have a gift under the tree because she didn’t want her sister to have to wait any longer.

I'm sure we can all agree, this is one of the cutest things ever!

I haven’t talked to Caley about this situation but I am sure she knows (through experience) her parents are going to insure gifts are under the tree for her sister when timing allows. 

I have information that Caley and Eden doesn’t have...Eden's already has gifts. They are hidden and waiting for a specific time. Their parents have already provided. (Daniel 10:12)

Caley acted with a giving heart and pure motives but once I learned what she had done, it occurred to me I have:

• decided I waited long enough for my Father to provide and took matters into my own hands. 
• waited a "few days" for my Father to provide and decided it was an acceptable length of time to wait, and I “provided” instead of waiting on Him.
• jumped the gun and provided for someone and then wondered how I “came up short” and realized waiting on my Father to provide for them would’ve yielded  a much larger blessing...for both of us. 
• been a Champion Rescue Ranger and do something to change situations myself in my life (or the life of someone else) which instead, created a setback.

All those times were birthed out of a giving heart and pure motives but God is God. (Deuteronomy 10:17) I am not God. Wisdom waits patiently for the LORD. (Psalm 27:14) God has a plan, a perfect plan. Part of that perfect plan includes His perfect timing...not our timing. His ways are higher than our ways. (Isaiah 55:8-9)  

It is true that God uses us as part of His plan but wisdom is being led by His Spirit (Galatians 5:16-17) and doesn’t interfere with, delay, or interrupt His plan. Being a “Champion Rescue Ranger” doesn’t help us or the person we set out to rescue. As we practice waiting on Him, and being one with Him, we will wait when it is in His timing to wait and we will provide when it is in His timing to provide. Sometimes, “in the wait” is where we grow, change, and draw closer to Him. We do not want to skip that critical step.         

God has information we don't have. He already has gifts for us and they are good and perfect, hidden and waiting on His perfect timing!  (James 1:5) 

Father, thank You for Your perfect plan for our lives and thank You for Your perfect timing. Your Word says, if we lack wisdom, all we have to do is ask You for wisdom. Right now, in the name of Jesus, please give us the wisdom to know when to wait and when to act. Our heart’s desire is to give and to help and to encourage but most of all, we want to stay in alignment with Your perfect timing. Every day, help us become more and more like You!

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Provers 22:6, NKJV)

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9, NKJV)

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:14, NLT)

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28, NLT)

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14, NLT)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5, NKJV)

One Nation, under God, Indivisible

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are His dear children. (Ephesians 5:1, NLT)

When I was growing up, in public school we said the Pledge of Allegiance every morning. Yes, every single morning. There were some changes made and somewhere in middle school, we no longer said the Pledge of Allegiance in school.  

This is in no way a political blog post but I’ve been wondering…is there a connection between, saying the Pledge of Allegiance and the current condition of our country?

Let’s do some math. For kicks and to keep this quick and easy, let’s say there are twenty kids per class and fifteen grades (including preschool) per school. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 99,000 public schools in 2009. 

Compare that number to 248,000 public schools in 1929. But that’s a whole other blog post. You may find these stats at nces.ed.gov 

For purpose of ease, I am not including homeschools, private schools, continuing education, community colleges, universities, etc. 

A few punches in the calculator gives us: 

20 (kids) x 15 (grades) x 99,000 (schools in the United States) = 29,700,000 (school kids)

29,700,000 kids x 5 days per week x 52 weeks per year = 772,200,000 approximate pledges of allegiance that would have been spoken each year via the mouths of school children. 

That is 772,200,000 little voices not speaking the pledge of alliance. Words not currently being spoken out of the mouths of American children per year. Words “dropped” that would have been a driving force in creating one nation, under God, indivisible. 

29,700,000 kids (and we all know that number is very low) not currently saying the Pledge of Allegiance.

If 29,700,000 kids stood and said The Pledge of Allegiance every morning, what exactly might occur?

