Intoxicated

I have always loved the song, “Show Me Your Glory” by Jesus Culture. Kim Walker Smith does a phenomenal job singing this song from her heart.

I can always turn on that song and totally shift my mindset from discouraged to “NOT anymore”.

I realize it’s not about me and what I can and can not do.
It’s all about Him.
He is my everything when my anything has gone wrong.

I can put that song on and completely forget about what was pressing me down and discouraging my thoughts.

This comes to my mind and I write these thoughts down:

“And be not drunk with wine but be filled with the Spirit”….

This may not be the best comparison but it’s an escape that doesn’t have a hangover but rather a makeover.

Ephesians 5:18-20

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Wow!!! As I look it up I notice what comes after the drinking part!!!!

“Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and making melody in your heart!!!”

That’s exactly what I do when I am playing the song and listening to the words pour over my heart!!! Then it leads to giving thanks and focusing on what I have rather than what I don’t have.

I realize that I was created to worship Him and when I take a sip of that truth; I am undone.

Drunk: being in a temporary state in which one’s physical and mental faculties are impaired by an excess of alcoholic drink (take the drink and set it aside, instead replace it with:

A Sip of His Love towards me

All the things in me that keep me from who I was created to be are loosed and I am free. Free to be shown His Glory and free to be where I belong. Free to be loved by Him.

Become intoxicated with His Love and watch what the New Year brings to you and your family.

Pour a glass and take a sip of of His Glory!❤️

Cheers!

http://youtu.be/df7XEvFNX-E

Light On,
Kelley Allison
John1:4-5

Under Pressure

Recently I had multiple health issues going on at once. The doctors lowered and adjusted some medications I am on, and with the lack of medication, the lessening of another medication, a biopsy, some stitches, a viral infection attacking my thyroid, waiting for the results to come back, and well, all this had me feeling a little (Queue one of my favorite Queen songs here) yep, you guessed it….Under Pressure….

I kept putting off a certain checkup because I knew there was a problem. I was in a sort of denial or just did not want to deal with it all, so I kept putting things off. Thankfully after some lovingly spoken hard words from an awesome friend and more of my awesome friends praying and encouraging me I started the process that took the better part of this last month. I believe that all their prayers and those of my family are what got me through all of the tests and doctor visits.
As I waited, I can’t describe how the pressure changed to supernatural peace. I just knew that if God needed this to be added to my testimony then He would see me through it. I got through the first two weeks great. Then one morning while reading I stumbled across this gem. Of course it was no accident. I believe in only Godcident’s. God would have me find it because that particular day my emotions were thinly hanging on. I was weepy and sad and of course did not feel very good, when there it was- right in my bible-

Faith Under Pressure
“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.
5-8 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
9-11 When down-and-outers get a break, cheer! And when the arrogant rich are brought down to size, cheer! Prosperity is as short-lived as a wildflower, so don’t ever count on it. You know that as soon as the sun rises, pouring down its scorching heat, the flower withers. Its petals wilt and, before you know it, that beautiful face is a barren stem. Well, that’s a picture of the “prosperous life.” At the very moment everyone is looking on in admiration, it fades away to nothing.
12 Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. ~James 1:2-12 The Message (MSG)

Wow! God is so faithful! God knows what we need exactly when we need it. Like my Godly Girlies that prayed over me and gave me a blue bandana to keep my mind free from fear and sent me funny songs and rhymes to make me laugh and take my mind off my troubles. God is so faithful to fill me with His supernatural peace. Praise God, after three really long weeks the results all came back good.

So I looked at the very last verse again and I smiled and nodded as I repeated aloud– “I am loyally in love with My God! He has and will reward me with life and more life.”

Post this Gem of a Promise up somewhere to encourage yourself through whatever it is you may be facing right now or use it to encourage someone else today.

Always Be Blessed! ~ XXOO Michelle Bollom
© RestoredMinistries

Courage

Define:
Courage is defined as the mental or moral strength to venture, persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. The quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

Affirm:
Joshua 1:9 “I command you — be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

Recall:
Considering this is the last post of the year, COURAGE is the perfect word for us to meditate on. Many of us have hopes, dreams, and visions that we want to come to pass; however, because of our fears or lack of courage we often find it extremely difficult to take the necessary steps to make our dreams become reality. Life has afforded us so many obstacles that we begin to live a life of complacency and lose sight of our ability to pursue what we know is destined for us.

