The Voice To Be Heard

Daughters of the King:

It is time that we learn how to tune out what the world and others may say about us. There is ONE voice we NEED to be hearing! For all the negative things we hear the world saying or possibly saying ourselves. The King has a response.

Don’t let the voices of the world keep you from hearing Gods voice.

The World                                  King of Kings

You are worthless                    You are more precious than rubies (Prov3:15)

It’s not worth it                        It will be worth it (Romans 8:28)

You will always be alone            I will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5)

Can’t do anything right               I can do all things through Christ (Phil 4:13)

You are like everyone else          You are unique (Psalm 139:13)

Nobody loves you                       I love you! (John 3:16 & John 13:34)

You are too afraid                      My dear, do not fear (Ruth 3:11)

You are nothing                         You are important (1 Peter 2:9)

You will never be forgiven            I forgive you! (1 John 1:9)

Nobody cares                             I care for you (1Peter 5:7)

I feel so lost                              I will direct your path (Prov 3:5-6)

This will never end                      I will strengthen you (Isaiah 41:10)

This is impossible                       All things are possible (Luke 18:27)

Everyone is against me                I am for you! (Romans 8:31)

I am so broken                           HE heals the broken (Psalm 147:3)

Sick and tired of it all                  I will give you rest (Matt 11:28)

Know Your Worth

God values you more than the most precious gems.

It is His deepest desire that you know that! 

Nothing you have done or could do would ever change 

His love and adoration for you!

~Every Knee Shall Bow~

 Photo attributed to NYDailynews.com

In the wake of recent actions and events, many have questions, and many are questioning their faith. The trials seem to never end; children are being abandoned and killed. Elderly are being abused and forgotten. It seems as if in these days there is no safe place, you cannot turn on the news without seeing at least two stories of death and destruction committed by another human being. Wars are raging, not only in foreign countries, but in our homes, our schools, families, and in our own minds.

Every single person on earth has been affected by the horrific events that have inundated and shaken us through the past several years. These events have evoked numerous emotions in just about everyone. Anger, fear, frustration, these emotions and feelings are the result of living in a world that is that has been broken by sin.

We cannot avoid suffering, there will be pain, there will be circumstances we don’t understand that make us angry and if we are not careful; that anger will lead to bitterness and un-forgiveness. However, as believers, we have been set apart by God for a specific divine purpose. The very moment we are saved in Christ we are also immediately sanctified and begin the process of being conformed to the image of Christ.  

This does not mean that we don’t get angry, but we should be angry and SIN not. We should be praying for the victims AND perpetrators of these deviant actions, even forgiving them of the offense. Forgiveness does not negate, ignore, disregard, tolerate, or excuse the sin of that person. I know first-hand this is not an easy thing do, I have endured unspeakable acts and for me forgiveness is a daily journey, at times I would actually say it’s a battle. But as Christians, we are required by God to do so. Thankfully, God would never command us to do anything that He wouldn’t provide the ability to do.

I love this word picture of un-forgiveness.. It is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.

Right now, you can pray for God to give you the strength to forgive those who have hurt you. Those who have committed horrifying acts against innocent people; God will give you the strength to do so and He will also empower you supernaturally to love them (this may take time) even though you hate what they have done. Once you are able to let go of the terrible burden of holding on to un-forgiveness, you will experience the cleansing power, and freedom of forgiveness.

We have been reassured that everyone will enter into His truth. There is a place where there is no more suffering, pain or fears. These burdens will be gone. We must hold on to our faith that God is good, he will work out all things for His good. He is a just God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev 21:4

All wrongs will be made right when the Lion of Judah comes into sight, the world will quake every false foundation will shake. All will hear the mighty roar of the King. At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth Philippians 2:10

                                     Photo by Dyrk Daniels

Sarah's First Time- Who Was I

Young people today are starved for the truth about love, affection and sex. I for one want to be a part of the solution for these kids. I made my own mistakes when I was a teenager and have tried to set a good example for my own kids. Hoping and praying they would not repeat the sins of their mother.

So many of us wish we could change our history, it is my hope that by reading some of these real life stories you will make the right decisions.

You are a one of a kind; there is not anyone like you on the planet. You have been given a treasure to steward until you find the right person to share it with. Until that day comes, guard you heart and your virtue.

Thank you Sarah for being so transparent and sharing your first experience with us. You are an incredible young woman with so much to offer the world. I am truly blessed to know you. 

From "Sarah" ... (Not her real name)

I was 14 when I lost my virginity I am almost 16 now. I wish I could go back in time and take it back, wait a lot longer than I did. My advice, wait till your completely ready, not just because your friends have done it and you haven't. Here is my story.

I was with my best friend Maria and we decided to hang out with our friend Nick, who was my on and off boyfriend for almost 2 years. He always told me he loved me and I believed it. The last few months before we did it, he was always telling me how hot I was, asking if I was ready. Every time he asked me I told him, NO I am not ready. But he kept telling me how much he loved me and this is how I could show him I loved him. He kept asking me, saying. I was beginning to feel bad, I wanted him to know I loved him; he just couldn't take my word for it. He needed to be shown how much I loved him. So I finally said yes. He took me over to the neighbors backyard (now that I look back, I'm sure he had been there several times before). He wouldn't use a condom; he said that people who love one another don't use condoms. I had seen on TV how the first time should happen, but it was nothing like that at all. It hurt so badly. It took him a while to get inside me because I was ripping, but he kept pushing. He kept telling me to relax but I just couldn't.  I was scared and it hurt so bad. I told him it was hurting me, but he wouldn't stop he just kept saying "I'm almost done". Once he finished, he got up, got dressed and left and never talked to me again.

