Tag: Knowing God

God Knows Fully Your Feelings & Emotions (Heart of God Series Part I)

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I love all the stories in the Bible about Jesus. He’s beyond incredible and perfectly represented the Father. He was and is one with the Father. 

Today, I wanted to start a new series on the feelings and emotions of God. Have you ever pondered, “Does God know how I feel? Does He truly understand what’s going on in my heart and soul? Is He watching life happen from a distance?” If so, this post may encourage you. 

I love the story of Mary, Martha, Lazarus, and Jesus. Lazarus dies and Jesus stays where He is until Lazarus is good and dead. Have you ever felt as though God was absent and something in your life died? I have. Just note Jesus is the Resurrection & the Life. There’s no situation too challenging for God! Not one. If it’s not raised to life, there’s a reason. God is good even if we don’t understand why He allows certain things to happen. 

If you read the story you will see Jesus had plans all along to raise Lazarus from the dead. See John 11. 

I’ve read and heard so many people debate why Jesus wept when He encountered Mary and the others weeping. The scripture says, “Jesus wept.” He did not weep when He encountered Martha who was looking for an explanation. I speculate Martha was a thinker and Mary more of a feeler. 

Some have said He saw their suffering and it moved His heart. So, He wept because they were weeping. I believe Jesus wept because He felt their pain. You may draw your own conclusion.
Follow me…

God is in tune with your heart, thoughts, feelings, and emotions. 

God has the ability to feel what you feel. He’s not like your friends or family who watch from the outside and then it moves them because of their love for you. He can actually feel in His own Spirit your suffering. Where’s my evidence? Let’s look at scripture. 

Isaiah 53:4 (CEB) It was certainly our sickness that He carried, and our sufferings that He bore, but we thought He afflicted, struck down by God and tormented.

The Bible continues to say Jesus was moved with compassion and healed the sick. It goes on to say He knew the hearts of men.

Personal experience: 

I told you in the miracle series of my friend who was suicidal and said nothing to me about it. I was joyful one moment and then grief stricken the next. She was miles away. I had not talked to her. I had to pray the sadness and grief off me. She, I found out later, had an encounter with God during the time I was praying that saved her from taking her life. I felt what she felt and it manifested in weeping, bawling actually. I felt it in my spirit. My body responded to her pain and she was nowhere near me. I’m not God, no way. His Spirit has the ability to known your pain and level of discomfort. He knows everything and not from simply watching or observing. 

I believe Jesus felt the pain of the people around Lazarus. I don’t believe it was simply an external observation that led to weeping. I truly believe He felt their pain. Even though He knew He was raising Lazarus from the dead, He was completely in touch with the emotions of the people around Him. 

God isn’t distant or out of touch. He’s more engaged than people can imagine. He’s not like us. We see, process, respond. God knows; He knows the depths of man’s sorrow and depravity. 

The Lord spoke something to me during a really challenging moment. He said, “Do you think I’m watching you suffer from the outside? Do you think I don’t know your pain? I know the depths of it far better than you. It’s not My desire to leave you this way.” At that moment I realized I had placed God in the human box…”He’s watching me suffer.” No, God was right in the middle of my suffering. He knew the intensity of the pain more than I did. 

How does this change your perspective on your circumstancs? On God? 

What moves you, moves His heart. I’ve written many posts on where’s God during suffering. If you wish, you can look them up with the search function on this site. 
I do want you to take this with you: 

God sees all and knows all including the depths of your pain, sorrow, sickness, depression, oppression, despair, fear, anxiety, hurt, heartaches, etc…I used to think it strange when I’d wake up happy then encounter someone and my emotions shift. I could feel what they felt and sometimes even the physical pain. I know now it’s a call to pray. Jesus lives to intercede for you (24/7). I’m not stating God is sick or in pain. I am stating when you are, He knows exactly how it feels. 

God knows everything about you down to the cellular level, brain chemistry, and hormonal level. He knows the coding of your DNA, every strand of hair on your head, every tear you’ve cried, and every memory you’ve ever had. No one is more in tune with you than God. 

Papa I ask that we would comprehend more fully Your great love for us and Your connection with us. Help us to know You intimately. Deepen our awareness of who You are. You’re not cold, distant, or absent. Thank You for Your great love! In Jesus powerful name, amen. 

You are loved and continually prayed for!

Love, 

Erin 

Keep Sowing

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A little mid week encouragement since I won’t be blogging this weekend. God bless you sweet friends… 

Do you ever feel like love is a waste of time? Or you’ve invested in something for Jesus and there appeared to be no fruit.
I admit I have thought at times, “Jesus, there appears to be no fruit here, what was that about?”
He’s super fun. His response, “It’s not about what you see. Are you willing to continue on out of love for Me?” Yep I am! 

Love is costly (our human nature yields to God to put others first). 

When love flows from God to us and through us, it’s a tremendous blessing. 

It’s all for HIS glory, not our own. 

Those who abide in God, love. Those who do not love, do not know God (1 John 4:8). 

It’s so much easier to only look out for ourselves. Sometimes it seems being selfish gets you further in this life. Yet, it isn’t the life God calls us to. 

