Author: daughtersofz

Good Morning,

    "Blessed is the man who trusts and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spread out its roots by the river; and is shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green.  It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7,8)  Psalm 1:3 says something similar about the person who puts their trust in the Lord: "And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall proper [and come to maturity]."

    These two verses talks about trees that never loses its leaves and whose leaves stay green, through all kinds of climates and outside conditions.  In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant having leaves all year round.  The contrast is deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage for part of the seasons.  Its not that evergreens never change, but it is not nearly as noticeable as deciduous trees.  Leaf persistence in evergreen plants may vary from a few months (with new leaves constantly being grown and old ones shed), to several decades.  They are going through transition, yet to the naked eye it is not as dramatic, as the deciduous trees, which provides us with a delightful range of colors, before they become bare.

    What is the advantage of being a tree that never loses its leaves?  Deciduous trees change their leaves, because they are trying to adapt to cold or the dry season.  Evergreens can take the warmer climate without withering, and they can adapt to colder temperatures and dry season as well.  Deciduous trees lose nutrients whenever they lose their leaves, and they must replenish these nutrients from the soil to build new leaves.  When few nutrients are available, evergreen plants have an advantage.  In warmer climates, certain species of evergreens grow in poor soil and disturbed ground.  Other types of evergreen can grow in forest, or in highly acidic soil.  In areas where it is to cold for the organic matter in the soil to decay rapidly, the nutrients in the soil are less easily available to other plants, this condition is still favorable to the evergreen.  In all kinds of climate condition, evergreens can reinforce their own survival.  In addition, the shelter provided by existing evergreens can make it easier for other evergreen plants to survive cold, heat or drought. 

    Now, we can be like this tree, by perpetually renewing ourselves through the Word of God, and by the Spirit of God.  The Word is referred to as our water and the nutrient for our spirit, soul and our body.  (John 4:14, 7:38, Ephesians 5:26)  God's Word is our water, it is the river that we should be planted next to.  This is where we can draw our nutrients to replenish us with continued strength, so that we never wither.  It would not matter the climate or the heat of living conditions, we would not lose our green (we would stay the same as we transition).  Our changes would not get negative attention [from onlookers], for we are in a constant state of change, getting stronger and more vibrant all the time.  When it becomes dry outside, it would not effect us, for we have chosen to trust the Lord.  We will still keep yielding fruit, maturing, and prospering in all we do, as we transition.  God says, "I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.  I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle and the wild olive; I will set the cypress in the desert, the pine and the box tree together, that men may see and know and consider and understand together that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it." (Isaiah 41:18-20)  This brings me to the last point I want to express and that is that all evergreens need the shade of other evergreens in order to grow strong.  We need more mature evergreens to shade us with their wisdom and insight from their years of staying planted by the rivers of living waters.  Those evergreens that have remained constant and steady, that haven't fallen off like leaves on deciduous trees.  "Walk with the wise and become wise.." (Proverbs 13:20)  We must choose to be an evergreen tree, by choosing to trust God and His Word.  Listen to the other option; "Thus says the Lord:  Cursed be the man [intense loathing with great evil] who trust in and relies on frail man, making weak human flesh his arm, and whose mind and heart turn aside from the Lord.  For he shall be like a shrub or a person naked and destitute in the desert; and he shall not see any good come, but shall dwell in the parched places in the wilderness in an uninhabited salt land." (Jeremiah 17: 5.6)  Well, that doesn't sound like a good choice at all!  Let's be evergreens and not shrubs.  Stay planted!!!

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

This is what the Spirit of the Lord says;

