It's the time of the season again where we bump into heart shaped chocolate boxes, teddy bears, flowers, balloons and various advertisement for a day which is celebrated in the secular one day of the year when in reality it should be celebrated each and every day.
Don't trip if you don't have a Valentine this day, don't go around with your head hung low, your heart heavy and feeling unworthy because you see a couple loving on one another and you wish you had that. Remember not to covet other things people have because "Love never fails" and "Man will fail you." You have the greatest love of all--let HIM consume you with his unfailing love and be filled by HIS joy in HIS presence.
I personally am going through a transition and this day was something that I was not looking forward to, but I had to remember that GOD has placed a love inside of me that fulfills me with all the desires that are in my heart and I'm pleased by it. I am human and would love to share the love I have inside me, but I first have to be content with the love GOD has given and shown me through this time. I know when I get through this GOD will bless me with a love that is for me and deserving of all HE has for me.
So leave this pity party and start loving yourself the way you would want others to love you. We always want someone to love us the way we feel we deserve to be loved, but that's a formula for disaster. Go buy yourself that bracelet, those chocolates, flowers, and have a candle lit dinner and at the end of the night sit at the feet of JESUS and let HIM pour HIS love on you the result can only benefit you.
We may think that a break-up makes us feel less than or that we may never find "The One" there are things we can do to get through to get through this process--there's that word again PROCESS...
Break ALL ties with your ex (unless you have children read *note):
Emotional vulnerability and loneliness will lead to poor decisions--you may end up back in that relationship forgetting what led you leave in the first place, so let's start with pictures, teddy bears, letters old text messages and deleting his number out of your phone...you are probably say, but I know his number by heart--that may be true, but guess what...that means you have to consciously dial the number, but in that moment you will have to address the thoughts of "What am I doing?" and, if those thoughts don't come to pass in your mind you need to actually seek profession help because you have
now entered the emotional roller coaster zone. But if you have come to a place where you can end that call then you are on your way to healing now no one said that this PROCESS was going to be easy. It will be a grieving process and you will feel like wearing black, but you have to start somewhere because holding on to those things will not get you any closer than you are today. Morn over it, talk yourself through it, but remember how you got there in the first place and then proceed to move on to the next level GOD has planned for you. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33
Sleeping with your ex is not an option at this point because sex complicates things, whether or not you are deciding to reconcile try to abstain from sex as this PROCESS gives you a clear view of that individual without the illusions of the wedding gown, the house, white picket fence, two cars, the children, and the dog...CANCEL THAT!!! Focus and glorify your Father in heaven and ask HIM for strength as HIS Word states "Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul." ~ 1 Peter 2:11 You are probably asking yourself "I'm not a foreigner or in exile this is the United States or we aren't in the times of the Old Testament--and you are absolutely right, but as a believer you are a foreigner because we are not of this world (John 17:16) GOD loves it when we are obedient to HIS Word and stand on it firmly without doubt and with both feet planted, so extend your hand and accept the hand of JESUS who is constantly interceding on your behalf to our Father I guarntee you that you will see GOD manifest himself in your life and things will turn around in your heart, mind and spirit.....I cannot wait to read your testimony. Be Blessed Woman of the Redeemer!!
Remember that YOU ARE REDEEMED!!! JESUS paid the price..."In Your unfailing love You will lead the people you have REDEEMED. In Your strength You will guide them to Your Holy dwelling." ~ Exodus 15:13
Next step is to renew our minds so that we can get back to LIVING!!!
The Garden BeBe and CeCe Winans
*When you have children the key is to Co-Parent. Co-Parenting means working together for the good of your child(ren). If you get to a place where you can be friends through this level of parenting then that's the more better, but as I stated in the beginning "Break ALL ties with your ex" shut down any advances or broken promises of reconciliation and if you get to the point of mending make sure they are on your terms...get spiritual counseling and don't give in fight what GOD truly promises for your life--things can only turn around with GOD in the center of it all.
When I hear obedience my heart cringes and screams. Insecurities,
weaknesses and hints of past failures that have been embedded within
me since before I can remember... Lies from the enemy creep and prowl and
lurk behind veiled eyes amongst all humanity... and in me they cry
out "I can't do it!" Can't you send someone else?" "I
am not good enough Lord!!!!"
And that is when MERCY says NO! I will not leave you!
John 14:1
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God a; trust also in me.2In my Father’s house
are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to
prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may
be where I am. 4You
know the way to the place where I am going.”... 15“If you love me, you
will obey what I command. 16And I will ask the Father,
and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17the
Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor
knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will bec
in you. 18I will not leave you as
orphans; I will come to you.
