I've got her covered

What do you do when you mess it up? Oh, pardon me, you probably never do anything wrong. Is that the case? 

When I am wrong, I promptly admit it to my spiritual lawyer and ask him for help.

1 John 2:1 says, “If we sin, we have an advocate (lawyer, defense attorney) with the Father—Jesus Christ.”
When the enemy accuses me, he steps forward and pronounces, "Not guilty! I've got her covered by my blood."

I don't have to change to be loved by God

As Pastor Dickow often says, “You don't have to change in order to be loved. Believe you're loved by God, and you will change. (Romans 2:4)

I don't have to be afraid that he will stop loving me either. God loves me with perfect love. Perfect love casts out fear.(1 John 4:17).

Father, please help me to feel loved.

Faith comes from hearing the Word of God.

The better I know God, the more I trust him. Faith comes from hearing the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Thanks-giving is the highest form of faith. Having an attitude of gratitude for the things I have already been blessed with keeps me happy. When I see a promise in God's Word, I ask for it. He is faithful to give it to me because I am his child and he loves me.

The Birth of Jesus as Described in the Book of Luke

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they

were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:
      “Glory to God in the highest,
      And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Luke 2 NKJV

I Am a Winner

Today, I am going to change my focus from what's against me, to WHO's for me. IF GOD BE FOR US, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)

Today, I am asking God to open my spiritual eyes so I can see all the angels he has already sent to fight my battles for me.

The Boaz Blessing

"Friends, God has gotten a full report of everything you have ever sacrificed to follow Him and to show love to the people He has put in your life.  He did get the memo and He is well pleased with you.

And now may God repay you for what you have done for Him, and may He provide a full reward to honor and show His appreciation for all you have sacrificed for Him and others."

Ben Peter's version of the Boaz Blessing

Do you sound like Joseph?

This isn’t the way I planned it, God. Not at all. My child being born in a stable? This isn’t the way I thought it would be. A cave with sheep and donkeys, hay and straw? My wife giving birth with only the stars to hear her pain?

This isn’t at all what I imagined. No, I imagined family. I imagined grandmothers. I imagined neighbors clustered outside the door and friends standing at my side. I imagined the house erupting with the first cry of the infant. Slaps on the back. Loud laughter. Jubilation.

That’s how I thought it would be.

But now…Who will celebrate with us? The sheep? The shepherds?

The stars?

This doesn’t seem right. What kind of husband am I? I provide no midwife to aid my wife. No bed to rest her back. Her pillow is a blanket from my donkey.

From One Incredible Savior: Celebrating the Majesty of the Manger
Max Lucado

I often sound like that. What about you?

Do you expect gifts?

Have you ever wondered why God gives so much? We could exist on far less. He could have left the world flat and gray; we wouldn’t have known the difference. But he didn’t.

He splashed orange in the sunrise
and cast the sky in blue.
And if you love to see geese as they gather,
chances are you’ll see that too.

Did he have to make the squirrel’s tail furry?
Was he obliged to make the birds sing?
And the funny way that chickens scurry
or the majesty of thunder when it rings?

Why give a flower fragrance? Why give food its taste?
Could it be he loves to see that look upon your face?

If we give gifts to show our love, how much more would he? If we—speckled with foibles and greed—love to give gifts, how much more does God, pure and perfect God, enjoy giving gifts to us? Jesus asked, “If you hardhearted, sinful men know how to give good gifts to your children, won’t your Father in heaven even more certainly give good gifts to those who ask him for them?” (Matt. 7:11 TLB).

From One Incredible Savior

Max Lucado

Are you discouraged today?

I will make a conscious decision to live with an attitude of gratitude today. I will find at least five things in the following 24 hours to be grateful for.

Remember what the Word of God says in Nehemiah 8:10, “I will not be grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is my strength and stronghold.”

Me? Successful?

As I renew my thoughts to God's Word, I end up doing what He wants me to do. Most of the time I don’t feel like a successful person.

Joseph didn’t think he was a successful man when sold in slavery by his brothers. But the bible tells us, “The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man….And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.”

       When I feel down I encourage myself in the Lord declaring, “I am a prosperous woman because God lives in me, I am sealed by the Holy Spirit and adopted in God’s family.”

Give thanks to the Lord!

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever!
I am going to keep my attitute of gratitude throughout the year.This is an expression of true faith to thank Him before you get what you pray for.

You are unique!

In 1 Peter 2:9 the bible tells you that you are, “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

You are special people, unique. You reflect different aspects of God’s individuality. He made you who you are so you can make known to the world who he is.

There Is a Solution

There is a solution to every problem. Find it in the Word. Live with the “solution” mentality, not with the “problem” mentality. As the saying goes, “When life offers you lemons, make a lemonade.”

