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God is Pursuing You (Saturday Devotion)

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A deep, intimate, flourishing relationship/friendship with God is available to any person who wants one. He so loves the entire world. We have as much friendship with God as we desire. He is consistently pursuing the world, to love the world. 
God is never too busy, or too annoyed to be an incredible friend, loving Father. I have not met anyone who holds a candle to Him. God love (agape) far, far, far surpasses human love and only His (agape) love does not fail. 
Looking for love, be with God. I love people, yet they are not my source of love or security or identity or joy or confidence. God is. 
Being with God and receiving His love leads to…💛
💫Loving God (we love because He first loves us). 
💫Loving ourselves (we receive perfect love for ourselves from God, and grow to love ourselves unconditionally).
💫Loving others (we can only give what we possess and release what we carry. We love our neighbor as we love ourselves).
💫Godly confidence (it’s not about our thoughts or what we think of who we are. Who does God say we are). 
💫Peace and Joy (God’s love brings with it peace, contentment, and overflowing joy).
💫Wisdom and Understanding (His thoughts are far higher than mans. His wisdom incomparable).
💫Awe (intimacy with God evokes awe-how marvelous, majestic, wonderful, and glorious He is!!!).
💫Healing and Restoration (no one does it better than God. He gives beauty for ashes and joy for mourning).
💫Purpose and Identity (The purpose of something is known best by the One who created it).
💫Transformation (we are deeply changed not by our striving, but by abiding. Apart from Him we can do nothing). 
💫Courage and Compassion (the more intimate we are with God, the more His heart becomes our heart. His courage becomes our courage. Fear, selfishness, and pride dissipate in His presence, when we receive). 
So sweet ones, the invitation is open to all. Whosoever will let them come. God will not force Himself on anyone or into any busy schedule. He knocks on the door of the heart and says, “I love you. May I come in? I long to be with you and be known by you.” How He loves us so.

Papa God help us to respondto your  relentless pursuit! May we know You for who You are and know who we are in you. Help us to cease being busy and make time for the greatest love we could ever have. Thank You for everything. In Jesus mighty name, Amen. 

I leave you with one of my favorite worship songs: Wrap Me in Your Arms. 

Stories from the Street

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Hello beautiful friends! I have not forgotten about you. May was a busy month. We will reconvene the series on Abiding and Intimacy with God soon. 

I wanted to chat with you today about Operation God is Love. This is the third year of taking God’s love to the streets. My primary area is the arts district, and the surrounding areas. There are not churches in this area, with the exception of one Orthodox church. There are numerous bars, gay bars, shops, new age shops, and art galleries. 

There is also a large homeless population that gathers there to beg or look for food, supplies. 

I felt a pull in my spirit to this area. What better place to go than the area where there is minimal light. 

People have told me the most effective evangelism is relational, that it is a waste of time to go out monthly to love on people. I have been told as a women it is just not safe for me. God has not told me not to go. I also believe anywhere we take the Light of Jesus is making some impact for the Kingdom of God. So, I have included some stories from the street. I hope they inspire you to follow Jesus wherever He may go. 

Sebastian (name changed for privacy): 

We were looking for someone with a blue sweatshirt that day. We had prayed God would highlight someone who needed His love. I got the impression “Blue Sweatshirt”. As we walked the streets of the city it did not take long to find him. He was right there eager to know us. We were tied up with another man named John (name changed). I thought, “God let us find this man again,” and we did. 

Hours later while walking and praying we saw Sebastian sitting on a ledge with his head downcast. We asked about his life. He told us a very sad story that involved being kicked out of his house. He made the decision that day to kill himself. We asked him if we could pray for him. He responded yes. As we prayed, I bound the spirit of suicide and of death and commanded them to lift off him. You could see his countenance change. He stated he wanted to live. 

You can change a life by listening to God. 

Becky (name changed for privacy): 

As we were walking the streets and praying we came across Becky. Becky was selling newspapers to support the homeless. We asked about her life and once again tears began to flow. The Lord provided words of comfort, hope, healing that spoke right into her situation. She was blessed to be seen, loved, encouraged. 

Not every person you meet with a smile is smiling on the inside. Deposit hope wherever you go! 

John (name changed for privacy): 

John had a story that woukd break your heart. This was a 30 something man without any hope. We stopped for him and took him for pizza. He could not believe someone wanted to eat with him and be seen with him. He carried a heavy cloak of shame. Life had done a number on him. One of his statements stuck with me. He said, “You have no idea how many people look down on me. How many keep on walking by me. How many do not see me at all.” John cried. I still have his face burned into my memory. 

