Tag: God is faithful

God’s Waiting Room

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Waiting can seem like a curse word in today’s insta society. Patience can be a double curse word when culture teaches us that we should be able to snap our fingers and magically get our way. I promise I am not a huge fan of the waiting rooms of life. I am learning to rest in them, to find comfort in God’s character (God is good and is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes), and to seek God for what I am learning in the season of waiting.

I talk about how in March of 2018 I was laid off my full time job. It was the job I landed right out of college. I knew what to do, how to do it, and had comfort in my role. I was not expecting lay offs because our manager kept telling us we were okay. Side note, trust God not people. I felt prompted the weekend before my lay off (not knowing for sure it was coming), to go set up a business line. I was laid off and within days launched my first business Lamb Enterprises.

How does this apply to waiting? Glad you asked. It was 18 months before I ventured back into another corporate job. My business helped; definitely as a start up was making money, yet it was not at the level of the Engineering/ Research Scientist salary that I had.

I asked God for a specific type of replacement job. I made a list of what I desired in my next corporate job. I included the salary I wanted. I included the benefits I wanted. I mean I even asked God for a specific type of coworkers and bosses I wanted. I prayed, believed, and applied to jobs.

I think I applied to over 300 jobs during that 18 months. Yes! Gosh that was excessive. Offers came through, yet they were NOT what I asked God for at all. I had my list. I had given my desires to God. I delighted myself in God and continued to serve people in ministry with no pay (though it would have helped me to have even 20 dollars for gas). God took care of my every need.

Right before I got the current job, an offer came up with another company. It was decent, yet not what I asked for at all. I sensed God saying, “Do not take this job!” How many of you know that when you’re tired, there is a greater temptation to settle? God’s voice to me in that moment was so clear. I went to the car feeling depleted and discouraged. It was a sweaty and humid August day. I was exhausted from looking, and trying to amp up a business. I was ready to be done! I had tons of ministry people wanted me to do, yet most did not desire to pay me anything to be able to buy food and live. I was beyond ready to exit God’s waiting room.

Within a week a recruiter contacted me about a job that I did not apply for, she asked if she could send my resume. I said, “Why not?” I had one panel interview and received a job offer. This job is everything that was on my list and I can still run my businesses on the side. God exceeded my list actually.

What did I learn in my waiting room?

–Trust that God wants to exceed your expectations! The disclaimer here is God does not provide what is evil nor what draws us into sin. If what you desire is not good for you, then God blocks it.

–Be specific in prayer requests. This is not to boss God around and yes God knows already. This helps you to say no to what is not aligned with what you desire.

–God supernaturally provides. Ask, seek, knock. I asked no one for money during those 18 months. I asked God for an extra 1,000 a month to supplement my growing business. People from all over the USA and out of the USA would send money and say God told them to do it. When I asked for 3,000 a month, God provided. God grew my business. God made a way out of seemingly no way.

–Some days will be hard, frustrating, and there may be tears. Talk to God. Don’t turn to a coping mechanism (food, tv, zoning out…). Get into a place of telling God how you feel and ask for His help.

–Journal! I started a gratitude journal. Anything good that happened I noted it. I processed my days with God and bracketed my day in giving thanks.

–The people around you may not get your challenge or care. This one was hard for me. People knew my situation and some had no compassion or one person would ask “Are you still in your house?” The question was, “Have you been evicted yet?” I never missed one bill payment!! I never defaulted nor were any payments late. Some will find joy in your suffering or challenge. Do NOT try to lean on people, lean on God!!

–If you are struggling, ask God who to trust with that info. I did not blast my situation all over social media. I prayed and had a select crew praying with me. I hate to say this but some people like to see others struggling. It makes them feel better about their crappy life.

–Delight yourself in God! I had an incredible time deepening intimacy (knowing) God those 18 months. I learned more about God, myself, and had my trajectory shifted. I am not the same as I was going into the storm.

–Love God more than your desires from God. I love God and told Him that if I never received what I wanted, I would still be in a place of loving and worshiping Him. Money or a job are not my gods, nor my real source. My source is God.

God will help you. God is faithful. It does not feel like God is working when we cannot see His hands. When we cannot see His hands, we can trust His heart. God’s heart for us is pure. It is good.

We do our part. God does His part. I did not lay on my couch eating cheese puffs begging God for a job. I did not waste the time either. I published two books, launched my own publishing license, created a business, designed two websites, took a team to Asia for missions, planned for and executed a 200 person conference, launched a clothing line, preached at other conferences, networked with people, went back to school, got my PMP, took classes, went to charity events, and grew two businesses.

