Pouring Out Our Story

  
I am as full of words as the speediest writer pouring out his story!

I poured out my fasting story – all 40 days of downloads. Today is #40! 

I recently sent a version of my story and had it sent back to rework and edit for a feature spot on a dear friends blog. I know it needs to be done, it was just a rough cut. I just sort of poured out the story.  

When I have to edit all the submissions to this blog, from all the stories pouring out, the editing is the not so fun part.   

Even editing my own stuff is not fun.  

I was invited to do a recorded television spot for our local TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) on how TBN has impacted my life. The first take seemed effortless. God spoke through me and they cheered and then the retake…..

I am a swayer when I talk so they wanted a second go round. That retake did not feel as smooth.   
I know It is all up to God. They will send it on and will notify me if they decide to air it or use it. 

  I just poured out my story. 

All these recent things on pouring out our stories and words…. 
Words! 

Ugh! 

God is always dealing with me on my words.  
To speak up and use them or to shut up or choose fewer words.  

I love how the verse says, my heart is overflowing with a beautiful thought.   

That is usually how it starts. I have a beautiful thought and then I sometimes just get it out and am done, but most of the time we have to edit or do a retake. I love how God speaks to my heart through His word.
I am so so with poetry, but I am for sure full of words! 

We all have a beautiful story- our testimony. We may just have a beautiful thought, but God will weave the rest of it out for His Glory. 

Trust Him with it all, the good, the bad, and the ugly. You always can edit or a retake if you need to.  
Just begin by pouring out your story! 

This is the beautiful final verse in my fasting experience downloads and it couldn’t be more fitting. 

My heart is overflowing with a beautiful thought! I will write a lovely poem to the King, for I am as full of words as the speediest writer pouring out his story. You are the fairest of all;Your words are filled with grace;God himself is blessing you forever.  ~ Psalm 45:1-2 TLB 

                    

Be blessed everyone! 
Thank you for coming on this journey with me.  

                ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

It’s All Good

  
This morning as I was unpacking my verse, I was also multi-tasking.

 I texted my twins to apologize for being naggy.

 My husband is on vacation and has thrown our normal routines off. 

 I was griping and short and just being a real nag. 

 God quickly dealt with me and said to apologize so I sent the text. My daughter quickly replied: 

It’s all good love you😘
She even sent me a kiss emoticon.
I returned to my verse unpacking and this is what it said: 
 “All right,” Hezekiah replied. “Whatever the Lord says is good. At least there will be peace during my lifetime!” ~Isaiah 39:8 

Isn’t that the truth!  

Whatever the Lord tells us to do, it is good. It may not feel good, or be the popular thing to do, it might require swallowing our pride and humbly obeying God, but in the end it is all good.  

And just like Hezekiah, there will be peace during our lifetime! 

              
So make that call and reach out and apologize to someone that you know the Lord has asked you to. It will bring peace and restoration. 

                          ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

Steadily And Deeply

  
Steadily and Deeply. Those two words jumped out at me today. 

My first 40 day fasting experience is almost over.  It really has been steady and deep.  
I did not think I could ever do this.  
Which, in actuality, I really didn’t.  
It was ALL God that did it!

I just obeyed Him and the Spirit and stopped giving in to my flesh. 
When we begin to live in that Altar’d state, we will begin to live so much more steadily and deeply.  

Today’s verse is: 

This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in Him, and He in us: He’s given us life from His life, from His very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent His Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God. ~ 1 John 4:13 

Lord, thank You for steady and deep. Thank You for the guidance and leading to do this fast. I not only have reaped so many health benefits, but the spiritual growth has been phenomenal. Thank You that when I take trust off myself and place it rightfully on You where it should be, You can work on my behalf.  

                ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

Need A Light

    
Feel like you are barely flickering? 

 Or are you burning your candle at both ends too quickly? 

Maybe your light has gone out and you need a light?  

Mine seems to barely flicker right now! 

I have hit a plateau and today is day 32 of my fasting experience. I am growing a little weary.  

This morning I read this verse:

Psalm 36:9 

For you are the Fountain of life; our light is from Your light. 

I was encouraged to know that my light is from His light so when I am barely flickering or have gone out, I simply have to go to God and let Him know I need a light! 

Lord, help me finish strong. I have just a few weeks left and I know You are the fountain of life, so pour into me. Fill me up and keep my light shining bright. Reignite the passion and perseverance for me and this fast. Thank You for Your word. Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that helps me in all areas.   Thank You that my light comes from Your light. 

                 ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

Calling All Angels

  
“I need a sign to let me know You’re here….. 

All of these lines are being crossed over the atmosphere”

Remember the old Train song- 

Calling All Angels? 

“When there is no place safe and no safe place to put my head

When you feel the world shake from the words that are said”

When I read today’s verse I instantly thought of that song. I admit I had to look up the lyrics since it had been awhile:

“I need a sign to let me know You’re here

‘Cause my TV set just keeps it all from being clear

I want a reason for the way things have to be

I need a hand to help build up some kind of hope inside of me…”
“When children have to play inside so they don’t disappear

While private eyes solve marriage lies cause we don’t talk for years

And football teams are kissing Queens

and losing sight of having dreams

In a world that what we want is only what we want until it’s ours”

Wow- those are some great lyrics!  No wonder that song was so popular. 