We can make a difference by acknowledging a life. It takes only a moment to smile and say, “God loves you,” or “Hello.” 

You and I have this awesome privilege of being Ambassadors for Jesus! We do not know if that person is suicidal or oppressed or what they truly need from God. We do know that God called us to love! 

Love looks like something,~Heidi Baker. 

Trisha (name changed for privacy): 

Sometimes I drive through this area and just worship/pray. One day I was driving and saw a lady begging on the corner. I normally give food, gift cards, not cash. I finally found a way to park and get to her. A meeting with one person led to a group gathering to talk about God’s love, His provision, and healing. 

One of the ladies who came could barely walk. I asked if I could pray over her. She said yes. I prayed a simple prayer commanding her body to come into alignment with heaven. She was able to walk away. God is the Healer. 

We can save a life! We can partner with Jesus to heal the brokenhearted. We can stand with God for the freedom of the oppressed. We can see God heal the sick. 

Today I go out again! I go with His love. I go expecting God to bless people. I am only one person, yet God only needs one. My team is small. What matters is following Jesus and allowing Him to love through us. You and I can partner with God to see lives transformed. 

Love, 

Erin Lamb

There Will Be Miracles (Manifesting Sonship Series Part VII)

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When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt [profound] compassion for them and healed their sick,~Matthew 14:14 (Amp) 

Be kind and helpful to one another, tender-hearted [compassionate, understanding], forgiving one another [readily and freely], just as God in Christ also forgave you,~Ephesians 4:32 (Amp). 

Miracle: a wonderful or unusual event that is believed to be caused by the power of God. An extraordinary event involving divine intervention. 

Adaptation from online Webster Dictionary. 

One of the greatest miracles is salvation. 

The birth of Jesus is an extraordinary event that involved divine intervention. God provided a way for all of humanity to come to know Him. 

The life of Jesus is filled with miracles. Scripture tells us He was moved with compassion (sympathetic consciousness of others pain coupled with a desire to alleviate it). Fueled by love and compassion Jesus brought divine intervention into the lives of many. 

As followers of Jesus He encourages us to do as we see Him doing. He tells to freely give as we have freely received. We are to be the heart, hands, feet, and mouthpiece of Jesus in the world. 

Here are some Scriptures to confirm those words.  

Heart of God: 

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you have love and unselfish concern for one another,~Jesus (John 13:34-35). 

I find it interesting that Jesus did not say, “The world will know My disciples by their Bible knowledge or activities or church attendance.” He said the world would know His disciples by their love (agape) and unselfish love for one another. 

I’ve caught quite a bit a slack over the years for talking so much about the love of God. I’ve been told to talk about the severity, wrath, God’s anger over sin. 

Will God judge the world for their sins? Yes. Does God hate sin and evil? Yes. Is God weak? No. Does God conform to our culture and sinful desires? No. Is Godly sorrow and repentance required for salvation? Yes. 

My stance is what the Bible says. “God is love (agape). Those who do not love (agape) do not know God,”~1 John 4:8. I’ve found my role is to present the truth to people in love. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict hearts. It’s God’s job to issue out any eternal consequences for the unrepentant. He told me to love people. Even my enemies. 

What does love look like? Love looks like Jesus. 

It requires the supernatural work of God through us to love the unlovely.  It’s a miracle (extraordinary, amazing, divine work of God) to consistently love like Jesus. 

Hands of God: 

…if your enemy is hungry; feed him. If he’s thirsty give him a drink,~Romans 12:20 (Amp). 

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give,~Matthew 20:8 (Amp). 

We are also encouraged to care for the poor (Proverbs 29:7). 

Being the hands of God means we are allowing God to work through us to bring miracles into the lives of people. Those miracles may be financial, physical, food, spiritual…

Some simply associate miracles with only healing; there are many acts of miracles that are provisional. 

Theses are two stories from this  past holiday weekend. I went to visit my dad and it often involves some ministry time. 

I was shopping with my dad and had to go to the ladies room. There was a lady in line complaining about her back pain. I felt led to ask her if I could pray, but she was talking. Finally I asked her if I could pray for her back. She exclaimed, “Yes!”

God brought healing to her back (decreased her pain) the Walmart bathroom. She exclaimed, “I guess prayer does work!” Always amazed how the unchurched believe more in healing than some Christians. 

Also thankful for the visit with the sick, mentally ill, and spiritually oppressed yesterday. One man the nurse told me was quite hostile and aggravated. He’s known to be combative and have fits of rage. He wouldn’t let the first person pray with him. Yet he let me. I stood in awe while the Holy Spirit moved the heart of this moments earlier angry man to tears. He raised his hands at one point and cried out, “God with You nothing is impossible!” He let me hug him and he laughed with me. He stated, “Today is going to be a good day and next year a good year!!” He smiled his first smile of the day.

