Head-On Collisions

"I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,  endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1-3, NKJV)"

I had to drive into town today for a dental appointment. Once I was close to the dentist’s office, I approached a four way stop. A driver of a truck (purposefully and looking right at me) ran the red light. Legally, I had the right of way. Rather than exercise my legal right, I hit my brakes and stopped, preventing my vehicle from crashing into the truck. 

I had the legal right of way but I refused to exercise my right at that moment. Had I decided, by law I was in the right and refused to stop my vehicle, I would've found myself (along with my children) in a head-on collision. 

God immediately spoke to me and said, "Always refrain from exercising your emotional right every-time-possible. That is unconditional love.” (Ephesians 4:32, Proverbs 20:3, John 13:34, Proverbs 29:11)

There is a connection that we so strongly attach to, and that connection is unconditional love. The love that created us. (1 John 4:8, Ephesians 2:10)

While most will agree, it is a mistake to fail to prevent a motor vehicle accident. No matter who has legal right and no matter who is purposefully doing what. However, many willingly drive right into an emotional head-on collision (with their children/spouse/friends/family, etc along for the ride). 

At times, we find ourselves facing a dilemma when others may purposefully tempt us to drive into an emotional head-on collision. During these times, our right is very obvious to us and many of those around us. We have a choice to make. Either stand up for our right, or avoid an emotional head-on collision. (Psalm 17:3, Psalms 141:3, Proverbs 21:23, James 1:19, Proverbs 16:23)

I am in no way suggesting we should never stand up for ourselves and/or a worthy cause. But I am suggesting, be led by God’s spirit, always choose life, and refrain from exercising our emotional right every-time-possible! (Galatians 5:16-26, Deuteronomy 30:19)

The LORD has had me parked on the following scripture for months. Please read it very slowly and allow every word to fully penetrate your heart. 

"So I, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to you to live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation], with all humility [forsaking self-righteousness], and gentleness [maintaining self-control], with patience, bearing with one another [a]in [unselfish] love. Make every effort to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the bond of peace [each individual working together to make the whole successful]." (Ephesians 4:1-3, AMP)

Filtered

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Corinthians 9:7, NKJV)

Last Sunday, I was at church in our worship service. Momentarily, I looked around at the people in the service. As people were pouring their hearts out to God, I thought to myself, I am so sure each person feels the exactly the way I do right now. I was wanting to give God more…more honor, praise, love, and worship. 

I brought my focus back to worshiping God and in that moment, He gave me a vision. 

I saw myself as a small girl, back when I was a tomboy. 

My hair was in a disheveled ponytail, my face (and clothing) was muddy, (as it often was), and I was holding up a (very well used) dandelion. In other words, a torn up weed! I extended my arms out as if to offer the tattered weed to someone in front of me. In a split second, I saw a bright light and suddenly, I was a grown woman with every hair in place wearing very nice clothes and a beautiful huge crown on my head. My arms were extended out holding a huge silver platter overloaded with huge bricks of gold. 

I know that is a lot of “huge"…but trust me, 

the word huge doesn’t even begin to define what I saw! 

The platter was so full, there is no way (in the natural) that I would’ve been strong enough to pick the platter up, much less extend it out in front of me.

God spoke to me and said, “Think to how you feel when your girls offer you a wildflower or a rock. You treasure those “offerings” because you receive them through love. When I receive an offering, I receive it through the Blood of Jesus and there is a supernatural exchange which turns an offering from what it is into it’s purest form. I love a cheerful giver!"

In 1 Samuel 16:7, the bible tells us the LORD looks at our hearts! He doesn’t see things they way we see them!

I thank God, He filters me! 

Epically blown away. That is all.

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for each reader right now and ask that they may see themselves the way You see them. Through the filter of love! Through the Blood of Jesus, You supernaturally make the exchange that takes us from what we were to what You created us to be! I pray each of us walk daily in everything You have planned and purposed for our lives! We love You LORD! We thank You for speaking to us through Your Word, dreams, visions, and the people You put in our path! May we all commit to becoming more like You everyday and see every person in our lives through Your filter of love!

The Lazy River, Ain't Lazy...at All!

Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you. (Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT)

In our prior blogpost, I wrote about standing in line at the water park waiting for my turn to go down the water slide. I heard a loud noise, looked up and saw an airplane. In that moment the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and taught me a life changing lesson.

Some may question that scenario. Really? Jesus? At a water park? Where people are wearing swimsuits…even bikinis? A place where alcohol is sold and cursing can be heard around every corner? Where a lot of unbelievers are? And not in your prayer closet?! (1 John 5:7, Deuteronomy 31:8)

Yep!

