SEPTEMBER PROPHETIC WORD: ADJUST
This prophetic word for September has been marinating and developing, so it’s being shared a few days into the month.The word God gave me for September is “adjust,” which I found to be really interesting to have come on the heels of August’s word of “shift.” I saw a wrench and bolts being adjusted and tightened for strengthening. There are several things God has been speaking to me about this.
It’s important this month we ask God, “What do You want to adjust in our lives and how do You want us to partner with you in making those adjustments?” I believe part of it also relates to asking the Lord to reveal anything that hasn’t been completed or anything that’s been missed in being done. It’s a time to organize, get rid of the things that aren’t needed, and make space for what the Lord wants to add into your life. This is meant for both the natural and the spiritual aspects of our lives.
What spaces in your home, office, car, garage and attic need to be cleaned out? What are you hanging onto you don’t need to have taking up space? What can be better organized so when it is, you discover you have more room and can more easily find what’s in those spaces? How can you maximize what you have and who could be blessed by you letting go of what you don’t need? What simply needs to be thrown out? Make space. You’re going to need it.
Take a personal inventory. What isn’t serving you well that you need to let go of this month and not pick back up? How are you spending your time and maximizing it for what He’s called you to use it for, including rest, and where is there wasted “space” in your life? What adjustments, if any, are needed in your personal relationships?
What have you left undone that the Lord is nudging you to go back and finish or wrap up? Is there work you need to complete or is closure needed in some way? This could range anywhere from a project to an offense in your heart you haven’t addressed. What work still needs to be done and how does the Lord want to partner with you in wrapping up any loose ends, making sure everything is secured for this season?
I keep seeing “completion” woven throughout so much of what God has been speaking to me. I believe in the completing of things, God is bringing order. In the process, He’s positioning us to be better able to rule and reign in the areas of influence He’s called us to administrate in our lives. We’re in a season of kingdom completion and order that’s bringing us into a place of kingdom upgrade and governmental rule. That’s not specifically related to political rule but doesn’t exclude it either. God calls us to govern areas of influence in our lives and administrate governmental order around us. Completion and order are keys to ruling effectively. This is so needed during these chaotic times. We’re called to be a voice of order silencing the enemy’s voice of confusion and commotion.
It’s a time to ask Jesus to reveal if there’s anything you’ve missed for successfully moving forward in this season. Are there any connections needing to be made in your life so His Spirit can better flow, His harvest can come, His ministry can happen, and strongholds can be broken in your life and the lives of those around you?
I really believe all of this is incredibly necessary for the harvest the Lord is about to pour out. We need these adjustments made so our foundation is strong and able to stand in the coming days.
I saw a progression from shift ---> adjust ---> complete. How is the Lord inviting you to walk this out this month?
I know there were a ton of questions within this word, but it’s an invitation from Jesus to engage Him in conversation and allow Him to really personalize this word for you.
Need prayer? Got questions about Jesus? Reach out! We’re here for you!
Side Notes: Brian and I are launching a 6-week course on “Developing Intimacy with God” beginning September 23rd. Click here for more information and to register. We’d love for you to join us!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
HAPPY SEPTEMBER!
Fall is just around the corner and with the cooler temperatures and changing leaf colors often comes a greater need for wellness support. Are you ready?
This month's Gifts with Purchase help us hold onto the waning days of summer and prep us with supporting our health in a number of ways. Check those out below, along with some great recipes & fall wellness tips for putting those freebies to good use! Be sure to grab your September diffusing calendar, too!
Have you seen the Facebook, "How Much Have You Changed Challenge?" I posted my first and most recent profile pictures and was SHOCKED at the difference. I had to share it with you to show you the HUGE difference Young Living has made in my life! Pictures speak 1,000 words!
As "The Renovated Life," Brian and I are all about Spirit, Soul, & Body well-being. SCROLL DOWN to catch our upcoming, 6-week course on "Developing Intimacy With God," as well as our local worship gathering dates.
