Daily Word – Daughters of Z

January 16, 2026 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,

I must apologize for not being present. I will explain what has been going on in our lives here at Hesed Ministries. We have gone through transitions that called upon each of us to come forth as warriors. I’d like to think that we graduated and moved to the next level, that’s what I would like to think. Whether we did or not God is the final judge on that. Either way after the smoke cleared, we’re still standing!

My husband for 52 years transitioned to glory on March 2nd. He had fought a good fight against sickness and disease since the first of January. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior surrounded by his church, we were worshiping his Father and ours as he took his last breath on this side of heaven. All of the body at Hesed, and his family and friends miss his person here on earth. We know the scripture tells us not to be ignorant concerning those who are asleep, that we sorrow not as those who have no hope. (1 Thessalonians 4:13)

We marched on as we held each other’s hands up.

While Mike, my husband was in the hospital, I had been scheduled for a heart ablation and a Watchmen procedure. I was in great health other than the AFIB.I went into surgery fully persuaded that all was well. While I was in recovery my blood pressure dropped to 40/15 and continued to decline. We continued to believe God no matter what we saw. They transferred me to ICU. I was there for two days as they ran all kinds of tests to try and locate the issue. They thought it was because my cortisol levels were low. They gave me steroids to help raise my blood pressure. I was able to go home on the third day. It was only suppose to be a day surgery. I am not relaying this information for empathy, no, not all, I just want you to understand that we have an enemy who wants to kill, steal, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life more abundantly. This happened in February while my husband was in another hospital standing for his life. He saw a glimpse of glory and departed his earthly tent, (2 Corinthians 5:1, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tabernacle, were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens”)

After these tests, trials, and tribulations more was to be had, I was at the hospital again in May. They took an MRI, and just as non- caring as they could they told me that I had a mass that looked like a tumor. That Dr. told me that I need to see my primary care doctor stat (quickly). I did. God swooped in and gave me supernatural faith, it was beyond me. I was walking in a holy capsule. It was Philippians 4:7 -“The peace of God which transcends all understanding, that guards your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus,” that kind of holy capsule.

You know that My primary care doctor got in touch with the most caring team of doctors. The Inova Schar Cancer Institute. I told her that I didn’t believe it was cancerous or a tumor. To my shock, she said I will agree with you. So in July, 4 months after my husband went to be with the Lord and 5 months after my heart procedure and serous episode there, I had another surgery to remove the mass. It was benign, it wasn’t a tumor, it was a cyst! The Dr, said it had shriveled up inside me. After this surgery my blood pressure plummeted 2 days later the day I was expected to come home. I was moved to ICU for 2 days and ministered life saving meds. God is merciful! I thank God for all of the prayer warriors, my family, and friends for all of their support. Thank God for the body, the family of God, I love those people.

The next month, in August, I received a devastating call that my sister, who was 2 years younger than me had suddenly died. They determined through an autopsy that she had a stroke. I was in shock! I talked to my sister most everyday, She lived in Dallas, Texas. I am still processing her passing.

Now, the final part of the year 2025 is as hard as my husband graduating and my sister’s sudden death. God reminded me that I was not called to be a pastor, I knew this but I was going to do my best to keep the ministry going. I worked along with my husband to be a helpmeet in ministry. I didn’t think I could take anymore changes.. I cried a little everyday from October to December. We closed Hesed Ministries December 28th. We were in ministry for 29 years. Yes, it was like a death. I and the body at Hesed are recovering. But we have God’s promises: Ecclesiastes 7:8, “Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof..”Isaiah 43:19,”Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”

We are determined to be like our example of faith. Our man of God was faithful, dedicated, and loved God and His people. We will continue the blog and see what else the Father has in store for us. So please pray for the people of Hesed Ministries and I also desire your prayers. We are victorious. 2 Corinthians 4:7-9; “We have this treasure in earthern vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus Christ, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” And remember, “for whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith!” (1 John 5:4) Our Father always has a way of turning what the enemy meant for our harm to our good. Let’s see what new thing God will do!

Love,

Pastor D.