• I never leave home without Him!
• Jesus is involved in every area of my life! 
• I don’t box Him in a particular time slot during the day.
• I don’t lock Him up at home when I go out.
• I don’t close Him out of any part of my life.
• I don’t only meet up with Him at church service.
• He knows everything about me. 
• He’s my Master, my Savior, and I fully depend on Him everywhere I go! 

Jesus is my best friend! (John 15:15)

I’m so wrapped up in my relationship with Him, I don’t have time to waste on religion. (Matthew 23:3-5)

And quite honestly, when I ride the “lazy river” with my nine year old (who turns said lazy river into a white water rafting experience…even at a depth of three feet), I need Jesus!

I boldly proclaim, “The Lord is my helper! I will not fear! Since God be for me, what can my nine year old to do me! (Hebrews 13:6, 2 Timothy 1:7, ) 

Bring it on little red headed kid!

Father, in the name of Jesus, continue to give us revelation on relationship with You. Please give us a deep heart’s desire to continue to realize and to continue to make everything not of you fall off like the scales on Paul’s eyes so that we may see. Let not one of us walk in religion in the name of Jesus. Let every one of us walk in love, ease burdens, and bless everyone we come into contact with, bringing all glory to You Lord God. I pray every day, we become more like Jesus than we were yesterday. Thank You Lord for being in every area of our lives as we submit our spirit to Your precious Holy Spirit. Place in us a hunger for You, Your ways, and Your Word, in the name of Jesus. 

The Day I Realized I was a Complete Failure…at Everything.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. (1 Corinthians 13:4-5, NLT)

The last two weeks have been two very long weeks. Homeschool has been a struggle. My husband has been working long hours. I’ve been training to run a 5k, a very challenging sprint, and a lava man. Oh wait, I forgot about that other 5k. (Is that really a total of four?! Oh wait, don't tell me.) And I got sick and I haven’t been sleeping well.

*Deep cleansing breath*

At the end of the two very challenging weeks, I laid on the couch waiting for my husband to come home from work. Wearing an oversized t-shirt, no make up, and my hair up in a pony tail...I realized I hadn’t done laundry…since….oh….I couldn't remember. About that moment, I heard my girls fighting…again. 

I thought, “Wow. I want to be him, so I can work late too.” 

And I intervened like any great mom would do, refusing to intervene and telling myself, “Survival of the fittest is a great parenting tool. So, whatev." I'm sure Dr. Seuss or Dr. "Somebody" endorses it. I tried to be really quiet, hoping they would think I wasn't home.

All that seemed to be compounded by the realization that we (as a homeschooling family) are almost at the mid mark in our homeschool career. Meaning, how on earth did half of our homeschool “career” just vanish into thin air?? Accompanied by, “Do my girls know everything they need to know? Are they being equipped? Will they be able to make a living when they move out?! How will I know?” Not to mention, our wifi (that we need for school) has kicked us offline a minimum of a dozen times per day and our printer has only worked half the time.

Ok...I mentioned it.

And then there was this…in the sink. 
Yea, I don’t know what that is and I am not going to ask. 

And then realized, our 17th wedding anniversary is Monday and we’ve done nothing to prepare for such an amazing day…I mean, it’s a very important day, a huge milestone, and should have been met with an equally amazing celebration! I haven’t even bought a card, uuuuugh. 

When Mike got home, I asked him to take us out for a late dinner. I needed a nice, quiet, delicious dinner to (hopefully) change the momentum of the past two weeks. He took us to a beautiful, open air restaurant with burning tiki torches, swaying palm trees, tropical breezes, and the sounds of many waters. Things were definitely looking up! Only to be very disappointed in the quality of the food. Even the garlic was bad. Who can mess up garlic?! And I went to bed nauseous. Really? Can anything go right?! 

No really.

If I’ve ever been tempted to believe I am a failure at all things…this was it. 

I felt like a failure

• as a wife
• as a mom
• as a home educator

Why am I sharing this borderline meltdown on this public forum? 

"Good faith girls" don't share such matters. 

Well, this one does.

Because I want to address the elusions/misconceptions.

• Is any marriage perfect? nope
• Is any homeschool perfect? nope
• Is a bloggers life perfect? Hahahaha…nope
• Is Christian life perfect? nope

Perfect, or...even remotely anything like it? Nope.

Thankfully, I could turn to Facebook. Hey two are better than one and since one puts a thousand to flight I will use whatever means are at my fingertips! (Ecclesiastes 4:9 and Deuteronomy 32:30) Pun intended to it’s fullest degree. I posted a comment asking for advice and I could literally hear the calvary as my girlfriends immediately ran to my aid! Some prayed with me, some texted me, some sent me inbox messages, some sent me helpful links, some texted, "Call me now!”  Now THAT…my friends is love! Thanks girls! Thanks for loving me, encouraging me, and always having my back!