Others who overheard the prayer time cried out, “Pray for me too! I want God to heal me too!!!” 

It was a great afternoon of loving on people and watching God do what He does; love, heal, and deliver.

God’s Feet and Mouthpiece: 

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated. And when they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted [that it was really He]. Jesus came up and said to them, “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”~Matthew 20:16-20. 

We are told to go. We are told to make disciples of Jesus. We are told to teach others what Jesus is teaching us. How will the world know if no one goes? How will the sick be healed if no one prays? How will the spiritually oppressed find liberty if no one is willing to go to the nursing homes and mental hospitals to pray?  

If all the saved people are blessing and loving saved people, who is attending to the lost? Some people can’t come to our worship gatherings. Someone has to go for them. 

One of my greatest loves is street ministry.  I’ve seen the love of God in high capacity on the streets with the hurting, broken, dying, addicted, and diseased.

I purposefully chose a bench for my photo choice. We are not called to sit and receive until we die. Our attitude is not to be, “God bless me and no one else!”

We are called to demonstrate to the world what God is like. We are representatives of the heart, hands, feet, and mouth of Jesus. Everyone gets to participate. It’s not simply for pastors. Every follower of Jesus is called to freely receive and freely give. 

I’ve gone through many situations where God brought the miracle without another human being. I know this is possible. He also loves to colabor with us. He gave His Spirit who empowers us to love, to serve, to go, to teach. 

Father I thank You for all You have done for us. Help us to abide in Your  love and power. May our hearts overflow with tremendous compassion for humanity. May the world see Christ in us, the hope of glory! 

Happy upcoming New Year! You are so deeply loved and prayed for. 

Erin Lamb 

God Esteem & Confidence (Manifesting Sonship Series Part IV)

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I love the story of Moses. He’s one of my Bible favorites. He was given a very challenging task by God and when God instructed Moses to be His spokesperson, Moses responded with his inadequancies. Has God ever asked you to do something and you responded with fear or all the reasons you couldn’t do it? I have. Let’s first look at some scripture. 

God at this point in Exodus 4 has already shown Moses His power. Go back and read Exodus 3 and 4. We are picking up at Exodus 4:10-17.

Then Moses said to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I am not a man of words (eloquent, fluent), neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; for I am slow of speech and tongue.” The Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Or who makes the mute or the deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now then go, and I, even I, will be with your mouth, and will teach you what you shall say.” But he said, “Please my Lord, send the message [of rescue to Israel] by [someone else,] whomever else You will [choose].”

Then the anger of the Lord was kindled and burned against Moses; He said, “Is there not your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know that he speaks fluently. Also, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be overjoyed. You must speak to him and put the words in his mouth; I, even I, will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you what you are to do. Moreover, he shall speak for you to the people; he will act as a mouthpiece for you, and you will be as God to him [telling him what I say to you]. You shall take in your hand this staff, with which you shall perform the signs [the miracles which prove I sent you].”

Moses was human just like us. Rejection doesn’t feel great. Being teased or ridiculed for a weakness doesn’t feel great either. In his shoes I may have thought the same thing, “Who am I to go speak for God?” I actually have had some interesting experiences with this. 
God tells us to find our identity in Him not our gifts, talents, eloquence, knowledge, or performance. Even if we are the best at what we do, we pale in comparison to God. Not even close…to matching His perfection. It’s not about us, it’s about Him. 

Purity is Powerful (Spiritual House Series Part VI)

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Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God,~Matthew 5:8. 

Beautiful friends it’s been great to go on this journey with you into house cleaning. It had been on my heart for awhile and in our current culture there’s a prevelant lie that’s hurting millions of people. 

The lie is there are no consequences for sin if you’re in Christ. If you simply believe in Jesus, make a confession of faith, then you may live as you please without any consequences.

This lie hurts us for many reasons: 

1. It sets people up for a cycle of sin confess instead of true repentance (changing the mind about sin). Repentance leads us to restoration. 

Sin cost Jesus His life. He was the living sacrifice, atoning sacrifice for our sins. We then, in Him, are called to offer our very lives over to Him as a living sacrifice. Our lives are no longer our own, meaning He becomes Lord. 

He’s a good Lord too! He’s no bully or control freak or kill joy. He gives lasting joy. He is joy. 

Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power),~James 5:16. 

There’s a tremendous blessing placed in and on our lives when we obey God. Our obedience is not to win approval or be saved by works. It’s an act of love that brings blessing into our lives. 

