Time To Be Excused

I had a friend – a really close friend that I talked to and saw almost daily. We did life together for over 10 years.

She liked to gossip and talk about others.

Hey, I am not saying I was perfect because I was guilty and engaged in it too.

Sometimes, we all can still get into tricky waters and tread back into those familiar foolish things.

God started to deal with me and I remember as He began to answer that daily prayer I pray – “Nothing Hidden Stays Hidden – reveal my true friends Lord”; My eyes were opened and I would get a glimpse of some alarming things.

She and her friends would talk horrible things about their other friends and people in general. Friends they claimed they had done life with for 20+ years and I would think…Yikes! How horrible! – I hope she doesn’t say things about me like that. Sadly, she was and more and many times it came back to me.

I knew God was pinging my heart for what grieved His and I couldn’t keep sitting quietly by or even keep participating in these behaviors.

He also was opening my eyes and trying to move that relationship away but I refused to listen and clung to it; tightly; desperately; foolishly; like a pair of old Blue Jeans from High School you think you will wear again some day.

Well, she dumped me over 3 years ago on my birthday in public like a bad scene out of the real housewives of NW Houston!

She didn’t want to be my friend anymore. Her exact words! Plus a whole bunch more in a very crowded lunch spot.

It hurt like hell – I ain’t gonna lie.

But God! He worked it all out for my good. Even better than I could hope, think or ask. He also healed my heart and taught me many valuable lessons during that time. I still pray for her and her family and her friends today.

God knew she couldn’t go where He was calling me and He no longer wanted me to sit at tables with anyone that continued to do this. Because He didn’t want me to do this.

I am diligent to not allow anyone to cause discord or gossip within our Divine Connections group. I am quick to repent when I feel I cross the line and get into any conversation that turns towards gossip or speaking less than what is pure and lovely.

I hope and pray you all have the courage to leave the tables of this foolery and mess too.

Be better versions of yourself.

Be better women and friends …

and this is for all the guys too.

Surround yourself with those that sharpen and bring out the best in you and ultimately in others too.

When you know your true worth you will stop entertaining and allowing anything that cheapens you.

This is a great quick article to read!

~ XXOO Michelle

https://herviewfromhome.com/i-no-longer-sit-at-tables-where-i-might-be-the-topic-when-i-get-up/

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Did You Ask?

Did you ask the Lord for patience?

Did you plead for it in prayer?

But when tribulation tried you,

Did you think He didn’t care?

Oh, my child, He heard and answered,

Answered full your earnest cry:

“Tribulation worketh patience!”

Now you know the reason why.

Did you ask Him for submission?

Did you ask for it in prayer?

But when suffering came upon you,

Did you think it wasn’t fair?

Oh, my dear, He heard and answered,

Though not how you wished, ‘tis clear;

For we only learn submission

By the things we suffer here.

‘Twas unselfishness you wanted?

Did you plead for it in prayer?

But the sacrifice He asked for,

Did it seem too great to bear?

Oh, He cared, He heard and answered,

Answered full your heart-felt prayer;

For we learn to be unselfish,

By the sacrifice we bear.

Did you ask the Lord for victory?

Well, He took you at your word!

Tho’ when the battle raged around you,

You wondered if He’d heard.

Oh, my child, He heard and answered,

And He gave you your request:

For how can you win a victory

If you never face a test?

Did you ask to be made humble?

Not to have self-righteous pride?

But then wonder when He published

All your failings far and wide?

Well, my child, that was His answer

To your prayer of desperation:

The surest way to be made humble,

Is to bear humiliation.

Judge not God with mortal’s judgement, When your prayers are answered so;

For the truest paths for Christians,

Often lead through vales of woe.

And the answers that He gives you,

Will be truly good and fair:

Though you may not understand them

Till you view from over there!

–Josephine Hope Westervelt

Poetically Prophetic

Look Closer

Have you ever seen a display or bowl of fake fruit or food?

They can look so legit, until you get closer and inspect them. Sometimes, they are so authentic looking that you may even have to touch it or taste it to realize it is a counterfeit. A big ole FAKE!

The counterfeit market is such a big problem. I saw a documentary stating it was a multi-billion dollar industry.

People passing off fakes as authentic items and getting lots of money to dupe and lie to people.

People duping people, people using people, people lying to people, all that is not something new and not just happening in the designer watch and purse markets. It happens everyday, even in Christian circles, churches, and ministries.

We have all discovered those wolves hiding in sheep’s clothing.

We usually discover it not by seeing a little zipper exposed or a raveled thread. Although our discernment may pick up on those things; it usually happens by personally being wounded by someone that appeared authentic, but instead really turned out to be an abuser or user.

So, the moral peeps –

L👀k Closer!

Inspect the fruit!

or food, or purse or watch or person….

L👀k Closer!

It can seem robust and lush and shiny and beautiful or enticing and authentic, but once you really inspect it, touch it, spend some time with it, and maybe taste it, it could be just a Big Ole Fake!