1. Might that word drop down from each child’s mouth and into their hearts?
2. Might that word CREATE what the children (and teachers) were saying, IN AGREEMENT, one nation, under God, indivisible? 
3. Might America STILL be the great nation it was when it was a Super Power made so by keeping God first? (Matthew 6:33)

These numbers don't even include teachers, homeschoolers and the parents joining forces reciting the Pledge of Allegiance; thus speaking and creating. 

• Our Jehovah God is The Creator. (Genesis 1:1)
• We are made in His Image. (Genesis 1:27)
• God spoke and the world appeared at His command. (Psalm 33:9)
• We are commanded to imitate Him in everything we do. (Ephesians 5:1)

On another note, children have confidence in what they say. Have you ever chatted with a four year old? When my youngest child was about that age, she was completely convinced she could fly. She would flap her arms and get a running start. Nothing I could have said or did, would have ever convinced her she couldn’t fly. The faith of a child moves mountains. They are convinced what they say is true.

The disciples asked Jesus who was the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:1-5, NLT) Children are extremely important to Jesus.

Reverting back to our discussion about the pledge of allegiance in school, what are we to do? Sit back and accept our country being chipped away, little by little, precept by precept completely changing what America looked like in the vision of one nation, under God? Personally I say, “NO!” As God’s royal priesthood, there is no weapon formed against us going to prosper! (1 Peter 2:9, Isaiah 54:17)

Do the public schools in your area daily recite the pledge of allegiance? If not, we can add it to our daily bible study/prayer time in our homes. Sunday schools can incorporate it into their classes. Pastors can include it in their services. 

Is it not the "little foxes that spoil the vine”? (Song of Solomon 2:15) I truly do not believe I could find even one person to argue against the fact that America is currently in a "hole". It seems to me, "America" has tried and is trying everything else except Kingdom principles. How about this, how about we get back to basics. (Matthew 6:33) The same basics that obviously worked in the past. The same basics that our country was founded on.

My husband, Mike, always says, "The best thing to do when we find ourselves in a hole is to stop digging." With the current "method of operating", we've only found ourselves deeper and deeper in a hole. Let's commit to stop digging, and just test God (Malachi 3:10), and just TRY His method of operating and see His great nation become great once again! (2 Chronicles 7:14) 

It was God who originally SAID, "Let there be light” 

Then what happened? 

There was light (Genesis 1:3)

Today I declare, “Let there be light in our heart, mouth, and homes!"

Father God, in the name of Jesus, Your Word says You give us the desires of our hearts. I am asking You to place godly desire in our hearts with a mouth that follows so that we may boldly proclaim Your will be done in our Nation!

Feathers

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5, NKJV)

My husband and I are bird hunters. It's a sport we enjoy together. Some couples enjoy romantic comedies, we prefer hunting. We have a lot of fun hunting together, God provided a really great bird dog for us, and we are grateful for the ability to provide free range meat for our family. 

This morning, as I was about sit down to answer emails, I caught something out if the corner of my eye. It was a feather blowing around on my tile. I watched it for a second as it swayed and swirled. Then something occurred to me. Every week, I often see feathers in my house which is tangible proof we are bird hunters.

We also have tangible proof as born again believers in Jesus. Good fruit. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Apart from Him we can do nothing. Abiding in Him, we can do much.

Please make the following confession with me out loud:

I abide, dwell, remain, sit, stay in You Jesus and I bear much good fruit! Everyone who comes into contact with me is loved with Your kind of love, desires Your supernatural joy in me, is changed by Your peace in me, witnesses long-suffering as I deal with matters, is handled with Your type of kindness, sees Your goodness in me, is changed by Your faithfulness in me, is treated with gentleness, and is matured by Your self control in me. Thank You for teaching me how to abide in You! Thank You for Your grace that supernaturally enables me to superabound in everything You have called me to do and to be!

2 Corinthians 12:9

Romans 4:17

2 Corinthians 9:8

Modern Day Miracles

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23, NKJV)

My family and I have a constant habit of thanking God for giving His angels charge over us and thanking Him that they keep us in all our ways. (Psalm 91:11) Every time it comes to our remembrance, we simply say, "Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for giving Your angels charge over us, they keep us in all our ways.” Today, I believe my girls and I witnessed a miracle in our kitchen. 

