Faith, My Rose

Ahhh...what a wonderful day today is already!

Now, where do I start? Let me start from Sunday.

My church CWL (www.churchwithoutlimits.com) invited a powerful man of God and his wife, also a powerful woman of God, Prophet Yul Crawford and Mrs. Jane Crawford, over for the weekend. They were going to preach, teach, minister and whatever else as the Spirit directs over four different sessions.

I guess for some reason, the devil was mighty bothered. All of a sudden, from absolutely nowhere, and I mean, NOwhere, I became the target of what the MFM G.O. would call "arrows". At first, someone for no reason was just generally angry with me and she knew she had no cause but she was just too pissed. A scripture kept coming to my mind, that the one who does not guard his heart is like a city without walls, open to plunderers and raiders. I knew the devil was planting seeds in her heart, but I didn't want to pray for her, I didn't want to intercede because I was getting upset by her attitude myself...wrong move!!!

Next, someone else, on a sunday morning, right in front of the garage door on my way out to church was explaining to me, why my church is not "good" and why I should find somewhere else to worship. He was saying this calmly but I could hear the devil and I knew what he (the devil) was up to, but I still didn't pray....double wrong move....again!!!

Church service ends, and I must say I was so blessed by the ministration, however, my heart started to feel a sharp, deep agony within it and I knew the Holy Spirit wanted me to contend in the Spirit for something, but I just wasn't too bothered.

I just have to stop now and ask myself what on earth I was thinking???? Who does that????

Now, as I'm driving home, I start mumbling some words out as I prayed in tongues, but I just wasn't "in" it.

I get home and AAAALL hell breaks loose. My goodness, no human heart, being or soul can take, endure or go through all I took. After all was said and done, I said I'm sorry (for nothing I did by the way) and I got back "sorry for yourself". Jesus! I felt the old me leaping up wanting to go all out and set the record straight...but I found myself going to my room.

Fast forward to evening, I went for the last session with the prophets and my goodness, the Presence of God was all over, I was at peace and just happy. All that happened earlier just didn't matter. On my drive home, I started to feel that agony, and I started to pray in tongues, but this time I was "in". I was screaming and breaking down strongholds like a warrior, it was ridiculous. I'm thinking to myself, where did all that come from, because I just do not pray like that. It just had never happened like that before. And I tell you, my peace was GREAT.

I knew I had victory, over what I did not know. But I knew something was happening and something had happened.

And so, from the weekend till last night, it has been from one attack to another with the devil trying so hard to steer me dangerously off the course God was walking with me on, but God is faithful. He would give you the right and timely Word before the situation happens, so your thinking is perfectly aligned with His heart and nothing can harm you. The devil tried all tricks, he pulled it all, things that I ordinarily would have given into, he threw them at me and with such vehement force but in all I was (and still am) an overcomer and had soooo much peace. I don't want to go into details but there are some words that people would say to you that would always get you when they are said. You can't explain it, but once it comes out it would sting. Usually, it's because of an old wound or memory that you've probably forgotten. Or it could be a way of thinking that could be used to attack you that just always gets you. But in all, my heart felt wrapped in a cocoon of peace.

But this morning, I decided to do something different. I decided to go to church and then the library, and skip on work completely. I walked to a church that is about 20mins away from home, asked to use the sanctuary and was let in. Afterwards, I was asked to come into an office, and my goodness, it was perfect. It had a nice desk and some chairs and a bible on the table and enough room for me to lie down if I wanted, cry it I wanted, scream if I wanted. My heart said, and I believe it was the Holy Spirit, "God always provides for His own".

I put my stuff on the chairs and sat on the floor. I needed to empty myself and let Papa take control. You know, even though God gives you peace in the middle of a tornado, the devil would remind you and throw flashbacks to your soul that you may be wounded. I wasn't having it, and the only way I knew to handle that is to lay before God completely. I did not know how long I was going to be there, but I was just going to stay.

So, something like a psalm came out my heart. How many of you know that sometimes, when you can't muster up the exact words to pray, the most beautiful words flow out of your spirit...yep, it's God's. Talk about being "intimate", it was perfect, I wish I wrote it down. And then, the tears came.

I then went through the bible on the desk listlessly, ended up at Galatians and just left it. I grabbed my laptop and listened to an old sermon by Dr. Creflo Dollar. Even when I didn't know what I was doing, God was directing my steps.

I have listened to this sermon before, but this time, I heard it differently. I suggest you give it a listen.

So, I return to the still open bible on the table, and guess what passage it is on?

Life by the Spirit

16So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law.

19The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5: 16-26, NIV, lifted from bible.cc)

Need I say more? God was leading me to walk according to His wisdom and will in this situation because of my peace, not because I wanted "vindication", or to "heap coals of fire" on the heads of those who offended me, but because of me.

I needed to do good in oneness with the Spirit of God within me, leading me that I may through His grace, establish peace and prosperity in my home. That shalom and wholeness may be found where the devil had intended for factions and cracked walls. But at the "foundation" of my action(s), I must walk in oneness with God's Spirit, completely, and when I do, there's no room for the flesh.

So, how does a rose come in?

Well, as I packed my things to leave the church office I was in, and let me add, God's Presence was so strong in that room, a lady came up to the door and said "hello!". I smiled and said hello back. Then she said, that someone gave her a rose yesterday, that she didn't have anything to do with it and when she saw me, something told her to give it to me, and that I should be free to come back anytime I wanted. This was after a lady came in to pray for/with me and everything she said was on point! Don't you just love God?

But, let me finish, about the rose...a couple of months back, I was walking to the subway on my way back from work and I saw a man dressed in his waiter uniform, the kind they wear in french restaurants, and he carried a bouquet of roses. It looked oh so romantic, like it was right out of a movie. Then I said to God in my heart, "God, I would really like someone to get me flowers".

And when I wasn't watching, my heavenly Father got me a rose. The exact flower I wanted.

Isn't it lovely? I know, the first picture doesn't do it justice. Pardon me, I took the pictures with my computer's webcam.

Can I just say I LOVE GOD? When you know God loves you, everyone else is "jara".

♫ It's going to be a lovely day... ♫

Oh dear, the devil just lost another one...hehehe....another battle, I mean.

Yep, I named this rose Faith. Lovely name init? No, I am not British and I never use that word, just FYI, lol!

So, I guess the point of this post is that God's love is perfect. His arms are the best, His heart is the best, His wisdom is unsearchable, His peace is without end. And He has chosen to freely pour it out on us. So, pay no attention to those "arrows". Distractions are just what they are...distractions. Do not give them space in your heart.

God's blessings,

Me.