This month's Gifts with Purchase help us hold onto the waning days of summer and prep us with supporting our health in a number of ways. Check those out below, along with some great recipes & fall wellness tips for putting those freebies to good use! Be sure to grab your September diffusing calendar, too!
Have you seen the Facebook, "How Much Have You Changed Challenge?" I posted my first and most recent profile pictures and was SHOCKED at the difference. I had to share it with you to show you the HUGE difference Young Living has made in my life! Pictures speak 1,000 words!
As "The Renovated Life," Brian and I are all about Spirit, Soul, & Body well-being. SCROLL DOWN to catch our upcoming, 6-week course on "Developing Intimacy With God," as well as our local worship gathering dates.
SEPTEMBER GIFTS WITH PURCHASE!
Look at all those oils! What a great way to hang onto the vibrant life of summer as we head into the fall season. Take a look and by the end, I bet you'll be as excited as I am! The full breakdown of the US September 2021 Gift With Purchase can be seen in the graphic above. Keep in mind that with each new promo level, you also receive the gifts in the previous promo levels.
*Pro Tip: Keep in mind that these Vitality Oils are the same oils found in their darker labeled counterparts, which extends the uses you know these oils have. The white labels indicate they're safe for dietary use.
*Remember, in order to get the Subscribe to Save Exclusive Orange Vitality and Copaiba Vitality, you have to be enrolled in the Loyalty Rewards program (formerly known as Essential Rewards) and/or have a Subscription order that meets the PV requirements for those items. The extra bonus of meeting all these PV amounts with your S2S order is that you get even more Loyalty Points to spend later!
Let's chat about each of their benefits!
Life 9 (300 PV tier)
17 billion live cultures from nine beneficial bacteria strains in Life 9 help support gut health, while also being good for healthy immune function and metabolism. So, as we say goodbye to summery dishes and prepare for the richer foods of fall and winter, Life 9 will have our digestive system prepared and in tip-top shape.
• Go pro with probiotics. Support your healthy lifestyle by moving your body, eating a balanced diet, and taking Life 9 to promote healthy digestion.*
• Support your systems. Add taking a Life 9 pill to your daily multivitamins and supplements for an extra boost of probiotics.
Grapefruit Bergamot Vitality Drops (300 PV tier)
To keep up with staying active as we head into fall, YL's Vitality Drops have electrolytes and Vitality oils to help flavor your water, keep your body hydrated, and make it easier to recover and keep going. The Grapefruit Bergamot has a bright, crisp taste that will remind you of summer and brighten your mood.
• Up your hydration game. Add a few drops of YL Vitality Drops to your water bottle for a yummy taste that will encourage you to keep sipping throughout the day.
• Boost your body. After a hard workout, add some YL Vitality Drops to your green smoothie for a kick of flavor and extra electrolytes.
Lavender Lemonade Vitality Drops (250 PV tier)
A mixture of refreshment and calming, Lavender Lemonade Vitality Drops also keep you hydrated and help your body recover after an active day or workout. I have a feeling once you try both flavors you'll be stocking up on the 3-packs YL has of them both!
• Add some delish. After setting a personal record at the gym, cool down with a drink infused with flavorful Lavender Lemonade YL Vitality Drops.
• Sweeten the deal. Add a great taste to an ordinary glass of water, plus get an extra boost of trace minerals when you add YL Vitality Drops to your daily hydration routine.
EndoFlex Vitality 5-ml (250 PV tier)
Whole-body health. That's the goal with all of Young Living's supplements and oils, and EndoFlex Vitality is a key ingredient to that lifestyle. Spearmint, Nutmeg, and more make up this blend that is perfect for adding a few drops daily to a capsule and putting it down the hatch. I love how it supports my thyroid and hormonal health. It's a favorite of mine!
• Build healthy habits. Keep up your overall wellness by building a daily checklist of things like stretching for 15 minutes, meditating, and adding EndoFlex Vitality to a relaxing cup of tea.
• Juice it up. Spice up a well-balanced breakfast with a delicious fruit smoothie that has a few drops of EndoFlex Vitality for a refreshing boost.