Still to this day he has never talked to me again, every time he said he loved me it was a lie. All he wanted was in my pants. Just to use me! Girls, make sure a guy truly loves you before you have sex with him. Wait till you are completely ready. It’s not worth the pain and suffering you go through if he just uses you and leaves you there like you never mattered. For 8 months I was so depressed. So ashamed, I should have waited. But Ii didn't and I regret it more than anything. I was totally heartbroken!

You Are Royalty

Identity, know who you are in the Lord,
When you know who you are, you don’t have to prove it!

Season Of Manure

God's Hand is always involved in our fertilization

Season of Manure

I have been very transparent when it comes to my faith walk. My heart is to share my journey as it unfolds and the lessons learned along the way.

The past few weeks have been trying and exasperating. As the saying goes, “When it rains it pours”, it feels like we are in the eye of the storm of torrential rain.

Faith is an essential component in the Christian life that is often difficult to cultivate and grow to maturity on our own.

Romans 4:17 (NIV) Faith calls those things that be not as though they were.

I have learned that there is nothing quite so hard for Christians as calling those things that be not as though they were.

 Webster’s definition of faith: firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust

The Biblical Definition of Faith: 

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen Hebrews 11:1(KJV).

This is probably the most concise definition of faith found in the Bible. It is considered the classical definition of faith. Faith is both the substance of things hoped for and the evidence that things exist that are not yet perceived with the senses.

What happens when our faith is uncultivated, immature or perhaps we even have a lack of faith?

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV) And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Jesus told a story of a “fruitless tree” in Luke 13:6-9 (AMP)  And He told them this parable: A certain man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he came looking for fruit on it, but did not find [any]. 7 So he said to the vinedresser, See here! For these three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree and I find none. Cut it down! Why should it continue also to use up the ground [to [a]deplete the soil, intercept the sun, and take up room]? 8 But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil]. 9 Then perhaps it will bear fruit after this; but if not, you can cut it down and out.

So during this storm we are in, I feel as if I have no faith.  I am the tree that bears no fruit. I seem to be consumed, surrounded by thoughts of the injustices that have attempted to destroy the fruit of faith of my family and friends.

After spending time in the secret place with the Lord, he revealed a part of the scripture that I had not really grasped before. Verse 8 But he replied to him, Leave it alone, sir, [just] this one more year, till I dig around it and put manure [on the soil]. The key word the Lord highlighted to me was manure!

My first though seething with frustration was, “Oh yea, Lord I am up to my eyeballs in manure.” He then gave me a vision of a farmer standing in a field of what looked to be a dying crop. I saw another man talking to the farmer and pointing to a large dump truck filled with what I thought was soil. The Lord showed me I was wrong, it was manure. Excrement of livestock mixed with straw or bedding, it was if I had an elevated sense of smell at that moment. The scent was musty and foul.

The farmer and the man diligently disbursed the manure throughout the field, within moments the crops began to burst forth and become healthy, developed plants that started to bear fruit.

Just then, revelation! I realized what the Lord was saying to me. There are times when our faith is immature and underdeveloped. The Lord will allow circumstances and situations that activate our faith, stretch it if you will. The circumstances, storms, frustration you are facing right now may very well be fertilizer to grow your faith.  In my case, the issues at hand I know can only be set right by God. I must allow Him to use these particular conditions as manure to grow my faith. Because ultimately, He will work ALL things together for good according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

My trust is in you Lord, my hope is in you Lord! I will declare things that are not as though they ALREADY are!

Blessings,

Julie

Secrets

Photo by David Owens

As I read this quote the Lord revealed something to me.

Almost all evil deeds and intents are begun with the thought that they can be hidden by deceit."Dallas Willard

Secrets-

We all have them. Human nature seems wired to with-hold and tuck away the areas of our lives we deem undesirable. For many of us the best option seems to be keeping secrets out of sight and in check—and hopefully, forever forgotten. But secrets can be so harmful that they control ones everyday life. Secrets can destroy us and everyone around if we allow it. 

Secrets are horrible, hurtful, threatening, even intimidating. That is why they are hidden. Secrets are hidden in dark places, where they are not seen, heard or believed.  Some secrets may be so unscrupulous that we choose to push them so far down we hope they dissipate in the vast darkness, but secrets grow in the darkness. 

They produce guilt, regret, shame, condemnation, insecurity and mistrust. However, secrets rarely remain isolated in the dark.

The Bible warns us against secrets, and keeping things hidden in deep dark places.

Isaiah 29:15 (CEV) You are in for trouble, if you try to hide your plans from the Lord! Or if you think what you do in the dark can’t be seen.

Matthew 26-27 (AMP) So have no fear of them; for nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, or kept secret that will not become known.

God never meant for us to harbor secrets, he wanted us to have freedom from any and all bondage and oppression of the enemy. If you are dealing with a secret today, don’t allow it to take up root in your spirit. Repent, we all have made mistakes. Ask the Lord for forgiveness. Ask him to show you any deep destructive secrets in your heart. The bible promises that He will forgive us for the offences we have committed against individuals and help us to forgive offenses done to us by others.

Luke 11:4 (AMP) And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us [who has offended us or done us wrong]. And bring us not into temptation but rescue us from evil.

As a girl I discovered at a very young age that wearing a mask appeared to be a part of my survival. I discovered there was much of myself, which others would see as unacceptable. I tucked those secrets away thinking that they would never be seen again. But instead of disappearing, they started eating   away at my life through the years. 

They became a cancer that was consuming all of my hopes and dreams. Stealing my self-worth, confidence happiness and trust in everyone around me. It was a pain staking journey to release the dark secrets that had held me captive for so many years. But, I promise you that it is possible to overcome even the worst damage of the most painful secrets of your lifetime. Through the light of God’s love, you can heal and become whole again. I did.