Why not live for yourself? Because every seed sown will reap an eventual harvest. And this life is temporary. Eternity is forever. God calls us to look for opportunities to do good for others (Gal 6:10); not for our personal gain, to look good, or to win friends, but to demonstrate what He’s like to the world. He blesses us to be a blessing. He’s a good, loving, and generous God. He’s beyond generous. Also blessed doesn’t always speak to the immediate.

Some harvests for Jesus you won’t see until heaven. Some are storing up treasures in heaven where they do not decay and others on earth which will fade away. Some things that seemed insignificant to you may have changed a life or the course of history. If it brings God glory, we pursue it. Being with Him leads to a life of love, reckless abandon to love, radical generosity, and looking out for others. His heart becomes our heart. What matters to Him, matters to us. The people He loves, we begin to love like Him. 

I leave you with these verses. 

“…let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not,”~Galatians 6:9. 

“So then, let’s work for the good of all whenever we have an opportunity, and especially for those in the household of faith,”~Gal 6:10.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vanity, each of you should, in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself,”~Phil 2:3. 

You are loved and continually prayed for! 


Love, 

Erin
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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 

Divine Knowledge, Insight, & Wisdom (Miracle Series)

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What does God know? Everything. God knows everything about everything. He’s beyond genius. He’s not limited by time or space. He knows the heart of mankind. He knows every hair on your head. He knows the coding of your DNA. He knows every thought that’s ever been birthed in every human being that’s ever lived. His memory is unlimited. Check out Psalm 139. He’s SO awesome. Don’t you agree? 

Can we take a pause to celebrate Him? 👏🏼

Today I wanted to talk to you about revelation from God. It’s all through the Bible and ministry of Jesus. 

I love what Pastor Bill Johnson said, “No one counterfeits what’s fake.” Our world is filled with “spiritual gurus, people who claim they can read your life or future.” If information and knowledge does not come from God it is from the flesh, or is counterfeit for the Holy Spirit; gifts of prophecy, and divine insight from Him. If the orgin is not God, it’s from our flesh or a demonic source. 

The spiritual world is real. We are spirits taking up residence in a body. 

The Bible tells us: 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places,~Ephesians 6:12. 

A born again believer with the Holy Spirit has access to the wisdom, insight, and knowledge of God. 

Real Life Stories: 

Recognizing wolves in sheep’s clothing

When I was a little kid there were certain people I immediately took a liking to and others that made the hair on my neck stand up. My mum said I just knew people. I truly believe the Holy Spirit gave me supernatural insight into the hearts of people. Not to judge them, but I’d learn later so I’d be an intercessor for them. The priority is love even if the revelation is, “This person’s intentions are not good.” You set boundaries, love, and pray. 

There was a man who lived down the street from our farm who always tried to talk to us and be friendly. I didn’t know him well, yet I sensed evil in his heart. This man later shot and killed my dog. He did plenty of other evil things. We will leave it at that. He’s loved, yet I knew to stay out of his yard no matter how friendly he was. 

Almost every betrayal I’ve faced in life God has warned me. I didn’t stop praying or loving people. I just knew a blow was coming. Since I keep record of what I believe is from God, I can go back and say, “Yes, you told me this would happen.” It did not lessen the pain, it did help me grow in trusting God. 

God is especially good at warnings with friendships or potential mates. One of the only times I’ve heard the audible voice of God was in relation to marriage. There was this man pursuing me for marriage. I prayed. I had others championing the relationship. Yet God knows everything. I remember so vividly, I said, “God is this is a good idea? Should I marry this person?” And as clear as someone in the room speaking I heard “NO!” I looked around. No one was in my bedroom with me. I was freaked out actually. So I kept praying. Needless to say, that relationship did not end in marriage. Thank God. He became quite hostile when I ended it. If I had listened to Holy Spirit early on, it could’ve been avoided altogether. There’s plenty of pressure on young people to be married. If you’re single, please…please…pray and ask God to show you who the person really is. Do they love God? Are they truly following Jesus? The wheat and tare grow up together. Can anyone vouch for their walk with God? Is this God’s best for you and your destiny with God? I’m unmarried because I want God more than anyone else and refuse to join my life to someone He wouldn’t join it to. So prayer and divine insight are a priority. My destiny with God is too important to be forfeited. So is yours.

I have known several people who chose mates that God illuminated it would be a bad idea up front. In all those cases they are now divorced. One woman resented me greatly for telling her. So now I just pray unless God tells me to say something. 

Inner Promptings 

Before that horrible day of September 11th we had planned a trip to Disney World. There was this hesitation inside me to leave that day. Everyone else wanted to fly on that day. I didn’t. I was adamant about leaving days earlier. The people who didn’t change their flights ended up stranded. I just couldn’t fly that day.

Two of three car accidents I’ve had I had an inner prompting to stay home. I didn’t. I don’t live in fear. I just know to pray when I feel this way.

Warning Dreams

Before the school shooting in Conneticut I had this dream that I was in a school with sister and mom and this young man came in and shot up the school. Days before the school shooting I kept waking up at 4 am disturbed. I’ve learned to pray when this happens. 

I had a friend’s sister who moved across country to be with this guy. I kept hearing their names and the word, “split.” I didn’t think much of it. Then I had a dream she was in a funeral home putting up wedding flowers. Felt the Lord saying, “This is not the right relationship.” I prayed. They kept dating. Six months later they were engaged. I thought, “must not have been God.” Then, after a few more months, they were calling it quits. He married someone else. 

