As a warrior for Christ...Paul who wrote the book of the bible called Romans says, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him." (Romans 12:1)
For a long time (before I was married) I always thought of that verse to mean that I shouldn't add another tatoo (YES, I have a tatoo!) to myself or that I should always wear more modest clothing so as not to make a man stumble in their walk with God or that I should not use profanity. As a baby Christian, just beginning to truly learn about God and who He was...I was very literal and only had a limited perspective on God. That is not a bad thing...it was just a thing...that is just where I was, and for me...that was MY beginning of a new journey into knowing who God was and what He wanted for me. All those things were things I had my own convictions about at the time. Your convictions right now may be something totally different than those...maybe you need to stop drinking and/or smoking...or maybe you need to honor God by using your talents and gifts the way He intended you to use them. I don't know where your convictions lie, but heed to that still small voice that is telling you to honor God in the way He intended.
God has brought me a long way from that point and has taught me so much from then till now. I now see this verse in a whole different light and see it as "my personal responsibility" to offer myself...which includes not only honoring Him by the ways listed above, but also honor Him by using the gifts and talents that He has given me so I can build up His church!
God has given each of us a unique ability to do certain things well. Whether it be to prophesy (speaking out when you have faith that God is speaking through you), or the gift of serving, loving, showing kindness, encouraging, or leading others. Or even if He has blessed you with money, that you share it generously. Whatever your gifts are God be faithful in seeking ways to serve other with what Christ has given you!
And if you are unsure of what those gifts are...then begin reading God's word and pray in faith and believe that God will reveal to you the way in which you can "be a living and holy sacrifice" to Him.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Focus, Focus, Focus and...
FIGHT!
These past couple of weeks I have truly had to delve into the WORD of God to find what promises He has made to me [and to you] about healing. As I stated in my previous (October 20th) post, God's word says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...(Hosea 4:6 New King James Version)"; therefore, I have literally saturated my mind, thoughts, prayers, and now my walls in my house and the beginnings in my office at work, with God's promises.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him (Phillipians 2:13 New Living Translation)." The New King James version says, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. God's will, healing, is working in me [you]. Dodie Osteen says in her book "Healed of Cancer," "God you said that You are working in me. You are working in my body both to will and to do for you good pleasure. Father You are working in my mind, renewing it. My health is your good pleasure."
I thank God that He has given me so many promises and that I can remind Him of those on a daily basis. It has been so important for me to saturate myself with these, so I can arm my self in this battle. I have literally had to "focus, focus, focus" on God's word...so that I have the weapons to destroy the lies that the enemy tries to cast in my mind.
Things that cast doubt into our minds and spirit, that are against what God says, those are the ways that the enemy works to steal, kill, and destroy us. When we allow ourselves to dwell on the things that bring doubt and are contrary to what God says...then we are allowing the enemy to have a foothold (a "say so") in our lives. That is why it is so important to know what God says and speaks over our lives.
Just like in life, if we don't know what has been promised to us, for example, our salaries in our jobs, then we don't have any way of knowing what to expect from our paycheck; therefore, it gives our households instability in knowing how to plan to pay for our bills. It can give our families worries and doubt not knowing how they will be provided for and if they will have food from week to week. You see, if we don't have a strong foundation and stability then we will be like sand, moving from place to place, depending on the wind or rain to move us from place to place.
God has given us all the power and knowledge on how to navigate through life by His word. Therefore, if you are just beginning to learn...keep going at it...don't feel condemned if you don't know God's word. Just begin learning and reading and God will meet you beyond your expectations.
Seek His Face today!
These past couple of weeks I have truly had to delve into the WORD of God to find what promises He has made to me [and to you] about healing. As I stated in my previous (October 20th) post, God's word says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...(Hosea 4:6 New King James Version)"; therefore, I have literally saturated my mind, thoughts, prayers, and now my walls in my house and the beginnings in my office at work, with God's promises.
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him (Phillipians 2:13 New Living Translation)." The New King James version says, "for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. God's will, healing, is working in me [you]. Dodie Osteen says in her book "Healed of Cancer," "God you said that You are working in me. You are working in my body both to will and to do for you good pleasure. Father You are working in my mind, renewing it. My health is your good pleasure."
I thank God that He has given me so many promises and that I can remind Him of those on a daily basis. It has been so important for me to saturate myself with these, so I can arm my self in this battle. I have literally had to "focus, focus, focus" on God's word...so that I have the weapons to destroy the lies that the enemy tries to cast in my mind.