Longevity Vitality 5-ml (250 PV tier)
The purpose is in the name. Supporting multiple systems in our body, Longevity Vitality is particularly good for supporting our immune systems, as well as promoting healthy-looking skin! Take this daily and use the CBD Beauty Boost and you will see smoother, healthier-looking skin, which is very important as seasons change. Less having our skin dry out, more looking flawless and feeling great!
• Keep grooving. Add a little movement to your day by dancing around to a few favorite tunes, then hydrate by adding Longevity Vitality to a cool glass of water.
• Treat yourself. After a hard day burning calories, take time for a breather and pour yourself a cup of tea with a few drops of Longevity Vitality.
Lemon Vitality 5-ml (190 PV tier)
Lemon Vitality is bright and fresh and sunshine in a bottle. Adding a drop or two to your morning NingXia not only tastes great, but it also helps cut through brain fog, supports your immune system, and will have you upbeat and ready for the day.
• Zest it up! And some sparkle to your daily routine by putting 1–2 drops of Lemon Vitality in a vegetarian gel capsule and taking with a meal.
• Make breakfast fun. Blend a drop in pancake or waffle batter and top your breakfast with fresh fruit for a healthy meal that tastes like lemon-poppyseed cake.
Citrus Fresh Vitality 5-ml (190 PV tier)
Citrus Fresh Vitality is Lemon and other citrus oils with a bit of Spearmint that all come together for a bright, citrusy melody in your drinks, recipes, and helps turn that frown upside down. Supporting general wellness and packing in all the benefits of the citrus oils, a few drops of Citrus Fresh Vitality in a capsule every day is a welcome part of a daily wellness regimen.
• Season like a boss. Use Citrus Fresh Vitality in recipes such as fruit salads, salad dressings, and marinades to enhance the flavor.
• Personalize your beverages. Add 1–2 drops of Citrus Fresh Vitality to every 2 ounces of your favorite fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies.
DiGize Vitality 5-ml (190 PV tier)
To go along with the Life 9 to prepare your digestive system for the shock of going from light summery dishes to richer fall dishes, DiGize Vitality is also good in a pinch when you need some relief. Make a warm tea with it or add a few drops to a veggie capsule and take it with some water to help with digestive discomfort. This is a "never-run-out-of-oil" in our house!
• On the go. When road tripping, enhance your traveling experience by adding a few drops of DiGize Vitality to your water bottle.
• Time for tea! Make a soothing tea with antioxidant properties by adding honey and DiGize Vitality.
Orange Vitality 5-ml (Bonus Subscribe to Save 190 PV tier)
Ease into fall with the sweet taste of citrus but the calming vibes of fall. Orange Vitality helps support your immune system and is a great addition to all kinds of dishes, smoothies, deserts, and more! Remember, this is the same oil that's in regular Orange, which you'll find is a staple in a lot of fall diffuser blends. Orange is a fall favorite for so many reasons!
• Boost your cooking. Use Orange Vitality in sweet or savory dishes for added flavor and zest in a healthy life.
• Hydrate like royalty. Add Orange Vitality to your drinking water after a run to give it a burst of flavor.
Copaiba Vitality 5-ml (Bonus Subscribe to Save 190 PV tier)
Copaiba Vitality has one of the most unique flavors of all of the Vitality oils. A bit of spice and somewhat richer, this is a great one to add to your meats and savory dishes. Help your body as it recovers from a workout by adding 3-4 drops to a veggie capsule and drinking plenty of water - with some of those Vitality Drops for a little extra hydration! This oil is an unsung hero in my book as it's amazing for supporting the body's natural response to inflammation. I use it daily!
• Post-workout routine. Add Copaiba Vitality to Pure Protein Complete or your favorite protein drink.
• Flavor it up! Add Copaiba Vitality to your favorite smoked salmon or smoked meat recipes.
Free Shipping (100 PV tier)
Raise your hand if you like free!
• Treat yourself. Stock up on gym-ready favorites and let us cover the cost of your deliveries.
• Get easy savings. Reach our 100 PV tier and we’ll ship your order for free!