I too am guilty of not exercising courage to pursue my dreams. So often people will tell you to stop and that the journey is too difficult. We often tell ourselves that it-whatever your it is- cannot be accomplished, it is not the best route for you…We create stories that are not real. We tell ourselves lies, and then believe the lie.

As I jog my memory of a time that I exercised courage, I think of being a pre-teen. As a pre-teen, I considered myself a winner. I was confident in my ability to perform academically, I was confident in my ability to memorize almost anything. For this, when given the project to recite a poem at church, I eagerly accepted the assignment. I studied the poem, recited the poem in front of my immediately family with confidence, and was prepared to share the poem in front of a 300 member congregation.

Let me set the scene.

I was supposed to be opening our church Christmas Play with a lengthy poem. I arrived to church early and sat at the back of the church with my poem in my hand. I replayed the words in my head and I thought I was prepared to recite the poem with very little effort, until my name was called. I remember hearing “Lereca is going to open today’s program with a poem.” As soon as I heard my name, my heart started beating fast, I could not breathe; yet still I proceeded to the front of the church. I knew I was prepared to give my speech and so I thought I had nothing to worry about. When I finally got in front of the church, I felt as if I could not complete the tasks. Have any of you felt fear? Did you give up? Did you follow through? Did you face your unknowns? Did you preserve? How did you respond? Despite how I felt, I exercised courage to recite the poem. It took me 14 attempts to get it right. I remember some people from the church congregation saying… “come on baby”. I remember my parents making the hand gestures for me to sit down and leave the stage. At the end I received a standing ovation. I felt accomplished and I was so happy that I recited the poem.

The lesson I learned.

I learned that when we want to accomplish something that we need to decide that we will develop a no matter what attitude. Developing a no matter what attitude will help us push through each obstacle. I also learned that along the way there will be people there to cheer you on and conversely you will also have people that will discourage you and ask you to take a seat. The main lesson I learned: DO NOT SIT DOWN ON YOUR DREAM. If GOD gave you a vision, he will give you the provision to accomplish the mission. The scripture clearly states that GOD will be with you- GOD commands us to move forward. Do not stagnate yourself.

In the words of Les Brown, “Take a leap and develop your wings as you fall!”

As we move into the New Year, I encourage you to think about something you want to accomplish, and ask GOD for the courage to help you face your fears so that you can move one more step towards your destiny.

Exercise:
Identify one area of your life/ one project/ one vision in which you need to exercise courage (list one)____________________________.
What step will you take daily to face your fear? _________________________________

Read this daily.
God I need to exercise courage in __________________________ and I commit to ______________________________________________________________________.

Commit to the challenge. I DARE you.

~Lereca Monik

Right Here Right Now

Break out the roller skates! This tune has me thinking of the old roller rink days. I can play air drums in my car on this one too. It has a very 80’s vibe to me. I think of the old movie Xanadu ( My favorite movie by the way) at around the 2:05 – 2:45 minute mark. Makes me almost want to dust off my roller skates; – almost –

Turn it up, clap those hands, play a little air drums and bust a move.

Or I also just like to drive my teenagers crazy with it!

Jake Hamilton is sure to have you rocking out to this one today.

Enjoy! XXOO Michelle Bollom

#SongSunday

http://youtu.be/W7UvJolc9FY

I Love Your Presence by Jake Hamilton

Lyrics:
I love your presence Jesus,
I love your presence Jesus,
I can feel you underneath my skin
I feel your heartbeat, beating within
Every breath drawning you in
come a little closer
come a little closer God
I love your presence Jesus
I love your presence Jesus
I love your presence Jesus
I love your presence Jesus
I can feel you underneath my skin
I feel your heart beat beating within
every breath is drawning you in
come a little closer
come a little closer God
There is no other place there I like to be than right here and right now
There is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now
there is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now
there is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now
There is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now
There is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now
There is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now
There is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now
There is no other place there i like to be than right here and right now

© RestoredMinistries

All Out Of Control

I am nothing without You!

When it’s all said and done I am NOT my best at all times with myself.
I can’t do it without You!!

Control

verb (used with object), controlled, controlling.
1.
to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.
2.
to exercise restraint or direction over; dominate; command.

Fear
1.
a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm.
Antonyms: courage, security, calm, intrepidity.

Fear is friends with control. It immediately sends a friend request over to control. They like to play together.

What do I have control over???

What I believe!!

What I choose!!!

What I receive?

What I surrender?