Restoration

There is a promise in the bible that the thief has to repay seven-fold of what he has stolen. (Proverbs 6:31) The devil, the economy, alcohol, drugs, fear—all these are thieves which are supposed to give back to us what they have stolen. I am going to recover all that has been lost in my life. God will avenge me. I call forth a seven-fold return in Jesus’ name.

When in doubt

When you’re experiencing doubt—doubt that God exists, or that He keeps His promises—where in the Bible can you turn for reassurance?

1. Jeremiah 29:11-13: “‘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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’”

2. Psalm 91: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust….’”

3. Psalm 27:13-14: “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

4. Isaiah 54:16-17: “‘See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,’ declares the LORD.”

5. Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.”

The last verses have proved right over and over in my life. When in doubt of what action to take, I ask for his wisdom and follow carefully the prompts he gives me.

IF ONLY...

"If only…,” I often think. If only I had a different background, if only so and so will give me a break, if only I were rich, if only my marriage was better, if only…things would have been different.

 My Pastor Gregory Dickow advises us to drop the “if” and face life with faith. The four friends of the paralytic couldn’t find a way in the house because of the crowd. So they went up on the roof. (Mark 2:4)

I want to experience the untraditional ways of faith. Instead of accepting I was an immigrant and my English would never be good enough to publish a book, I did it. Because I know that it is God who “crowns me with victory.” He satisfies my life with good things, so that my youth, vitality and outlook on life is refreshed and renewed. And I love him for that.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE PROBLEM!

I tend to think, When I overcome my problem I am really going to be happy.

As pastor Dickow says, “The problem is not the problem. It’s how you look at it!”

When the disciples were in the boat and water was flooding it, they forgot that the “Problem Solver” was in the boat with them and focused on the problem.

Lord, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I, when together, cannot handle! (as posted on the wall of the EDI club)

Stop crying!

Stop crying! Start praying instead, I often remind myself. Jesus has already paid the price for my happiness.

As Isaiah 53:4-5 reminds me, “Surely, He has borne my grieves and carried my sorrows and pains. He was wounded for my transgressions; He was bruised for my guilt and iniquities. The chastisement needful to obtain peace and well-being for me was upon Him and with the stripes that wounded Jesus, I am healed and made whole.”

I chose to be grateful, Lord. I chose to praise you for your great love and mercy for me! Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit! (Psalm 51:12)

God is a God of Restoration

“I will restore the years that have been lost,” promises God in Joel 2: 25-26.

I expect restoration of lost relationships, lost money, lost hope and lost opportunities. God will avenge me. I firmly believe that God will return seven-fold of what has been taken from me. I call forth that seven-fold return in Jesus’ name. I prophesy that the best is yet to come in my life.

I Believe in the Creativity of God

I Believe in God’s Creativity. He is creative in meeting our needs. As my pastor Gregory Dickow often says, he is not limited to money and job as a way for providing. He caused water to gush out of a rock, manna to fall out of heaven and fish to fill the nets in an empty lake. He is Jehovah Jireh—our Provider. (Genesis 22:8)

When we arrived as legal immigrants in USA eleven years ago, my husband, who spoke no English, had no qualification for  the job he applied for, and appeared at the interview dressed as a hobo, got the job. I, on the other hand, who had MA in English, had worked as an airtraffic controller and appeared at every interview with a business suite couldn’t find a single company to hire me. Overqualified! That’s how I was labled. Untill I learned my lesson to trust God and only God for a job and for everything else.

I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY FINANCES AND WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND ME

I trust God as a true source for my provision. I cast my cares upon him and tell him how scared I am for not having a fulltime job and no medical insurance for my family.

Most of the time the Holy Spirit assures me, “The Father will provide. He cares about you. He reminds me of Philippians 4:6-8, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

But there are times when I feel just like this baby.

Do you know God?

Have you experienced the miracle of baptism in the Holy Spirit, of redemption, of deliverance from demons, addictions, alcohol, eating disorders?  Dow you want to acquire supernatural provision for the bills to be paid; to deal with self-pity, low self-esteem, and generational curses? Do you pray to be healed with no result? Do you need a hotline to the throne of Grace?

You can find answers in The Red Dress Decision: True Stories of a Life Filled with God’s Miracles.

How do I know I am a successful woman?

As pastor Gregory Dickow says, "I don't need to wait for success to come my way. I am a prosperous and successful person because God is with me and in me. Wherever I go I bring success." I am valuable because the Holy Spirit abides in me.God himself chose to live in me. He could have chosen to live on another planet but he chose me. And he loves me so much he sent Jesus to die for me. I am the apple of his eye. I am unique. I am his precious child.