  I can see when people are consumed with the news media and hearing the world telling them all sorts of bad stuff that it would be hard to have hope. 

The TV set just keeps it all from being clear

But what is clear?….
God and His Word! 

Countless times we read stories in the Bible where people cried out to the Lord and He rescued them. God has armies of Angels all ready for their next assignments. Our simple cry to God, sets that assignment into motion.  

In Numbers it shows that when they cried out to the Lord, he heard them and sent an Angel who brought them out of Egypt.   

His promises are still true today. Cry out to God for what ever your need is. He has His angels always on call and ready to go.  

                    ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 
But when we cried to the Lord he heard us and sent an Angel who brought us out of Egypt, and now we are here at Kadesh, encamped on the borders of your land. ~Numbers 20:16 TLB 

Finding The Courage

  
I am more than half way through my fasting experience. What would seem like a really scary and difficult task has not really been all that bad. Much easier than I thought. 

 I think a lot is due to having the right perspective and mindset going in. I wanted this to be about God revealing some transforming truths in His word for me. I wanted to crucify my flesh and live in the Spirit. I wanted to not mourn what I gave up and instead be excited with the wisdom and knowledge I would gain.

 I never imagined how wonderful this could be.  

Of all the things I gave up, I gained so much more. Some revelations have been life changing, some have been AHA (a holy answer) moments, and some have been encouragement for me to keep pressing on.  

As I am no longer turning to food to fill or stuff an emotional void it is not intended to and instead using food for just nutrition, I am finding many things about myself that have seemed hidden, start to emerge.  

Today’s Life Recovery notes on my verse talk about finding the courage. 

I started to think about the cowardly lion in the Wizard of Oz that was in search of courage and traveled the yellow brick road to Oz, but only to realize he really had it all along. The lion had let fear crowd his courage out.  

Courage, for me too, was like the Lion, I thought I didn’t have very much, but realized, I had it all along but fear had been crowding out my courage.

What God has been showing me is that when I tune into the Spirit over my flesh, then I will find not only the Courage, but a whole lot more things, I only thought I lacked.  
Like:  
The courage to speak up when I need to

The courage to deny my flesh

The courage in asking God for bolder and bigger prayers

The courage to let go of control 

The courage to surrender my will and my emotions fully to God 

The courage to rest in His perfect peace

The courage to try new things

The courage to love others more 

The courage to take even the slightest resentment or hurt to Him first

The courage to forgive fully 

The courage to accept instead of expect 

The courage to listen more 

The courage to speak less 

The courage to realize my worth is in God and not in my own abilities

Lord, thank You for chiseling away at all the junk to reveal the facets of the diamond You are mining instead of just revealing and leaving the flaws. Your love, mercy, and grace make it all possible. Thank You for restoration and recovery and most of all salvation. Thank You for avenging me and others who are hurting and bound by secrets, sins, or struggles. Thank You for Your many promises in Your Word and the Power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You that You came to set the captives free and to give us a hope and a future.  
                       ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

But as for Judah, it will always be full of people.Eternal One: Jerusalem, too, will endure for generations to come. I will avenge those who were hurt, enslaved, exiled, and killed;I will not let the guilty go free.For the Eternal One lives in Zion. ~ Joel 3:20-21 The VOICE 

God has a good future planned for all who trust in Him. Restoration and recovery will be complete; salvation will be forever. With this hope for the future, we can find the courage we need to persevere through our problems today. Since the final goal of our recovery process is assured, we need not fear the dark days still ahead. ~Life Recovery Bible 

Whistle While He Works

  
Imagine waking up each morning and having a group of 7 little dwarfs sitting at the foot of your bed eagerly awaiting to know what they can help you with today.  

Whatever it is, they are all joyfully singing and whistling; determined to getting things done.  

This morning on day 27 of my fasting experience, that was the image I got.   

My two verses today spoke of singing and the works of the Lord, so I instantly thought about the 7 dwarfs and the phrase “whistle while we work” ….

But the Lord quickly said, 

No, “Whistle while He works.” 

Instead of relying on sneezy, dopy, bashful, doc, happy, grumpy, sleepy…which is only in the fairytales; How about waking up each day relying on comforter, helper, healer, peace, advocate, counselor, savior; (My top 7 just for today) always readily available to help work all things out for our good. 

In the heat of any battle, He is not only our strength and song ensuring our victory, but He is also an endless list, not limited to just 7, of whatever we need at any given moment.   

Even on the really hard stuff, He is right there. When you don’t feel like you can sing and rejoice or praise Him, you can simply just whistle while He works on your behalf.  

A whistle is like the simple prayer of “Help” or a quiet “Thank You”. Even if you can’t get your whistle to come out just right, the slightest little breath is always enough. 

