Makeup Aisle Ministry

This morning I ran out of my house and realized that I didn't set my makeup with finishing spray.  Normally, it's not a big deal but today I have a super long day and thought let me go get it so I could be cute all day.  Since I pass a Walgreens on my way to work I figured I would pop on in.  It wasn't a quick trip.  I searched the aisles for finishing spray.  First, I looked for the elf finishing spray.  I walked from the front of the store to where the nail items started then back again.  I walked past CoverGirl, Maybelline, Revlon, Iman, and many others but did not see the finishing spray.  I looked high and low.  Then I thought, let me look for any brand of finishing spray.  Again I walked the entire aisle and I looked in the places where I thought it would be, but could not find it.  So I went about my business and grabbed a few other items I needed.  When I was ready to check out, I noticed that the line in cosmetics was shorter than the normal check out counter so I skipped on over to expedite my exit.  As I walked to the cosmetics counter I looked in a different direction from when I first entered the store.  There I found the elf primer.  I thought "hmm, if they have the primer maybe they will have the finishing spray."  When I got to the counter, I asked the clerk if they have the spray.  She said "yes" and proceeded to walk me back to the aisle where I was originally looking but 2 steps farther from where I ended my search.  It was after the nail items. 

By now I am sure you are thinking "why is she going on and on about her trip to Walgreens?"  Well, as soon as I found my makeup I felt God say to me "Sometimes you have to look beyond where you think something should be.  You may have to stretch yourself or walk a few more miles to get there but you have to trust that if I said it will be there, then it will come to pass."  Well, ain't that something!  A word in the makeup aisle!  Now don't get me wrong, God didn't promise me finishing spray.  But He has many promises and I know that they will come to pass.  It may not happen when I think it should or where I think it should be but if God says "yes" then we have to believe Him.

People say God doesn't speak anymore because they don't see bushes burning on the sidewalk, but God speaks all the time.  We have to be receptive and listen for Him and maybe take a few more steps.

Close It All The Way

I made a huge mistake.  I made a decision to walk away from a job.  I walked away because I knew it was the right thing to do.  I knew I had more important things to work on.  But when the job contacted me about changing the terms, I reconsidered.  Never mind the warning bells going off in my head.  Never mind that I knew that the previous decision was right.  Never mind that.  I got enticed by the fact that someone wanted me to write for them.  I love writing and was so excited that I was hired to do something that I loved.  That excitement, that pride, that euphoria clouded my decision.  Now it is time for me to quit again and even though I know it is the right thing to do, I am dreading it.

"Father, give me strength to do Your will.  Don't let my pride or fear of what others may think, impede my actions.  I know that what You have called me to do will bring You glory and that I need to remove all distractions to that plan.  I love You and trust You.  In Jesus' name, Amen.  Amen."

Fire!

Remember when you first got saved and you were on fire for GOD.   But then life, work, and everything else gets in the way.  Now, remember God didn't move.  You did.  You moved away from God.  Now,  it's time to go home!

Speak, Lord, Speak to Me

Being in the presence of the Lord is a wonderful thing.  I need to wrap myself up in Him and remember that He never stops speaking to me.  He never stops seeing me.  He never stops loving me.  HE is always with me.

Every person in America should know this clip.  Reconciliation.  Deliverance.  Healing.  God will pull you back.. even from the juke joint.

Liberate Yourself!

Why do we worry about what everyone else will say instead of just trusting what God has already said to us?  We have messed up priorities.  Focus on the Father.  What He says goes. 

More Than Enough

"Father, help me to remember that You made me and You don't make mistakes.  I am more than enough.  I am Your child so that makes me great.  You are so awesome and all I need to do is to trust YOU.  You will not lead me astray.  I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, amen."

Help Me Run The Race

Father, Matthew 24:13 says "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved."  Please give me strength not only to endure but to thrive.  Help me to get a second wind & fresh feet to run Your race.  I am tired so give me a spiritual shot of endurance, of strength, of energy to make it.  I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, amen.

God Loves Me

God loves Him some Neysa.  That must be it because He keeps placing opportunity, blessings, and grace at my doorstep.  Not that I am deserving but it is like He keeps saying "You messed up.  It's ok.  You are going to get this right one day and every time you  fail, you get one step closer.  I've given you tons of gifts and vision and drive.  I've put people and opportunity at your door.  You have to be a good steward of those gifts and represent ME well.  I've called you to be an ambassador not because you never make mistakes but because you did - multiple times - and you keep coming back to Me.  I love you.  I am here with you.  We will do this journey together."  And that is more than I could ever ask for.

#MyriadPrayer - Don't Get Sidetracked

On Sunday my pastor preached from Galations 5: 1-7.  (You can watch it here.) The last line smacked the mess out of me.  "⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth?"  Well, dang.  I was running a good raced but what (or who) stopped me from obeying the truth?  Did that smack you too? 

So when I got home I had to expand the chapter.  What did the Word say after verse 7?  Well, it said a lot.  Here is a snippet:

⁷ You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? ⁸ That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. ⁹ “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” ¹⁰ I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty.