While I do not encourage desperate Facebook posts...in the midst of all this, something very powerful occurred to me.

I know most of you have applied the "keep no record of wrongs" verse to others...but have you ever applied it to you? Please slow down and really re-read that. I will retype it for your convenience. 

I know most of you have applied the 

"keep no record of wrongs" verse to others...

but have you ever applied it to you? 

So here is what I want you to do…refuse to keep a record of your (real or perceived) wrongs. It is easier to forgive the wrongs of others but do our wrongs fall under a different category than the wrongs of others? And, do our perceived wrongs fall under a different category than real wrongs? Um…no, they do not. So, toss out that record of wrongs, forget the former things, refuse to dwell on the past (Even if that means this morning!) and press onward to your Heavenly prize! (Isaiah 43:18, 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 and Philippians 3:14) 

Now…who is gonna clean up that sink? 

That would be…not me as I yell…yep…yell, “Girls!"

Father God, thank You for being in every aspect of our lives. Thank You for showing Yourself to us in Your sweet, still, small voice even in the midst of piles of laundry, unrecognizable objects in the sink, oversized tshirts, and math concepts that currently remain ungrasped….Lord, is that even a word? Thank You for teaching us to apply Your Word not only to others but to personally apply it to ourselves as individuals. I pray for every reader right now. In the name of Jesus, touch them precisely where they are and please show them those secret records of wrongs they have been keeping. The “lists" that call out their names, point at them, and say, “Here is your downfall, this is why you are not enough.” Lord, please replace those lists with waves of love and peace. Your precious peace that surpasses all understanding and the peace guards our hearts and minds! And Lord, thank You not expecting us to be perfect and thank You for giving us Your Son...Perfect Jesus! 

(Philippians 4:7) 

The Windows of Heaven Burst Open!

Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the LORD of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test! (Malachi 3:10, NLT)

Last month, I was in church service and I had a vision. The minister was giving the offering message and while she was praying over the offering I saw rolling clouds. Then I saw two hands stretching out and down from the clouds. In the hands, I saw a big huge heart.

We pour into God with praise, worship, time, tithes, offerings, prayer, love to God and others...the windows of Heaven burst open and He pours perfect love into us!

What is love?

Love is:

• patient
• kind 
• does not envy or boast
• is not arrogant or rude
• does not insist on it's own way
• is not irritable or resentful
• does not rejoice at wrongdoing
• rejoices with the truth
• bears all things
• believes all things
• hopes all things
• endures all things

Love never fails, love never passes away, and love casts out all fear! (1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 1 John 4:18)

Love is everything good and perfect! (James 1:17)

The windows of Heaven open and God pours everything good and perfect into us!


Thank You Father, for pouring into our lives! Thank You for Your unfailing, unchanging, pure and perfect love! I pray for myself and every reader right now, in the name of Jesus, enable us to know and have the power to understand like we should, how wide, how long, how high and how deep Your love is! As we draw near to You every day, teach us how to walk in Your love with everyone we come into contact with! LORD, let not one, come into contact with us and remain unchanged, all for Your glory LORD! Thank You King Jesus!


Ephesians 3:18

I told my daughter about my vision and she drew this picture. 

She's a much better artist than I am.

Cigi Smokers, Scantily Dressed Women, and Alcohol in the Church

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18, AMP)

A while back, while we were walking into the church for Sunday service, I saw a man smoking a cigarette. He was standing far from the door, near a tree. He was so embarrassed, he was trying to use the tree to hide. He attempted to use the tree as a barrier by moving his body around the tree as we walked by.

Shortly sometime thereafter, we were in church service and sitting behind a row of women. Two was which were scantily dressed. One, to the point she looked like she was wearing night apparel. 

Prior to these two incidences, we were at a church service and the pastor said, "Please greet someone and tell them, "I am so glad you are here." A man walked up to me to say hello, and as he spoke, I could tell he had been drinking, a lot...at 10:00 a.m. The wreak of alcohol was so intense when the man spoke.

What should our response be to these incidences in the church?

Incident # 1 

Love and Pray

Welcome them and ask, "Is there anything I do can to help you?"

And then help them. (James 2:14-26)

Incident # 2

Love and Pray

Welcome them and ask, "Is there anything I do can to help you?"

And then help them. (James 2:14-26)

Incident # 3

Love and Pray

Welcome them and ask, "Is there anything I do can to help you?"