December 19, 2025 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,

I have been meditating on Genesis 5:22, “Enoch walked in [habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters.” I know this is an allegory. Enoch is compared to the end-time “raptured” church. Just think, we need to be a people that walk in habitual fellowship. Let’s look at these words, habitual and fellowship. First, we must understand that Enoch didn’t become a recluse in order to walk in habitual fellowship. He did not stop having relationship with others [for he had more sons and daughters, that takes relationship]. He ended up spending the majority of his time with the One whose company he enjoyed the most. Habitual means acquired by custom or frequent repetition of the same act; formed by repeated impressions; rendered permanent by continued action or use; made familiar by frequent practice.

Before I was a Christian, I use to smoke cigarettes, take drugs and curse like it was an official language. I practiced these things just by frequent use and continued acts. After the initial start of them, I just did them everyday. It wasn’t anything that I had to give too much thought to after a while. It became as natural as breathing. You know you don’t have to go around saying to yourself, don’t forget to breathe (unless, you have a illness). Well, by repeating the same action over and over again, day in and day out, it becomes a habitual practice. Cursing spilled out as if I had stayed up all night trying to put those vulgar words together, but I hadn’t. I perfected it by frequent use.

Keeping that in mind, think about our relationship with God the same way. In the beginning when you first became a Christian, you had to start reading your Bible and initiate prayer and worship to God. You were starting a fresh new habit. After a while of being in frequent practice and continued use, it should be natural for you to pray, read your Bible and worship God. Practicing the presence of God, walking and talking with Him all day long, living a life of prayer and worship should become a habit. God is soooo good and His company is sweet. It’s so simple that we often try to make it difficult with all of our man-made rules. In the end they frustrate the purpose of God and we end up with religion and not relationship. Do you time your conversation with a close friend? Do you talk only once a day to your child, your mate, your buddy? It becomes a duty instead of developing a Godly habit. No, I talk to my daughter about three or four times a day, I do the same with my husband and my closest friend. I have never timed our conversations. And if it wasn’t for my cell phone that does time my phone calls, I would never know how long I’ve been on the phone. Why? Usually, I enjoy our talks! When was the last time you just enjoyed talking to God? So, the first thing we have to do is stop putting God on a time-clock. Second thing, just lean back and let ‘er rip, enjoy God. He is the One who started relationships after all. I imagine He knows how to form a good habit with you also. He’s quite entertaining, gifted, knowledgeable, unique and incredible in His ability to make you feel comfortable around Him. I really like Him, as well as love Him.

I believe that is what Enoch discovered. That God was so awe-inspiring, so positive and just plain likable. Enoch couldn’t get enough of God. That brings us to the next word, fellowship. Fellowship means companionship, familiar company, a state of being together, intimate familiarity, frequency of intercourse – [connection; communication or exchange; a passing between]. This fellowship is developed by frequent use or continual acts of simply talking to God. God is so awesome, just think, He can converse in any language, so He is accessible to everyone. He made us, so He knows all about why we are the way we are and He knows how to straighten out the crooked places in us. Yet He wants us to get to know Him and hang around Him. He knows the issues of all of mankind, the roots of them, and how to get rid of the roots. Who else knows all that about you, and still wants to be intimate with you? If most people knew everything about you (even your thoughts), you would be by yourself.

Yes, we must become a generation of Enoch’s. The only way is to let the love of God teach you the way to “walk in habitual fellowship” with God. He is coming for those who are so in love with Him that they can’t get enough of Him. Right where you are, forgive yourself for trying to do it man’s way, now let Holy Spirit show you the way. You will delight to walk all day in the presence of God, that’s habitual fellowship. It will be said of all of us, “and they were not, for God took them home with Him.”

Love,

Pastor D.

September 26, 2025 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good Morning,

“The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle…” (Ecc. 9:11). “Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win…” (1 Corin. 9:24). Therefore since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” (Hebrews 12:1,2)

We all can sense the heaviness of despair and discouragement that has tried to seep into the hearts of believers. I am reminded of David who cried out, “Why am I so discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again – my Savior and my God.” (Psalm 42:5).