Saturday, we spent our morning at the local farmer’s market. We purchased various fruits and veges. As part of our homeschooling day today, we chopped fruit and vegetables, talk about fractions, prepared our lunch and dinner, and prepared the remaining food for freezing to be used later in smoothies.

I used my large butcher knife to cut our pineapple for breakfast. I cut off the top, the bottom, and then the outer sides. 

I stuck the knife in the top of the pineapple in order to cut the pineapple off the core. 

When I tried to push the knife into the pineapple, my hand slipped off the handle and onto the blade all the way to the tip. The knife is half as thick as my hand at minimum.

I gasped. My children gasped. My hand really hurt. I froze trying to make a plan of what to do. My (very upset) middle child said, “What do I do? What do I do?” I said, “I don’t know right now."

After a few seconds I decided to survey the damage. I slowly opened my hand and there was no blood. I said thank You Jesus! Keep in mind, the outside of the pineapple is way harder than my skin. The knife had just cut the outer sections of the pineapple. 

Now, what you are about to read will seem so far fetched for some but keep in mind, Jesus said, “Anything is possible if a person believes.” (Mark 9:23, NLT) There was a very distinct white line where the knife had gone down completely across width of the palm of my hand. Before my eyes, I saw the white line turn red, and then I watched almost all of the red line disappear. It was like watching something in a movie. True story. 

I started thanking Jesus! I said, "Thank You Jesus! Thank You Jesus!" 

My girls said, “What?! What?!!” My youngest was fighting back tears and said, “Mommy!! Are you okay??!” I said, “Look what the LORD has done girls!” and I showed them my hand!

Until today, I had never realized how much I really like my right hand and how grateful I am for full use of it! Currently, my hand is tender but by bedtime, I’m sure it will be back to normal. 

My ten year old pointing out 

the slight red mark waiting to heal.

Father! Thank You more now than ever for Your Word being true! Thank You for continually deepening our revelation of Your Word! When we speak what You speak, we are protected, we are saved, we are delivered! Every word we say, MATTERS! Thank You for teaching us the importance of our words, thank You for teaching us the importance of refusing to waver, and to keep our words lined up with Your words to produce life in excessive abundance! Thank You for protecting my hand! Thank You for giving Your angels charge over us, they keep us in all our ways! 

• Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Provers 30:5)
• I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance. (Ephesians 1:18)
• The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (Psalm 18:2)
• But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. (Matthew 12:36)
• The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it [a]overflows). (John 10:10, AMP)
• Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23, NKJV)
• For He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. (Psalm 91:11, KJV)

*** Disclaimer: The above middle pictures were staged after the incident to give a visual. The knife in the third picture is slightly turned to show the width of the blade. This picture is slightly different than where my hand slid down the blade.

Country Roads

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4, NKJV)

My middle child has been learning how to drive. We insure we have control of the vehicle by having her sit in our lap. She only drives on country roads and she doesn’t drive over twenty miles per hour. She’s currently ten years old, which explains why she has to sit on our laps.

One thing I’ve noticed about her driving is, she prefers straight roads. If there is a curve up ahead, or an obstacle like driving by a large tree near the road, a ditch, or an oncoming car, she wants to stop the vehicle and have Mike or I drive. As long as she’s on a straight road, it’s all kicks and grins. But as soon as she sees an obstacle up ahead, she wants to stop and have someone else take over. 

Last weekend, she was driving and she saw an oncoming car. She wanted to stop the vehicle, get out of the driver's seat, and have her dad take over. He refused to let her. He calmly said, “No, you are doing fine. You can do this. You are driving safely, and I am right here to help you." 

She said, “But I don’t like obstacles."

My immediate thought was, I don’t either. 

I know how she felt. I remember the days when I was on my dad’s lap, learning how to drive the car. I knew his foot was near the brake and his hand was near the wheel but when I saw an obstacle coming, I wanted to stop the car because I wanted him to take over.

My dad refused to allow me to give up, just like my husband refused to allow our daughter to give up.