Things that cast doubt into our minds and spirit, that are against what God says, those are the ways that the enemy works to steal, kill, and destroy us. When we allow ourselves to dwell on the things that bring doubt and are contrary to what God says...then we are allowing the enemy to have a foothold (a "say so") in our lives. That is why it is so important to know what God says and speaks over our lives.
Just like in life, if we don't know what has been promised to us, for example, our salaries in our jobs, then we don't have any way of knowing what to expect from our paycheck; therefore, it gives our households instability in knowing how to plan to pay for our bills. It can give our families worries and doubt not knowing how they will be provided for and if they will have food from week to week. You see, if we don't have a strong foundation and stability then we will be like sand, moving from place to place, depending on the wind or rain to move us from place to place.
God has given us all the power and knowledge on how to navigate through life by His word. Therefore, if you are just beginning to learn...keep going at it...don't feel condemned if you don't know God's word. Just begin learning and reading and God will meet you beyond your expectations.
Seek His Face today!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Ammunition...
God has truly been speaking to me throughout this "second chapter" about empowering myself by educating myself on what cancer is and how it becomes to manifest itself in the body and how to keep it from returning.
Aaron and I have been to the best doctors. These are the guys that are heads of their departments, "the chief directors." And not one of them educated us about my cancer...like how it starts, what it is comprised of, and how it feeds itself. NOT ONE! Now don't get me wrong...they told me I needed to eat right, exercise, and take vitamins. But now looking back, I am quite disappointed that I feel like they never addressed what cancer was and how I could specifically combat it. BUT GOD...
He first began by bringing Cathy into my life. A nutritionist, who had previously had cancer and she combatted it with natural therapies. That is truly why I felt God's ultimate peace about choosing the path of alternative/naturalistic therapies. She has been such a blessing to my life and has helped teach me about cancer and has helped me tremendously by finding resources I would have never found on my own. She has given me a whole different perspective about how God truly knew what he was doing when he provided us with the foods and nutrients to help keep our bodies alive and well.
Her help, prompted me to do a lot of research on my own; thereby educating myself on what I needed to do to help my body heal itself. Before I met Cathy, God asked me to begin fasting and praying for my healing on September 15th. He led me to fast for forty days. I feel because I was obedient to His prompting, He has brought many resources into my life to help me learn about myself and how my body works. I have read several articles and have recently began reading a book that I feel has helped me know how exactly I was "poisoning" my body. I also read Dodie Osteen's book called, "Healed of Cancer." Another resource God provided me was Dr. Battle's knowledge on the body, how it works, and exactly what areas of my body needed to be helped.
A little diversion...for many years, I have prayed that I would live a long life, but not only did I want to live to be really old (maybe 94 or 100 years-old) but have a great quality of life even at that age. All that, included not only being physically healthy, but to have a sharp mind and to have a memory that would help me remember the wisdom that God had given to me so that I could share with others.
God's word says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...(Hosea 4:6 New King James Version). I truly believe that God's word is our power and we must equip ourselves with the "ammunition" that it has given us. But in order to equip ourselves we must read and know His word for His word is the difference between life and death.
Life and death in my case is literally a physical manifestation, but in your case it may be different. It might be the "life and death" of a relationship in your life or it could be a battle in your life that you have to face every day...like depression, anxiety, bitterness, or even regret. Whatever, the case may be...know that God's word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There are so many scriptures of healing that apply to every area of your life and that ultimately lead to your healing.
I have an unshakeable confidence in the Lord and His word. One thing I have truly had to battle throughout this process is the enemy casting doubt in my mind. I love waht Dodie Osteen says, "You can have doubt in your head, but faith in your heart! The weapons of our warfare are not carnal for they are mighty in God casting down imaginations and every high and lofty thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ. Be strong and bring every thought into line of God's word!
I have had to tell myself that I am only human and that even though at times I have wavered in my thoughts, I have never wavered in my heart about the truth that God has spoken into my life (that I am healed and set free of fear that has tried to attach itself to me).
I have declared over my life what Nahum 1:9, says, "What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it.Affliction will not rise up a second time."
I believe that God's word it the truth and He will follow through with all of His promises as long as I truly believe them and not waiver in my heart!
Father I am strong in the power of your might. Let me take hold of your strength. Lord, I need you! I pray today that you take these words today, get your "ammunition" ready and begin to "fire" against the attacks of the enemy in every area of your life.
--Con Amor, Tina
Aaron and I have been to the best doctors. These are the guys that are heads of their departments, "the chief directors." And not one of them educated us about my cancer...like how it starts, what it is comprised of, and how it feeds itself. NOT ONE! Now don't get me wrong...they told me I needed to eat right, exercise, and take vitamins. But now looking back, I am quite disappointed that I feel like they never addressed what cancer was and how I could specifically combat it. BUT GOD...