During difficult times, David chose to hope and praise God afresh and again. Listen to Jesus as He tells us the climate during the times of the end. “Sin will be rampant everywhere and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endure to the end shall be saved.” (Matt. 24:12,13).

We must not let our hope be put off to some future day, we must place hope, fresh, new hope everyday in God and in His Word. He gives us fresh new mercies every morning, so we ought to offer God the same. Mercies for hope!! Jesus said those who endure—-{to undergo patiently, tarry, have fortitude, never give up, to stay and abide} to the end shall be saved. This world depicts the attitude of a person who is under a heavy load but refuses to surrender to defeat, because he knows he is in his place. “Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. Soldiers don’t get tied up in the affairs of civilian life, for then they cannot please the officer who enlisted them.” (2 Timothy 2:3,4)

We must try and keep our focus on the eternal plan of our kingdom and not get so weighted down by these present sufferings of this temporal world or our temporary situations. The glory that is to come and the glory that is soon to be seen in the children of God will far outweigh any present sufferings, for it is temporary. Remember the enemy is trying to get your love for God to grow cold, through outward pressures of living. We are wiser than that!

The Spirit says: You are in your place, the place of transition and transformation. I have brought you here. Stand firm!! The place where I will come along and speak to you the sweet words of encouragement that you long to hear, stand still. Listen carefully, My words will change every fiber of faith that reside on the inside of you. Doubt, unbelief and discouragement will flee from you. Don’t you know that our enemy is afraid of you, who you are in Me. This is the reason he tries to stop you in the middle of your transition. He knows that I am doing a supernatural change in you. You will arise from the place of depression, for this is not your place, it is too tight for My child. You will be raised up with a renewed vision. A giant “believing believer” shall arise from this cocoon. You are in a state of metamorphosis, the real you is about to be revealed!!! You will come out looking just like Me. You will be brought to the place of, “open fields”, where I will enlarge and strengthen you. You are a strong victorious champion in Me. I see the end from the beginning and I know that your end is good. I see you standing and waving your victory banner. Lift up your hands to me and I will lift you up. As long as you keep your eyes on Me, I will bring you to the finish. Do not put your trust in that arm of flesh, lean totally on Me. As you lean on Me, you will receive with clarity of vision and hearing the steps that you must take. Your eyesight and your hearing have transcended to a higher level, because you have been purified of the blockages. You are advancing! You are advancing!

Love,

Pastor D.

September 19, 2025 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning,

Isaiah 43:2-3; “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty,you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” ..verse 4 says, “Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours, because you are precious to Me.” We are unstoppable, as long as we stay connected to our Lord. There is no circumstance, no test, trials or tribulations that would ever bring us down, if we would only learn to hide under the shadows of God’s mighty wings. God is our deliverer, our restorer and our protection. Our great UPS – our upholder, our preserver, our sustainer. Our rescuer! “Bring all who claim Me as their God, for I have made them for My glory.” (Isaiah 43:7) Just think about everything that you have endured, this year alone. God loves to take our worst days and use them for a turn around for the best days that are ahead. Your life brings God glory. That is a selah, pause, reflect and calmly think on that. You, yes, you bring the God of the universe and beyond, glory. Glory meaning, rare splendor and honor, and copiousness which is abundance; full supply and ample. Just think on that for a moment! You, the one who never feels quite adequate, you bring God an abundance, a full supply. You give Him a rare splendor and honor, by your life being lived for Him. When you go through you are being purified and raised to a new level in your faith.

Look at how God sees it. Isaiah 43:11-13; I, yes I Am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are My witnesses that I Am the only God. No one can snatch anyone out of My hand. No one can undo what I have done.” It is plain and simple, we can’t lose if we stay in His hand. Now you are the only one that can remove yourself from the hand of God. No one else has that power, only you. So choose to stay in His firm and loving grip and you will pass through to the other side, stronger and a more formidable adversary to our enemy. The storms are passing over and when they do, more and better fruit will spring up. For those who are planted by the rivers bear fruit in all seasons and their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do. Psalms 1:3; “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 prosper [and come to maturity].”

Love,

Pastor D.

September 12, 2025 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Good morning.

