light in the darkness

Good Evening!

I pray you have had a blessed day today. It is a bit late for me to be submitting a post. However, I often find it is best to write when the thoughts are most fresh in my mind and on my heart. And here was the question which has been on my mind today:

Is there ever a time when darkness is preferable to light?

Yesterday – when I got to work in the morning, someone asked me about the tallit I was wearing. She advised that she wears hers when she goes to temple [for prayer]. I responded that I stay in prayer continually.

I find this to be especially true in this season of life. I would like to say it has always been that way. Yet, more than that, I need to be truthful and transparent in my communication. So I acknowledge that it is not always so. If I am completely honest, there are times when I find myself ‘pressing in’ due to an urgency to truly hear the voice of God – to know what He is saying to me, to seek His wisdom.

As I prayed this morning –

I found myself moving in and out of moments of clarity in hearing what the LORD was saying

When my eyes were closed, I would hear Him clearly speaking to me

When I opened my eyes, my sensitivity to His voice would vanish in an instant

This happened repeatedly this morning.

NOW – I am not one of those individuals who believes that one must close their eyes to pray. There are times when it simply is not practical: when I am at work, or driving, or cooking

BUT – This morning, it felt as through the LORD was speaking to me specifically through this element of opening my eyes or closing my eyes during time of prayer this morning.

AND – I kept feeling the press to close my eyes and to focus intently on what He was saying.

In the book of I Kings, the story of the Prophet Elijah is shared regarding a particular circumstance where he was experiencing uncommon challenges. Crying out to the LORD for an end to a season of drought, Elijah’s actions are captured in the section of scripture in I Kings 18:42: “And Elijah … bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.”

In my post 'On Bended Knee', I note how prayer is a vulnerable position, a place of humility and surrender, a position of trust.

And while we have no way of knowing whether the eyes of Elijah were opened or closed during this time of prayer, we do know that he was not in a place where he could easily see his circumstances or the effects of his prayer – which is why he had his servant to go check for a result. The report came back, ‘There is nothing’. Seven times he had to send his servant to check for the result of his prayer. Yet he was clearly hearing something from the LORD which created an expectation in his heart.

UNDERSTAND –

The appearance of your situation may not always be an accurate reflection of what the LORD has spoken or of who He is.

We are reminded from the post, 'Pray for Blindness?' :

“Eyes and vision are a blessing, but they can also be a hindrance.”

We understand from the post, 'Not by Sight':

“We cannot use situations to determine where we are in life. We must seek the presence of God and read the Word of God to maintain an accurate perspective of where we are in life.”

You may observe with your eyes lack and insufficiency

Yet it does not change the truth of what He said, ‘I will supply all your needs’

And it does not change who He is – Jehovah Jireh, the LORD who provides

Elijah understood the will of the LORD before he ever prayed, for he said to Ahab “…there is the sound of an abundance of rain” I Kings 18:41

Yet, it was Elijah’s ability to keep his eyes fixed on the LORD and not his circumstance which yielded an incredible result: “…the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling … [and] the power of the LORD came on Elijah” I Kings 18:45-46

There are times when we can see more with our eyes closed

There are times when we hear more in silence

There are times when darkness is preferable to light

Keep awaiting the manifestation of what He said

Keep pressing forward and always remember,

‘We walk by faith and not by sight.’ II Corinthians 5:7

May the Lord Bless You Abundantly!

Zenobia

IN THE MIDST ...

Good Morning!

I hope you had a fantastic day yesterday. Mine – well it was eventful. Days like that, I miss my puppy. Hard to believe it has been three months since I had to say goodbye. He was such a good boy … seventeen years of memories. But, I digress. That is not why I am writing this morning.

On Sunday I shared a post about a line being drawn in the sand.

This is a season of restoration, a reclaiming of all that has been stolen.

However – even as I think about all of the miracles of God that are unfolding,

I feel a need to revisit this subject of generational attacks and the intentions behind them

While it is important to know what the enemy is doing, and who the enemy is using

It is equally important to understand WHY the enemy is doing what he is doing

IN THE MIDST OF IT ALL

UNDERSTAND THERE IS A REASON WHY THE ENEMY IS FIGHTING SO HARD –

Against financial resources

Against harmonious relationships

Against spiritual strength and development

AND HERE IS THE REASON –

He desires to thwart the plans of God

IN MY FAMILY – 

There is an exceptional blessing and giftedness in the area of CREATIVITY

EVERY FAMILY HAS SOMETHING – Ours is creativity

When I look within my home

There is an artist, a musician, a photographer & dancer, and a writer

When I look at my extended family

There are screenwriters, fashion designers, interior decorators, and interior designers

There are bakers, chefs, artist, writers, poets, musicians, entrepreneurs, and carpenters

All CREATIVE

All created to be WORLD CHANGERS

All stemming from a rich history of faith

Many families have ‘that relative’ – the one that is well known in the community

Sometimes it is for something positive

Yet – often it is for something that the family would love to forget:

The town drunkard, busy body or hot head

Well – our family had ‘that relative’ too

Ours was a positive relative nicknamed by the community as ‘Praying George’

Imagine being so consistent and effective in prayer that it become your unofficial title?