2. When our minds are filled with lies, immoral thoughts, jealousy and envy, perversion, pride, fill in the blank with anything unholy…our minds miss clearly/accurately seeing God. 

There are natural things that are good. I’m not stating you think about Bible verses all day. I often think about friends, family, nature, how funny something is.

I do know when my mind starts thinking on things that are negative or lies (ex. this is hopeless…), it doesn’t help me to see God. 

Sin always takes the focus off God and placed it onto us, onto problems (fear/worry/dread), onto others in a negative way (Why is God blessing that person? Why are they getting away with that?), or objectifying a person (lust), looking down on someone (prejudice, racism, sexism), exalting self (pride), debasing self (pride/unbelief)…

Sin robs us of the opportunity to see what God is doing. It robs us of intimacy (knowing Him). It starts in our minds then often translates to our words and actions. 

The Bible tells us…

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart],~Phillipians 4:8. 

Seeing God is important. Jesus only did what He saw the Father doing. He was powerful because He stayed in alignment with the Father. He pursued the Father’s will above everything else. 

Purity is powerful. 

Purity says, “My soul (mind, will, emotions), body, and spirit will be yielded to God to be purged of what’s not like Him.” 

When He’s the focus, the lies have been renounced and I’m fully submitted to Him, I hear and see Him more clearly. 

3. When we offer our bodies over to sin, the Bible says we become slaves to sin. Truly we are either obeying God or the devil. Ouch! It’s harsh but true. Adam and Eve chose to obey the devil giving him authority in their lives. We give the devil authority that Jesus stripped from him when we choose to obey him instead of God.

Do you not know that when you continually offer yourselves to someone to do his will, you are the slaves of the one whom you obey, either [slaves] of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness (right standing with God)?~Romans 6:16. 

So why pursue purity? 

To honor God, honor others, and see God. As we behold God we become like Him. The world needs believers who look and act like Jesus. 

For years I believed the lie that the Father didn’t love me as much as others because life seemed hellish, traumatic, and a series of disappointments. As long as I believed that lie, I missed out on divine encounters with Him. My sin of unbelief blocked me from seeing God. 

When I focused on other’s blessings, I missed counting my own. 

When I was complaining, I missed opportunities to bless others and thank God. 

What if your mind is a mess or you’re stuck in sin/confess cycles? 

The good news is God is powerful. There’s inner healing and deliverance available. For every action (symptom) there’s a root cause. 

Most addictions are a cry for comfort. Holy Spirit is the Comforter. 

Many issues are manifestations of insecurity and an orphan spirit. God is our Father and His perfect love casts out fear, lust, greed, gluttony, jealousy, promiscuity, materialism, inferiority, shame, pain…

So here’s what I do (I’m in this with you). 

1. I ask Holy Spirit to search my heart and reveal any hidden sin or lies I’m believing. 

I confess my sins to God regularly, almost daily. Immediately if I know I did something wrong. I ask for His healing virtue to heal my soul (sin wounds the soul). I renounce lies and ask Him to replace them with truth. 

2. I fast and pray. 

After my mum died I developed quite the sugar addiction. Yum. Not really. God asked me to fast from sugar for 21 days. It was painful because I then had to grieve. I had to go through the cycles of grieving. It was awful at first. Yet He taught me to rely on Him for comfort. I didn’t realize that’s what I was doing (using sugar to deal with pain). He knew. And this was around Halloween so there was candy everywhere! Ha! Once the comfort was received from Him, the fast was completed, the addiction to sweets was broken. Haven’t struggled since. I’m a huge proponent of fasting. 

3. I watch what I’m feasting on. 

I don’t have cable. I read books. I have certain shows or movies I watch on Netflix. I don’t feast on things that promote immorality. 

One of the guys I know joked all I do is pray. This is false. I have tons of fun. I have continual inner communion with God, yet I’m not bored. I have more joy than my fellows who watch hours of TV. 

What we feast on grows. Our media is saturated with images that tell us we don’t have enough (buy more), we are not beautiful, handsome, talented or rich enough, or they are pushing a sexually immoral situation (depends on the channel). 

So I feast on what’s helping me become more like Christ or at least what’s not polluting my mind. 

4. I ask God to keep me pure; in thought, action, and in deeds. 

5. I spend as much time as possible alone with God because I can in this season of my life. 

Papa God, I ask Your Spirit would saturate our hearts and minds with Your truth. Help us Lord to grow in Christlikeness by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Empower us to say YES to Your will. Cleanse us of all unrighteousness. Help us to renew our minds and feast on what’s holy, good, and pure. I bind every spirit that’s not Your Holy Spirit. Lord for those ready and willing to walk out freedom I ask for divine deliverance. May we look like You in character and deed. In Jesus powerful name, amen. 