Had my dad allowed me to give up, I never would have progressed from driving down a country road to driving across the country.

Life on earth is not always a straight path, or a country road, full of kicks and grins. In life, giving up just isn’t an option. We have to refuse to grow weary. We cannot give up. When we refuse to give up, we will reap…in due time. (Galatians 6:9)

Abide in Him...my brethren…be strong and of good courage...listen to Him calmly say, "You are doing fine. You can do this. I am right here to help you.” (John 15:4, Deuteronomy 31:6)

We’ll go a step further and count it all joy because we know various trials tests our faith and produces patience. When patience has her perfect work, we are perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Sure sounds good to me.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for every reader right now and pray supernatural joy in, on, and through them. I ask you to supernaturally give us the ability to refuse the temptation to give up. Thank You for being with us in our every day lives. Thank You for encouraging us and telling us to be strong and of good courage. Thank You for calmly speaking to us in our every day lives. Continue to teach us how to stay one with You. Thank You for joy. Thank You for all Your promises. For without Your promises, I would have fainted had I not believed I would see the goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living. Thank You for Your goodness. Thank You Father, for Your Word. Thank You Father, for You.  

Psalm 27:13

That's My Daddy

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT)

Sunday, after church, Mike and I went about our normal routine. After church service, he went to the parking lot to get the car while I checked our girls out of children's church. Every week, I get our girls while he drives the car near the entrance to pick us up.

Sunday, our girls and I were walking down the sidewalk when Mike pulled up next to us. When my youngest saw him pulling up and said, "Let's act like we don't see him!" I played along. He pulled up further. She giggled and said, "Let's walk away and keep pretending we don't see him." I continued to play along. We walked. He continued to drive right alongside us. Gracie kept pretending she didn't see him. He slowly drove alongside her the whole time, just watching and waiting for her to respond to him.

 After several minutes I said, "What if he just gives up on you and drives away?" She looked at me with the most shocked look I have ever seen on her face and said, "Oh he would NEVER do that, that's MY Daddy! MY Daddy would NEVER give up on me!" He kept slowly driving beside her and she kept playing the game. She continued ignoring him when he suddenly honked the horn. When he honked the horn, she answered and happily jumped in the car. Game over. 

In an instant, the Holy Spirit showed me how I had played the same game with my Heavenly Father. I pretended I "didn't see Him", I walked away so many times. I ignored Him for years and I surrounded myself with people who played along. Somehow I always knew in my spirit that He was always there, and would always be there right alongside me. 

One day, my Father "honked the horn", I finally answered, and life has never been the same. I don't play games anymore, I try to always be ready and willing to jump in when He "honks"! 

Join me today, let's answer Him by making the following confession out loud: 

Father, in the name of Jesus, we position ourselves to hear You. We declare no games, no pretending, and no ignoring. Please teach us how to be one with Your Spirit on a deeper level! Thank You for speaking to us through Your Word. Thank You for calling us and thank You for moving on our hearts to answer! You and Your love is beyond description. Thank You for You, thank You for Your Son, thank You for Your Holy Spirit, and thank You for Your live giving, life changing Word!

 

Friends Don't Let Friends Live Life in Secrets

The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught. (John 14:26-27, MSG)

There are three things about the above scripture that I want you to keep in mind while reading today's blog post:

1. Jesus said it. (Can it get any better than that?)
2. The Holy Spirit is our FRIEND (Perfect, Heavenly Friend not to be confused or tainted by our past experiences with some of the imperfect friends we've had/have or have been/are.)
3. He is SENT BY OUR FATHER at the REQUEST of JESUS. (Dude.)
4. He makes EVERYTHING PLAIN TO US. ("Everything" in the Greek is every thing.)
5. Plain (Meaning, "As plain as the nose on one's face.)

Yes, I know that is five things...I got carried away in that phenomenal passage! Back to our study. Friends, God is NOT keeping secrets from us! His secrets are FOR us. God is love. Love is not secretive!

Have you ever heard 1 Corinthians 2:9 preached with a fiery thundering voice while leaving verse ten completely unmentioned? 