My heavenly father has called me by name and in His eyes I am
beautiful and worthy because He is beautiful and worthy and His sacrifice for a
sinful people... Oh my goodness. I would say there are no words except that He
has given us His living WORD:)
Lamentations 3:22
"Because of the LORD's great love we are
not consumed, for his compassion never fail." Because of His great love
the Lord chose YOU as His people and with that He will also give you the
strength and the power to do the things that He calls you to do:
Philippians
2:13
"...for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good
purpose."
He calls us not to be righteousness on our own. He is our
righteousness and and all we need to do is surrender... Ephesians 5:2Live a
life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered
himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
He promises He will not reject a broken and repentant heart. He
will not leave us. He will come and dwell with us. He will never
forsake us. As for the process of sanctification He says.1
Thessalonians 5:24The one who calls you is faithful and He will do
it.
He can do it! Let Him take your brokenness and turn it into
something beautiful... The Holy Spirit within me whispers gently Let go! Stop
fighting and wresting and trying to be perfect. In me you are already perfect
and I have made you uniquely and wonderfully and intimately. You are my piece
of art and I have created you with a very special purpose.
You may wonder, how does one "let go?" It's the only
opportunity when giving up and saying help me I can't do this on my own begets
a strength and a righteousness that is immeasurable and incomprehensible.
The word of God says:
2 Corinthians 4:1-6.-7
But we have
this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from
God and not from us. 8We are hard
pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
If you haven't already, accepted Christ into your heart here is an
invitation. Ask a brother or sister to pray with you... Get in the word, get
around other believers, pray, worship. You don't have to do it all at once
but step by step. Reading this blog is a great first step:) and shows that
Christ is calling you. Hosea 11:4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with
ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.
Find someone to pray with and a Christian mentor. God wants to do something so
amazing in and through you which you would never believe. Habakkuk 1:5
"Only You." ~ David Crowder Band
Additional Verses
Romans 1:
1 Paul, a
servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel
of God— 2 the
gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding
his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4 and
who through the Spirit a
of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of Godb
by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him and for
his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among
all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. 6 And you also are among
those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.7 To all in
Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus
Christ.
You are set apart! You are precious to God. He calls you the
apple of his eye:
***If you are already a
believer I encourage that you get around other believers, get involved in a
small group and/or get an accountability partner someone who you know is
biblically sound who you will allow to speak truth into your life.
Hebrews 10:
23Let us
hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to
keep his promise. 24Let us think of
ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 25And
let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one
another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.
2 Kings 23:3 ~The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord—to follow the Lord
and keep his commands, statutes and decrees with all his heart and all
his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this
book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.
King Josiah was known as one of the great kings and when it was brought to his attention that GOD's Laws were not being followed he immediately ordered that all pagan practices be torn down and destroyed--he himself stripped himself of things that were not of GOD. Let me ask you: Whydo you think this king took such precautions in pleasing GOD?--For one he knew that GOD would destroy the city. If he a king could get rid of and strip himself of things that are not according to GOD's Law why can't we give up things that won't draw us nearer to GOD--I don' know, if you agree, but being closer to GOD is one of the goals I strive for daily--I may not be successful always, but HE grants me another day and I get an opportunity to start again, but King Josiah did not delay--he make sure that all of the people he ruled over would obey the Law GOD had put in place.
So King Josiah after renewing the covenant to GOD he can be able to turn to GOD and seek HIM with All his heart and All his soul only to make it right with GOD. That's what we want to do...Make it right for GOD so that HE could make it right within us and work with us because that's ultimately the covenant GOD has with us...to help us continually be refreshed by HIS promises through the covenant and HIS Laws.
Now, I'm not asking you to go out and throw all your possession and destroy your property, but as we previously read how to get into the presence of GOD:
Goals to be in the Presence of GOD
•Start
the morning with praises and thanks to HIM who has given us anothermorning.
•Reading
our Bibles prayerfully asking GOD to guide us in HIS will.
•Seeking
HIM daily– throughout the day.
•Praying,
Praying, Praying constantly.
We read inJeremiah 31:33-34 GOD promises “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israelafter that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their mindsand write it on their hearts. I will be their God,and they will be my people.No longer will they teach their neighbor,or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me,from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickednessand will remember their sins no more.”
In order to receive what GOD has promised us we need to get rid Ex-boyfriends, sometimes friends and things that deter you from being in the presence or honor of GOD which HE is worthy of. Pray and ask GOD what would HE want you to get rid of in your life that's between you and GOD. Start with the smallest thing on the list GOD has given you and prayerfully take it one day at a time. GOD knows that we are human and we fall short of what we think HE expects from us, but we serve a patient GOD, an all knowing GOD who knows your every thought and intention, so relax it's going to be alright--we just need to tweek the things that draw us away from him...internet, Facebook, texting, television and people--yes people can be a problem especially when you are trying to have time with the LORD. Seeking support among Woman of GOD that will encourage you helps a great deal. I rely on a few woman to pray, encourage, and just talk because we all need to just talk.