Love,

Erin Lamb

Where’s My Miracle? (Miracle Series)

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I love the story of Jesus and Lazarus. While Jesus is away, His friend Lazarus dies. When word comes to Jesus about His friend, He didn’t run to the rescue. Jesus shows up 4 days after Lazarus died. You can read the story here John 11. 

The great part of the story is Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. Yeah King Jesus! 

What about the situations in your life where it seems there’s no hope or miracle coming? I want to speak to those times in this post. 

I’ve heard people say, “You have no right to question God.” Well, from what I’ve read in the Bible many people questioned and dialogued with God. It’s approaching Him in humility saying, “I’d love to understand what You’re doing. Would you share with me?”

Preventing future harm…

(Names changed to protect privacy)

There was Jon (not his real name).  Jon wanted all the ladies. Women where like toys. They were used and tossed aside. He treated women horribly. He destroyed many lives. He delighted in his looks and charm. Well, one day Jon was in a car accident and he died. People prayed and Jon was raised to life. He lost his looks. Jon stated more than anything in the world he “loved” being with women. Jon has limited to no ability  to ruin more women’s lives. People prayed for his total physical restoration. Yet, Jon is limited to a living with caregivers. 

Then there was Amy (not her real name). Amy abused drugs and sold her body. One day she was in a horse back riding accident that caused her to be paralyzed from the waist down. She was told she’d never walk again. This accident forced her to cease selling her body and using drugs. She began to seek God. I am not stating God caused the accident. 

One day God healed her completely. Amy then decided to go back to a life of doing drugs, prostituing herself, and she abandoned her desire for God. The last I heard of Amy we were trying to rescue her from being sex trafficked. She ended up in rehab and I know nothing of her whereabouts now. 

Do I believe God wants people healed and whole? Yes. Jesus paid for healing on the cross. Do I think God cares about every detail of our lives? Yes. Do I believe God puts sickness on people? No. Sickness and death are results of the fall. Do I believe we sometimes miss part of the equation when pursuing a miracle? Yes. 

Both Jon and Amy needed inner healing. You see it’s not enough for the body to be healed, the mind and  emotions need healed too. Jon and Amy also needed deliverance from the spiritual issues that were driving them to destructive behaviors…what does it matter to have a healed body and end up going to hell? God does heal people who reject Him. Yet I know He cares deeply about the fate of each soul. 

Issues beneath the surface…

Which leads me to….Deborah (not her real name). Deborah had a physical impairment. As we prayed for her there seemed to be some breakthrough, but not full breakthrough. Finally we got to a major root issue: unforgiveness. Once we walked her through forgiving someone she began to have more breakthrough. End of the story, she experienced some physical breakthrough. So much of it was spiritual and emotional. The last area to have improvement was her body and there’s still more breakthrough needed. There were many things God wanted to do inside this sweet lady. While we were initially focused on one thing, God was interested in healing the whole person. 

He’s blessing everyone else…

Does God have favorites? Is He ignoring you? No.

For a long season I thought I was being punished. It was one bad season after another. I watched my friends have their dreams come true, and have no major issues or problems. Meanwhile I was battling crisis after crisis. I had so many tragic things happen. There were many miracles and some things died and were not resurrected. 

God isn’t dead…or deaf…nor has He ceased performing miracles…

God hears our cries. Some breakthroughs are immediate. Some take time. If you read the book of Daniel you will see after he prayed the answer was delayed 21 days. Some breakthroughs come through intercession, waiting, or God just shows up and bam👊🏼. I’ve found breakthrough can be hindered by unbelief, murmuring, complaining, or living out of a sense of entitlement (God owes me something). Sometimes God is preparing us for the miracle. 

Stacy and Matt (names changed) could not get pregnant. We prayed and prayed. Once they gave up on getting pregnant, they started saving for adoption. Once they paid off their debt and were financially ready for a child, they got pregnant. God’s timing was perfect. 

The same goes for singles. God loves to give good gifts. Are you preparing for marriage? Will you steward well someone’s heart and life? Have you learned to love God most? Are you loving the people already in your life well? 

Are you preparing for what you’re asking God for? 

What’s God doing in the meantime? 

Working in us! Deepening our dependence on Him. I’ve learned more about God in the tough seasons than I ever have on the mountain top. I learned the intensity of His love, comfort, and power. While other kids were playing. I was learning how to pray because miracles were needed. 

There are so many more stories I could tell you. There are still things I’m waiting on, promises spoken that seem to have minimal or no fruit. 