Words on people

I see words on or over people sometimes. I’m a word person. Can’t you tell? My blog posts are long, hope to shorten them one day. 🙂 

There are too many stories to post on this topic. So here’s one. 

There was a lady at church who was super happy. She was standing behind me at church. There’s a point where they asked us to greet each other. I turned to greet her and saw the word HOPE across her chest. I thought, “she’s happy. Happy people don’t need hope.” After church I asked if I could pray for her. I told her the word I saw. I spoke to her the things God imprinted on my heart for her. She started crying. The words from God cut right into her heart. I didn’t know this woman, God did. There’s no way I could’ve known her life story or heart condition. 

I felt led to give her a set of pearls one Sunday. I like giving gifts, yet get nervous giving gifts where people know it’s coming from me. I found out later she had told God that she wanted a sign from Him that involved pearls. She had confirmation that she should give her heart even more fully to Jesus. 

Visions of the future 

When I was in college there was a point I was beyond overwhelmed. I had three jobs and a double engineering major. Life seemed so heavy. While driving one day I had an open vision of me with the Father. He picked me up and sat me on His knee. He then lit up all these movie screens in front of us. On them were scenes from my life. I watched my birth, parts of my childhood, some painful things, and the last three screens I recall most vividly. One was my graduation from college (which seemed impossible at the time. I was so tired), the other a white coffin with a single red rose on top (my mum died the year I graduated college), and the last scene…well you just have to wait and see…;)

God imparted hope through that vision. A confirmation of His word, “Never will I leave or forsake you!”

Light more powerful than darkness

A friend invited me to go to a New Age convention to pray for people. In walking around I stopped to talk to a fortune teller. She asked if she could read my palm. I said, “No that’s okay. You’ve been having trouble sleeping at night.” She looked startled. Her outward appearance did not indicate fatigue. She responded, “Yes, the spirits keep me up at night.” I told her she could be free of all those tormenting spirits. Jesus came to set the captives free. 

Some people are afraid of darkness. Yet if you light a candle, darkness scatters. Many people were healed that day, one man gave his life to Christ, and many said their encounters with the Holy Spirit that day surpassed any experiences with drugs, fortune tellers, etc…God knows the heart and how to reach people. There’s no parallel to His wisdom or power. 

So what’s the purpose of divine revelation, insight, and wisdom? 

1. Reveal Jesus and the heart of the Father. 

2. Deepen intimacy (knowing God) with God.

3. Prayer/intercession (standing in the gap, preventing harm, distaster).

4. To build up, edify, encourage, help, love people. Sometimes to warn people too…

5. Bring God glory!

The Source of revelation is God, anything else is from the flesh or demonic sources. If we want to know His voice, we must feast on God’s word and walk in humility. He’s the Vine, we are the branches. Apart from God, we can do nothing. And it’s not about our wisdom, it’s about His. 

Testing what you see, hear, sense…

Words, impressions, visions, pictures, revelations need tested. Is it in line with God’s character and nature? Is is modeled in the Bible? Does it violate scripture?

I’ve heard many teach peace and confirmation are the best tests for knowing if something is from God. Yet God spoke to many people in the Bible and their immediate response was not peace.  When God spoke to Moses it brought fear. Angels were often sent to reassure people, “Do not be afraid.” Joseph didn’t have peace when he found out Mary was pregnant. God sent an angel to confirm His word. Sometimes what God says does not bring immediate peace. There’s also false peace when we are not aligned with the will of God. So we pray and seek wise counsel. I’ve met many people who had peace about cheating on a spouse or abandoning a spouse, etc…the word of God trumps our sense of peace. If the Bible says do not steal, God is not going to tell you to steal. 

As for confirmation, demons know the word of God and have ears too. When Paul met the woman with the spirit of divination, she was speaking the truth…yet her source was not God. So there are various things to consider and evaluate when receiving divine revelation. 

Write it down…

Holy Spirit started speaking scriptures to me. I started prayer and prophecy journals. I document dreams and visions. I date and document all I think is from God. Some journals are 16 years old. I pray over them. I learned to practice in safe places speaking into people’s lives and sharing. Still learning! Wow, so much to learn. Never stop learning. Pray about what to share. Some things God reveals just for you to pray about not share with others. I’d have saved plenty of heartache if I’d learned this earlier. Yet I encourage you not to live in fear. There’s so much grace in God! God loves you and longs to speak to you and through you. It’s all about building relationship and His Kingdom. Listen. Document. Build rapport with God. 

God is the Source of true wisdom, knowledge, and insight. if we ask for wisdom, He provides. He doesn’t tell me everything. He tells me what I need to know. He also answers prayers for wisdom. 

God is longing to speak to you! 

Closing prayer…

Father I ask for Your Spirit of wisdom and revelation to flood those reading the miracle series. Holy Spirit let Your love remove all fear. You said Your sheep know Your voice. Fine tune our hearing. Help us to know Your voice. Use us to bring light, healing, hope, encouragement, and the love of Jesus to others. In Jesus powerful name, amen. 

Love, 

Erin 

Supernatural Love (Miracle Series)

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Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,~John 15:13. 