We are living in the most exciting time in God’s timetable! As we read the Word of God it is almost like having a panoramic view of our daily “news at eleven.” The Word of God is daily unfolding before our very eyes. As we see what is happening in Israel and also what is going on in our very own neck of the world, it should be fueling your fire for more of God. Romans 8:19-25 says, “For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who His children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse (because of the fall of mankind). But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as His adopted children, including the new bodies He has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved [if we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.] But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we “must wait patiently and confidently.“

We are in the season of God’s timetable, where all that can be shaken is being shaken. All false foundations and securities are being shaken and removed. Anything we thought that was our security is being revealed as sinking sand. Our trust must be developed in the One true security. Remember we saw in Hebrews 12:26 & 27, “His voice shook the earth at (Mt. Sinai) then, but now He has given a promise, saying, Once again I will shake not only the earth but the heavens also. This means that all creation will be shaken and removed, so that only unshakable things remain.” God and His Kingdom are the only things that are secure. While the economy, jobs, people, nations, and earthly kingdoms are shaking, we must look up to our Kingdom, whose Builder and Maker is God. As ambassadors from God’s Kingdom, when the land that we occupy as ambassadors proves to be intolerable, the ambassadors are brought back to their homeland. Our King is about to call all of his ambassadors home! So, keep your mind on your ‘eternal home’, we are only here temporarily, representing our ‘heavenly country’. I’ve heard it said, “that sometimes we are so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.” I have come to see the opposite is true, ‘that we can become to earthly minded to be any heavenly good’. After all our ‘home’ is in heaven and we receive our insight to live and to occupy this land from the headquarters in heaven. “…Aim at and seek the rich eternal treasures that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.” (Col.3: 1-2) So, let the earth shake and groan into ‘global warming’, it is going through death and decay because of sin. Creation, your wait is almost over, the sons of God are being manifested now. We are growing up into mature sons of God. “Besides this you know what a critical hour it is, how it is high time now for us to wake up out of our sleep. For salvation [final deliverance] is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11)

Love,

Pastor D.

April 4, 2025 – Ears to Hear, Hearts to Obey

Good morning,

Today I awoke with Psalm 46:10 on my heart and mind. “It reads, Be still and know that I am God.” My attention was drawn to the “be still” part. It means to abate, to cease, to leave or let alone. He is saying to let everything else alone, cease from all that occupies and keeps us so busy, and takes all of our time and attention, and give it to knowing Him. Know means to recognize by becoming acquainted with, comprehending, discovering and understanding; to become a familiar friend. This can be accomplished by being still. Yada is the word for “know” in Hebrew. It literally means to transfer your attention, energy and time knowing God, instead of all that is going on around you.

It sounds simple, to be still, but really for most of us it is a challenge. We live in a fast paced world. For most of us from the time we wake up in the morning until we go to bed at night, we are in a rush. Our sleeping pattern is even dictated to by this, “hurried life”. This got me to thinking about Jesus. He was not depicted as a “hurried” Lord. He did great exploits by just being still. He was often seen going aside to be still and know God, through prayer and worship. He knew Father God better than anyone, yet, He was always being still by being in God’s presence. Sometimes He was going fishing, other times He was walking along with his disciples teaching them about the kingdom; just, being still. The scriptures don’t reveal that He was in a hurry to build His ministry. He wasn’t a mover and a shaker by today’s standards, yet He accomplished more than anyone in history. As I look at Jesus I see that it is okay, sometimes, to do nothing. Even though He was doing the Father’s business, he did it in a state of rest. He never had to prove who He was by what He was doing. He did it with ease! There is a lesson to be learned from the example of our Lord.
Do you know that the cell is one of the most basic units of life? It is also one of the smallest units of life in our bodies. After a cell has divided there is a period of rest before anything else happens. If cell division is about growth and transitioning, and it is, then growth and transitioning is also about rest. I believe that before we can grow and go into our next transition, we must learn to rest or be still. I realize that God has been trying to get me to be still, so new growth can take place. I have fought it all the way, thinking that being still meant no growth. Matthew 11:28 does not say, “Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (until I give you your calling and My plans for your lives, then you must work like crazy until you have accomplished it!). No!!! Let’s read on, verse 29 says, “Take My yoke upon you learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly of heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.” Now that sounds similar to, “Be still and know that I am God”, maybe, just maybe God will reveal more of His self to those who cease from so much busyness. He really wants us to get to know Him in a quiet, peaceful frame of mind and heart. Rest means to take intermission; recreation; to repose; to be refreshed and to take ease. Rest for our souls, our minds, will and emotions, so that we can truly get to know Him. Can you really do that? Just get to know God and learn of Jesus, without making it some busy activity! Yes, even Martha’s have to learn of Him by sitting at His feet, doing nothing. Cells do it, they rest in order to continue growing. Your transition or change could be waiting on you to enter into His rest. “For he who has entered God’s rest (intermission; recreation; repose; to be refreshed and to take ease) has also ceased {be still} from the weariness and pain of human labors.” (Heb. 4:10) Let us make our transition with ease. Relax, be still and you will know!