Lord, remind me to call on You each morning to help me go about my day.  Help me to remember to sing of Your faithfulness and rejoice in Your marvelous compassion.  Even if somedays I can’t sing the full song, help me to simply “whistle” while You work on my behalf. Thank You for being everything I need. 
                    ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

Psalm 92:4 For You, O Lord, have made me glad by Your works; At the works of Your hands I joyfully sing. AMP

Psalm 118:14 He is my strength and song in the heat of battle, and now he has given me the victory. ~TLB 

It is necessary to offer praise to God for all that He has done for us. Part of our offering should be a declaration of God’s marvelous compassion and His unceasing goodness to us. He truly is the one who brings abiding joy to our life. As we experience His faithfulness in our life, praise and thanks should be our natural response. Our prayers will serve as a declaration to others of God’s power to deliver us from the bondage of addictions.~Life Recovery Bible 

Better Than Ezra

  
Does anyone remember the band from the late 80’s or early 90’s “Better Than Ezra” ? 

Today as I read this verse I couldn’t stop thinking of the band or my favorite song by them “Good”.  
I had to go to YouTube to hear it-

I couldn’t help but laugh that God used this song, on this day, with this verse, by this band to confirm that I indeed was right on track- that in fact it was a “good” idea to start a new fast. 

I am starting a new fast today January 3rd. I am fasting to humble myself before God and to seek and pray for wise guidance for continuing with my weight loss and health journey.  

Just like Ezra, no wait….

Better Than Ezra….

Fasting is a “Good” thing! 

When we fast and pray about our concerns – God listens! 

 Have you fasted? 

Share your experiences or ideas of what to fast with us.       

                     ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

I proclaimed a fast there beside the Ahava Canal, a fast to humble ourselves before our God and pray for wise guidance for our journey—all our people and possessions. I was embarrassed to ask the king for a cavalry bodyguard to protect us from bandits on the road. We had just told the king, “Our God lovingly looks after all those who seek him, but turns away in disgust from those who leave him.” So we fasted and prayed about these concerns. And he listened. ~Ezra 8:21, 23 MSG 
  

The Prince Of Wholeness

  
Prince Charming. 

 Every young girls dream. 

Ever since the fairy tales of Snow White and Cinderella showed us all that a Prince rescued a poor mistreated girl with her once lost but now found glass slipper and awoke a sleeping cursed girl with a kiss, we have wanted a Prince to rescue us. 

 Story lines still today show countless movies with a modern version of Prince Charming. The most popular one I think of is Pretty Woman where a millionaire businessman rescues and falls in love with a prostitute. 

Some people say their Prince Charming hasn’t arrived or is some how delayed. Some even claim a weirdo in tin foil showed up instead of a mighty Prince in armor on a white horse. 

Of all the names for God I have seen Prince of Peace, which I totally love that Prince; but The Prince of Wholeness… I had never seen before. 
I will totally take that Prince over all the others.  He is the only one we should be waiting for because He is the only one that can save us. 

The world is full of broken hurting people shattered by past mistakes, regrets, abuse, addictions, secrets, sins, and struggles. All are waiting and wondering who will rescue them. All are dreaming of their Prince to ride in on a white horse and save them. 

The really great news is, a gift, a Son, Jesus, our Saviour has already been given to us! 

He is The “Prince of Wholeness”

The even better news is that there will be no limits to the wholeness He brings when the Prince of Wholeness comes.   

Kisses and glass slippers are so overrated.

              
                    ~XXOO Michelle Bollom 

The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light.

For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—

    light! sunbursts of light!

You repopulated the nation,

    you expanded its joy.

Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!

    Festival joy!

The joy of a great celebration,

    sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.

The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—

    all their whips and cudgels and curses—

Is gone, done away with, a deliverance

    as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.

The boots of all those invading troops,

    along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,

Will be piled in a heap and burned,

    a fire that will burn for days!

For a child has been born—for us!

    the gift of a son—for us!

He’ll take over

    the running of the world.

His names will be: Amazing Counselor,

    Strong God,

Eternal Father,

    Prince of Wholeness.

His ruling authority will grow,

    and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.

He’ll rule from the historic David throne

    over that promised kingdom.

He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing

    and keep it going

With fair dealing and right living,

    beginning now and lasting always.

The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies

    will do all this. ~Isaiah 9:2-7 MSG 

Hope For Restoration

  
Zion’s Happy Future, The Road To Holiness, The Land And Its People Transformed, Joy Of The Redeemed, Fertile Wilderness, God Will Comfort His People, Hope For Restoration.  

These are just some of the subtitles for today’s verse in various translations.  
My favorite; of course- Hope For Restoration

Even the wilderness and desert will rejoice in those days; the desert will blossom with flowers.~ Isaiah 35:1 TLB 

Today is day 25 of my fasting experience and God continues to surprise me each day with a new download of His truth and encouragement. 

When our life feels like the desert or wilderness we can still find things to rejoice and celebrate.  

Flowers can still blossom in the desert! 
                             

Lord, thank You for the Hope of Restoration. Thank You for Your life giving and life transforming Word. Thank You for the Holy Spirit and the resurrection power that is helping me to transform from the inside out. May I continue to bloom where You have me planted. May I find much to celebrate and rejoice in all situations and circumstances. Amen. 
                    ~XXOO Michelle Bollom