*Pro Tip: Keep in mind that these Vitality Oils are the same oils found in their darker labeled counterparts, which extends the uses you know these oils have. The white labels indicate they're safe for dietary use.
*Remember, in order to get the Subscribe to Save Exclusive Orange Vitality and Copaiba Vitality, you have to be enrolled in the Loyalty Rewards program (formerly known as Essential Rewards) and/or have a Subscription order that meets the PV requirements for those items. The extra bonus of meeting all these PV amounts with your S2S order is that you get even more Loyalty Points to spend later!
Let's chat about each of their benefits!
17 billion live cultures from nine beneficial bacteria strains in Life 9 help support gut health, while also being good for healthy immune function and metabolism. So, as we say goodbye to summery dishes and prepare for the richer foods of fall and winter, Life 9 will have our digestive system prepared and in tip-top shape.
• Go pro with probiotics. Support your healthy lifestyle by moving your body, eating a balanced diet, and taking Life 9 to promote healthy digestion.*
• Support your systems. Add taking a Life 9 pill to your daily multivitamins and supplements for an extra boost of probiotics.
To keep up with staying active as we head into fall, YL's Vitality Drops have electrolytes and Vitality oils to help flavor your water, keep your body hydrated, and make it easier to recover and keep going. The Grapefruit Bergamot has a bright, crisp taste that will remind you of summer and brighten your mood.
• Up your hydration game. Add a few drops of YL Vitality Drops to your water bottle for a yummy taste that will encourage you to keep sipping throughout the day.
• Boost your body. After a hard workout, add some YL Vitality Drops to your green smoothie for a kick of flavor and extra electrolytes.
A mixture of refreshment and calming, Lavender Lemonade Vitality Drops also keep you hydrated and help your body recover after an active day or workout. I have a feeling once you try both flavors you'll be stocking up on the 3-packs YL has of them both!
• Add some delish. After setting a personal record at the gym, cool down with a drink infused with flavorful Lavender Lemonade YL Vitality Drops.
• Sweeten the deal. Add a great taste to an ordinary glass of water, plus get an extra boost of trace minerals when you add YL Vitality Drops to your daily hydration routine.
EndoFlex Vitality 5-ml (250 PV tier)
Whole-body health. That's the goal with all of Young Living's supplements and oils, and EndoFlex Vitality is a key ingredient to that lifestyle. Spearmint, Nutmeg, and more make up this blend that is perfect for adding a few drops daily to a capsule and putting it down the hatch. I love how it supports my thyroid and hormonal health. It's a favorite of mine!
• Build healthy habits. Keep up your overall wellness by building a daily checklist of things like stretching for 15 minutes, meditating, and adding EndoFlex Vitality to a relaxing cup of tea.
• Juice it up. Spice up a well-balanced breakfast with a delicious fruit smoothie that has a few drops of EndoFlex Vitality for a refreshing boost.
Longevity Vitality 5-ml (250 PV tier)
The purpose is in the name. Supporting multiple systems in our body, Longevity Vitality is particularly good for supporting our immune systems, as well as promoting healthy-looking skin! Take this daily and use the CBD Beauty Boost and you will see smoother, healthier-looking skin, which is very important as seasons change. Less having our skin dry out, more looking flawless and feeling great!
• Keep grooving. Add a little movement to your day by dancing around to a few favorite tunes, then hydrate by adding Longevity Vitality to a cool glass of water.
• Treat yourself. After a hard day burning calories, take time for a breather and pour yourself a cup of tea with a few drops of Longevity Vitality.
Lemon Vitality is bright and fresh and sunshine in a bottle. Adding a drop or two to your morning NingXia not only tastes great, but it also helps cut through brain fog, supports your immune system, and will have you upbeat and ready for the day.
• Zest it up! And some sparkle to your daily routine by putting 1–2 drops of Lemon Vitality in a vegetarian gel capsule and taking with a meal.
• Make breakfast fun. Blend a drop in pancake or waffle batter and top your breakfast with fresh fruit for a healthy meal that tastes like lemon-poppyseed cake.