I learned I am more valuable than what I had previously settled for and being laid off was one of the greatest gifts God gave me. I would not have accelerated where I was. I was not always treated with respect or as a highly valuable person where I was. I had high stress and there were things I should not have settled for there. But God (always insert God), knew He desired more for me. The same goes for you! God desires His best for His children. Waiting is not a no. It is a not yet. Ask God to show you what you are learning and to guide your steps. He will!

I bless you! May you keep asking, seeking, knocking, and believing. May you sink into the Father’s love and know God desires the absolute best for you!! I am praying for you and cheering for you.

May our hope (expectation of good) be in God! Today you can proclaim, if you love God and are united to Him-“God is working all things together for my good.”

Weekend Devotion (God Wants Relationship) 

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Photo: Nay Crumors 

Morning Devotion: Knowing God (intimacy with God) is the most important thing…Not church attendance, tithing, church affiliation, serving, or being entertained. God is after personal, intimate relationship. 

Being with God, knowing God, trumps doing for God. Being is to lead to doing with the motivation to love God and others. 

When intimacy with God and knowing His heart and character are removed from Christianity you end up with powerless religion. 
We can spend our lives in church, paying tithes, doing Christian stuff, having great worship, and go to hell (totally miss God). How can I say this? Well, it came straight from the mouth of Jesus. Read Matthew 7:21-29, Matthew 25:31-46. 

Religion void of relationship leads to idolatry and oppression. The Pharisees had religion not relationship with God. 

Mankind without connection to the Vine (Jesus) yields no good fruit. See John 15:4-5. There is a form of godliness in religion void of transformative power and genuine agape love. That’s why the Bible was used as an excuse to kill millions of Native born Americans (First Nations people) or enslave Africans (deny them any human rights) or abuse women and deny them equal rights. So many horrific things have been done under the mask of “Christianity,” yet Jesus made it very plain. He stated, “You will know My followers by their agape love.” See John 13:35. 

Love fulfills the law because it does no harm to it’s neighbor (Romans 13:10). Love is holy and without any sin, including selfishness the most destructive sin. Love involves freedom and equality. Love is not rude nor full of mean sarcasm. Love builds up. Love gets low to serve not seeking to be served. Love has no prejudice. Love honors even the dishonorable. Love seeks the best interests of others. Love possesses humility (others matter). Love does not seek to dominate, control, hurt, harm, abuse, use, or harass others. 

There is a huge difference between someone who claims God and someone who knows God. The one who knows God grows to resemble God (1 John 4:8). Some of what we call Christianity is not about Jesus at all. It is traditions of men and void of God’s love, purity, and power. 

God invites us to know Him. All the other things flow out of knowing God. If I am intimate with God, I will want to give. If I am intimate with God, I will grow more loving. If I am intimate with God, I will want to fellowship with other believers. If I am intimate with God, I will want to serve. If I am intimate with God, I will want to share the Gospel. If I am intimate with God, I will humble myself and serve others. If I am intimate with God, the fragrance on my life will draw others to Him. Our strength lies in intimacy with God. 

Love, 

Erin Lamb 

The Promised Gift (Holy Spirit University (HSU) Series Part I)

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...the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you,~Jesus (John 14:26). 
Jesus promised the disciples a gift, a gift that would abide with those who place their ultimate faith in Him. 

Holy Spirit is an incredible gift, a gift that sustains, equips, empowers, loves, comforts, intercedes, blesses, gives spiritual gifts, imparts wisdom, and helps believers in incredble ways. 

Holy Spirit University (HSU) series is about doing life with the blessed Holy Spirit. I can not overstate the importance of Holy Spirit. 

Holy Spirit is not a wind or dove or fire-though symbolized this way in scripture. Holy Spirit has emotions, a will, a mind, insight, a voice (Holy Spirit speaks and teaches), and is perfect in every way.

Yielding to the Holy Spirit is vital to living a victorious life. 

Let’s read some scripture together: 

While being together and eating with them, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Of which,” He said, “you have heard Me speak. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized and empowered and united with the Holy Spirit, not long from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked Him repeatedly, “Lord, are You at this time reestablishing the kingdom and restoring it to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power and ability when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be My witnesses [to tell people about Me] both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth.”-Acts 1:4-8. 
Jesus spoke of this gift from God that would empower and equip the disciples. The Holy Spirit would give them holy boldness to be His witnesses. 

What on earth does Holy Spirit do? 

Part of the role of Holy Spirit is to empower us to do what Jesus did. 

Jesus did not say, “I am going to give you this gift that will help you do nothing. Please sit and do nothing until I return or you die. Also please stay the same way I found you.” 

The Holy Spirit within is a power house. This promised gift was to love, bring comfort, to teach, to be a seal on believers that they belong to God, to give power, holy boldness, counsel, give strength, reveal the righteous nature of God, sustain, impart spiritual gifts, provide wisdom, and so much more. 