We don't have to be a Deconess, Elder, or First Lady the Word says that "...No longer will they teach their neighbor,or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me,from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord." We just have t0 desire to seek HIM wholeheartedly and there HE will be...OUR GOD is a gentlemen--he opens doors for you when no MAN will...Invite GOD into your space and see where it takes you mind and body.
Once we get our Mind right--then we work on our Body (figuratively speaking) next it's time to move on to the Spirit.
PRAYER
My prayer for you is that you look within yourself and ask yourself what things can I get rid of or sacrifice to make sure that I'm living a life of integrity--ask GOD for HIS strength, wisdom, and Holy Spirit to guide you through the steps to ensure a better covenant with HIM. We know that there are somethings that can deter us from you, but we are taking steps to get back to your covenant that you have honored time and time again--you have not failed us nor forsaken us we stand in agreement...In JESUS' precious name....AMEN!
Deuteronomy4:29-30~ But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you
will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul.When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you,
then in later days you will return to the Lord your God
and obey him.
Renewal:
The
act of renewing or the state of having been renewed.
We
know that when the New Year begins we want to start fresh and getting back to
the presence of GOD is always a good way to start the New Year, and if you
don’t know what it is to be in HIS presence and it’s your first time then the
New Year is a great time to start because we often set goals for weight loss,
relationships, and our way of life, but what does it mean to set goals to be in
the presence of the Almighty? It means giving of your time and resetting the covenant between you and GOD.
How Do We Begin Fresh When…….
•I’m depressed over my weight, life issues, or financial situation…
•Distressed over bills, significant other, children, work…
•I’m in addiction to food, others, drugs, or alcohol…
•I’m being abused: Physically, Mentally, Verbally, and Emotionally
How do we begin fresh or renew?
As the scripture clearly states"But if fromthere you seek the Lord your God,you
will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul." In your depression, your distress, your addiction, your abuse...in any situation or state you are in is where GOD will take your ashes and turn them into beauty.
You are asking What is a Covenant?
and
How can I have one with GOD?
The definition of Covenant is: anagreement,usuallyformal,betweentwoormorepersonstodoornotdosomethingspecified. Biblical Covenant means: theconditionalpromisesmadetohumanitybyGOD,asrevealedinScripture; inwhichGODpromisedtoprotectthemiftheykeptHislawandwerefaithfultoHim. So we understand that we make an agreement with GOD and HE honors it, but we must do our part--and lots of thoughts flood our minds to make us think that we are not worthy to be in the presence of the Lord and HIS covenant which HE has promised since the beginning of time.
Old
Testament Covenant
•Moses was born
•GOD revealed himself to Moses and let him know the plans HE had for HIS
people
•GOD gave Moses the ten commandments
•GOD lead Moses and the people of Israel out of Egypt and they were set
free.
New
Testament Covenant
•JESUS
was born
•JESUS
knew HIS Father’s plan for HIS people
•JESUS
let the disciples know what HIS Father’s commandments were for all.
•JESUS
died on the cross and set us free also giving us ACCESS to the Father
How grand it is that GOD continues to want a relationship with us, but we continue to walk away when things are going well in our lives and we don't need GOD, but when we are on our knees asking HIM where has HE been--the question is where have you been? GOD is always waiting for us to come back and obey the simple Commandments he has given us--there's only 10 (The religious Pharisees tacked on 1500), but GOD only gave us 10 and when JESUS came to be with us HE gave us the most important one of all....
LOVE
Now how do we come into this Covenant and begin to experience the presence of GOD--I personally have my own way of going into HIS presence you can find your own way, but this is an idea of what GOD expects. HE doesn't needrituals to receive you into HIS presence just allow HIM to do the work that's needed and you will see results
Goals to be in the Presence of GOD
•Start
the morning with praises and thanks to HIM who has given us anothermorning.
•Reading
our Bibles prayerfully asking GOD to guide us in HIS will.
•Seeking
HIM daily– throughout the day.
•Praying,
Praying, Praying constantly.
PRAYER
When you seek GOD with your
whole heart and been through HIS Word, prayer, and worship you give HIM all the
praise and all the glory—GOD is pleased.
My prayer for you is that you trust God to hear every precious
word you utter, allowing His peace to envelop you.Each prayer comes to life when we speak
with assurance, free from worry, having peace that surpasses all human
comprehension...In JESUS' precious name...AMEN!!
GOD Bless You and I Pray that you were blessed...Leave a comment, subscribe, but above all let GOD lead your heart.