He first began by bringing Cathy into my life. A nutritionist, who had previously had cancer and she combatted it with natural therapies. That is truly why I felt God's ultimate peace about choosing the path of alternative/naturalistic therapies. She has been such a blessing to my life and has helped teach me about cancer and has helped me tremendously by finding resources I would have never found on my own. She has given me a whole different perspective about how God truly knew what he was doing when he provided us with the foods and nutrients to help keep our bodies alive and well.
Her help, prompted me to do a lot of research on my own; thereby educating myself on what I needed to do to help my body heal itself. Before I met Cathy, God asked me to begin fasting and praying for my healing on September 15th. He led me to fast for forty days. I feel because I was obedient to His prompting, He has brought many resources into my life to help me learn about myself and how my body works. I have read several articles and have recently began reading a book that I feel has helped me know how exactly I was "poisoning" my body. I also read Dodie Osteen's book called, "Healed of Cancer." Another resource God provided me was Dr. Battle's knowledge on the body, how it works, and exactly what areas of my body needed to be helped.
A little diversion...for many years, I have prayed that I would live a long life, but not only did I want to live to be really old (maybe 94 or 100 years-old) but have a great quality of life even at that age. All that, included not only being physically healthy, but to have a sharp mind and to have a memory that would help me remember the wisdom that God had given to me so that I could share with others.
God's word says, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge...(Hosea 4:6 New King James Version). I truly believe that God's word is our power and we must equip ourselves with the "ammunition" that it has given us. But in order to equip ourselves we must read and know His word for His word is the difference between life and death.
Life and death in my case is literally a physical manifestation, but in your case it may be different. It might be the "life and death" of a relationship in your life or it could be a battle in your life that you have to face every day...like depression, anxiety, bitterness, or even regret. Whatever, the case may be...know that God's word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There are so many scriptures of healing that apply to every area of your life and that ultimately lead to your healing.
I have an unshakeable confidence in the Lord and His word. One thing I have truly had to battle throughout this process is the enemy casting doubt in my mind. I love waht Dodie Osteen says, "You can have doubt in your head, but faith in your heart! The weapons of our warfare are not carnal for they are mighty in God casting down imaginations and every high and lofty thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ. Be strong and bring every thought into line of God's word!
I have had to tell myself that I am only human and that even though at times I have wavered in my thoughts, I have never wavered in my heart about the truth that God has spoken into my life (that I am healed and set free of fear that has tried to attach itself to me).
I have declared over my life what Nahum 1:9, says, "What do you conspire against the LORD? He will make an utter end of it.Affliction will not rise up a second time."
I believe that God's word it the truth and He will follow through with all of His promises as long as I truly believe them and not waiver in my heart!
Father I am strong in the power of your might. Let me take hold of your strength. Lord, I need you! I pray today that you take these words today, get your "ammunition" ready and begin to "fire" against the attacks of the enemy in every area of your life.
--Con Amor, Tina
Friday, October 15, 2010
Dr. BATTLE...
LOL. I have to laugh at God's funny sense of humor. Last night one of my best friends was over at my house and I grabbed a folder with a stack of papers that I had to fill out by this morning for a doctor's appointment that I will be going to in a few hours. A few moments before I sat down, I looked down and saw the doctor's name I had written on the folder earlier yesterday morning. At that moment, I thought, "wow...oh my gosh...this guy's name is Dr. Battle." Coincidence...hmmm...I don't think so. It was at that moment that I showed the name to my friend and she said, "Are you serious?" We both then just laughed!
We laughed because God had been speaking to us about War and Battle (hence, the name of my last post). And this morning, I thought it was appropriate to share with you. I love what one of my sister's drink coasters says, "Coincidences are God's way of being anonymous."
I don't think that it was a coincidence that God gave me the scripture during my quiet time this morning...4 [a]We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)...Paul is telling us what we have available to use the, "mighty weapons" (e.g. prayer, faith, hope, love) God has given us, to battle the enemies "strongholds" (e.g. in my case...thoughts that I will not be healed and that this cancer will continue to grow...which is a "false argument" in my mind).
Any thoughts or words spoken over you that are negative and against what God has to say...don't use your own reasoning as to why they might be right...and don't allow pride or negative thoughts to rule over you and your mind. Do NOT allow them to take control over you!
These weapons that Paul speaks of also allow you to not only combat the weapons that are formed against you, but also allows you to combat for others and use these weapons to break down the proud human arguments against God and the wall that the enemy builds to keep people from finding God.
