BIBLE STUDY ROCKED!

Great turn out at Bible Study at my house tonight!  Nothing is more exciting than talking about God changed lives!   It didn’t go the way I had planned it to go … it went the way GOD designed it to go. 

About an hour before it started, I prayed that the Lord would have His way.   I told Him this was NOT my meeting, but His – I was just the facilitator.  After about 5 minutes into our time together, I felt Him take control.  It flowed the way He wanted it to and His presence was among us.  For some reason, He kept breathing on my left side (down the side of my neck and down my arm).  I will be bubbling over for days!  Many others – sitting all over the room felt His presence.  Some mentioned it when it happened and another one told me – in detail what she felt afterwards.

Even though I had an agenda planned and a chapter to cover in “Lord I Want to Know You” book, God decided to teach us about His Sovereignty.  The Sovereignty of God is the biblical teaching that all things are under God's rule and control, and that nothing happens without His direction or permission. God works not just some things - but ALL things according to the counsel of His own will (see Eph. 1:11). His purposes are all-inclusive and never thwarted (see Isa. 46:11); nothing takes Him by surprise. The sovereignty of God is not merely that God has the power and right to govern all things, but that He does so, always and without exception.

After we opened with prayer and sang the Holy Spirit song from a recent women’s retreat, women began sharing what the Lord has been doing in their lives. There were a few tears of joy, expressions of laughter and many God-inspired moments.  We heard amazing stories of how God has spoken, how He has revealed things, about His Grace to bring us through difficult situations, and how He’s healed relationships.  We even marveled that He loves us so much that He sometimes uses a friend to send us a text at just the right time.  One of the women gave us a new way to refer to things like this.” It’s not a coincidence it is a “GOD-incidence.”

With some very recent happenings I shared how real spiritual warfare was. I was able to give some “real life” examples of how the enemy was attacking many individuals and families.  Some others shared about battles that are occurring in their families.  We talked about this to emphasize that GOD is Elohim – the mighty, strong creator. He is El Elyon -  The Most High, Sovereign Ruler of the universe. Just a reminder: We are in battles because we are battle worthy opponents. The enemy knows we are a threat.  But since the battle is the Lords, the only way we can lose is if we refuse to fight.  We all agreed that we are going to prepare for battle everyday by spending time in the Word. 

I’m eagerly looking forward to getting together again to hear the magnificent things God has been doing!  I look forward to bragging and boasting about His Goodness. According to the Word, we can brag on Him and I intend to.

Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.  1 Corinthians 1:31 

My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Psalms 34:2

But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!  Jeremiah 9:24

 Whoever brags should brag about what the Lord has done 2 Corinthians 10:17



Come Boldly to the Throne
"Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may     
receive and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)

If God said to you, "Ask me anything today" what would you ask of Him?

I would not ask for  a new car. I don't want an exotic, glamours vacation, I don't want a million dollars or even a new body.   With all of my heart and soul, I want all of my family to have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. I want them to know Him and walk with Him through this life-journey. I would ask God for my family to  experience the joy and peace that comes from a personal relationship with Him. I would ask for revival in my family. I would ask for my son to seek the Lord for the direction in his life. I would ask for my son to be used to expand the Kingdom of God.   The Word says to ask so I did. 

I expect Him to do immeasurably more than I could ask or even imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20)

What are you asking for today? What are the desires of your heart?

Wouldn't it be GREAT if we could ALL go to the "Generous Love Women's Spring Conference!" It will be April 27th and 28th at Mt. Olive Ministries. The Friday session begins at 6:30pm and the Saturday session is begins at 9am and ends at 11am. For more information contact Pastor Teresa Norman at 423-479-3381.

    Becky Fender, anointed preacher, singer and songwriter is coming from San Antonio, Texas to bless us in song and Word. Register by calling the church @ 479-3381 or www.mtolivecog.org/women just so they can get a count on how many are attending.
I'll see ya there. Melissa

I cannot let this day end without praising the Lord for the protection He provides over us and our loved ones.  At 1:00 a.m. I was awaken by a phone call from my mother-in-law. It seemed like time stood still as I reached for the phone. She needed help. My great-aunt, who has diabetes and Mononeuropathy had fallen and she couldn't get her up. When we got there, the only thing that was wrong with her was her embarrassment for being in the floor, not being able to get up in the middle of the night. Thanks to the Lord, she had no broken bones! 

A friend of mine was also awaken last night at 3:30 a.m. to find out that her son had another car accident. Today she is praising the Lord for protecting her son.  The following is from her in an email.

"My son had another wreck early this morning around 2 am.  We got a call from him around 3:30 a.m. that “his life was over because he had wrecked his car and flipped it upside down”.  He was able to crawl out of the car amongst the broken glass and came out with just some cuts and scrapes on his arms and legs.  This morning was the fifth phone call like this that we have received saying he has been in a wreck and in each one the car had to be totaled.  This was the second time he has flipped a car over and has been able to crawl out without being hurt.  My God definitely has a plan and a purpose for my son’s life.
God is so good!  I was listening to J103 here at work over an hour ago and they just happened to have a preacher advertising on the station.  Guess what verse he was quoting?  Hebrews 11:1.   God is always with us and he sends little reminders like that to remind us that He loves us."

 "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see".  (Hebrews 11:1)

I'm Sorry Lord

Well, when the Lord speaks to me, I am GOING TO LISTEN.  He told me to stop procrastinating and put the things I'm writing on this blog. 

 It isn't that I have not written anything ...  I just let the enemy distract me - even tell me that it wasn't that important and that no one would read this blog.

I made a new commitment last weekend and "I'm All In!"  By the Grace of God, I'm NOT listening the the lies of the enemy.