Citrus Fresh Vitality is Lemon and other citrus oils with a bit of Spearmint that all come together for a bright, citrusy melody in your drinks, recipes, and helps turn that frown upside down. Supporting general wellness and packing in all the benefits of the citrus oils, a few drops of Citrus Fresh Vitality in a capsule every day is a welcome part of a daily wellness regimen.
• Season like a boss. Use Citrus Fresh Vitality in recipes such as fruit salads, salad dressings, and marinades to enhance the flavor.
• Personalize your beverages. Add 1–2 drops of Citrus Fresh Vitality to every 2 ounces of your favorite fruit and vegetable juices and smoothies.
To go along with the Life 9 to prepare your digestive system for the shock of going from light summery dishes to richer fall dishes, DiGize Vitality is also good in a pinch when you need some relief. Make a warm tea with it or add a few drops to a veggie capsule and take it with some water to help with digestive discomfort. This is a "never-run-out-of-oil" in our house!
• On the go. When road tripping, enhance your traveling experience by adding a few drops of DiGize Vitality to your water bottle.
• Time for tea! Make a soothing tea with antioxidant properties by adding honey and DiGize Vitality.
Ease into fall with the sweet taste of citrus but the calming vibes of fall. Orange Vitality helps support your immune system and is a great addition to all kinds of dishes, smoothies, deserts, and more! Remember, this is the same oil that's in regular Orange, which you'll find is a staple in a lot of fall diffuser blends. Orange is a fall favorite for so many reasons!
• Boost your cooking. Use Orange Vitality in sweet or savory dishes for added flavor and zest in a healthy life.
• Hydrate like royalty. Add Orange Vitality to your drinking water after a run to give it a burst of flavor.
Copaiba Vitality has one of the most unique flavors of all of the Vitality oils. A bit of spice and somewhat richer, this is a great one to add to your meats and savory dishes. Help your body as it recovers from a workout by adding 3-4 drops to a veggie capsule and drinking plenty of water - with some of those Vitality Drops for a little extra hydration! This oil is an unsung hero in my book as it's amazing for supporting the body's natural response to inflammation. I use it daily!
• Post-workout routine. Add Copaiba Vitality to Pure Protein Complete or your favorite protein drink.
• Flavor it up! Add Copaiba Vitality to your favorite smoked salmon or smoked meat recipes.
Free Shipping (100 PV tier)
Raise your hand if you like free!
• Treat yourself. Stock up on gym-ready favorites and let us cover the cost of your deliveries.
• Get easy savings. Reach our 100 PV tier and we’ll ship your order for free!
SEPTEMBER'S RECIPES & FALL WELLNESS TIPS
Which of these will you try first? Bright, fresh flavors to drink, a phenomenal daily capsule . . . each supports our health & well-being in SO many ways!
As we finish out the summer and head toward fall, let’s make sure our bodies are well-equipped to handle that transition. It’s oftentimes during these cooler months that our bodies fall below the wellness line. Here are a few healthy habits you can adopt to help boost your immune system naturally.
- Eat more raw fruits and green vegetables.
- Get outside and enjoy some fresh air and sun.
- Get adequate amounts of sleep. Limit processed sugars.
- Increase water intake. Get quality vitamins, minerals, and pre- and probiotics daily.
Speaking of good-quality supplements, be proactive & stock up on these fall must-haves…
THEN & NOW . . . WHAT A DIFFERENCE!
I had to share this side-by-side with you because not only was I shocked to see the difference in myself, I realized the main change has been the fact that I've been living a Young Living lifestyle since 2013. As I have, I've progressively gotten rid of more and more toxins from my environment and products as I've proactively supported my health and well-being.
If you haven't started your own Young Living journey yet, isn't it time?
If you're already a Young Living member, don't keep this good news to yourself! You can share what you've discovered with others and if you're not already a Brand Partner, let's chat about how you can get your YL oils & products paid for as you help those you love to live well!