I saw this funny Meme… It said,

“Try to remember the greener grass across the fence may be due to a septic tank issue.”

Discernment is key!

Lord, thank You that nothing hidden stays hidden. Reveal to us those counterfeit alignments and associations that are not for us. Bring us the authentic real alignments and Divine Connections You have designed for us to carry out Your assignments, plans, and purposes. Give us discernment and clear vision to recognize those counterfeits and wolves in sheep’s clothing. May we move in boldness and courage to walk away and release them. We trust You to sift the wheat from the chaff.

~ XXOO Michelle

That Clinches It!

4 years ago I was in a tough season. I felt like a boxer getting that uppercut or left hook out of nowhere and I was teetering big time. I was spent and tired and told God I needed a word or I wanted to quit.

I did the ole Bible flip – not gonna lie … and as I released it opened to this verse.

“That clinches it—help’s coming,

an answer’s on the way,

everything’s going to work out.”

~Psalm 20:6 MSG

So I want to encourage you.

If you are barely holding on today and you need a word … claim this Promise for yourself today!

~ XXOO Michelle

Live Prayer Event

Join us Wednesday 5/1/19 at 7 pm CST – details Here

Do What You Say You’re Gonna Do

Do what you say you’re gonna do!

This was a big area for me that I struggled in judgement in. I didn’t seem to extend grace to anyone that backed out of a commitment.

I had woundings from my childhood and marriage that I felt that broken promises had caused me great pain in my past so I built a hard spot for anyone else that didn’t keep their word or promises to me.

Now I am not talking about sometimes things come up and can’t be avoided. We need mercy and grace for those instances and sometimes it’s just simply dealing with our own warped and deceptive perception and emotions of not taking those instances personal.

It can’t always be avoided sometimes and I get that and know God is always in control and a Divine Detour could be in the works.

The Lord Willing Response -is a good start so you are not having to go back on your word if you struggle in the area of keeping your word-but don’t use it as an excuse either.

Also don’t be so bound that it is something you begrudgingly do or go against your peace gauge; you may be needing to step away or break a commitment in order to say your best yes for you or your family or even God.

What I am talking about is what I believe is a spirit that people operate in. They make big plans and promises consistently and even may vow their unending loyalty and commitment to you but are always backing out and usually in the very last minute with excuses after excuses and never follow through. They also have a quitter spirit and don’t like when you disagree with them.

They usually have offense issues and are offended easily and have perception issues too;their perception is so full of deception.

They also operate highly in paranoia and pity.

They perceive things and think that their discernment and perception is fact but it is so warped and wrapped up in their fickle fleshly emotions they can’t recognize it and have a hard time separating fantasy from reality. They like escapism.

They can also have confrontational, isolation and blame issues. They retreat offended then blame others for the distance they themselves created or they always want to force their opinions upon you to entice a confrontation. They can have an argumentative spirit too.

I have struggled with all of those at some time in my life too. I am not pointing fingers; this is a Divine Download to help me and others too.

This is not always a bad thing when you recognize someone operating in that spirit. It can be a good thing because once you recognize it you can set boundaries, pray to not get a spirit of criticism or judgement against them, but also rest assured in knowing that God is revealing and separating the wheat from the chaff for a reason.

You pray and love them but also know that they just can’t be relied upon so sometimes you have to love them from a healthy distance until they are willing to break free from it themselves.

Ask God to help you recognize the faithful from the flaky in your life. (Joking! But hey, that really is a great prayer!)

If you suffer from this spirit – ask the Lord to help you break those patterns and start to follow through with what you say you will do.

~ XXOO Michelle Bollom

restoredministries.org

Women’s Group – NW Houston TX

If you live in NW Houston Texas area – join us Thursday’s 11 am – 1 pm! Contact us via email for more details.

He Loves When You Pray

May you look around and notice all of the answers to prayer you enjoy because of prayers you prayed some time ago.

May the breakthroughs you’ve experienced and the open doors you’ve walked through compel you to pray with more fervency, specificity, and tenacity.

God loves your faith.

He loves your heart.

He loves it when you pray.

He’s very protective of you and won’t give you something that’s not good for you.

He makes you wait because He’s making you ready.

Trust your whole soul and story to Him.

And keep praying.

God is moving, even when you can’t see it.

One day, your faith will become sight.

A blessed, beautiful, and prayerful day to you!

~ Fenich Jerry

Saturated

May God’s peace mark your day in every way.

May the Lord show you places in your life where you’ve let your guard down, let your thoughts wander, and let your peace slip away.

May Jesus help you shore up your life once again.

May you listen more closely to His voice and turn a deaf ear to the enemy.

May you refuse thoughts and indulgences that only weaken you.

Engage in all of the things that are good for your soul.

Jesus loves you and He wants what’s best for you.

Have a peace-saturated day today!

~ Fenich Jerry

Bigger Hearts

Lord, grant us fresh grace, thicker skin, and bigger hearts.