And then help them. (James 2:14-26)

As we can see, no matter what the incident is, God's kind of love is always the answer. (John 13:35)

Independent of everyone else's current situation at church and everywhere we go, we (as born again believers) are all in the midst of 2 Corinthians 3:18. (Matthew 7:1-5)

Father, I thank You walking in Your great unfailing love for each and every one of us. Continue to quicken our spirits and remind us to walk in Your unfailing love with everyone we come into contact with. Thank You for drawing hurting people to Your church house, they are in the right place! We are so thankful they come to church and into our lives, giving us all an opportunity to put actions to our faith forever changing their lives and our lives. Thank You for giving us opportunity to sow good seed! Thank You for making a way for us to cultivate and determine our own harvest by teaching us, the same measure we sow determines what we receive! Our heart's desire is truly to be Your disciples, thank You for teaching us how to walk in Your command of love! Thank You for shedding Your love abroad in our hearts by Your Spirit! I pray all our hearts be flooded with light so that we can understand the confident hope You have given us! In the name of Jesus, I declare it be so and thank You! HALLELUJAH!

Psalm 136

James 2:14-17

Genesis 1:29

Luke 6:38

Psalm 37:4

John 13:35

John 13:34

Romans 5:5

Job 22:28

Ephesians 1:18

Luke 17:11-19

Willful Disobedience

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17, NLT)

If you've followed Key Tov Blog for very long, you know we have a wonderful dog named Bo. He is a wonderful, obedient, loving dog. He is a rich blessing to our family.

There are activities Bo loves and there are activities Bo hates. 

He loves to go bird hunting. 

He hates to get a bath.

Bo has been bird hunting a lot lately. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday the last two weekends and he's hunting again this upcoming weekend. Bo will hunt from daylight to dark! 

Due to all that hunting, he needed a bath today. Bo's bath is a huge joke at my house. He runs. We laugh. He hides. We laugh. He pouts. We laugh. It is hilarious how much he hates his bath.

My middle child gathered Bo's bathing paraphernalia. Bo knows the drill. As soon as he saw his bath items come out of the cabinet, he ran to Mike in hopes Mike could rescue him out of getting bathed. Nope. And he pouted the whole time he was being bathed. My girls took him for a walk after his bath so he could dry off before coming back inside.

As always, the "joke" was on Bo. He was upset while we were all laughing at him over his behavior.

Mike and I were sitting outside on our lanai about to eat breakfast when Bo came back into the house. He ran to the door as if to tattle on the girls. Again, we laughed. Bo isn't allowed to sit near the table while we eat so we told him to go back inside. He turned around, stuck his tail between his legs, and slowly walked back inside, and laid down…right inside the door. Again, we laughed. Then he went a step further, and stuck his front paw just outside the door.

We laughed again and I said, "That's like doing what I said, but not doing it all the way, and with a bad attitude." We left him there and didn't say a word to correct him.

All through breakfast, Bo continued to adjust his body weight in an attempt to relieve the pain and pressure on his own body! All the while, leaving his leg outside the door. Not doing anything to help himself. All he had to do was move his leg and put his whole body inside!

Obedience.

Every time he adjusted and groaned we laughed at him. I thought, it would be way easier (and less painful) for him to just do what I said. The floor is way more comfortable than laying on those sliding glass door tracks!

He was mad and pouting while the rest of us went happily about our day.

Then. All the sudden. My heart cried out, "Oh Lord my Lord, for all the times I didn't do what I knew to do, but instead made adjustments here and there in an effort to relieve self inflicted pain and pressure. How many times I've ran to You and tried to get out of doing something I knew I had to do, just like Bo ran to Mike to get out of having a bath! Thank You for Your Son who taught us, "Not my will, but Your will be done". Thank You for loving me enough to teach me follow through. Lord, create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me! Oh great is Your faithfulness! Oh great is Your unfailing love-love-LOVE! Thank You for showing me life lessons through the attitude and behavior of my dog! I will keep my heart and attitude connected with You and Your Word! I will attend to Your words, I will incline my ear to Your sayings! I will be willing, teachable, and obedient! Father, I pray for each reader right now. In the name of Jesus, I thank You for conviction that prompts us to get off the "tracks" we're on, stop making adjustments trying to relieve pain and pressure, and to just obey Your life giving Word! Forgive us for pouting! Forgive us for all the times we've known what to do and didn't do it. Thank You for forgiving us as we forgive others. Thank You for teaching us to operate in love, mercy, and grace to others as You have so graciously loved us and extended Your heart of mercy and grace to us!

James 4:17

Luke 22:42

Psalm 51:10

Lamentations 3-22, 23

Psalm 136

Psalm 37:23

Proverbs 4:20

Ephesians 4:32

If I had a Favorite, This would be It.