    There is a "sonic boom", that is about to be heard and felt.  A supernatural sound that will shake the world, but the greatest effect will be heard and felt in My house.  I am going to shake My "fruit" trees to get all that is ripe and ready to be enjoyed by Me and others.  Those who have been pruned by Me time and time again.  I have covered them and blanketed My "fruit" trees, so that the heat and drought could not keep them from producing.  These "fruit" trees have been yielding to the work of My hands, hands that are gentle and firm.  I am firm in that I have kept them from withering from the heat of living and My gentleness hasmade them great.  In the days ahead they will provide the same kind of shade and covering for others that I gave to them.  The lost, and even those who have trusted in their own strength, who dwell in My house, will begin crying for covering from the heat of their lives.  You, My yielded "fruit" trees that have been growing almost unnoticed by those around you.  You have gathered strength, stability, wisdom and insight from staying close to Me.  Now, when it is least expected you will stretch out your branches to all those who are being burnt by their own ways.  To them it will look like you grew suddenly, yet all along you have yielded to Me and My ways, growing stronger, little by little.  I have been preparing you for this season.  It is your time to shine!  So arise and let all see what I have done in you.  Let them come and taste of you and see that the Lord is good.  This "sonic boom" will blast through the darkness, causing great light to shine bringing fresh understanding for you.  It will blast away the gloom and break your atmosphere into the songs of the angels that surround you.  The difficulties that you have experienced will be made into stairways of light and glory.  You will get the revealing words and information that I have been speaking to you all this time, but it was hard for you to hear.  I have enlarged you, so stretch out!  Rapidly, as the sonic boom makes quick changes, so it will be for you My faithful " fruit" trees.  You have come forth for your prepared time! (Scripture References Jeremiah 17:7,8, Isaiah 61:3).

    Years ago, William Brannon, a man of God that was used mightily in the gifts of the Spirit.  Spoke of a time that was coming when the people of God that were truly walking in His word would see or imagine something in the Spirit and it would happen almost instantly.  Well, I believe that is just what the Spirit said to us, rapid results.

    We are in that season.  Where sin abounds, grace abounds more and more!  (Romans 5:20).  Grace, God's ability covering our inability.  We are now super abounding, by faith.  See it, believe it and receive it.  It is our time to be favored.  Psalms 102:13, "You will arise and have mercy and loving-kindness for Zion (the believers as well), for it is time to favor her, yes, the set time (the designated moment by God) has come."  Rapid changes for you!

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

Good Morning, 
  
Transitioning takes acclimating to the climate or the temperature of the Spirit of God.  A great example is our temperature in Virginia this week alone.  One day our temperature was 40 degrees and two days later it was 65 degrees, that takes quick transitioning.  You can imagine what was going on in my house, I was switching the heat on one day and the air the next.  It revealed to me that sometimes as we go through transition,we may not be as quick to adapt to our changes.  Also, we may not have the time we feel is needed to acclimate to the changes.  This is why it is of the utmost importance, to learn to truly trust God, leaning our whole person over on Him.  He knows how to get us there at the right time and the right way!  This is also why God has been calling us to draw closer to Him, He knows the way.  He has already ordered the steps to get us to our divine position.  The more we trust by leaning on God, the easier it becomes to be led by Him.  Most of us go kicking, screaming, whining and complaining.  We are like children in the back seat of the car, on the way to the amusement park, constantly crying, "Are we there yet?"  Or, like when you are out grocery shopping, and you know the line we hear, "Are we through yet?"  Every thing that you are doing, usually is to make your children's life better or more enjoyable, right?  It makes you want to leave the grocery store and let them go hungry. Yes and turn the car around and go home and let them miss out on their fun-filled day.  Yet, most of the time we were not moved by our children's attitudes. Why?  Mainly, it was because we knew the steps it would take to get them food to eat, and we knew how long it would take to get to our destination.  We taught them to be patient and trusting. We, the parents would take care of them. They, the children did not understand everything that was involved in meeting their needs or giving them their desires.  Now we are in the back seat again! Daddy knows what is right for us. Psalm 37: 23,24 speaks clearly of this kind of trust, listen; "The steps of a good man are ordered {directed and established} by the Lord: He delights in every detail of their lives.  Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him." Even if we miss the steps, if our heart is pure and we really want to please 'Daddy', He will hold us up. "You {God} have given plenty of room for my steps under me, that my feet would not slip." ( Psalms 18:36)
  I am trusting God to lead me to the place of rest as I transition.  Aren't you?  He really is our only real hope.  He will not let you down.  He says, "Even though you may be walking through the darkest, sunless valley of the shadow of death, do not fear.  I, even I, am there to lead and guide you.  I will not leave you.  Lean on Me and I will hold you in my hands.  You will come out into the sunshine that I have prepared you for.  I will bring you to your safe haven.  You will overcome this too, and grow stronger and be more determined than ever to trust Me.  You will come to understand and know that I really know, what the best way is for you.  I know that at times you don't believe I have your best interest in My heart.  You think I have closed My ears to your cries, because it is not the way you would choose.  You are the apple of my eye, trust Me!  I can see farther than you, I know everything concerning you.  Your future is far greater than you can imagine.  If you let Me I can make your life so sweet, you will pinch yourself to make sure that it is you living it.  Will you really trust Me?  Everyday I'm bringing you closer to the end of this place that you are in.  I hear you, I care for you.  You are not by yourself.  I am turning things around and straightening out the crooked places in you as well as in your living.  I can be trusted with every detail of your life.  I am your Father, and I am dependable.  Most of all, my beloved, I love you more, so much more than you love yourself. Stop running around to everyone and everything else, come up and rest in My arms.  Take a deep breath and rest in Me.  Fix your gaze on Me.  I truly am trustworthy.  Come on, run to Me, I will be your resting place." 
  Well, I must go and dry my eyes now.  That was personal, I hope He is speaking to you also. Change, transition, and shifting will come, but we must really learn to trust God.  I know, I will meditate on this spoken word.  I will learn to wait and see what the Lord is saying to me.  Give to me 'ears to hear', Lord.
  