Love,

Pastor D.

July 23, 2021 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

(photo credit: https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2003/the-hourglass-serving-the-news-serving-the-reader/)

Good Morning,

Psalm 119:122-126; "Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don't let the arrogant oppress me! My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love, and teach me your decrees. Give discernment to me your servant; then I will understand your laws. Lord, it is time for you to act, for these evil people have violated your instructions."

For a moment meditate on the underlined portions of the scriptures. Please guarantee a blessing for me. My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled. Give discernment to me, your servant. Lord, it is time for you to act.

How many times have we thought it, or said it to God in the past year of this great transition period? "Lord it is time for you to act." In Ecclesiastes 3:1, God tells us, "For everything, there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." Then He goes on to explain His process a little better for us. Verse 11 of chapter 3 says, "He has made everything beautiful in (its) or (His) time." Either way, it is worth us meditating on, wherever you are right now, whatever you are facing, God is going to make everything beautiful in the right time. Whether it is His timing or the correct timing for whatever you may be facing now. God will make it turn out beautiful. As we transition, we need to remind ourselves that our God knows how and when to turn it to beauty. He's doing it even now!

The next underlined verse says, "Give discernment to me your servant." Discernment means understanding, to distinguish and mark separate mentally; to consider and to be cunning; to direct and perceive what it is gathered; to look well to and to diligently know; to view and deal wisely in affairs; to detect or discover with other senses than eyesight; to differentiate. We need to be able to know the times and the seasons that we are in. In order to walk out the plan of God, no matter what is going on around us. Father God has already told us that everything we see that is crooked or out of line with His plan, that He will turn around for our good and straighten them out. If we remain faithful to His Word, we will come out stronger than we were going into this period of change. Our change will be good! Let's exercise our discernment by using our spirit eyes and trust that our Father has already made a safe haven for His own. This is where we walk by faith and not by sight. Where we look not at the things that are seen, but at the things which are not seen. This is our true discernment, walking in the authority of God's Word. (II Corin. 4:18; II Corin. 5:7)

The next underlined verse says, "My eyes strain to see your rescue, to see the truth of your promise fulfilled." That is just what we should be doing since we know that God watches over His Word to perform it and that His promises are yea and Amen. Our necks should be stretched out in anticipation of what our God is going to do. Just how great is His deliverance going to be!! He loves to deliver those who put their trust in Him. We have sent out our S.O.S.'s in the Spirit; through prayer and intercession, confessing His promises, and by worshiping His name. Our rescue is already here, let's strain, stretch to discern, and know that it is. Rescue and deliverer carry the same meaning. Our Deliverer has come to refresh, recover, restore, relieve, and render His promises to the believer.

Finally, it says, "Guarantee me a blessing." God has guaranteed us a blessing, by His Word. Blessings to those that obey His Word. Duet. 28:1; "If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments, which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you on high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God." Let's not lose sight of this, that we are people that love God's Word, all of it. Stay in your authority, by staying with God's promises. Prov. 28:20, reminds us; "A faithful man shall abound with blessings, but he who makes haste to be rich [at any cost], shall not go unpunished." The one with clean hands and a pure heart shall receive the blessings of the Lord. (Psalm 24:4-5) Let's keep our anticipation high, our deliverer has come. He is trustworthy!