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20, NLT)

This morning, my girls and I studied the parable of the prodigal son. We were all brought to tears (so much so that my eight year old couldn't even speak) when we read verse twenty in Luke chapter fifteen, 

So he got up and went to his father.

But while he was still a long way off, 

his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; 

he ran to his son, 

threw his arms around him and 

kissed him.

Is there anything more filled with power than that? Just meditate on that for a while, meditate on it until it becomes part of who you are. Write it down on a card and read it throughout the day over the next coming weeks and months or however long it takes for it to become part of your very core.

First, the son came to himself, (Luke 15:17) then he got up, and went to his father.

The father's reaction:

• filled with compassion
• ran to him
• threw his arms around him
• kissed him

The bible says the father ran to him. The father didn't wait until the son walked up to the porch. The father was so excited to see his son, he couldn't wait and so he ran!

That's true unfailing love…

That's the love our Father has for us!

No matter who tells us what (even if we are the ones telling ourself), no matter where we've been or what we've done….God, our Father always wants us!

That's the love our Father has for us!

Father, thank You for this parable. Thank You for being filled with compassion for us. Thank You that when we "come to ourselves", You are always approachable and willing and desire to wrap Your arms around us even when we've rolled around in pig stuff! I pray for every reader right now, as well as myself, that from Your glorious, unlimited resources, we become empowered with inner strength through Your Spirit! We are rooted and grounded in Your great love! I declare we have the power to understand and we will all come to know how wide, long, high, and deep Your love is! You are able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think! All glory, honor, and power to You Father, in the name of Jesus, Amen!

A little side note: Please don't ever ask me to study this verse with you face to face because it makes me bawl every time...yep, every time! And I must have been teaching it with much emotion because my ten year old sincerely said, "Wow...you should be teaching this in a stadium right now."

She always thinks in terms of huge, just like her father, earthly and Heavenly!

The View Up Here!

Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8, AMP)

I had a dream last night about how we view ourselves. In the dream, I saw an extremely beautiful woman who was very educated, experienced, and wealthy. She consistently operated with a pure heart in all her relationships, personal and professional. She was very gentle, giving, always quick to help others, and she was one who refused to give up, ever. She viewed others through a love filter but she did not view herself through the same filter. She found it easy to give love but difficult to understand how someone could love her. 

The dream prompted me to attempt to explain the importance of viewing ourselves through the filter of love.

God is love, as a result He views us through the love filter. (1 John 4:8) 

The God kind of love. 

Not Hollywood love, or tabloid love (do people actually read those?), or romance novel love, 

or "reality" tv show love, 

or I love my kitty cat love or I love pizza love. 

True love is ever ready to believe the best of every person. (1 Corinthians 13:7-8). "Every person" includes ourselves. As born again believers, we are to imitate our Father. (Ephesians 5:1)

When we stumble, God sees through to our heart.  (Samuel 16:7) His love never fails, (Psalm 136:1) so in our best and worse times, He never changes nor does His great love for us. (Malachi 3:6) He loves us, not because of us, but because of Him. Because of who He is, love.

As we consistently view ourselves through the of unfailing love "filter", we become perfected by love. (Ephesians 5:1, 1 John 4:8, John 15:1-14) 

As a result, we view those around us through eyes of unfailing love, even those the world has deemed unlovable. (John 15:5) 

As we are perfected in love (1 John 4:8) by fellowshipping with Love (1 John 4:8, Matthew 6:33) all fear and torment is cast out. God withholds nothing good from us and freely gives us all things! (Romans 8:32) The greatest of all is, love! (1 Corinthians 13:13) He freely gives us love! True love! Please refer back to the kitty cat love comment.

Please allow me to make a bold statement about the most basic truth. It's so simple and broken down, it seems like it needs to go unsaid. But let's lay this foundational truth and move onto spiritual maturity. 

GOD. LOVES. YOU!!! (John 3:16)

Say it, "GOD. LOVES ME!!!" Receive it by faith. Speak it out loud every time you think of it. And if it isn't already currently in your heart, saturating every cell of who you are, it will! (Galatians 6:9) 

Now that we've established how to love ourselves through the love filter, let's address how we consistently view others through the love filter. How do we handle every person and every circumstance insulated with the love filter? 

Before thinking/speaking/acting/texting/tweeting/posting on Facebook, we run it through the love filter. (2 Corinthians 10:5) If we can't filter a person or a circumstance with love, we wait, we spend time with our Father, and then we move forward in love. (Galatians 5:22, 23) 

If we cannot move forward in love, we do not move.

Does it feel good to bash something/someone via conversation/action/social media? Yep, sure does, if we are feeding the flesh. We each individually decide what dominates us. (Galatians 5:16)

What about the ones who are acting out of control? What about the ones who deserve a good gigging? What about when we feel like gig'n 'em up like we would a frog? What about the ones who are having flesh fits against us? 