   
  
                                                      Love,
                                                       Pastor D.

Good Morning, 
  
    Isaiah 61:4 deals with restoration in our lives after we are in our divine placement, or positioning. This happens as we draw closer to God and as we yield to the Holy Spirit on a consistent basis.  This year is a set time for this to happen, so we must be sensitive to hearing the voice of the Lord and He will lead us by those still and peaceful waters of change.  Change means the action of making something different; and the fact of becoming different; a departure from the norm; consists in realizing a potential that is not real yet; a deviation from established character, sequence, or condition; alteration, modification, variation or mutation; passing from one state to another marked by radically different makeup, whether by sudden or gradual development; a transformation. Well, this is where we are in the divine placement of the Spirit. 
    Do you remember your first encounter with the Lord?  I do!  I was in a state of deep depression, because I could not see any purpose for my life.  I was married and had two children and was two months pregnant with the third.  We were having a hard time financially, making it with the two children and therefore I concluded we did not need another.  Now, when I look back at my hard, callous heart I can't even believe it was me.  Well, we got the money together to go and have an abortion.  It set off a chain reaction in my life of devastation.  I begin to spiral out of control with memories that I'd tried all this time to just deal with.  I was molested by several male relatives during my childhood, a cousin, an uncle and my stepfather.  This was not a secret to anyone I knew, for I told everyone, trying to get somebody to help me.  It started from about the time I was nine years of age.  My parents dealt with my cousin, but the other situations started later.  My parents divorced and then it began again with my uncle and later after my mother remarried , my stepfather and his brother.  I grew up thinking that I had done something to cause these things, like most victims of abuse.  It traumatized me as a young married woman.  My husband was as understanding as he could be.  It is hard to understand the depth of the ugly root of these things unless you have been there yourself.  He does deserve his own medal for loving a crushed and devastated soul.  Well, after the abortion, all of these issues came flooding to the forefront of my mind.  I started praying for help. I needed to be healed for my two boys, they deserved a whole mother.  My husband deserved a woman who wasn't all broken.  I cried out,"God, if you are real, help me." I could not go on in the state I was in.  He came and delivered me.  That's a whole different story. 
    In Isaiah 61:4, it says, " And they shall rebuild the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former desolations and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations."  I have experienced the renewing of the devastation of many generations.  I stopped the familiar spirit of 'molestation and incest' from any future generations in my family.  When I received Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I soon found out about my authority in Christ and that it applied to my past, present and future.  As I grew in Him I took authority over those "devastations of many generations.'  I applied and still apply the Word over my children and my children's children.  After I was born-again, I had another child, a daughter.  I received mercy and forgiveness, for aborting a baby, God is worthy of my praise!  I hate that selfish spirit of abortion.  It is a murderer, but I am so thankful for my Redeemer and my Salvation.  He restores everything that the enemy takes from us.  He renews those things that have devastated our generations and set up a new paths for future generations, if we will yield to His positioning and placement.  Desolation and devastation are similar in meaning, it means—–a place of astonishment (in the negative sense) to lay destitute, to lay waste, to ravage, to destroy improvements, to bring havoc, and to destroy the good that was intended. Well, our God has turned what the enemy meant for harm, to shame, to destroy, to devastate, and to ruin us, into our good.  He delights in taking the very things that the enemy tries to give us as, 'crooked things'; our loving Lord uses, by straightening those places out, makes us whole and then gives us His voice on it. 
     Whatever state you are in now, God is still the same Redeemer, Deliverer, Salvation, Restorer and Healer.  He is still the same, He will restore, deliver, redeem, save and heal you.  He will not let you down.  Let Him position you for the great plan of good that He has for you.  The story of your life does not end where you are today, it could be a new beginning to a  great 'love story', that does end with the famous words "and they lived happily ever after." 