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another,~John 13:34-35. 
 
If you assessed my life story or fully understood my personality, I’d be one of the most unlikely to be used by God to love His kids. I’m highly introverted. As a kid my mum said I spent most of my time under the dining room table with my notes, tools, and sketch pad. I can spend days to weeks with just God. I get lost in thoughts, theories, and creating. I’m also, according to Myers Briggs, INTJ (introverted, intuition, thinking, judging). We are not known as the sentimental types. We are primarily thinkers, not feelers. We ask, “Does this work?” We get lost in logic. We solve problems, hence my pursuit of a career in engineering and science. 
 
I tell you this because God is able to love through anyone who’s willing. I prayed long ago for God to teach me to love like Him. I had no clue what it would cost. I had no clue how deep, vast, profound, rich, generous, compassionate, and sacrificial God’s love truly was. I am still learning.
One person other than Jesus I could pinpoint as an example of supernatural love is Apostle Paul. He was, before His encounter with Jesus, a persecutor of Christians. After His encounter with Jesus, Paul became one of the most radical lovers of God, the Gospel, and wrote Corinthians 13 the chapter on love.
The love of God is supernatural, it’s beyond human ability. Humans naturally want to put themselves first. Agape love is sacrificial, selfless, pure, unconditional, holy, honoring, and out of this world. It’s the love Jesus has for us and tells us to have for others.
How do we get this love, God’s love in us? It starts with relationship, intimacy with God. We must first receive before we can ever give. We also abide in Him (John 15:5). The more I’m with God, the more I love people. This love is still challenged. Trust me! Yet with the passing moments of oneness…His heart invades mine. He has imprinted His great love on my heart.
Supernatural Love Stories: 
I’ve pondered how to share stories while honoring others, so there’s a summarizing and exclusion of names. I’m in the process of writing three more books, they will include more life stories as there’s space for them. Here are a few brief stories that may fuel your faith.
I have a person that caused great pain in my life. More pain than anyone else. They treated me poorly in so many ways. When I went through my health crisis, they were not supportive or compassionate. They would say things like, “You’re not really sick. If you were stronger, you’d get up from there…” Well, I was sick. My hair fell out in places, I was on beta blockers for my heart, seeing specialists,…I was a mini train wreck. Yet God has healed me. Praise pause 🙌. Thank YOU Jesus! 👏.
This person later begin to face their own life challenges, health problems,  and God gave me the opportunity to love. Love wasn’t met with appreciation. It was met with excessive complaining, ingratitude, sometimes anger or hostility, and there were many days I’d sit with God thinking, “Why am I being punished? Why am I in this situation? I’m too young for this! Why do I have to love? This person doesn’t even appreciate love.” 
I’d love to tell you prayer led to warm, fuzzy, and loving feelings. I didn’t. There were days where I’d just sob and call out to God for help. Days I wished I could join the witness protection program and run away from my life. Crisis after crisis wore me down emotionally, mentally, physically, etc…I was really young and overwhelmed. While other kids were enjoying their lives, I was trying to juggle chaos. Yet God is stronger. He didn’t deliver me from. He delivered me through. That person grew to slowly change. I didn’t change them, God did something. It was the most painful and challenging season of my life. Yet God’s love is a sustaining power.
Fast forward and my first real opportunity to do discipleship ministry. Like Jesus there were 12 women and me. I gave my life, heart, time, energy, home, and all for those I was leading/discipling. I gave my all for 3 years. I helped people move, opened my home, cooked meals, hosted parties, wiped tears, prayed, played/sang at weddings, was a friend…I’m a 100% type of person. If I commit to someone or something, I’m giving it my all. The people I gave my life to, well several of them turned on me, gossiped about me, lied on me, one even cursed me out in public, one created so much drama people from out of the state were emailing me at work about it, and well…God never gave me permission to walk in unforgiveness or try to avenge myself. I sat in silence while being cussed out (He supernaturally closed my mouth. My natural bend would’ve been to rebuke that woman). It was so painful. It was challenging. There are absolutely no words to express the level of grief it caused. If I had sinned, I’d accept it as my consequences. Yet my issues came from teaching the Gospel as it’s written, pointing to Jesus, being who God created me to be, and not promoting people to leadership roles because God had not released me to do so. Some of those relationships were never fully repaired, yet a few were. There’s forgiveness for everyone, yet not everyone repented or even acknowledged their sin. And God gave me the opportunity again to forgive and love. Supernatural love when I only felt numb inside. Supernatural love to try again with ministry, though I didn’t want to love again sacrificially after those experiences. Christians became my frenemies so it took God to get me back into ministering to other believers. Some may say, that’s no big deal, grow up. Yet until you’ve laid down your life for people who betray you, there’s no place to reference from. Only Jesus knows fully what it’s like and even He experienced great grief facing the cross.
I found through those years of heart wrenching how much love cost Jesus. I was not nailed to a rugged cross, but my heart was. And “I’m sorry,” never healed nor took away any of the pain. Only God can and does.
I sometimes think we (humans) think our sin, rebellion, or rejection of God doesn’t affect Him. It does. And though we say sorry and repent, our behavior does impact His heart. God has feelings…He loves more than we can comprehend. I can’t imagine since He loves more than me how deep it cuts His heart to see His children destroy themselves and others.
If I loved others by experiences with loving people, I would only love a few people or not love at all. This area of my life has been hit with the most opposition and pain. Yet God doesn’t call us to love a few people. He calls us to love everyone, even our enemies. 
Challenging love situations, they teach you so much about God. I don’t love perfectly, God does. Even though He loves perfectly, He’s rejected, used, verbally abused, neglected, hated, ignored, forgotten about, sought after only in crisis, sinned against, and much more.
I used to think going through challenging experiences with love was some form of punishment. Yet God was answering my prayer, “Teach me to love like You.” God teaches by giving us opportunities.
As of the past few years we have moved from love boot camp, to God supernaturally downloading His heart for people into mine. It makes it a bit easier, yet doesn’t change the response of others to me. I still meet rejection, people who attempt to attach themselves to me for their benefit, misunderstandings (why is she being so nice to me?), and I have a few that are oh so challenging to love. I rely fully on God for love, another lesson learned from these experiences. People can’t fill your love tank.
God’s love for you is beyond describable, yet I will try…
God thinks of you continually. He cares about EVERY single detail of your life. He wants you to maintain your freedom to choose (He’s no control freak or manipulator), He’s not absent minded (He keeps log of all your desires and dreams), He celebrates you, He knows all your flaws and still longs to be with you, He sets up opportunities to bless you, Jesus lives to intercede for you, He moves mountains for you, He corrects to restore you, He enjoys every moment you spend with Him, and He desires so much to be with you!!! This love, His love, is life changing. If you want to see your life changed or change the world, receive this love…God’s unfailing & radical love!
You see one of the greatest miracles of all is the Creator of the Universe loving humanity. 
God bless you! Next time we will talk about divine intelligence, when God gives you His wisdom and intelligence. Praying for you! You are SO deeply loved.
Erin