We do not gig 'em. No, we imitate our Father by blessing them and we pray for them because of love. We walk in forgiveness and if we can help them in any way, we give. We pursue peace and guard our hearts. We maintain a Heavenly perspective and be willing to believe the best. (Romans 5:8, Luke 6:38, Ephesians 5:1, Luke 6:28, John 14:15,John 14:21, Psalm 34:14, Proverbs 4:23, Ephesians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 13:7-8) We walk in peace and patience, allowing them time and allowing the Holy Spirit time to guide them into all truth.  There is a time for everything and we must remember, our timing doesn't rule. (John 14:27, Hebrews 6:12, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2 Peter 3:8, Ecclesiastes 3:11, Psalm 90:12) And we remain vigilant in being more aware of our Heavenly seat than our earthly seat. (Ephesians 2:6) 

Well done, good and faithful servant! It's celebration time! (Matthew 25:23)

Until that day comes:

Well done, and welcome to life in excessive abundance! (John 10:10)

I thank God and I thank my friends and family for allowing the Holy Spirit time to guide me into all truth! I've pulled some major doozies in my life and I've had to apologize…a lot, but thank God for friends and family who love God and keep His commands so when I clean up my messes, I am met with open arms and love!

But what about those who are not willing to meet us with open arms when either they or we mess up? 

We shall walk in the awareness of our Heavenly seat!

I often speak and write about maintaining the balance. Balance must be kept while applying the love filter to ourselves. When (please notice that is when and not if) someone brings to our attention of a matter we may be struggling with and need to address, we must keep an open heart and a teachable spirit. Please be prepared, at times things are brought to our attention and delivered out of love. It may even come through the voice of a child. (Luke 18:17) Or someone who hardly knows us. Or someone who knows us very well. Or someone we respect so much, we would never want to disappoint them. Independent of how it is brought to our attention, independent of their motivation, use it as a tool and watch God work all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) Take it to God in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth. (John 16:13) Seek trusted biblical godly counsel. (Psalm 37:30,31) We are in the process of growing into spiritual maturity so we study and show ourselves approved! (2 Timothy 2:15) We get wisdom and understanding! (Proverbs 4:5) We confess all sin and He cleanses us! (1 John 1:9) We never reject knowledge and will not be destroyed! (Hosea 4:6) We are not a people who strain a gnat and swallow a camel! (Matthew 23:24)

The "ditch side"...dun-dun-dunnnnnn! What if a close friend or relative comes to us and says, "Hey, lets go rob a bank!" Enabling others to do any kind of wrong is not walking love. God raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the Heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. Seated in the Heavenlies, we do not wrongly divide the word of truth. No, we rightly divide the word of Truth! (Ephesians 2:6, 2 Timothy 2:15)

Father, as we all embark on this new season in You, this phenomenal season of a deeper revelation of Love…I thank You and praise You for your great love! 

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the You, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from Your glorious, unlimited resources You will empower us with inner strength through Your Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in our hearts as we trust in Him. Our roots will grow down into God’s love and keep us strong! And may we have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep Your love is!  May we experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully! Then we will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from You, God! Now all glory to God! Who is able, through Your mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think! Glory to Him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen!!! (Ephesians 3:14-21)

Chemical Reactions

Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” (Psalm 126:2, ESV)

Today in homeschool, we learned about chemical reactions. We concocted a recipe and once we added the last component, our mixture boiled over and out of our bottle as squeals and laughter ensued!

The experiment reminded me of one my best girlfriends, Bambi! When we met, we just clicked and it was like we had always known each other. She's a Texas girl so we "get" each other. We spend a lot of time together and once she is in the mix, there's a lot of boiling over as squeals and laughter ensue…as is evidenced in this picture!

"Hey Genice, watch this AND take a pic!" SPLAT...SPLASH! Ohhhh, that's gonna leave a mark...hahahaha!

She also teaches me how to paddle Texas girl style! 

She is a divine connection, truly a gift from God. She came into my life during a very confusing, difficult, discouraging time. She consistently spoke clarity over me, gave me solid counsel filled with anointing, spoke the Word over me, produced good treasure, but most of all, she made me laugh…and laugh…and laugh, until we saw victory! (Psalm 37:30, 31, Luke 6:45, Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10)

Not every connection in our lives result in this kind of reaction. I don't get this "reaction" from all people. I'm sure some people in my life have found it easier to love me from afar. That's ok, at times, wisdom says love from a distance.

