Mission Focused

I was reading Matthew 14 recently and was INSPIRED. John the Baptist had just lost his head, and Jesus was so upset when He heard that He withdrew from everyone, got into a boat and went to a deserted place. His grief did not shroud his anointing though. As a matter of fact it somehow seemed to stir it.  As he was trying to find solitude to grieve, others who had heard of the miracles He'd done began following Him, and His heart was filled with compassion for them. He healed others while He was hurting. He fed and served them, and when He was done giving of Himself went alone to pray.

As Jesus was still grieving He encouraged and comforted the disciples. He kept teaching and performing miracle after miracle. This was such an inspiration that I kept reading all the way through to Chapter 17.  It was in that Chapter that He was transfigured before them, when His face shone like the sun, His clothes became dazzling white, and He spoke to the disciples of the injustice of John's death. I believe it was on His mind the whole time, but He kept moving, working, teaching, transforming.

Sometimes the cares of life can wear us down so, cause us to want to shrink and hide until they are all over, but as I read these stories they made me want to STAND in the face of any adversity I would face and represent Him well. He did say that we "are the light of the world---like a house on a hilltop that cannot be hidden." 

There isn't anything you can't face with Him by your side. Resolve today to be mission focused, to "let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."  Sometimes you have to encourage yourself like David did - and at the end of the day get alone with God and pour your heart out to Him. He will restore you and give you added strength for the journey.

2012 is your year to SHINE. Stand strong and mission focused.

"Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. " - Melody Beattie HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Something New....

So many people have been wondering and asking, "So what's up? What's happening with the music?  Doing anything new? 

The answer is yes.  While I have not completed any full recordings. I am writing. There is a new sound in my spirit and God is putting it in song - His sound, the harmony to my melody. I know it seems to be taking a long time, but God knows what He wants to do, first in me - and then through me. 

In Exodus 17 (when Israel needed water) God asked Moses to strike a rock.  Moses was obedient and they had water, but in Numbers 20 although the need was the same, the instructions were different.  God told Moses to speak to the rock and he struck it.  He used the old instructions that were given in a different time and place. In short, Israel got what they needed, but Moses lost out on a part of his destiny to enter into the Promised land.

I am striving continually to be sensitive, not only to the assignment, but also to the timing, the changes in spiritual location and to accurately receive and follow new instructions. I pray that you understand and will continue with me on this journey.  Sometimes it's hard to stand still, but often that is when God is carving out a deeper capacity in us - that is when He is refining the gift.  His footprints are the steps I'm walking in...and they are leading somewhere.

There is a joy, a depth of worship and celebration in each new song. I have been pleasantly surprised by what is being creatively produced in my writing. I don't want to prematurely make a move to meet a need and miss destiny.  I believe the second Moses' staff hit that rock he wished he could take it back.   I don't mind waiting.

There are some other things in process that I will share with you as soon as I can.  Until then I humbly ask that you continue to stand with me as I journey into "something new." 

Pursuing Destiny

The wrong choice can delay or abort destiny. Whew!  That realization is sobering at first, but it eventually becomes liberating. The end goal is purpose and DESTINY. We’ve got to live right to get there. How do we maintain in the face of—well—in the face of life, people, situations beyond our control?  We maintain by subduing the flesh/self and focusing on purpose. Last night my Pastor said, “If we conquer the territory within, the territory without has GOT to bow. Don’t give away the self you are supposed to protect and preserve the self that needs to die” (Apostle Trevor Banks).

The self I’ve got to protect is the one that purposed to “Live Right”, the self I’ve got to kill DAILY is the one that would be tempted to react in ways not pleasing to God. I am not interested in delaying or aborting my destiny.  No way!  When all is said and done, I need to know I’ve fulfilled purpose.

Walking in destiny and purpose can present challenges we wouldn’t otherwise face.  Look at Joseph. He had to forgive brothers who hated him,  threw him in a pit, then sold him into slavery.  He had to look beyond the lies Potiphar’s wife told after he refused to betray his Master, himself and his God, lies that got him thrown in jail  - and not become angry and bitter after Pharaoh’s Butler forgot him in prison after the help he gave him. Whoa… where is this going?

Each time Joseph made the right choice he received God’s favor.  Where else have you ever heard of a slave being trusted with all the wealth and the household of his master, or a prisoner being given the keys to the jail?  Joseph’s choices earned him a place in the palace of the King. My choice to “Live Right” is the only choice in my pursuit of Destiny. Make it yours too.