If you're already a Young Living member, don't keep this good news to yourself! You can share what you've discovered with others and if you're not already a Brand Partner, let's chat about how you can get your YL oils & products paid for as you help those you love to live well!
SEPTEMBER'S DIFFUSING CALENDAR
Enjoy these daily diffusing recipes and discover some new, favorite combos! Save the graphic to your phone or calendar for easy reference and enlarge for easier reading.
SPIRIT & SOUL LOCAL EVENTS, ONLINE CLASS + BLOG POSTS
As The Renovated Life, we focus on spirit, soul, and body.
Young Living undergirds our focus on overall health & wellness for our bodies. But . . . that's not our only focus because we want to help meet the needs of the WHOLE person, which includes spirit and soul well-being, too!
If you live in the Atlanta area, Brian and I would love for you to join us at any of our upcoming worship gatherings in our home, plus keep an eye out for our weekly, faith-related blog posts that I post on Tuesdays.
Our worship gatherings are happening on September 11th & 25th this month. We have a potluck dinner first, then follow with worship. Check out our Events Page for more information and to register for individual events.
--> Plus, keep your eyes open for the September prophetic word being posted soon!
DEVELOPING INTIMACY WITH GOD: 6-WEEK COURSE
There's a place you can go in your relationship with Jesus that's so intimate you experience His breath, His heart, His thoughts . . . And, when you're not in His presence, there's a tugging within you that longs to connect again.
Have you had a longing in your heart for a more intimate friendship with God? One in which you hear His voice, begin to know His thoughts, and move more in sync with the beating of His heart?
We were designed for this kind of intimate connection with God. His invitation is always, "Come be with Me," but so often, we either don't know what to do in our times with Him that will develop and nurture that kind of deep friendship or we've gotten busy, distracted, and drawn away from our connection with Him. We want to help!
Join us starting Thursday, September 23rd, at 8:00 p.m. EST for a weekly, 6-week course that will help you develop a more intimate relationship with the Lover of Your Soul.
We were designed for this kind of intimate connection with God. His invitation is always, "Come be with Me," but so often, we either don't know what to do in our times with Him that will develop and nurture that kind of deep friendship or we've gotten busy, distracted, and drawn away from our connection with Him. We want to help!
Join us starting Thursday, September 23rd, at 8:00 p.m. EST for a weekly, 6-week course that will help you develop a more intimate relationship with the Lover of Your Soul.
Click below for more details and to register for the upcoming course.
That's it for this month! Please reach out if we can help you on your wellness journey!
Happy Oiling,
Andrea & Brian
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Ask, Seek, Knock . . .
Ask, and the gift is yours. Seek, and you’ll discover. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. For every persistent one will get what he asks for. Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for. And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door. (Matthew 7:7-8, TPT)
We’re an “expect it now” kind of society and oftentimes, when things take longer than expected, we (I) don’t exactly wait patiently. I can’t help but remember my elders sharing sage wisdom I really didn’t want to hear - sayings like, “The things you work hard for or have waited for mean so much more.” I’ve never really minded working hard for something, but who wants to wait for things?
When I read Matthew 7:7-8 in The Passion Translation, these incredibly familiar verses became so fresh in meaning to me, including the reminder of the need for persistence, and not treating prayer like a Chick-fil-a drive-up window where you place your order and get it in minutes accompanied by the required, “My pleasure.”
There’s such power in the becoming that happens in the space of being persistent. It makes me think of Romans 5:4 which talks about how our perseverance produces character, which, in turn, produces hope. When we have hope in our hearts, anything is possible!
Jesus gives us so many keys in these two verses that can be applied in the kingdom and in every sphere of life . . .
“Ask, and the gift is yours.” God is the Giver of every good gift. He’s the One responding with, “My pleasure,” as He offers you as a gift what you’ve asked of Him. Partner that with what follows – “For every persistent one will get what he asks for…” and perhaps a bit of conviction pierces the heart. When I read that, it was time for an honest assessment of, “How persistent am I really?”