Ready or not, here comes Holy Spirit!

The disciples walked with Jesus. I am certain there was attachment. He told them it was better that He go to the Father than remain with them. The Spirit of God would come and dwell with believers and inside of Spirit baptized believers. They would have this power house within them.

God fulfilled His word at Pentacost (Acts 2:1-13):

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].

Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout and God-fearing men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound was heard, a crowd gathered, and they were bewildered because each one was hearing those in the upper room speaking in his own language or dialect. They were completely astonished, saying, “Look! Are not all of these who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears in our own language or native dialect? Among us there are Parthians, Medes and Elamites, and people of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia [Minor], Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and the visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes (Gentile converts to Judaism), Cretans and Arabs—we all hear them speaking in our [native] tongues about the mighty works of God!” And they were beside themselves with amazement and were greatly perplexed, saying one to another, “What could this mean?” But others were laughing and joking and ridiculing them, saying, “They are full of sweet wine and are drunk!”
Many went on to share the Gospel of Jesus with exceptional boldness and clarity. This power house filled those in the upper room and changed their lives forever. 

The gift that produces victory!

It is impossible to live a victorious life without Holy Spirit. 

…you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)~Romans 8:9.

…the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words,~Romans 8:26. 

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God,~Romans 8:13-14. 

When you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,~Ephesians 1:13. 

Without the Holy Spirit our flesh or soul (human mind, will, emotions) will dictate our lives. The mind of the flesh wars against God, it cannot please God. Without the Holy Spirit, according to Romans 8:9, we do not belong to God.  We need this gift and to honor the blessing of the Holy Spirit. 

As we contunue on this study of Holy Spirit I pray we grow to have deeper intimacy with God. I pray we grow to know more about Holy Spirit and cultivate greater friendship with Him. 

Love, 

Erin Lamb 

Weekend Encouragement! 

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Morning Devotion: Strengthening yourself in the Lord. 

“Peace is not the absence of challenges or pain. Peace is the presence of Jesus.” 

“David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God,”~1 Samuel 30:6. 

The greatest weapon we have against disappointment, despair, unrest, distress, and spiritual attacks is relationship with God and reception of His word, love, comfort. 

There are dark nights in this life where no one will answer the phone to pray, no one will come sit with us, and no human being has the answer. These moments can be strengthening if we choose to use the tools God gave us. 

A person can drown in a small amount of water if they panic. Jesus responds to every storm, “Peace be still.” God did not say, “You will have no troubles, no pain, no heartache this side of heaven.” He did say, “In this world you will have trouble, yet take heart-I have overcome the world.” 

Learning to know God and cultivate intimacy with God in every day life prepares us for fierce storms with God. Having God’s word in us gives us a deep well to pull from when facing great challenges. What does His word say? What is true of God? Feelings try to hijack truth. Yet feelings are in no way an indication of truth. Feelings are fickle, unstable, and not to guide our lives. Feelings are indicators, not actual truth. 

Rather than jumping on the phone, our greatest weapon is going to God’s throne. “Here I am God. Life has presented some incredible challenges. I need you.” People can provide some relief yet none can do what God does. None can provide the solutions and wisdom or comfort of God. God is the strongest being on the planet. Our greatest strength lies in intimacy with God. 

Some, not all, of the most profound miracles in my life and encounters happened with just me and God. No one came to hold me, sit with me, love on me, care for me, pour out wisdom, or help me. It was me and God. Those moments taught me so much about who God is. I am thankful for community, my tribe, framily (friend family), and some support-yet they are not God. They are not all knowing, always present, their love is not perfect (nor is mine). God is God. He is our strength and our portion forever. 

“My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever,”~Psalm 73:26. 

Favor is not a feeling. Sometimes favor looks like being thrown into a pit by your siblings, sold into slavery, thrown into prison, and being lied on like Joseph. Sometimes it looks like facing Goliath or being outnumbered like David. Sometimes it looks like the Garden of Gethsemane, betrayed by your people/closest friends like Jesus. 

Favor does not always look or feel good. It cannot be measured by the chapter we walk in on or are currently experiencing. Favor comes from God and He fulfills His word to work ALL things together for a greater good for those who love Him and are called according to His purposes. Hold fast to truth over feelings or circumstances. 

Joseph, David, and Jesus gained Kingdoms! Do not give up in a temporary situation. Life here is temporary; heaven is eternal!

Papa for every hurting or discouraged person I ask for your incredible love, comfort, peace, and joy to saturate each heart. I ask for time alone with you and deeper intimacy with you. Any unhealthy emotions and thoughts to come into alignment with your truth. Lord may we find our strength in you and you alone. In Jesus powerful name. 

Love in Christ, 

Erin Lamb 

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. 

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).