Learning from experience with God, when I can’t see His hand, I can trust His heart. You may laugh…I often preach sermons to my own soul. I must. I encourage myself in His word, “Papa Your word says…You cannot lie. You are so faithful to Your word….” I have daily declarations. I speak His words over my circumstances. 

I’d be lying if I said there haven’t been tear stained face days, days of unanswered questions…Days, to weeks, to months mending broken dreams or a broken heart. What I can say to you is this. 

God sees.

God hears.

God loves you. He loves you more than you could love anyone. 

If He doesn’t deliver you from, He’ll deliver you through. 

God doesn’t waste pain. He heals, redeems, and restores. He gives joy for mourning! I know this so well…

What matters to you, matters to Him. 

Jesus paid it all.

It’s good to ask, “God what are You trying to teach or show me?” 

My favorite prayers, “God help! Increase my faith!” 

Delay is not denial. Pray…believe God hears you. 

God’s plan is good. It doesn’t always feel good. Sometimes it’s SO painful. Yet, in the end it will make sense. 

God can be trusted. 

It’s darkest right before breakthrough.

Who God is trumps what He does. In every season He’s worthy of love and worship.

Your breakthrough sets you up to see someone else get breakthrough. 

Your words during times of crisis matter. Words are seeds. If you don’t want it to grow, cease speaking death and doubt filled words. 

Loving you sweet friends. Praying for your breakthrough and increase in faith. You’re prayed for daily! Don’t lose hope. You may be just a few days away from a miracle!  

Love, 

Erin 

The Awesome Power of God (Miracle Series)

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“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him,~Matthew 7:9-11. 

The Bible says we overcome the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. There’s a fuel that’s poured on our faith when we hear the stories of others overcoming! 

The Bible is filled with stories of God’s awesome power; creating the world and every living creature from His imagination, speaking through a burning bush, providing manna from heaven and quail for His people, sending His Son through a virgin, raising the dead, cleansing lepers, multiplying fish and loaves, multiplying oil, leading by a pillar of fire, parting the Red Sea, defeating armies and giants, delivering His people from the grips of slavery and death…from Genesis to Revelation there’s story after story of miracles. 

All you need is to pick up the Word of God. God is not limited. If He doesn’t do something, it’s not because He can’t. 

I wanted to post more stories of miracles because I believe in God’s power to move mountains. I also believe if people saw and heard of more miracles today, it would fuel theif faith. God hasn’t ceased being powerful! 

If you ever spend time with me, you’d probably be surprised. I laugh quite a bit. I have a child like giggle. I love to play, especially with my heavenly Papa. I’m such a child with Him. I’m part 5 year old, part 100 year old. I am a young adult who feels I’ve been with God for eternity. Why do I tell you this?  Because when you read these stories I want you to understand that I am not super impressive. God is! 

I listed last post some of the physical healings I’ve encountered and seen. What about other miracles…today I share some of those. 

Financial Breakthroughs…

I had a double major in college. I studied chemical engineering for three years, then switched to civil/environmental. Even with scholarships I came out of college with debt. I told the Lord I wanted to be debt free to help more people. The mountain in front of me was quite large. 

Here’s what God did. He provided a job that allowed overtime and a boss who liked to give bonuses. I worked 3 jobs my last year, had a full course load, and still managed to graduate with a B average. That’s a miracle. He sent someone to pay a third of my student loan debt. The list goes on and on…that massive mountain is now a hill. Because nothing is impossible for God. He has unlimited resources. Money is not an issue for God. 

There’s someone I know who’s a business owner and had tons of taxes to pay and the business was sinking and she was praying for help or someone to buy her out. She texted me. I prayed a prayer of breakthrough. God’s able. An hour later a client called and gave her enough for the taxes plus extra. The same week more people called to use her business. She’s rebounding.

Sometimes we are used to bring breakthrough to others because we’ve gotten breakthrough. 

Marriages restored…. 

I’ve never been married. I can only speak of the people I know and have prayed for. Names not used to protect privacy. 

One couple was in despair due to his addiction and their inability to have children. It was a very bad situation. We prayed…and prayed…the husband eventually gave himself fully to God and gave up his pornography addiction. He was healed and delivered. A year or so later, they had their first child. We call her the miracle baby! 😊

Another couple was headed for divorce due to his verbal abuse and mistreatment of his wife. The entire marriage was filled with abuse and control. We prayed…prayed…prayed…I gave the wife a book on love written by a well known Christian author. She gave it to her husband to read. He broke down in tears and confessed his sins to God and his wife. Their marriage has been completely restored. God turned a heart of stone into a soft one. Yeah God!