That person or thing that is stopping you from obeying what God has called you to do is like a little yeast.  You have to move biblical metaphors.  A little yeast changes a whole batch of bread dough, right?  Just a little time with the person that is distracting you from purpose can change your whole life.  Makes you re-evaluate your habits and folks in your life, huh?

"Father, please help me to clear out all the distractions that are keeping me from drawing closer to You.  God, please remove the people and things that are in the way of me being exactly where You want me to be.  God, remove those distractions no matter how much I want to hold onto them.  Take them away - far away- so that I may not be tempted or distracted by them again.  Father, I trust that You know best.  I love You and thank You!  Amen.  Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Proverbs 29:25

About a year ago, I attended a small workshop at church and the ministry leader said that whenever you need guidance turn to Proverbs and the date.  So today is 6/29/12 and I am reading Provers 29.  The part that jumped out at me was Proverbs 29:25 "Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." 

I've battled fear for a long time.  Fear of what?  Fear of success, fear of failure, fear of not being good enough.  I know what I am good at doing.  I know that everyday I am learning that God is stretching me to learn more and do more.  And I wonder what would have happened if I trusted that feeling, that inner voice that said I was "bigger than my current situation" a long time ago.  Fear makes you complacent.  Fear makes you think that just enough is ok.  Fear crushes dreams.  And let's be honest, half the time it is fear of what others will say.  But who cares what they will say?  The proverbial "they" are already talking about you, right?  And why are we more worried about what "they" will say instead of focusing on what He will say?  I want to hear "well done." 

"Father, help me to lean on You and focus on pleasing You.  This fire that You have placed inside of me to stretch, grow, learn, be needs to be nurtured and fed.  Today, I refuse to feed fear.  Today I will press on toward whatever dream, vision, plan that You have shown me.  I will trust You even when I don't see the entire picture.  Father, thank You for trusting me with a piece of the kingdom.  I love You and thank you.  Amen.  Amen."

#Myriad Prayer Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11" For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

I love this scripture.  Why?  Because it says that while you may not always see it, God sees it.  He knows what is around the corner.  He knows when the breakthrough is coming.  He knows when the storm will be over.  He knows.  We have to trust Him.  That trust will keep you walking even when you don't see the next step. 

The prayer for today is "Yes, I will go.  Amen."

#MyriadPrayer Gifts and Guidance

"Father, thank You for today.  Thank You for Your gifts and guidance.  Father, please shift my perspective on situations.  While I know that 'all things work together for Your good,'  I have to admit that when bad things happen, my first reaction isn't always a positive one.  Please help shift my focus so that I worship and praise first.  That will leave no room for worry or panic or complaining.  Father, I know that I don't have to like negative situations but I need to have peace in them.  Send Your Holy Spirit to envelope me and keep my fire going.  In Jesus' name, Amen.  Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Praying Strength

"Father, thank You for being my strength.  I try to follow what You want for me and so many times I fall short.  Thank You for being patient with me.  Thank You for having mercy on me.  Father, re-ignite my passion in so many areas.  Please help me to continue to not only do what You want me to do but to do it graciously.  Father, I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Prayer Time

"Father, thank You for today.  Thank You for the power of prayer.  Thank You for providing us with a vehicle to speak with You.  Thank You for being receptive to our cries, our moans, and our words.  How often we forget that everything gets better after a conversation with You?  It goes beyond 'casting my cares' on You.   It is listening to You when You speak to me.  Thank You for thinking so much of us that You listen to us.  You care about us.  And You want the best for us.  Father, I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Grandparents

"Father, Thank You for today.  Father, today I want to pray for my parents and grandparents.  So often I am praying for my children but today I want to pray for my elders.  Father, thank You for blessing me with such great parents & grandparents.  Thank You for their wisdom, love, and prayers.  Father,  please let any generational curses known and unknown stop with me.  Please make my elders lives a bit easier.  And please tell my grandfathers that they are still loved and not forgotten.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Open Doors

"Father, thank You for always being ready to welcome me to You.  Father, I want to just thank You for Your patience, mercy, forgiveness, and love.  Please order my steps this week so that I am a good steward of my time.  Father, give me the words to say as I move closer to the purpose You have for me.  Father, I love You and thank You.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

#MyriadPrayer - Freedom

I woke up this morning feeling free.  I know it is the Fourth of July and it is all about America's freedom, but that's not what I meant.  I woke up this morning feeling freer, lighter.  The quote "Free Indeed" kept floating around my mind.  So I turned to John 8:31-36:

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. ³⁵ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. ³⁶ So if the Son sets you free,you will be free indeed.

Everyday, I have to wake up and remind myself of this freedom.. this freedom in Christ.  With that freedom comes responsibility and a world of possibility.  So today, I am free indeed!

"Father, thank You for freedom that can only be found in You.  Father, thank for the freedom to live, love, laugh, worship.  Thank You for the gift of Your son.  That gift frees me from a life of sin.  Father, I love You and thank You.  Amen.  Amen."