They all involve me and no one else!!

Father, I choose to receive your direction. I surrender my will and my ways under the control of your plans.
I believe that You are who You say You are.

You are Jehovah.

The name of the independent, self-complete being—“I AM WHO I AM”—only belongs to Jehovah God. Our proper response to Him is to fall down in fear and awe of the One who possesses all authority.
—Exodus 3:13-15

I’m all out of “control” now and
fear has fallen down and can’t get up.
You just got defriended!!

Light On,
Kelley Allison
John1:4-5
© RestoredMinistries

A True Encourager

Janet Cafer and I have been Tweeps
(what I call my Twitter friends) for a few years. Janet always sends me a tweet letting me know she is praying for me. Those tweets mean so much to me. Janet also has a great ministry called A True Gospel Ministry. Each day she has a morning scripture and an evening prayer she posts on her Facebook Ministry page.

Janet is a true encourager and a great encouragement to many.

This weeks #FeatureFriday I am happy to present to you Janet Cafer and A True Gospel Ministry.

Be encouraged!

You can Connect with Janet on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/ATrueGospelMinistry

Or on
Twitter @jmcafer

Precious

Most of my writing comes during a time of intensity, a moment of emotion and circumstance that moves me deeply, whether it be one of joy or despair. It is these moments in which The Lord gives me words without my asking. They just spill out onto paper. Other times, I seek the Lord and ask Him for words. In preparation of an upcoming Christmas party, I asked the Lord to provide the words for the poem I knew He wanted me to gift to those at the party. As He spoke to me about His marvelous creation, the words in the following poem are His answer to that prayer. The figure in the snow globe is holding a snowflake and marveling at the “delicate design” and the “intricate details”. No two snowflakes are alike, nor are we. We are all originals, and The Lord marvels at His work, as should we.

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ ~

It is my hope that this moment

is one you find precious.

A moment to remember

as part of this Christmas.

You see, my dears,

it’s not just the season, the decorations galore.

It’s not just the songs of His presence,

no, it’s so much more.

The celebration of the birth of our Savior

cannot be overdone.

For, of course, we all know

it is He who has come.

And while He is here

to take away sadness, worry, and gloom,

He is especially here to show

the beauty of His blossom’s bloom.

The delicate design of what is His,

the intricate details of His love.

There’s no better way to describe

than to say this original came from above.

For God sent His Son to overcome,

to make all things new,

And the only moment as precious to Him

is the moment He created you.

❤Stephanie
S.Gable 12/2014

Merry Christmas

© RestoredMinistries

No Darkness

And this is the message [the message of promise] which we have heard from Him and now are reporting to you: God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him at all [no, not in any way]. ~ 1 John 1:5 AMP

“A message from the Lord Jesus, the Word of life, the eternal Word, we should all gladly receive. The great God should be represented to this dark world, as pure and perfect light. As this is the nature of God, his doctrines and precepts must be such. And as his perfect happiness cannot be separated from his perfect holiness, so our happiness will be in proportion to our being made holy. To walk in darkness, is to live and act against religion. God holds no heavenly fellowship or intercourse with unholy souls. -Matthew Henry Concise Commentary

I love this verse and commentary! I gladly receive that -No -Not in Any way is there any Darkness in Him. Hallelujah! He is pure and perfect Light!

Lord, remove all darkness from me. Cleanse my unholy soul of anything that is not pure or perfect and that does not bring glory to You or Light to others. In Jesus Name, Amen.

How can you share the Pure and Perfect Light of Christ with this dark world? ~XXOO Michelle Bollom
© RestoredMinistries

Breaking Bread

First Course

I am going on about a week of taking daily communion at home. That would be the simple act of taking the elements of grape juice and bread in remembrance of the blood and body of what Jesus sacrificed for me on the cross.

I started thinking of it as an experiment to see if indeed it would draw me closer in my walk with Jesus leading me into a place nearer to God.

Some of us come to a point where our need for Him out shines any other priority in our lives.

Some of us stay content in a comfortable place of habit and don’t pursue him for deeper intimacy.

Whichever place you find yourself dwelling at this point in time of your life just remember God loves you and waits for you to seek Him.

Matthew 7:7
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”

I would say daily Communion is my way of seeking Him and knocking at His door.

Knock Knock!!
Let me in!! Yes by the hair of my chinny chin chin!!
I want to sit down and commune with You!!