Love,

Pastor D.
                                                                                           

Good Morning, 
  Isaiah 61: 4-7, were the scriptures that quickened my heart this morning.  As we look at it together, let's keep in mind our shifting is for divine placement.  Proper alignment is necessary for us to fulfill God's purpose and plan.  Isaiah says this, " And they (you) will rebuil the ancient ruins, the old waste places in your lives, and you will raise up the former desolations, and renew the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations" {verse 4}  "Instead of your former shame, you shall have double (two-fold) recompense; instead of confusion (dishonor & reproach), you and your people shall rejoice in your portion: therefore in your land you shall possess the double (what you had forfeited); everlasting joy shall be yours." {verse 7}  Wow! This word is all about shifting and transitions taking place in our lives, for proper alignment and positioning. Earlier in this chapter Isaiah talks about exchanging, 'beauty for ashes', ' the oil of joy for mourning', and 'the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness'. I would like to highlight for us today that we will be able to rebuild the ancient ruins. The old places that we can build again, those places that have been torn down. Ancient denotes old; having had an existence of many years; various things that have had continuous existence of which for such a period that gives rise to a presumption of legal validity. Ancient ruins can be things (old familiar situations, circumstances,places etc.) that think that it has a legal right to still be in our lives.  It keeps cropping up in our new life.  We have to declare to these 'various things' that they have no more legal right to be in our lives because we have shifted.  Ruins or wastes denotes places of decay, desolation,those things that have collapsed, places that have been damaged or destroyed, wrecked or irreparable.We all have things or places in our lives that we came to Christ with that sound just like that. Still today the ancient ruins try to hinder our divine positioning. You must take the anointing and annihilate and destroy those ancient ruins.  Begin a rebuilding project with the power of God's Word, the diligence of prayer and the consistency of worship.  Refuse to allow the old and the ancient to be attracted to you any longer, keep your self oiled with fresh anointing. Whenever you see these old ruins, pray. "Beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit; Stop the boomerang now!                             
  
                                                   Love, 
                                                   Pastor D. 

Emotions; Emotions

No one speaks their emotions.  People wear them as pieces of clothing.

You wear anger and hatred like gloves on your fist.

You wear guiltiness on your back like a jacket.

You wear your past like shoes that wear year after year.

When your are in love it is like a blindfold over your eyes.

You wear sadness like a mask on your face.  

You are a very strong person if you can take those pieces of clothing off.

Only your Lord and Savior can remove your past and bad relationships.

Lovin' it.

Poem by Breanna Berry

Good Morning,

The Lord says, all this time I've heard the cries for more of My glory and My presence.  I have seen the longing of your heart for more of My heart.  To love Me first, has become your desire.  I have brought you to My banqueting table.  I have opened doors to make you feel welcome to feast from all that has been prepared for you.  All of heaven is fully available to all that seek Me afresh and anew.  Receive!  For those who have been crushed by the weights of living in this worlds system, where you feel your hope has been dashed against the times of life, I say look up.  I have not forgotten you, your help is on the way.  Your latter days will far outshine any former days of darkness.  You have endured by fighting the great fight of faith while you cried out to Me to have a refreshing of our first encounters.  I shall do even better than that!  I will awaken you with songs of love that will revive you and quicken you with new strength.  You will hear My voice in the night season, to direct you with counsel.  I will keep you tight in the palms of my hands, I will not let you go.  I will restore your light with greater burning and your life with greater zeal.  I have listened to your heart, as you silently asked Me for deeper encounters with Me.  You have said that you really want to know Me.  Well, I will give you that request and much, much more.  I will hearken to the diligent desire of your pure heart, I will answer you.  Look for Me in the days ahead.  I will make Myself known to you, My beloved.