The Lord laughs! (Psalm 2:4) Today, make a date with a best girlfriend and imitate the Lord as much as possible! Well, unless you are male…in that case, well…hopefully there rest goes unsaid!

Father, thank You for creating friendships and thank You for sending friendships to us at precisely the right time, all in Your perfect timing. Thank You for like minds to share all the great things You have done and continue to do in our lives! I pray for friendships for every reader right now, may we always be watchful to honor, love, and bless those friends who You so graciously place in our path. Thank You for all good things!

Homeschoolers, our recipe is below:

5 drops food coloring

2 tablespoons warm water

1 squirt dish soap

1 teaspoon yeast

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

Place ingredients in a small bottle, turn 'em out in the yard and ENJOY!

That's Messed Up

From whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, NLT)

Last month, I wrote a blog post entitled, "Clean it Up."

Since that post, there has been a tug at my heart to explore another side of "Clean it Up". 

I've been wondering, have you ever seen someone (friend/family{church family or biological family} /pastor/worship leader/their spouse or kids/neighbor/someone at Walmart or on Facebook) carrying a burden that is just too heavy? Has this burden made them accidentally bump into something or someone, making the matter worse? 

Have you seen their huge mess that they have to correct when they are already in a hurry and already have a growing list of things to get done while they are running short on time?

Please, stop what you are doing, run to that person, and I hold them tight. Please listen to them wail for a moment (Hey, we've all needed to wail at one time or another.) Then, tell them, "Everything will be ok, I will help you clean this up."

If you need help helping them, make a few calls/send a few texts…get some help! Work together to clean up the mess, it will only take a few minutes since others are working together.

Help gives hope!

Pray with and for the person, stay in prayer covenant with them until fruit manifests, show them how when we are in hurry and make a big mess, God holds us when we need Him, He draws near to us (James 4:8), and He shows us proper perspective. (Colossians 3:1-4) 

Be the person who rushes in when you hear something has gone wrong and then do everything you can to make everything ok. (Ecclesiastes 4:9) And in doing so, God is blessed as He watches His children love and help one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Galatians 6:2, 1 John 4:7, 1 Peter 2:21, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32)

Clean that mess with your whole heart unto Him! (Colossians 3:23, Matthew 6:3, Matthew 6:16) Bear the burdens of someone else's mess and give them hope. (Proverbs 22:9, Matthew 10:42) It will bless the LORD! (Psalm 103:1)

We are not alone. Oh…the enemy would love for us to think we are. (John 10:10) Don't believe that lie. (Deuteronomy 31:6, Numbers 23:29, John 8:44) 

Please don't take this as a license to rescue. Stay out of the ditch on both sides! Please take this as "For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all it's various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part (with power adapted to its need) is working properly (in all its functions), grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:16, AMP)

Father, I pray for eyes to see and ears to hear, for myself and every reader. We thank You, love has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost! (Romans 5:5) I pray we are not so consumed with our own lives that we miss an opportunity to give the least of these a drink of water, in the name of Jesus. (Matthew 25:40) Thank You for supernaturally downloading love, charity, generosity, and love-love-love in our hearts! By faith, we receive a passion for the lost and we receive a passion to help others…in and out of Your kingdom…when we feel like it…and when we don't…when we think the other person deserves it…but especially when we don't think they deserve it. In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You! In the name of Jesus, I will be more like You and operate like You in everything I think, say, and do!

Stephen

And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. (Acts 6:8)

Yesterday, I read the above verse and it literally screamed out to my spirit! I literally jumped in my seat!

I want to be full of grace and power! Doing great wonders and signs among the people! Glorifying my God! (1 Corinthians 10:31, Matthew 5:16)

Since Stephen was, I can be! (Acts 10:4) And you can be too!

But how? By and through love!

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:1, NKJV)

Love is the greatest! (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Love never fails! (1 Corinthians 13:8)

Father, in the name of Jesus, I pray for myself and every reader right now to deepen our love walk! My heart's desire truly is to glorify You in everything I think, say, and do. I submit my spirit to Your precious Holy Spirit right now and I ask You to increase Yourself in me and every reader! Please forgive me for every failure to walk in love, strengthen me to imitate Christ as He has loved me! Thank You for making Acts 6:8 come alive to and in me as well as every reader! Thank You for Your grace, it is sufficient for us. Thank You for abundantly blessing us and making all grace abound toward us, we will abound in every good work, in the name of Jesus!

(2 Corinthians 9:8)

Impossible Eh?

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23 NLT)

This post is a follow up to the blog post, Every. Single. Little. Detail. 

I initially didn't include this in the prior post because I didn't have permission to include a friend's testimony. I spoke with my friend today and she told me I should include it. 