Love,

Pastor D.

July 3, 2020 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

Reclaim the secret place, it is a place you have been before, there you know me better. Come, there is a different anointing waiting there for you.

(photo credit: https://lightnside.com/2018/02/21/oil-of-joy-part-1-psalms-457/)

Good morning,

Reclaim the secret place, it is a place you have been before, there you know me better. Come, there is a different anointing waiting there for you.

It is where I comfort all that mourn, it is where I apply the balm of Gilead, it is where I set the captives free. It is the secret place. I Am calling you there. I give you beauty for all your ashes. This place of restoration is so that you can run longer. I place My arms underneath your shoulders and I hold you and gird you up. I Am giving you oil of joy for all your mourning. It is an exchange place, it is where we meet, and here I place My love upon you. I speak words of encouragement and words of comfort where I cause you to lift your head up, as you have been battle worn. It is in My presence where there is fullness of joy and I place upon you a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. I know you and I Am intimate with you. As your loving, gentle, and kind Father I know how to bring you out and put you on a high place. I know how to make your feet stay firm as you climb upon the stony, rocky mountains of life. I know how to cause you to be girded up, strengthened and mounted up with wings as eagles and soar to unknown places. Here I take your tears and I place them in a bottle, for know that weeping may endure for a night but your joy will come in the morning. It is morning time for you now, so arise in fresh new strength and victory, for I have spoken over you, and I sing songs of deliverance right over you. I laugh the enemy to scorn right here in the secret place and I speak to you powerful words and your head become lifted up because I know you, and I know you will not quit. I brought you this way that you might be strong and full of courage and not weak, and learn not to allow every circumstance and situation to weaken your heart. I brought you this way because I knew what it would take to make you the mature child of God that I created you to be. I brought you this way that you might be rooted and planted in My house. I know the storms of life come, heat will not cause you to wither, circumstances would not cause you to bend or break. I brought you this way to establish your roots way down deep. I made you and I Am making you even now. I will not stop for I Am forming a great and mighty person. I knew you before you were formed and I have been forming you ever since. For I know the beauty, the beauty that I have placed on the inside of you and I see the gold that is deep within. So I Am mining, I Am mining in the deep recesses of your heart. I Am mining in the deep places, the hidden places that man may not see or draw from. I Am pulling out everything that would choke the fruit that must come forth. See I never quit, not for a moment, fashioning and forming you into the very image of your Father. I see and I know exactly what I have to accomplish. I Am doing the mighty things that I promised I would do to bring you to the place that you stand on a high place, the pinnacles of life that men may know that My hand has been upon you and I anointed you. My hands were upon you and I know you think that everything has been a hard way, but the hard way has brought you to the place that you have endurance and that you are patient. I made you strong, I have made you an enduring war-faring soldier. My favor surrounds you as a shield. My favor will cause you to be exalted as you deal in all of life affairs. Step into all that is yours because you have become inaccessible to all the ways of the enemy, as you stay in the secret place.

"The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet. And makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility]." (Hab. 3:19)

"You’ve kept track of all my wandering and my weeping. You’ve stored my many tears in your bottle—not one will be lost. For they are all recorded in your book of remembrance." (Ps. 56:8)

"To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified." (Is. 61:3)

Love,

Pastor D.

June 26, 2020 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

(photo credit:https://www.jamf.com/blog/a-life-preserver-when-youre-drowning-in-data/)

Good morning,

Isaiah 43:2-3; "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you" ..verse 4 says "Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours, because you are precious to Me."

We are unstoppable, as long as we stay connected to our Lord. There is no circumstance, no test, trials or tribulations that would ever bring us down, if we would only learn to hide under the shadows of God's mighty wings. God is our deliverer, our restorer and our protection. Our great UPS – our Upholder, our Preserver, our Sustainer. Our great Father!
"Bring all who claim Me as their God, for I have made them for My glory." (Isaiah 43:7) Just think about everything that you have endured, this year alone. God loves to take our worst days and use them for a turn around for the best days that are ahead. Your life brings God glory. That is a selah, pause, reflect and calmly think on that. You, yes, you, bring the God of the universe glory. Glory meaning, rare splendor, honor, and copiousness which is abundance; full supply and ample. Just think on that for a moment! You, the one who never feels quite adequate, you bring God an ample abundance and a full supply. You give Him a rare splendor and honor, by your life being lived for Him. When you go through, you are being purified and raised to a new level in your faith.