I See the Cross (Beautiful Jesus! Wonderful Savior!)

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Photo Credit: Pinterest

I normally post weekly to give people space to read and not be overwhelmed by multiple messages a week. My heart was so stirred yesterday to recall what love cost God. You see, genuine love is costly. Anyone can say, “I love you,” yet our actions demonstrate whether those words are true. Only the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob offered up His only begotten Son to take away the sins of the world. Our sin was no shock to God. He already knew we’d choose our way over His. It was in the plan all along that Jesus would die for humanity and rise again with all power. 

Only Jesus (God in the flesh) allowed Himself to be humiliated, beaten, mocked, shamed, hurt, rejected, and nailed to a rugged cross to fulfill the Father’s divine plan of redemption. He loved the Father and out of that perfect love and obedience, He went to the cross. He also loves and loved us enough to give His life. 

God is love. He knew by no other means could mankind be truly be saved. So, He offered Himself. He took the penalty for us, for the wages of sin is death. God’s wrath was poured out on that cross so we would not have to face eternal damnation. 

Have you celebrated His sacrifice today? Thanked Him? Worshipped Him? Will you join me today in celebrating the greatest love anyone will ever know? He’s worthy of continual praise! Thank you Papa God. Thank you Jesus. Thank you Holy Spirit. 

Here’s an excerpt from I Thought I Knew What Love Was…hope it leads you to worship. You are SO deeply loved. 


I See the Cross
written by Erin Lamb October 25, 2007 
Copyright© 2011 may not be reproduced without permission

I see the cross,
so vividly in front of me;
one nail pierced hand on the left
and another on the right.
I see His head hanging there
with the thorns positioned, oh, so tight.
I see the blood
dripping from the pure, spotless Lamb.
I kneel before Him
laying my sins,
all of them,
there.
I see the cross.
I see the beauty of God’s unmerited favor
and His forgiveness.
I see love in the eyes of the One who took my place.
For no greater love lies within a person,
than to surrender His life for His friend.
I see the cross,
that rugged cross;
my freedom was purchased with His blood.
He has been and always will be,
the One who paid the greatest price.
I was purchased by His life’s offering.
I am forever seated with Him in the heavenlies,
and my name is written in His heart.
His children are seated next to Him in heavenly places,
for on the cross He did not remain.
He rose again with all power in His hands.
The same power that raised Him from the dead,
now lives inside of me.
It lives inside of you.
It is that great power at work in us
that changes us from the person we are,
into the person that He chose us to be.
It is that same power that transforms a wicked man
into a righteous man.
I see the cross;
my Deliverer
is hanging there.
He purchased my freedom,
my healing,
and every blessing in the heavenly realm.
Some blessings I see now,
and some are yet to be seen.
I see the cross.
Do you see Him?
Do you celebrate here;
the place where tattered rags of our wretchedness
are exchanged for a robe of righteousness?
This place, the place,
is where scarlet sins are washed white as snow.
This is the place we must go.
The cross is where miracles occur.
The greatest miracle of all
is that God would seek to be reconciled with a sinful world.
I see my Father’s love here.
He cared enough
to send His only Son to save the least, the last, and the lost.
I see the cross,
a reflection of what real love is.
Selfishness died on the cross
when He said, “Father not my desires, but all Your purposes be
accomplished.”
Death was triumphed over on the cross
when He spoke, “It is finished.”
We know that we will see Him again,
and this life here is not the end.
We know that when the trumpet sounds,
the dead in Christ will rise
again.
We know that we will have eternity to worship Him
and eternity to love Him.
I see the cross,
and it is all I must see.
Even if the world around me fades away,
I know that through my Savior I am
reconciled,
restored,
and made complete.
This body may fade and wither,
friends and family may come and go.
I have knelt before that rugged cross enough times to know
that my days are in His hands;
so are His purposes and His plan.
He is the reason I live.
He is the reason I rejoice.
No man would sacrifice his life,
put his very life in jeopardy, for someone who was guilty.
He gave His life,
so we may stand before Him completely unashamed.
Take a moment and look to the cross.
Ponder the wonderful cross.
I hope I find you there,
basking in the love of the Father.
He is the One who deeply loves you
and cares for you.
He is there
carrying your infirmities,
collecting every tear,
rejoicing when you rejoice,
and weeping when your soul has had its wear and tear.
You are never alone
and never abandoned.
I see the cross,
engrained forever in my memory.
The cross is a picture of the greatest love.
He is a love so true
and a love so dear.
He is a love that will never end.