Salvations…

I want everyone to go to heaven…don’t you? I spent a long time praying for my family. I spent many years being rejected by certain people because I talked about Jesus too much, I was preachy….this past year in a period of a few months ALL my siblings came to know Jesus. Even the one who was super opposed to Jesus. He found himself facedown on New Year’s Eve praying in the Spirit. A radical conversion. 

We sow the seeds, we trust God to bring the plow. No word from Him fails or returns void. 

Protection….

I told you I’ve cheated death about 7 times. Yet one of the greatest stories is God protecting me from coworkers. My first job in my field out of college I was met with persecution. My program manager hated me. A girl on my team tried to turn everyone against me. They’d sabatoge trials, lie, gossip, bully, try to get me fired, talk down to me….it was a hostile work environment. I went to HR….they were not super helpful. My bosses at the time were the opposite of helpful. I wanted to quit many times. So, my family and I went to God in prayer. Fasting and praying. After 4 years of being bullied, God moved me from under her and those teams. I lost many programs…it was hard. I’d go in the bathroom and cry. I am not a big crier (unless it’s with God). Yet the hell I was walking through was unbearable some days. Yet through grace, God never allowed me to retaliate. After I left those program that woman walked up to me and said, “I know the Spirit of God is in you.” She gave her life to Jesus. I lost years, yet God allowed me to be promoted twice since then and now I oversee the largest test team in our unit. It was my Saul and David, Joseph experience. Yet through it all God protected and promoted. 

There are more stories of God’s protection yet I will save those for later…

What’s your mountain? God is so much bigger! What are you afraid of? God is so much stronger. He’s really good. Just like He gave Job double for his trouble, King David a kingdom, Jospeh prominance, Jesus a seat at His right hand….you can trust that linking your life to God will be good. It may not be until heaven until you see the good that’s accomplished. Or it may be this side of heaven. Hang on. I know it’s hard. Been there. Walked through some steep valleys I never thought I’d make it through. I have cried myself to sleep at night. I know sweet friends….but God! He’s 100% faithful! 

Father I ask for every person reading this to cast their burdens on You. I ask for miracles in their lives. I decree and declare breakthrough in every area held up or bound up by the evil one. I release peace, joy, love, and hope! Fan the flame of their faith. In Jesus powerful name. Amen. 

Solitude and Conversations with God (Intimacy with God Part VI)

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Jesus often retreated from the people to pray. Passage from Luke 5:12-16.

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

The passage from Luke does not tell us that Jesus sometimes withdrew to lonely places and prayed. It says He did it often. I truly believe if we read of Jesus doing something, we should pay attention because He only did what was in alignment with the Father.

Prayer is simply communication with God. If you’re in a relationship with someone, that relationship requires communication. The foundation for intimacy (into-me-see) is built on fellowship, experience, and communication. Without communication, the other pillars of the relationship begin to crumble. They tumble to the ground.

God invites us to know Him. He offers the invitation for intimacy.

Why do we talk to God?

Because we want to build a relationship with Him. He already knows us. Do we know Him?

Because we love God. We talk to people we love.

Because God enters situations He’s invited into. If we don’t pray, He’s not invited.

Because we need God. He said apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5).

Why do we retreat to lonely places to pray?

So we can hear God more clearly and be free of distractions. Alone time together is more intimate. You can give the other person your undivided attention. Hopefully, they also have yours.

We talk to God and listen to God because we love Him, respect Him, value Him, cherish Him, and we want to know His thoughts.

When was the last time you asked God, “What is your perspective on this situation? God will you give me heaven’s vantage point? God will you show me how to love this person? Will you give me insight into solutions to this world problem? God how do you view me? ”

When we don’t pray (talk to God), we are often leaning on our own understanding. We are worrying and fretting, filled with fear. We are powerless in areas of our lives because we have not yielded to the wisdom of God. We are anxious and insecure. We are not abiding, we are striving.

Effective ways to pray:

Talk to God. He’s listening. You have His undivided attention. The Creator of the Universe has given you His undivided attention. Whoah! That’s enough to pause and say, ” Wow.” He’s more important than any earthly president, King or Queen, or celebrity. He’s our loving Father. You don’t have to have a long, rehearsed prayer. Talk to your Papa.

Listen. One of the ways God speaks is through His word. A verse may pop into your mind or a portion of a sermon. Don’t dismiss it. Ask God for wisdom, insight, and to speak to your heart. Then listen.