1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us, 'That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him." 

Yes, that verse is completely true; however, let's not forget verse 10: "these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God." (1 Corinthians 2:10)

I repeat, "Friends, God is NOT keeping secrets from us! His secrets are FOR us. God is love. Love is not secretive!"

I recently read a quote from Andrew Wommack, "The truths of God are hidden for His children, not from them. The Holy Spirit has been instructed to teach us all things (Jn. 14:26) and has given us an unction so that we will know all things (1 Jn. 2:20). We only have to appropriate what is ours."

Lest I point out:

• hidden FOR not FROM
• instructed to teach us ALL things
• APPROPRIATE what is OURS

I am a friend and I have really great, true friends. I am ABUNDANTLY BLESSED in the "friend department" beyond anything I could ever ask beyond my wildest imaginations! (Ephesians 3:20) And my imagination is pretty far out! 

I have complete confidence in my friends that if they were to become privy to even the slightest information that would help me in any way, financially, spiritually, emotionally, regarding my health and in my relationships, (In other words, all areas of my life.) my friends would never keep that information from me. No! I'd get a call or a text so fast it could quite possibly burn up cyberspace! Likewise, if my friends learned of something or someone who intended to harm me, said harmer better "pack a lunch" because my fiends would be a force to be reckoned with. Ever heard the phrase, "Mack Truck" and "Train Wreck"? Yep, my friends are THAT good. 

All that being said, how much more, will a perfect Father (Matthew 7:11) insure "all our bases are covered"?

This is the third and last time I will say this. Friends, God is NOT keeping secrets from us! His secrets are FOR us. God is love. Love is not secretive! Would we as parents (or friends) keep secrets from our children (or friends)? How much more, our perfect Father will not keep anything hidden from us!

Take time every day, call out to Him and listen to Him. He knows of great and mighty things He desires to show you! (Jeremiah 33:3)

In the name of Jesus, Father I pray for every reader today to gain a deeper revelation of godly friendships who operate in godly counsel. And a deeper revelation of hearing Your voice for themselves through Your written Word. And a deeper revelation of Your perfect love. Father I thank You and praise You for the friends You bless me with. They are priceless,  speaking words of life in due season like apples of gold on beds of silver! All glory and honor to Your name! Thank You for the Kingdom Principles You have put into place for protecting us and thank You for giving us a Perfect Friend who guides us into all Truth! You are so awesome, You are beyond description! We love You LORD!

Proverbs 25:11

Matthew 6:33

John 16:13

Roots and Fruit

I am so excited about today’s teaching. I’ve spent time in prayer and wow!

Let your roots grow down into him and draw up nourishment from him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all he has done. (Colossians 2:7, NLT)

The LORD has been giving me dreams. Initially I thought it was all about a close girlfriend of mine so I contacted her and we worked some things through to victory but today the Lord showed me, nope that's not all. This is also about Key Tov Blog's readers. Busted! Some of you are SO busted! 

All that said, I have a question for you. How do you feel about roots? 

I will give you an example. I’ve colored my hair since I was in my early twenties I can hear GASPS from all over cyberspace, “Ohhhh, she just told people she colors her hairrrrr!” Well,  big woo. Let us just all commit to stay real with one another k? It’s hair color, it’s not brain surgery. *smile*

So, I color my hair and every three weeks or so...here "they" come…roots. Gotta cover those puppies up...again. Cover 'em, good for a while, deal with 'em, cover 'em, good for a while, deal with...over and over...

The Lord has revealed to me, there are some Key Tov Blog readers, who are dealing with roots. Hair roots? Perhaps, yes. But there are also roots that have been planted recently and a long time ago, that God doesn't want us to deal with anymo. (Not misspelled) I have a word for you today. 

Are you ready? This is a personalized word for YOU, Key Tov Blog readers. 

God wants you free. 

Yep…God wants YOU free!

Say it…God. Wants. ME. Free!

