This past weekend I attended a women’s retreat at a beautiful lake house on Smith Lake, like this house was STUNNING! There were 24 women in attendance. Eleven of us had been on a previous retreat a few months back and then each lady invited someone for this one; it was a beautiful time of worship, breaking bread, sharing and sweet intimacy with the Father.
I have been in Sweet Home Alabama now for 16 whole days, but it seems like I’ve been here for MONTHS! So much has happened! I guess you could say that I literally jumped in (to living here) with both feet and didn’t even care if there was an edge to hold on to, or not, I haven’t looked back! It’s been the sweetest time with the Lord, with my cousin, with precious ladies here; and we also had a brand new baby! As my cousins son and his wife welcomed their beautiful baby boy, Keros on 1/28, what a blessing that has been to my “Mimi” heart! Sorry, got a little sidetracked there talking about a brand new fresh baby!
The Lord had given me instruction on what I was to do before I came here to Bama, but, I’ve just had to keep my gaze on Him because He didn’t give me details on what I was supposed to do once I arrived, no timelines, no agenda, no plan, nothing! Of course that is what we all want, right? Well, we don’t get to pick the times and the order of what we’re supposed to do when He calls us, we just lean on Him and He gives us one piece at a time. Even as I’m sitting here and writing this blog, I have no idea what the topic is hahaha! He just told me to start writing. So, here we are…It’s ALL FAITH, friends.
What I can say, is that since I’ve been here, the Lord has led me to help a few people walk out some freedom, one was during flag worship. The Lord told me to use my blue flags and gave me the song to play. I took what He told me and I presented it to the person and she willingly got down on her knees to receive what the Lord wanted to do. I danced with the flags over her not having any idea what He wanted her to get freedom from; y’all He removed a nasty bitterness she was holding on to and restored her joy, like the Lord just removed all of that! When she got up she was jumping for the Lord and you could SEE the freedom in her it was ALL OVER HER!! Then, another precious lady had been suffering from sever depression and anxiety for over a year (I later learned); I could feel in the spiritual realm that she was holding on to it, but that she wanted freedom from it. I asked her if she was ready to let it go and if she was ready to surrender it to the Lord, she said YES! She was on the ground, screaming, letting it go. Honestly, it was an amazing deliverance. The Lord gave me all the words to say, He guided my actions, and HE gave her the FREEDOM she had been aching for! A few other women were with me during this time and had they not been there to see her countenance change RIGHT before our eyes no one would have believed me hahaha!
Ya see, I am AMAZED, and honestly I don’t even know what this blog is about! All I know is that GOD IS SO GOOD, He is TANGIBLE, He is RIGHT BESIDE you! When you look to the left, He’s there, when you look to the right, He’s there, when you look behind you, He’s there, and when you are looking straight ahead, welp…He’s right there, paving the road before you!!
I suppose, what I’m maybe getting at here, is that how in the world am I worthy to do this work for HIM! Like, how did He choose ME, an ex stripper, drug addict, fornicator, liar, and just an all round wretched sinner be equipped to help these sweet ladies walk out their freedom! It does not make sense, on paper, but HE knows! He knew, that I would be faithful to walk in obedience, to be bold and to ask the questions and to do the work He set out in front of me. I never not one time had any doubt that I couldn’t do it because, like I said above, HE IS BESIDE ME, BEHIND ME, AND IN FRONT OF ME!
The words to the song, “Prophesy Your Promise” by Bryan & Katie Torwalt come to mind.
Lyrics:
I found You in the middle of my mess
You had been there all along
Open arms and open heart
You called me in
You didn’t hesitate at all
And the lies I once believed
They crumble
With the weight of Your truth
And the fear that gripped my heart
Is arrested
So that I can see You
When I only see in part
I will prophesy Your promise
I believe You, God
‘Cause You finish what You start
I will trust You in the process
I believe You, God
You set a table in the middle of my war
You knew the outcome of it all
When what I faced looked like it would never end
You said, “Watch the giants fall”
And the lies I once believed
They crumble
At the weight of Your truth
And the fear that gripped my heart
Is arrested
So that I can see You
When I only see in part
I will prophesy Your promise
I believe You, God
‘Cause You finish what You start
I will trust You in the process
I believe You, God
And when I only see in part
I will prophesy Your promise
I believe You, God
‘Cause You finish what You start
I will trust You in the process
I believe You, God
Fear can go to hell
Shame can go there too
I know whose I am
God, I belong to You
Fear can go to hell
Shame can go there too
I know whose I am
God, I belong to You
Fear can go to hell
Shame can go there too
I know whose I am
I belong to You
Fear can go to hell
Shame can go there too
I know whose I am
I belong to You
I belong
When I only see in part
I will prophesy Your promise
I believe You, God
‘Cause You finish what You start
I will trust You in the process
I believe You
When I only see in part
I will prophesy Your promise
I believe You, God
‘Cause You finish what You start
I will trust You in the process
I believe You, God
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Mack Brock / Katie Torwalt / Bryan Torwalt
Prophesy Your Promise lyrics © Jesus Culture Music, Jesus Culture Music Group, Jetfighter Music
Ya see, I did, I found Him in the middle of my mess…the prayers of my Mama, grandmamas, and granddaddies did not return void! It may have taken a while, but HE WILL FINISH WHAT HE STARTS! The pages of the book that HE wrote for me are now being lived out. Can I get an AMEN!
When I think about what the Lord has called me to do, I can’t help but chuckle a little bit, because it’s so crazy to me how He takes us broken people and equips us to do the work! HIS KINGDOM COME HIS WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN!!
One of my most favorite scriptures:
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 NKJV
xo
Jennifer