When we quickly ask God for something and it doesn’t seem like that prayer is immediately answered, do we just give up and leave it at that assuming His answer is no? Do we end up trusting God less because we believe He’s not listening? Doesn’t care? Has forgotten about us? Doesn’t really exist?
Jesus shared a parable recorded in Luke 18:1-8 that was about a persistent widow continuing to come before a judge, asking him for justice. Because she persisted, he eventually granted her request and ruled in her favor. Why did Jesus share this parable? To teach us that “men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18:1b, NKJV) Persistence in asking produces gifts from the hand of our loving Father.
“Seek and you’ll discover.” Remember when you’d play hide and seek as a kid or even as an adult with your children or grandchildren? The fun was in the discovery. The seeking was filled with the hope of who you’d find.
What if in your seeking, you discovered the One who loves you like none other? As you continue seeking to know Him, you discover the truth of His identity and yours as His son or daughter? You discover your calling and the power and ability He’s given you to fulfill it? What if you discover a depth of intimacy with your Creator who knows you like none other and has declared that the plans He has for you are good - filled with hope and a future beyond what you’ve begun to imagine (Jer. 29:11), but will discover more fully as you continue to seek? His promise is, “Every persistent seeker will discover what he longs for.”
“Knock and the door will be opened for you.” When is a door opened for you? When someone is on the other side. If the doors we knock on are ones in which no one is home, who can respond? We need to try the next door. “And everyone who knocks persistently will one day find an open door.” I hear God saying, “Don’t give up! Move on and try the next door! Stop knocking if it’s not being opened. I’m waiting behind another door.”
Ask persistently. There’s a gift waiting for you.
Seek persistently. There’s so much for you to discover.
Knock persistently. You’ll find the doors that open for you.
Watch as your character develops and you transform, growing more and more as your perseverance births so much more than just answers to prayer. He’s got even more for you than you can imagine!
“God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us. Glory to God in the church! Glory to God in the Messiah, in Jesus! Glory down all the generations! Glory through all millennia! Oh, yes!” (Eph. 3:20, MSG)
Can we pray for you? If so, please reach out to us!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
Love & Be Loved
Over the last few months, I’ve been using The Passion Translation of the Bible. It’s been giving me fresh perspective on familiar passages and causing new verses to really stand out to me. This morning, I was reading in Matthew 5 and came to the “Love Your Enemies” portion of scripture in verses 43-48. Verse 46 has stuck with me all day . . .
Jesus was speaking and said, “What reward do you deserve if you only love the loveable?”
UGH! How that pierced my heart!
Most of us can have concerns from time to time about what others might think of the lives we’re living – even more so if the way in which we’re living is considered by some to be “sinful.” No matter the case, the unspoken question on our lips is, “Will I be judged?” When past experience and shame say yes, it’s hard to expect otherwise.
It shouldn’t be that way.
Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17b)
The bottom line? We’re all sinners – and He came to call each of us.
For any number of reasons, “enemies” and those who appear “unlovable” are going to regularly come across our paths. If Jesus was here and faced with them, He would love them. He’s relying on us to do that in His stead.
I’m not saying we allow abuse in our lives. I’m simply suggesting we can hug, smile, listen, respond with a gentle answer, pray, help . . . leave judgment behind . . . and love instead.
When you’re loved well, everything within you wants to love back because we were designed for love. Sometimes, we can feel like we don’t know how to love, but over time and if we’re willing, we learn how. We discover what makes the other person feel loved and honored and we naturally want to do those things for the other person.
Our actions reflect the affections of our hearts. When you experience the unconditional love of Jesus, you can’t help but want to love Him in return. That often looks like leaving things behind in your life that you know would hurt His heart and instead, intentionally making decisions you know will honor Him and the life He gave for love’s sake.
His love is what transforms us – not following a list of dos and don’ts and being shamed into “right” living. Love always wins.
Will everyone respond with love in return? No.
Will we stay “safe” and never get hurt? No.
Could lives be transformed and generations impacted because someone was shown Jesus’ unconditional love? YES.
It’s for that hope that I’ll choose love time and again. If I hadn’t been loved well over the years, I never would have become who I am and who I continue to become.