Pray God’s word. I’ve been doing this a very long time and was encouraged at a conference last weekend when both teachers encouraged praying God’s word. You can find scripture prayers at the top of this website. God’s word does not return void. It accomplishes all it’s sent out to do (Isaiah 55:11). Seeds of His word are spread to the world as you pray His word. They are watered by Him and bring forth a harvest.

Thank God. Have you ever had a relationship with an ungrateful person? They just continually have their hand out and complain to you with their problems. If so, you know it doesn’t feel good. God likes to be thanked. Yes He does. He is not fond of complaining. Yes, we can air our concerns to God…yet the Bible tells us to continually give thanks.

Intercession. Pray (ask God to help) for other believers all over the world. Talk to God about things outside your realm of influence. Talk to Him about everything.

Jesus told the disciples how to pray with the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6). It’s a great prayer. We are invited into relationship. My prayers may sound different than yours. One of my frequent prayers is, “God what are you saying? Who do you want to bless today? What’s on your heart ?” Another one is “Thank you Papa.”

May we seek God for He is glorious! He is outstanding. And He loves to be with His children. He adores you. He wants the best for you.

Papa God, may we know our inheritance in Christ and come boldly before you. Fill us to overflowing with your wisdom and give us an unquenchable desire for Jesus. May we steal away and grow to know you even more. In Jesus powerful name, amen.

Pray for the World (90 Day Initiative)

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Prayer is powerful because the One who hears us is powerful. Unified prayer is powerful.

We see so many problems on the news and I can say with great confidence we need God. If you read the news you know we desperately need miracles and God’s protection all over the world. We can not be sleepy or apathetic. God has solutions. He is the solution.

The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing! It tells us that the prayers of a righteous person availeth much. That God is just, powerful, and moves on behalf of His people. We can make a difference in our world today. Let us pray. Let’s pray God’s Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s pray the word of God. His word does not return void. It accomplishes all it is sent out to do.

This prayer initiative has already started, yet I’d love for you to join. It’s not simply for 90 days, yet placing a number on it helps some people to focus. Many won’t commit to years of prayer.

I will post another page with scripture prayers for the world.

“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land,”~God (2 Chronicles 7:14).

Love in Christ,

Erin

Awakening and Harvesting (2015)

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These are encouraging words, impressions, visions I felt the Father place on my heart for 2015. I hope they encourage you. Don’t give up on believing God is faithful to fulfill His promises to you. Certainly weigh everything against God’s word and be led by His Holy Spirit. You are deeply loved.

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Awakening and Harvesting (2015)

There are many who have been sleeping and those who have been on the front lines feeling alone and defeated. 2014 was a year of sowing and for many it was sowing in tears. For others it was sowing in the secret places with God. For others it was sowing in the marketplace and fields. Daily sowing yet not seeing a harvest. It felt as though the tasks were mundane and unfruitful.

Some wanted to give up hope.
Some gave up hope.
Some dropped dreams in ditches and threw dirt over them.

Truly believe 2015 will be a year of awakening for those lost in slumber. Spiritual awakening for those caught in dead religion. Awakening for those just going through the motions. Supernatural spiritual growth for those who stay connected to Jesus and doors flinging wide open for those who have clung to His promises.

Those who have sown in tears reaping joy.
Those who have sown sacrificially into God’s Kingdom will see harvests springing up all around.
They will reap more than they have sown.

Have a vision of many laying right on the doorway to their destiny and promise, yet they’ve felt so defeated they have no energy to step over. I see there is help on the other side of the door and hear the words, “Don’t faint now! The harvest is plentiful. Don’t lose faith now. You can’t give up now.”

Though you’re weary and tired, God is not. You can rest in God’s arms. He’s refueling those who are worn out. Filling them up to be poured out again. Those who cease striving will sense God’s peace that surpasses understanding. They will stand under the massive shade of His provision. They will stand as oaks of righteousness.

Blessed are the sowers for their harvest is plentiful! God is not unjust to forget the labor of love and the things done for His people. He has not forgotten any promises He has made. He’s faithful to keep every single one.

See trees taking deeper roots to withstand strong winds and storms. They will bear fruit in every season and train up others to understand the ways of God. They will teach others how to thrive in difficulty.

Divine appointments and divine alignments in 2015. Sense God is connecting people who need to be connected for their alliances will prove extremely beneficial. 1 can chase a thousand and 2 ten thousand.

As stated in Dreams and Visions, I continue to see God raising up His Bride, cleansing her, unifying her, calling atrophied parts of the Body to movement, and sending her out to destroy evil in the world.

Stay encouraged. Stay focused on Jesus. Stay in His Word. Stay connected to Him and other like minded believers. Let’s stand firm in faith in 2015. We are deeply loved by God (John 3:16).