All rights reserved. No part of the material may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, without the written permission of the Publisher, Westbow Press (www.westbowpress.com), or Author, Erin Lamb. The only exception is in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

If you’d like to read more psalms, poems, love letters to and from God, you can purchase right here on the site there’s a link entitled Get Your Copy or you may purchase through: http://www.westbowpress.com, http://www.barnesandnoble.com. and http://www.amazon.com or iTunes store.

Love, 

Erin 

Photo credit: Pinterest

Divine Appointments (Miracle Series)

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God accomplishes quite a bit of His will through people. You and I have the opportunity to partner with Him to change the lives of others. 

These are a few stories on God setting up divine appointments. If you don’t believe in them, check out the story of Ruth and Boaz, Saul on the road to Demascus, Jesus and the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus and the woman at the well, Mary (the mother of Jesus) and the Angel…

Suicide Prevention

Operation God is Love is a ministry started Spring 2014 to reach people on the street and spiritually dark areas of our city. We pray before we go out for divine appointments, for God to put people on our path that need His love, healing, and delivering power. 

One of the ladies on the team suggested one afternoon we wait to hear if God would give us clues on who He wanted to minister to. I had the word “blue sweatshirt,” pop up in my head during prayer. I wrote it down, yet thought…”that was so random.” 

When we went out there was one older man riding a bike in a blue sweatshirt. We didn’t stop for him, yet told him we’d catch up with him later. We were attending to another homeless man. 

When we found him, let’s call him Rodney, he was sitting on a ledge looking somber. We stopped, chatted for awhile, and asked what he’d like Jesus to do for him. He stated he wanted to die. He had planned out his death already, the exact details of how he’d end his life. We prayed for him, for the spirit of suicide to lift off him. He said he felt lighter and promised us suicide was no longer an option. We actually got him to smile.😊

I know God wanted us to pray for Rodney. So that random thought during prayer wasn’t random at all. 

Restored Hope

Another girl we will call Susie was selling newspapers on the street. We stopped and asked if we could pray for her. She agreed. I told her I had a vision of our Heavenly Father handing her presents. They were gift wrapped especially for her. Her desires mattered to God. She began to weep. After hearing her story, it was apparent that God was the originator of that vision. I did not know this woman. God did. She was praying God would give her the gift of being with her son on Christmas. She lost him when she became homeless yet God had provided a place for her now and employment. 

Prophetic Utterances, Healing, and Deliverance

Once while on missions in Brazil the leader asked us to come up and ask God to speak to us for the people they called forward. I was terrified. It was a large conference and well introverts don’t love focused attention. The lady they placed in front of me seemed like an average teenage girl. Yet as I repeated what I sensed God was saying, she began to come undone. Weeping went to sobbing to wailing. I wasn’t prophesying negativity. Whatever I said, I don’t recall any of it, it cut right into her heart. She encountered Holy Spirit in a profound way, He encountered her. She was healed and delivered of several tormenting spirits that day. Yeah God! Once God was done she just beemed with joy. Her face was different, she just radiated.

Connections, Prophetic Intercession, God’s Incredible Timing

One of the longest strings of divine appointments started several years ago at a conference in my state. I took my young adult group. That Sunday we went to a local church near the conference. I met a group of young revivalist attending ministry school in California. They prayed for us and we made Facebook connections. 

No big deal right? A year later there’s another conference and I meet up with one of the people from that group, let’s call her Anna. Anna pulls us out of a session to meet some of her fellow ministry school friends. They spoke so many prophetic and destiny words over us. We did the same. Went home. No big deal right? 

Well a year or so passes and God begins to give me words, pictures, impressions, visions, for one of the gentlemen from that group. I told God, “I’m not sharing these things with a stranger, especially not a man. Please don’t ask me to do this.” 

So, I held onto them for awhile, yet God repeated Himself. When I finally got the courage the person receiving stated the timing was perfect and the words fit his life. We’d met once on the lawn of a conference. 

