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

Signs, Signs, Everywhere There's Signs

Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28

A few days ago, I took a wonderful long walk with my girls. My youngest commented on how many signs she saw.

There were stop signs, yield signs, signs dictating where to and where not to park, signs explaining how to properly use dumpsters. There was even a sign warning people to stay off the roof of a building. That one made me scratch my head and think, “Huh? People have to be told to stay off the roof of buildings?” All sorts of signs.

There were other “signs”. Signs that summer was over and fall is on it’s way. Leaves changing, the aroma of someone baking pumpkin something or the other, and small animals scurrying through dead leaves gathering nuts for winter.

I had been concentrating on my surroundings. The amazing fall colors, the cool crisp breeze, and the sounds of the birds singing. I had not paid attention to the posted signs until my daughter brought the matter to my attention. Once she did, I started seeing signs I had never seen before.

The bible also tells us about signs. Signs in the sun, moon, stars; and on the earth, nations, the sea and the waves. Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near. (Luke 21) 

Matthew 24, Jesus tells us to “watch” out because "many will be deceived”. He also tells us "But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved". Jesus told us these things ahead of time. (Matthew 24:25) so that we wouldn’t be bogged down by everyday life (life signs) and forget or be deceived into not believing the Son of Man is coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory! 

Regardless of what the “world” believes, Jesus is coming! And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. (Matthew 24:31)

So we are keeping watch, because we do not know on what day our Lord will come! (Matthew 24:42) And we are never more caught up in every day life here on earth (temporal signs) than we are in Heavenly (eternal signs)!

Every day, I assume this gospel of the kingdom has been preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24 :14) and everyday I expect Jesus to come. When I lay down at night, there is a little disappointment He didn’t come that day but my heart expectedly says, “Maybe tomorrow is the day, maybe tomorrow will be the day He comes!” Thank God the days are cut short for the elect's sake. (Matthew 24:22)

Until that glorious day, please make the following confession with me.

I don’t lose heart, I believe that I will continue to see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living! I wait on the Lord; am of good courage, and He strengthens my heart! Wait, I say, on the Lord! (Psalm 27:13, 14)

My Lips Openethed Up Wide…again...

He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. (Proverbs 13:3, KJV)

Saturday night, my family and I were at a party with friends. We had hotdogs, (ok, they all had hotdogs), chili, special tea (I really like special tea), a hayride and other fall festivities. Near the end of the night, our conversation turned to the time change. Daylight savings time was about to end and we were all reminding each other to “roll the clocks back” and “fall back” an hour. One of my friends made a comment that she was so thankful to have an extra hour sleep. Me, being convinced she had it backwards, told her we were losing an hour of sleep.

She and I (playfully) bantered back and forth about gaining/losing sleep. She was convinced she was correct. I was convinced I was correct. It was getting late, the party was winding down, and we all went home. 

For later purposes, please keep in mind, my husband was paying close attention to our conversation. I knew he heard us; however, I was completely unaware he was taking what I was saying…to heart. 

The next day, I learned I was incorrect and my friend was correct. But Mike hadn’t learned I was incorrect.

The next evening, Mike said, “I am so sleepy. Losing that hour of sleep really got to me.”

Ooooooops…I had "openeth wide my lips” when I should have “keepethed them slammed shut."

To increase that ooooooops…Mike had actually slept longer the night before than previous nights! In other words, not only had he gotten an extra hour of sleep, he had also slept in by at least an hour the following morning. So even though he had had over two hours extra sleep, just because of my words he believed he had lost sleep. Uuuuugh, I should have keepethed my lips shutteth. I am in a King James kind of mood today!

I had to try and convince him I was wrong about losing the hour of sleep. What I had done was not easily undone! He has so much confidence in me, and what I say, it was very difficult to convince him I was wrong and my friend was right.

We have powerful influence over our families and in our “circles". The words we speak are not just idle words. (Matthew 12:36) We can unknowingly (or knowingly) poison our families and friends by merely speaking what, in our opinion may be, words that don’t really matter. I cannot tell you how many times someone makes the following comment to me, “I remember when you said ___(fill in the blank___) and what I said could have been five years ago! At times, their comment makes me cringe! People can change in five years! 

We must "keepeth" our lips!

It is possible, 

to take our own insecurities/issues, 

project them on someone else, 

and 

misguide our family and friends (and others) 

simply by the words we speak. 

Ever observe a mother/stepmother or a wife/mother-in-law (just to name a few) power struggle?

I will give an example of an incident in my own life. Please bear with me because I have since gained the victory over this, glory to God!

There is a powerful evangelist who my husband and friends listen to. Years ago, Mike brought home a cd of this evangelist and told me to listen to it. He said, "This teaching will change your life!" I said, “I can’t. His voice drives me up a wall. I cannot stand to listen to him. I don’t get anything out of his teaching because I cannot tolerate his voice.” 

Since then, God has revealed (through the life giving lips of a girlfriend) I was walking in offense against a man who had hurt me as a child and that man’s voice reminded me of this particular evangelist. I had projected the offense onto an innocent man.

I was refusing powerful, anointed teachings…not in any way because of the evangelist who was teaching…but because of offense. Not only was this offense affecting me, it was affecting those around me through me. 

We do not want to do that!

Please make the following confession with me:

Father, in the name of Jesus, we let our speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know how we ought to answer every man. We have joy by the answer of our mouth: and words spoken in due season, how good it is! We speak good words making us glad! We have a wise heart, teaching our mouth and adding learning to our lips! Thank You Father for teaching us the importance of our words! And thank You for teaching us to keepeth our lips! 

Colossians 4:6

Proverbs 15:23

Proverbs 12:25

Proverbs 16:23, 24