My sister and I were recently chatting. She's been a registered nurse for a really long time. She’s extremely intelligent. And sees A LOT OF “stuff”, so she is experienced in a lot of matters. We talk almost daily and I really value what the Lord is showing her. She is truly anointed to speak into my life. During our conversation, she said something that hit my spirit like a freight train. She said, something to the effect of...When something bad happens to someone, if the root is not dug out and Jesus' healing power yielded to, healing/deliverance doesn’t take place and the fruit of that root always comes out. If not dealt with, it may come out when a person is 20, 40, 60, or 80 years old, but it always comes out. 

Choo! Choo! Does that hit you like it hit me? Listen, the fruit may consistently come out every day, week, month, or year. Or may not manifest until 10, 20, 40, whatever, years later. Whatever the case may be, the fruit of that root manifests itself someway, somehow. It may be in a repetitive behavior, or in a negative medical diagnoses, or by an emotional response like outbursts, lying, etc.

Now, I am in no way saying, if someone gets a negative doctor’s report that there is always hidden sin or bad fruit or whatever. I don’t believe that. We all still live in the dispensation of time of John 10:10. That was just a little rabbit trail to clear up some really bad "doctrine". 

Forward march! Back to the “root” of our discussion, *teeheehee*.

We can switch friends, circles of friends, jobs, cities, states, even churches...in other words, we can exchange whatever outside "stimuli" seems to be causing the problem; however, until the root of an issue is dug out and Jesus' healing power is yielded to...and that old root is replaced with a root that produces good fruit...those roots continue to produce bad fruit...again...and again...and again. Have you ever heard the phrase, “The problem with moving away is you take you with you.” Ok, as rude as that sounds, there is a lot of power in that if we take it and use it for our good.

I once heard Dr Larry Ollison, (You may find his teachings at faithman.org) ask, what would you do if someone came to your house to take what belongs to you? Let’s say this person came to your house and said, "I want your diamond ring. k? What would you do. Cower down? Meely mouse around and say oh ok. Shoots no! I'd say, now way my sista! That diamond ring is mine! It belongs to me! And you are not taking it!

It's the same way with the peace that passes all understanding. THAT belongs to us! So when someone is yielding to....let's just say, not yielding to God and letting their light so shine (Matthew 5:16)...do not just take what they are offering! Don’t just say, ohhhh ok. Here, take my peace.

Philippians 4:7 says, "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." 

Stand your ground! And say No! Jesus left me peace. Peace that passes all understanding is mine and you are not taking it! That is the battle! We don’t wrestle with flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12) Our battle is not with a person. Our battle is in the, you are not taking my peace that Jesus gave me! (John 14:27)

For those who know me personally, I am thankful because you will get what I’m about to say. For those who do not know me personally, what I'm about to say needs to be preempted with, I have what could be viewed as…let’s just say, a bizarre sense of humor. So please keep that in mind coupled with my Okie accent so you can find humor when I say, I am in the company of a group o' thieves! 

Yep, some of our readers are carrying around what does NOT belong to them!

You are BLOOD bought! 

• Low self esteem
• Poor body image
• Rejection
• Anxiety
• Fear
• Whatever ugly, negative thing it is, does not belong to us! 

Let me ask you, are there any scriptures to back those up? Do we have a bible passage that tells us, “walk in low self esteem, have poor body image, be filled with anxiety and fear”…NOoooooo…well, there’s a reason for that! 

Don't be a thief! Dig those roots all out!  How do we do that? We dig out the negative root and replace it with a good root. We replace a negative root with a positive root that can be backed up with scripture!

We don’t need a gazillion scriptures in order to fight this fight. All we need is one word from God to change our lives forever! The bible says, we have not because we ask not, (James 4:2, 3) well let’s just make sure we are having by asking! Just say, Lord, please give me a scripture to deal with, ___fill in the blank___. He abounds in  faithfulness! (Psalm 86:15) He will give you a scripture that will just rock your world. Write it down, write it on your arm if you need to, read it every day, ten times a day, whatever it takes. It will eventually go from your head to your heart and when it does, watch out world cuzzzzz here you come!