Many years ago, one of my Life Christian University instructors who is now one of my dearest and closest friends, Jennie Crowell, told me of an incident she had had which is now a powerful testimony. A powerful testimony for her and me as well.

She was in an extremely difficult position with a close family member. She was praying and told God, "God, this seems like an impossible situation." 

At that moment, she accidentally knocked a bar of soap off onto the floor. The soap landed on it's tip and she distinctly heard God say, "Impossible eh?"

Since that time, The Lord has resolved the situation with her family member. What seemed impossible wasn't impossible because she believed.

Fast forward to the day I saw my earring back on the tip of the dryer. If you missed that blog post, it is entitled "Every. Single. Little. Detail."

Once I saw the shiny gold object on the tip of the dryer, my spirit excitedly said,  "Thank You Jesus, that is the back of my earring!" My eyes literally bugged out. Given the details of my day, my discouraged flesh immediately piped in and said, "That cannot be. It's been weeks since it was lost and all the laundry has been washed several times. It is impossible for that to be the back of my earring." 

I heard God say,"Impossible eh? Like the soap?"

Nothing, no thing, is impossible for whosoever shall believe. I'm wearing those earrings that was in a seemingly impossible situation because God's goodness and His promise made it possible. 

Father, thank You for showing us in our every day walk, with seemingly ordinary situations that nothing is impossible with You. Thank You for taking time to show us and remind us when we are tempted by circumstance to walk in what we see instead of walking by faith to stop and purpose to do as Jesus instructed when He said, "just believe". Because of You, Your goodness, mercy, grace and love, thank You for gently reminding us, Your Word has final authority in our lives over all earthly circumstance. You are truly good and Your love truly endures forever. 

I Will Show You

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV)

Next week, we had planned to write a series of blog posts entitled, "Full Return" in celebration of our upcoming anniversary at Key Tov Blog and to kick off our free drawing.

We had an amazing surprise for our readers. Full Return was to document our trip wherein we would fly from Hawaii to Minnesota, rent an rv, go exploring, then fly back to Hawaii, Full Return. Taking you, our faithful readers, along with us every step of the way. Our heart's desire is to always tell about God's wonderful goodness and this is the perfect opportunity to show the phenomenal wonders of God's beautiful creation.

In light of recent events in our personal lives, we prayed and asked God what He would have us do. We considered canceling the series due to the path set before us but canceling just didn't reconcile with our hearts.

We believe God wants us to press on with the series but add this week's travel as well.

So instead of Full Return starting next week, God is supernaturally enabling us to begin the series today. As a result, your likes/shares/posts/comments results in your name being entered into our free drawing starting today up to May 31st, 2013.

Please note: To insure your name is entered into our free drawing, please insure we acknowledge your likes/shares/posts/comments with a thank you via social media. If we do not thank you, please bring it to our attention so we can get all your entries in the drawing.

Since I am in the air and on the road, the team at Totally Totes has so graciously agreed to keep a record of the names for our free drawing. If you do not get a thank you from me acknowledging your entry, please "like" Totally Totes at www.facebook.com/totallytotesmissouri and confirm your name is entered.

Instead of flying from Hawaii to Minnesota, our Full Return series will include flying from Hawaii to my hometown in Oklahoma, spending enough time with family and friends to get my accent back, then driving to Minnesota to walk out Full Return to completion.

It has been spoken over us, we receive and we believe God will be showing us many great and mighty things during this trip, of which we will be sharing with you.

One of the most beautiful things we've witnessed thus far is the outpouring of love encouragement, support, and most importantly, prayers from you, our family, and our friends. At times like this, encouragement, support, and prayers are no small thing. Please know we truly appreciate every one of you. When one of you tell us you are praying for us, we stand confident in knowing we are covered in prayer. When one of you tell us to contact you if we need anything, we know it isn't just something nice to say but a promise that we stand on. There is nothing better than true friends who step up in a time of need without us having to ask.

We laid down in peace last night as we slept and we are walking in His perfect peace that passes all understanding. The only way that is made possible is by and through your prayers and God's unfailing mercy, grace, and love. Thank you for all your calls, emails, texts, prayers, and your outpouring of love.

E Como Mai as we take this journey together expectedly awaiting His great and mighty things!




Also please note, we are aware most of our readers already have, "Breaking the Cycle of Offense" by Dr. Larry Ollison, in their library. If you win the drawing and already have this book, you may choose any book by Dr. Larry Ollison for the same price. You may check out all Dr. Ollison's books at www.faithman.org.

Just a reminder, Totally Totes has teamed up with Key Tov Blog during our anniversary celebration and the winner will also receive one of their great totes. You may check out their selection at www.facebook.com/totallytotesmissouri