My main purpose for living here on this earth is to glorify God...and however, He needs to use ME to glorify Him. I am willing to allow Him to do this in whatever way is necessary. At this moment in time...you are reading this post...not because I forced you to, but because of your own free will. Therefore, God is using this blog to allow me to use my "weapons (prayer and faith)" so that those that are reading this and don't know God or those that have as 2 Corinithians 5 says, "proud arguments that keep people from knowing God" can come to know Christ for who He truly is. He is a God that makes and keeps promises, a God that builds you and encourages your heart (especially in the times that you are down), He is a loving and faithful God...whose purpose is to love those whom He created.
I pray that as you continue to read and keep up with this blog that it inspires you to reach out to others and share this message of hope with them. May God bring a "Dr. Battle" to help you fight against the wars in your life!
---Con Amor, Tina
We laughed because God had been speaking to us about War and Battle (hence, the name of my last post). And this morning, I thought it was appropriate to share with you. I love what one of my sister's drink coasters says, "Coincidences are God's way of being anonymous."
I don't think that it was a coincidence that God gave me the scripture during my quiet time this morning...4 [a]We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 5 We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)...Paul is telling us what we have available to use the, "mighty weapons" (e.g. prayer, faith, hope, love) God has given us, to battle the enemies "strongholds" (e.g. in my case...thoughts that I will not be healed and that this cancer will continue to grow...which is a "false argument" in my mind).
Any thoughts or words spoken over you that are negative and against what God has to say...don't use your own reasoning as to why they might be right...and don't allow pride or negative thoughts to rule over you and your mind. Do NOT allow them to take control over you!
These weapons that Paul speaks of also allow you to not only combat the weapons that are formed against you, but also allows you to combat for others and use these weapons to break down the proud human arguments against God and the wall that the enemy builds to keep people from finding God.
My main purpose for living here on this earth is to glorify God...and however, He needs to use ME to glorify Him. I am willing to allow Him to do this in whatever way is necessary. At this moment in time...you are reading this post...not because I forced you to, but because of your own free will. Therefore, God is using this blog to allow me to use my "weapons (prayer and faith)" so that those that are reading this and don't know God or those that have as 2 Corinithians 5 says, "proud arguments that keep people from knowing God" can come to know Christ for who He truly is. He is a God that makes and keeps promises, a God that builds you and encourages your heart (especially in the times that you are down), He is a loving and faithful God...whose purpose is to love those whom He created.
I pray that as you continue to read and keep up with this blog that it inspires you to reach out to others and share this message of hope with them. May God bring a "Dr. Battle" to help you fight against the wars in your life!
---Con Amor, Tina
Thursday, October 14, 2010
A Mighty Weapon of Warfare...Prayer
Yesterday God gave me the following scripture...14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. (James 5: 14-15). I felt called to action. I felt the Lord asking me to ask his people to pray over me, but only those who have the faith to believe that I will be healed.
So I call out to those who believe and are in agreement with me, that I am healed of cancer. I thank the Lord for the mighty men and women standing in the gap for us in prayer. For those who have been praying, are praying, and will continue to pray for us. I thank the Lord for our church family that have come together to pray with and for me. For YOU are the ones who God is truly using to heal me. I am just the messenger who is being obedient and asking for your help.
Therefore, I call out to you mighty warriors to stand with me in this battle to fight against my enemy (cancer). Stand strong in God's word and know that He is listening to your prayers. Wait in hopeful expectation to see the fruit of your labor, for it is now in my Daddy's hands to heal me. But it is through your faithful prayers that He will work through.
Stand strong today and believe that whatever you ask of God in faith...and it is His will...then it shall be given unto you. I love you all. Thank you for your encouragement and support. You'll never know how much this truly means to us!
So I call out to those who believe and are in agreement with me, that I am healed of cancer. I thank the Lord for the mighty men and women standing in the gap for us in prayer. For those who have been praying, are praying, and will continue to pray for us. I thank the Lord for our church family that have come together to pray with and for me. For YOU are the ones who God is truly using to heal me. I am just the messenger who is being obedient and asking for your help.
Therefore, I call out to you mighty warriors to stand with me in this battle to fight against my enemy (cancer). Stand strong in God's word and know that He is listening to your prayers. Wait in hopeful expectation to see the fruit of your labor, for it is now in my Daddy's hands to heal me. But it is through your faithful prayers that He will work through.
Stand strong today and believe that whatever you ask of God in faith...and it is His will...then it shall be given unto you. I love you all. Thank you for your encouragement and support. You'll never know how much this truly means to us!
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