Fast forward and for two years when this person needed prayer, encouragement, etcetera…God would stir me. It was facing hurdle after hurdle of overcoming fear, and fear of man. I’d rather be anonymous especially when ministering this way. Yet God was persistent in do it again. Send again…and again with no mention of a stop date! Oh Lord! I mistakenly told him he was the only gentleman I had ever been called to do this for and the longest most detailed one. It was truth, yet I should’ve kept that to myself. The words for him were the most detailed of information I had ever received from God except for His words into my own life. 

This past year I had the opportunity to return to the city where this conference occurred. God asked me to tell this person, let’s call him Jim I was in town. I fought with God for awhile. Yes, I don’t always jump on an assignment. 🙂 After getting prayer, I told him. During that trip several divine appointments occurred. A lady from his church offered me a job, I met his sister in law who I adore, and was able minister to one of his friends. 

The string of divine appointments connected to this situation are too long to write about. Yet in summary, there were healings of bodies, healing of emotions, restoration of my ministering prophetically to other believers-my focus was marketplace ministry (felt safer than with Christians), freedom from fear of man, ministry connections, people encouraged and prophesied over, new prophetic intercession assignments established, and I can honestly say God knows what He’s doing. Even when I was not desiring to put myself out there again and again and again, God had already planned ahead for each hesitation and each time it was perfect timing. His timing is perfect. 

Months before connecting  with Jim’s sister in law I dreamed of sitting at a table with Jim and his friends/family. In the dream God brought me in and sat me at the table. This dream occurred exactly as I dreamed it would happen (including where people were seated) and I dreamed it before I even met the people who invited me to dinner with them. 

Financial Provision 

I failed to mention Anna ended up being a prayer assignment for a season. One day Holy Spirit prompted me to contact her and to declare blessing over her connections, finances, etc…the next day or so she was awarded a full scholarship for an internship. 

Listen and Obey 

If we listen and obey God, we can partner with Him to change a life. It’s not about us, it’s about being available. It’s God’s insight, love, wisdom, knowledge, healing, and goodness. I don’t know most of the people God sets up these connections with, God does. 

Who does God want to bless through you? I challenge you as I challenge my discipleship group to start the day asking, “Who do you want to bless through me today? Use me Lord!” Watch God wow you with His goodness. 

Love, 

Erin 

P.S You are SO deeply (John 3:16). 

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. 

Transformation (Intimacy with God Part XI)

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I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,~Galatians 2:20 NIV

…if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!~2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭17‬ NIV.

Transformation as defined by Webster’s dictionary: 

a complete or major change in someone’s or something’s appearance, form, etc.

I’m sure if you’re a Christian you’ve heard the phrases, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” or “Act like Jesus.” These are great statements to consider. Yet unless we are born again (saved through faith in Christ) and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we have zero chance of effectively and consistently imitating Jesus. 

You see we (humans) are powerless in and of ourselves to lead sinless lives. If we could, there would be no need for a Savior. Jesus came to deliver us from the bondage of sin and death.  

The Holy Spirit comes to empower righteous living and character transformation.

The old man, pre Christ, is gone…dead…dead…dead. The new creation has come. I’ve heard people say, “Oh, I’m such a wretched sinner…just barely making it by grace.” That’s like a butterfly saying, “I’m just a ugly, belly crawling caterpillar.” Transformation occurred and is occurring.

Photo above: My butterfly paintings…

After conversion we are in the process of transformation (santification), being changed into the character likeness of Jesus Christ. Just as infants grow into maturity, the Holy Spirit works in us to continually reveal Jesus and righteousness. 

I’ve lead discipleship groups for about 5 years now. When people say, “God feels so distant. I don’t have any direction, transformation, peace, love, or joy in my life,” I ask…

“How much time are you spending with God? Not doing things for Him, being with Him.”

The answer is normally, “I don’t have time to be with God.” 

My response, “You can’t afford not to.“

Though I’ve heard people teach it, God will not do everything for us. Nope. He said, “I set before you life and death, choose life. Seek first the Kingdom of God. Put Me first and you will find life.”  

We have the ability to quench the Holy Spirit, to reject God, to choose sin, and choose to not spend time with God. 

Life experiences….

I gave my life to Jesus at age 7. From 7 until 16, I just went to church and tried not to sin. God was good, yet distant (so I thought). I didn’t see radical transformation in my life. I just had the cruise ship Christian mentality…”I’m not going to hell. I will give money and be nice and help some people here and there. Yeah!” I think I led one person to Christ. 

Age 16 to now. There were so many life changes that really shook me. Something in me wanted to hear God’s voice. When I began to pursue God’s face and His voice, a deeper transformation began to occur. Couple that with years of wilderness experiences and you find yourself enrolled in the school of the Holy Spirit. 

The more time I spent with God and spend with God, the more His desires and heart become my own. He’s my best friend. I talk to Him and spend more time with Him than anyone else.

We don’t pick God, He chooses us…oh, to be chosen…

If I were going to choose someone for ministry, it wouldn’t be me; very introverted, highly analytical, not interested in platforms or being seen, can be overloaded by too much people interaction. I’m a scientist/engineer who’s never been to bible college (just been with God and studying Him for most of my life). 

God said, “I pick you. Go tell them about My love and demonstrate My love.” I like Moses responded, “Are you serious?” My focus was on who I thought I was, not who He called me to be. I didn’t want to be seen or heard by anyone but God. 