Isaiah 43:11-13; "I, yes I Am the Lord, and there is no other Savior. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are My witnesses that I Am the only God. No one can snatch anyone out of My hand. No one can undo what I have done." It is plain and simple, we can't lose if we stay in His hand. Now you are the only one that can remove yourself from the hand of God. The enemy does not have that power, he can send thoughts and try to get you in agreement with him, but he can't take you from God's hand! No one else has that power, only you. So choose to stay in His firm and loving grip and you will pass through to the other side, stronger and a more formidable adversary to our enemy. The storms are passing over and when they do, more and better fruit will spring up. For those who are planted by the rivers bear fruit in all seasons, and their leaves never wither and they prosper in all they do. Jeremiah 17:8; "For he will be nourished like a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out its root by the river: And he will not fear the heat when it comes: but its leaves will be green and moist. And it will not be anxious and concerned in a year of drought, nor stop bearing fruit."

Love,

Pastor D.

May 29, 2020 – Ears to Hear/Hearts to Obey

When we go through sore troubles, and we are trusting and believing God’s Word, we learn that the promises are really true for us.

(photo credit: https://sunburst.org/spiritual-lineage/?v=7516fd43adaa)

Good morning,

Psalm 71:20-21; "You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again." Suffer, hardship, troubles, these are words that we would rather not hear in the Christian community. Yet God reminds us that these things are allowed in our lives, in seasons for a higher reason. This verse in the King James translation says, "Thou, which has shown me great and sore troubles, shalt quicken me again, and shalt bring me again from the depths of the earth." [vs.20] Great troubles means huge, increased, and many. Sore troubles means adversity, affliction, calamity, displeasure grievous, sorrow and trouble. That is just to name a few. Why? Why are we allowed to go through troubles and hardships? Let's see what the Psalmist writes. "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word." (Psalm 119:67) "It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statues.' (Psalm 119:71) When we go through sore troubles, and we are trusting and believing God's Word, we learn that the promises are really true for us. We have experience to go with our faith. It is no longer the pastor's, the evangelist's, the teacher's or anyone else's testimony, it becomes your own. You have seen the true and living God come to your aid, watch over His Word and perform it on your behalf. The Word that you refused to let go of, that faithful promise you stood on. When all else that you trusted in proves that it is unstable, unfaithful, not lasting, and undependable, then you are left to see God's Word will prove itself. "Faithful and absolutely trustworthy is He who is calling you {to himself for your salvation}, and He will do it {He will fulfill His call by making you holy, guarding you, watching over you, and protecting you as His own}." (1 Thess. 5:24)

Look at the power and the benefit of trusting God's Word. "…you will restore me [quicken me] to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth." Quicken is to make alive, nourish up, to recover, repair, to restore and to revive and to preserve to life again. Restore means to give back, to make restitution, to rebuild, to bring back to a healthy state, to make amends or compensation for, to replace in a former state of favor and grace. After we have withstood, we then inherit the promise and receive greater honor. " Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor's] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (James 1:12) God, our Father delights to lift us up from the deepest abyss of life and bring us up to the greatest place of honor. He did it with David, Abraham, Esther, Joseph, Ruth, Gideon, Moses, Daniel, the three Hebrew boys, the list goes on and on. When all of our dependency is in Him, not in us or the arm of flesh, stand and see the salvation of the Lord. Salvation means, something saved, deliverance, aid, victory, prosperity, health and help. He wants our Source to be Him, for all of His rewards are with Him. Get ready then to be brought up from the places of the abyss and be revived, rebuilt, quickened, brought back to live, really live. Greater grace, greater favor, greater amends and compensation. That first burst of sunlight is awesome, train your eyes to see greater distances. We are rising to new heights in Christ. We have learned through our afflictions that our God is a mighty deliverer and restorer!!!

Love,

Pastor D.