The very first day I was lead to look up what was the definition of communion.

com·mun·ion
kəˈmyo͞onyən/
noun
1.
the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level.
“in this churchyard communion with the dead was almost palpable”
common participation in a mental or emotional experience.
“popular festivals where all take part in joyous communion”
synonyms: affinity, fellowship, kinship, friendship, fellow feeling, togetherness, closeness, harmony, understanding, rapport, connection, communication, empathy, accord, unity
“a sense of communion with others”
2.
the service of Christian worship at which bread and wine are consecrated and shared.

The first realization for me was this is not only about the actual elements.

I focused on the first definition.
It’s about intimacy. It’s a exchange of a relationship between two.
I visualized myself sitting at a table with Jesus “breaking bread”. I was just talking and listening like you would with a close friend. Sharing with your friend all you’re complaints, struggles, secrets, and successes.
Then you listen as your friend shares what is going on in their world at the moment.

I believe God wanted me to know first and foremost this is about a relationship with Jesus.

I was going to daily sit down and break bread with Jesus and share my day and listen to Him as He shared His thoughts about me and my day.

I was quickly reminded of Our Lord’s Prayer. The one Jesus told us in Matthew how to pray.
We all know it!!!

Matthew 6:9-13

9 “This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.

Look at verse 11:
Give us today our daily bread.

I might be on to something here.

Daily bread with Jesus through communion could be a helpful reminder that leads us into repentance and forgiving others as we spend time reflecting with Him over His body that was broken and His blood that was shed so we could be free from the evil one’s lies of
temptation and destruction.

This was proving to be a worthwhile choice to daily include Communion.

Pull up a chair and join me at the breakfast table as we continue to “break bread” with Jesus.

Recommended Supplies:
1)Bread (crackers, Matzo, Saltines)
2)Small cup juice (Dixie cups or shot glasses)
3)Journal
4)Pen
5)Bible
6)Table
7)Chair for Jesus (He may want to sit down) 😜

* Be sure to follow us and check back in the next few weeks for more results on my Communion Experiment Experience.

Light On,
Kelley Allison
John1:4-5

© RestoredMinistries

Life

Define:
Life can be defined as the period between the birth and death of a living thing, especially a human being.

Affirm:
Psalms 138:8 “The LORD will work out his plans for my life — for your faithful love, O LORD, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.”

Recall:
As I meditated on the word “Life” I had so many things going through my mind. For me I was encountering challenges on what to write, I think because there are so many stories that can be told about life. I had to ask GOD to silence my mind, so that I could again-hear his voice in the message that HE wanted me to deliver. After my request to him, he gave me a picture of a maze. I thought …okay…Life is a maze; please help me interpret. So here it is…

Do you remember being in grade school as a young child and being challenged to complete your maze activity worksheet? I do. I remember the challenge was always exciting. I knew prior to starting the exercise, that there was only one correct path to get to the finish line. I also knew that I needed to start somewhere.

A maze has a starting point and an ending point; just like life. Life happens and just like a maze we need adapt to the changes, pick up the pieces, and follow the course. That’s the only way we will get to the end goal- the finish line. GOD he directed me to offer a little transparency about my life and some of the road blocks I have experienced. A maze (life) will:

1 Force you to change directions; I have said things I wish I could take back.
Take you down the wrong path, I have battled with addictions.

Throw you a curve, I have been homeless.

End with a wall that you feel you can’t penetrate; I lost my mother as a teenager.

Cause confusion; my family often seems to be disconnected and we as a family are not always on one accord.

Offer you a fork in the road; I have lost everything to the extent of being penniless.

Make you feel that you are on your way; I have made poor decisions with relationships that I initially perceived as healthy for me.

Paint the illusion that this is the best direction; I am guilty of lust and fornication.

Make you want to quit; I have been depressed.

So there it is. We all struggle or have struggled with something. Just know you are not alone in the struggle. It’s life. Struggles are necessary for us to grow. The beautiful thing about life is -just like a maze; GOD will help you work through the obstacles. We must learn to lean on him and allow him to help us get to the finish line. The scripture tells us that GOD will work out his plans for our lives- when faced with something, let him work it out. Trust me his guidance is always the best.

Exercise:
Identify one area of your life that you feel you need to try another route? (list one) _______________
What will you do daily to make that change?_________________________________

Read this daily.
God I need direction in __________________________ area of my life and I commit to ______________________________________________________________________.

Commit to the change. I DARE you.
~Lereca Monik
© RestoredMinistries