For example, let’s say someone battles with fear. Every time we are tempted to fear we refuse that temptation. We declare NO! I do not fear. God hasn’t given me a spirit of fear, but of power! Love! And a sound mind! (2 Timothy 1:7) I am strong and courageous! (Joshua 1:9) See how that works? How many times do we say it? As many times as it takes. How long is that? As long as it is!

"Welllllll that's just so hard" *whine*….Let me ask you this...is dealing with these roots over and over and over again, easy? Hmmmmm? I hear about difficulty all the time. I’m told, "But your SO strong and I’m so weak." Nope…it isn’t about strength…its about committing to God’s Word and refusing to turn it loose. 

LOOK right here on this anointed page where it says we are:

• Overcomers! (1 John 4:4)
• Blood bought! (1 Corinthians 6:20)
• Free! (Luke 4:18)

You are FREE! You are not bound...you are FREE!

Whom The Lord sets free is free indeed! Who is whom? You are whom! If you are a born again believer, YOU. ARE. THAT WHOM! If you are not born again, let us know, shoot us an email. We can work that out. Otherwise, you are FREE! 

When the battle rages, stand firm, and declare, “I am free! The Lord has set me free! I am free indeed! I have overwhelming victory!" (Romans 8:37)

Everybody, in unison, let’s let our faces know we are free! *Huge grin*

Life gets hard. I get that. I know that, more than I care to know, T-rust me. For non Okies that means, trust much.  *Big Okie Grin*. Some days walking out our freedom means moment by moment. There’s nothing wrong with that. Walk it out, however you need to. Scripture by scripture.  

Walk out your freedom! Don’t turn it loose! Hang onto it like a bull dog! Every day of your life! Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught. Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done.

Below, we will post scripture reference for our study today.

Hey, Thanks ya’ll and mucho mahalos for your time, we truly TRULY appreciate you!


Father, thank You for showing us great and mighty things we don't know. Thank You for revealing Your heart to us. In the name of Jesus, I pray for every reader right now and declare to and for them, they are free. Free and equipped to be everything You have called them to be. Boldness, strength, and courage to walk in Your perfect will for their lives, every day of their lives always giving glory and honor to You LORD! 

Psalm 33:4
Psalm 86:15
Romans 8:37
1 Corinthians 13:7
Matthew 5:16
Ephesians 6:12
1 Corinthians 7:23, please read!

John 8:36

2 Timothy 1:7

Job 22:28, please read!
Colossians 2:7

Key Tovography

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8, NLT)

Have you ever heard of Key Tovography? We’ve posted some information about it below.

Key Tovography: Anointed photographer who believes pictures are not made up of a camera & a subject. True photography is capturing an emotion in time & saving it for all eternity, all for His glory. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

You may find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/key-tovography and http://keytovography.wordpress.com.

For those of you who don’t know, I am a photographer. 

Here are a few of our shots.

In the field of photography, the challenge that blows me away the most is, people will take the two or three things they don’t like about themselves (of which, are generally unseen by everyone else) and meditate on that instead of the hundreds of positive things about them. What a disgrace to God’s creation, always look for the good! Even within yourself.

I once heard, Brother Keith Moore at Moore Life Ministries teach on Philippians 4:8 and he said something to the effect of, don’t stick to one part of that verse. Make every thought line up with every aspect of that verse….something may be true, but it may not be lovely. 

To further elaborate, if a thought is not in alignment with every point of that verse, simply do not meditate on it, do not think on it.

Please make the following confession with me, 

Father in the name of Jesus, I take every thought captive and I make every thought quality with every point of Philippians 4:8. I only meditate on and fix my thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. I only think about, meditate on, and fix my thoughts on things that are excellent and worthy of praise! Thank You for teaching us life lessons so that we may have life in excessive abundance!

2 Corinthians 10:5

Philippians 4:8

John 10:10

A Difficult Dollar Bill

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19, NKJV)

Today, my girls came and asked to borrow my tweezers. A request that made me raise an eyebrow so I further investigated prior to handing the tweezers off. They saw a dollar bill stuck in a soda machine.

They had dug, pulled, used a stick, going to great lengths to get this dollar bill out of the machine. Finally, using the tweezers, they were able to retrieve the dollar.