Each person is worth the risk. How will you love and be loved today?
Want to better understand His unconditional love for you? Reach out to us!
Our Mission: Love Others Well & Empower Them to Do the Same
AUGUST 2021: SHIFT
As I asked the Lord what was on His heart as a word for August, He reminded me to look at the word I’d written down for this month back in December when I had asked Him then for a one-word focus for each month of the new year.
I hadn’t looked ahead at the words I’d written down, so when I saw the word, “Shift,” it resonated so deeply with me in a fresh way. It felt so “right” and made so much sense to me because I realized in some ways, it built on the “Tipping Point” word He’d given me last month and it connected with some recent things I’d been growing in with Him.
What I sense the Lord saying is that August is a month when He wants to bring about long-awaited shifts in our lives, but they’re going to require conscious choices. Let me explain using a situation I recently walked through as an example.
Last week, I was battling a nasty, summer cold. I woke up from a long nap, knew I wasn’t in a great place with my health, and really wondered if I had pneumonia setting in. I asked Brian and our youngest son, Nehemiah, to pray for me and said, “I NEED Jesus . . .”
No sooner were those words out of my mouth, when I heard the Lord speak to my heart. He said, “You can choose health or sickness. Which do you want?”
Which do I want? Of course, I wanted health!
Right?
Isn’t that what I wanted???
Oh . . . I was teetering on wanting to be a victim – seen as one in need of extra care and love, having things being done for me, and wanting those I love to feel bad for me . . .
That came to a screeching halt!
NO! I did NOT want to be a victim and I didn’t want to be sick! I wanted to be well – totally healthy! I chose health and three times, I spoke out, “I choose health!”
That’s when the shift occurred, and I began to get well. But . . . I had to choose the shift I wanted and let go of the unwanted.
I believe this is the key to the shift that God wants to bring into our lives this month.
While processing this word with a dear friend this week, she reminded me of two things. First, she said it made her think of the scene in “The Chosen” when Jesus heals the paralytic at the Pool of Bethesda (Season 2, Episode 4). She suggested I watch that scene again because she felt there was something in it for me connected to this word. She was absolutely right!
In this depiction, as Jesus stood before the man and asked him if he wanted to be healed, the man came up with so many arguments as to why it wasn’t possible. After hearing him out, Jesus told the man to look at Him and said, “That’s not what I asked. I’m not asking you about who’s helping you. Or who’s not helping. Or who’s getting in your way. I’m asking about you.”
The paralytic responded with, “I’ve tried . . .” and Jesus said, “For a long time. I know. And you don’t want false hope again. I understand. But this pool – it has nothing for you. It means nothing. And you know it. But you’re still here. Why?” (I’ll let you watch the rest of the scene.)
Several things stood out to me in this depiction of John 5:1-15. Like the paralytic man, when we’re faced with situations and circumstances needing a shift in our lives, we can easily come up with so many arguments as to why it’s not possible – especially if we’ve been waiting on this shift for a while.
It can also be really easy to shift the blame to others, making them the reason why the shift hasn’t yet taken place in our lives. I believe the Lord is lovingly reminding us that the shift we’ve been waiting on and longing for rests with us.
Yes, we’ve waited and hoped and been disappointed countless times and we can become incredibly discouraged in the process. Sometimes it’s important to ask ourselves what we’ve really been putting our hope in. Has our hope been in a type of “pool” in our lives?
Sometimes, we need to ask ourselves why we’re still here . . .
The second thing my friend mentioned that came to her mind is the scripture found in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
This scripture SO undergirds the shift that God wants to bring to us this month. Will we choose the things that bring “death” to our lives, or will we choose what’s life-giving?
Will we choose not to be a victim, grab hold of what’s wanted, and leave the unwanted behind? Will we stop making excuses, blaming others (or even blaming God), and will we place our hope in the only One who can bring about the shift we’ve been needing?
We get to choose.
What will your shift look like this month? I’m praying for you, my friend, and speaking LIFE over you!
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