Out of deep love for God and the deposit of His love into my heart for others, off I went to be a living vessel fully surrendered to His will. 

God is transforming my character into His likeness. Since 16 there have been so many miracles, God stories, changes, an increase in peace, joy, courage, passion, love, generosity, kindness, even patience and self control…

As a young person, I rely on Him for wisdom. His thoughts becoming my thoughts.

As a thinker, I rely on Him for love and compassion. His heart for people becoming my heart for people. 

God transforms our character through relationship. It’s not about striving to be like Him. It’s about a covenant relationship founded on commitment, love, and intimacy. Just as married people grow to know each other and can represent the other. As we grow through intimacy (knowing) with God, we will represent Him well in the earth. We are transformed into the likeness of His Son. 

Praying for you! Cheering for you!!! You are so deeply loved (John 3:16). 

Love in Christ, 

Erin Lamb





Building History with God (Intimacy with God Part X)

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I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness,~Jeremiah 31:3. 

I love reading the stories of people’s relationships with God in His word. One of my favorite passages is actually Hebrews 11. It is called the hall of faith. The passage is long so I won’t post it, yet you can read it here:  Hebrews 11. 

The people listed in Hebrews 11 have incredible stories with God. They overcame seemingly insurmountable obstacles with God. God delivered some from and others through. He drew His people with loving kindness. He established a covenant with His people; one He upheld by His power, love, and provision. 

I’ve said this many times and will state again, there are things we can only learn about God through experience. 

Have you ever done missions? Or a team building exercise? Or gone through a struggle with someone? It knits you together. You learn things about them you would not learn by just reading their bio or even meeting with them for an hour or so once a week. 

God longs to be known by us. 

I was in a Bible study fellowship for a few years with a group of passionate young adults. Many of us ended up on a mission in the Amazon Jungle together in Brazil. I thought I knew the people on the team. We met weekly for Bible study. 

I learned so much about my team and myself those few weeks of traveling in a truck, hiking in 100F weather, handling heat stress, living under banana leaf huts, sleeping in hammocks, bathing in the Amazon River, and being in close proximity. Stories were written down, stories told, intimacy built, laughs had, tears shed, prayers offered, and bonding occurred. 



I learned new things about God on that trip. He wrote some great things into my story…

One that I could preach. I could hear from God in an instant for a perfect stranger. I could survive flying home with a partially dislocated hip. I could lead worship in Portguese. Spanish is my second language, Portuguese is my third (so much to learn). I grew in sharing deep parts of my heart with people on my team. It grew me. I had to rely on God fully. It’s a part of my story with God that’s marked with miracles and wonder. 

God is writing our story with Him.

He longs for the closest promximity and highest priority in our lives. You see, in heaven it’s all about the Kingdom. There’s no marriage, kids to be had, PTA meetings, bills to pay, singles events…it’s His Kingdom. This life, though it’s not marketed as such, is preparation for what’s to come. The relationship built with God on earth will continue on into eternity. Time on earth is the shortest time we will ever live. The greatest covenant and relationship is with God. 

What will be the theme of your story? 

Will it be faith? 

Will it be love? 

Will it be overcoming? 

Will it be the power of Jesus? 

Will you be known as one who walked closely with God like Enoch? Will you get to heaven and realize many people came to know Jesus because of your faithfulness on earth?

Will you encounter God not only as Father as a best friend?

We can learn from others stories and history with God, yet we build our own history with God.  

I love the way God communicated with Moses. I love God. I love who He is. I love being with Him more than anyone else. I desired greatly as a youth to have continual communication with God. At one point in my walk I told Him, “I want to be like Moses. He met with you face to face (intimately)-Exodus 33:11. Your glory passed over him. You spoke to him through a burning bush.” God’s reply to me was, “I meet with you heart to heart.” 

We each have our own story with God.

You see, I am not Moses. We certainly have a better covenant than Moses and the indwelling of the Spirit. My story is my story with God. We meet heart to heart. I’m not a feeler. I’m a thinker. I’m prone to logical/analytical thought patterns and do not rely on feelings for processing. Yet God supernaturally deposits His heart for people into mine. I feel what they feel. I feel what He feels. He moves me through my heart, though my personality is driven to be led by my brain. 

He’s writing a story marked with His radical, passionate, compassionate, and profound love. It’s also a story marked with His power. I’m alive because of His great power to heal, protect, and perform miracles.

We each have a unique and divine purpose. We are carved out of the heart and imagination of God. The good times matter, the challenges matter, the struggles matter, the joy matters. We are a part of a greater story, His story. We join the story of God and champion our King! 

We learn the Book (His word) and allow it to lead us into an encounter with Him. Our greatest need is to know the Author. 

Every situation an opportunity to deepen intimacy with God. What is He doing? What is He saying? Who in His word has experienced something similar? What is God teaching us? How can we cling to Him and grow to know Him better? 

Sweet friends, you are so loved, valued, appreciated, significant, and your story matters! You matter to God.  Don’t worry about anything. Pray about everything (talk to and listen to God). One day you’ll look back and smile. Your heart will say, “What a testimony of God’s love, power, and provision.” 

Whether we believe it or not, God is always working things together for the eventual good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes (Romans 8:28). 

Praying for you! 

Love in Christ, 

Erin