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

    Every transition requires adjustments.  Adjust means to adapt, to rearrange for improving performance, to conform so as to make more effective, to correct errors for better operation and to change the position.  An example would be like changing jobs, you would have to adapt to your new employer's mode of operating.  Think about the change of the season.  Right now we are transitioning into autumn from summer, we try to adapt our clothing, our temperatures inside, even some of what we eat changes.  We are trying to improve our enviromental conditions so that we can be more effective by adapting to the change of the season.  That is why our loving heavenly Father is causing transition in our lives, to improve, to rearrange, to make more effective and to correct errors for better operation, most of all to change our position.  Isaiah 45:2 and 3 says, "I will go before you and level the mountains (those high, steep and difficult places; those things that you have spoken to) and make the crooked places straight (those places that have come by dishonesty or fradulently; things that were brought through swollen-prideful means); I will break in pieces the gates of brass (the openings and closings that affect us that are impudent and resistant to changing) and cut in sunder the bars of iron (those things that restrict, barriers or boundaries that bind, confine or restrain); And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, Who call you by name.  Treasures of darkness could mean the depository where you've had misery, destruction, ignorance, sorrow and wickedness bringing times of obscurity when you had depravity of sight or trouble from imperfect vision or understanding.  He is going to put those things in your hands now and you will have greater insight.  Hidden riches in secret places witll take care of the rest of your transition.  It means a secret, valuable storehouse or buried money.  Treasures are being brought forth, things that you could not see in you will be uncovered!

    I decree and declare that dreams that have died are now being resurrected in greater and stronger details than before.  Shifting and transitioning has brought you into the right position for this raining windows and open doors.  I decree gates that were closed are now swinging wide.  Gates and doors that were open, that should have been closed are now sealed.  Your way is like a raised highway, with clear and shining light.  I decree and declare fresh anointing to flow over every area that is being adjusted.  Targeted prophetic words, words spoken from the Father's heart with your lips; power words that you will skillfully hit what you are aiming for in your life.  I decree that this season of change will advance upon the people of God in the areana of technology, inventions and in creativity.  There will be breakthroughs in wisdom and revelations into the mysteries of heaven that will greatly benefit the earth.  There is a wave, a shift that will begin to flow like a great deluge of refreshing water.  Look for it, call for it!  Decree it over your life and your family.  Families will be supernaturally restored.  Walking on this highway will give you insight to all of your relationships.  God is now saying to decree, "I hear the sound of rain, it is the rain of change."  Let's line our words with God.  He is definitely perfecting those things that concern us.

Love,

Pastor D.

Good Morning,

    I read a story yesterday about a young boy who found a cocoon, and seeing how hard the insect struggled on the inside, he cut the cocoon open, thinking he would help the bug escape.  Instead, the butterfly died.  A butterfly expert told him that it is the struggle within the cocoon that gives strength to the butterfly and enables its wings to grow and develop.  Only then can it emerge and go free.

    If God cares so much for butterflies, to give to them a covering while they transition, I know He covers us as we change.  Is. 41:10 says, "Fear not, (there is nothing to fear), for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God, I will strenghten and harden you to difficutlties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My victorious right hand of rightness and justice."

    Last week we saw that Is. 41: 18 and 19 says, "Do not remember the former things; neither consider the things of old.  Behold I am doing a new thing!  We saw that we have to forget the past in order to move on to the new.  New means something fresh, existing for a short time, recently manifested, recently recognized or experienced, different or distinguised from what has previously existed, being other than the former of the old.  Are you expecting the new?  As you struggle to exit your cocoon of transition, remember you are developing wings so that you can soar higher in Christ than you have ever did before.  You are actually growing during this transition at an astounding rate.  I like what God said in Is. 41:10…"I will strengthen you and harden you to difficulties.."

    This "hardening" us to difficulty, is also where we receive strength to come forth from our God-given cocoon.  Harden means to make tough, to strengthen or confirm in disposition, feeling or a course of action, to make bold.  You see we become tougher and stronger to outer circumstances and easily pliable to inner change.  "I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord,  thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome." (Jer. 29:11)  So, no matter what (if you stay in Him), you're outcome will always be better than your "start" into change.  We are getting ready to exit through transition, strong and prepared for the new.

Love,

Pastor D.