I was a little shocked at how hard (and how long) they worked to get the dollar bill out of the machine. They worked for about half an hour before they got the victory!

The reason I was shocked at their tenacity in this instance was because, they had no guarantee they could get the dollar out of the machine. If not watchful, they could have torn the dollar. Or just not been able to retrieve the dollar after all their time invested.

Another reason I was shocked is because, they could have worked and been paid more than a dollar in half an hour. If they worked, their money would have been guaranteed. All they had to do, is ask for work and worked as per our agreement.

As I was shaking my head trying to process why they would go about earning a dollar the hard way, the LORD gently spoke to my spirit and said, “That is how some of my kids operate in their lives. They work and strive at something in the world that is not guaranteed instead of just abiding in Me, I am My Word, I am a sure thing. I always guarantee My Word. I cannot lie.”

Kingdom principles are guaranteed. When we take God's word and "work it" staying in agreement with God, our results are guaranteed.

Lord, please forgive us when we prefer the world's way of operating over abiding in You and Your Word. Thank You for prospering Your Word where You send it! Thank You for the life producing fruit that Your Word brings! Thank You for never lying! Thank You for never changing Your mind! Thank You for never failing to act when You speak! Thank You for always fulfilling Your promises! You are a good God and only good comes from You! All glory, honor, and praise to You Father! You. Are. So. Worthy!

Isaiah 55:11

John 1:1

Numbers 23:19

James 4:2

Psalm 100:5

In a Double Deer Stand, Three is a Crowd

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1, 2 NKJV)

Last Saturday, I took my ten year old whitetail hunting at the Beautiful Lake of the Ozarks. We were sitting in our double tree stand, having a grand time, very quietly laughing and joking when…dun dun dunnnnnn!

I felt something hit the back of my neck. Something…like…a…bug. 

Stuff just got real. Really fast.

One moment, fun times. The following moment, dangah-dangah!

I quietly but with great emphasis whispered, “Mikea! Something just hit the back of my neck, brush it off! Brush it off!” She pulled my collar back and when she did, “it” got mad, stung me, and then "it" WENT DOWN MY SHIRT! 

The back of my neck…now on fire…convinced me I did NOT want to be stung again. I said, “What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” Mikea said, “Take off your clothes! Take off your clothes!” 

Knowing Mikea and her vast bank of wisdom, I did exactly what she said! Ok, I halfway did what she said. I removed only those articles of clothing holding me in eminent danger and we found the culprit…a yellow jacket! 

Said yellow jacket issue was addressed. That’s all I have to say about that, thank you Forrest Gump. Crisis averted. Order was restored, our focus was back on task, and I had a moment to process what had happened. 

Wildly surprised at how quickly I could throw aside every article of clothing which so easily ensnared me for the yellow jacket who was laying in wait to eat me alive...*drama alert*…brought to my remembrance the “lay aside every weight” in Hebrews. I pondered, why is it not always this easy to lay aside every weight and sin which so easily ensnares us…me... 

The sting of sin is no less dangerous than the sting of a yellow jacket. I know this, it isn’t like this is new information for me. James 4:7 tells us to "Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee.” That sounds fast and easy. 

Another thing I know, when I stumble and miss the mark, Jesus is always willing and ready to restore me. Like the man in Matthew 8 with leprosy...no matter what I’ve done...Jesus reaches out, touches me, and says, “I am willing. Be clean!" Immediately it (whatever, "it" is) all goes away, and I am clean. (Matthew 8:3) 

Please make the following confession with me (out loud):

Father God, thank You for Your Son, Jesus! Thank You Jesus for Your perfect, unfailing will! Thank You for reaching out, touching me, and making me immediately clean! In my weakness You are made strong enabling me to lay aside every weight and run-run-run with great endurance this race that is set before me! I look to You King Jesus! You are the author and finisher of my faith! Thank You for enduring the cross and everything it represents so that I may live life in excessive abundance! Thank You for teaching me to prosper as my soul prospers!

2 Corinthians 12:9

John 10:10

3 John 1:2

Hebrews 12:1, 2