That legacy of prayer continued with my praying grandmother,

A fervent link to and dependence upon the Creator,

Which I believe fuels the Creativity in this family

THIS IS WHY THE ENEMY FIGHTS –

HE DESIRES NOTHING MORE THAN TO KEEP INDIVIDUALS FROM THEIR DESTINY

AND TO KEEP AS MANY AS POSSIBLE FROM BEING RECONCILED TO THE LORD

He knows that if he can steal enough stuff and keep you distracted long enough

You will never realize the potential God has placed in you

You will never ascend to the heights where God purposed for you to rule and reign

You will never be free from the frustration of knowing you were created for greatness but never quite walking in the fullness of that knowing and that giftedness

When my youngest son [the photographer & dancer] was very young, he had a stubbornness about him that was unimaginable. He was [and is] one of the most headstrong people I know.

For years I wrestled with him

We would have battles of wills

And, I would pray without ceasing

But then I heard the voice of the LORD one day – as clear as if it were audible

THIS IS WHAT HE SAID:

STOP PRAYING AGAINST THAT TRAIT

I GAVE HIM THAT SPIRIT OF DETERMINATION

IT DOES NOT NEED TO BE PRAYED AGAINST – 

IT NEEDS TO BE HARNESSED AND TRAINED

BECAUSE ONCE HE WANTS WHAT I WANT – HE WILL BE UNSTOPPABLE

Crazy how the enemy will get you working against your own gifts –

While working to get you to misunderstand and under-appreciate the gifts in others

I believe that is why he has attacked my family with such a fierceness

He knows that we as a family are stronger together –

So he aims to divide and conquer

REST ASSURED – 

'No weapon formed against you shall prosper…’ Isaiah 54:17

TODAY – 

'Take some time to celebrate the gifts the LORD has given you … and in those around you

IMAGINE – 

What this world will look like with all of the creativity and resources engaged for the purposes of the Kingdom of GOD

STAY VIGILANT, KNOWING – 

‘The enemy prowls about seeking whom he may devour’ I Peter 5:8

BE CONFIDENT, KNOWING – 

‘The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth looking for opportunities to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him’ II Chronicles 16:9

Praying You Have a Blessed Day!

Zenobia

LINE DRAWN ...

 Good Afternoon!

I pray you have had a blessed day so far. This morning at church was a great time. We had a guest speaker who preached out of the text regarding Esau and Jacob and the transfer of birthright (Genesis 25:31-34)

It is a fascinating tale which – if you have the opportunity – you should take time to read in its entirety. The pastor was talking about Generosity and specifically Producers and Consumers.

However, after church – as I drove home from spending time with my mom,

The passage of scripture [and the message] took my thoughts in a different [but related] direction.

It got me focused on the divine moment which is occurring, the shift which is unfolding –

THE LINE DRAWN

As I considered and evaluated my mom’s current situation, I will be honest and state that I began to become irritated all over again. She deserves so much better than what she is currently experiencing. And hers was not from a lack of adequate planning – but from scoundrels who would rob an old woman and leave her at the mercies of situations and circumstances.

It got me reflecting on how my mom’s own inheritance was stolen out from underneath her years ago;

How part of my inheritance was stolen in that same transaction;

YET – my mom made a decision that she was going to do something different

One of her favorite verses is out of the book of

‘A good [wise] man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children’ Proverbs 13:22

She had it all planned – a way to redeem some of what had been lost

A way to provide her thirteen grandchildren with a springboard for life.

She formulated a strategy to help catapult them toward their individual destinies

SHE WORKED DILIGENTLY – FOR DECADES – SO THAT IT COULD UNFOLD

She had a hope that the generational curse of stolen and swindled inheritances would finally end

BUT ALAS – It Occurred AGAIN!

You see, with that most recent conniving manipulation and thievery from my mom, went the inheritance which she had set aside for her grandchildren. A birthright wrangled out of the hands of the rightful owner – once again.

It took me back to today’s text:

And, although what Jacob did was highly unethical and abhorrent, it was not illegal

Understand, there are family members and any number of random general individuals [these are the CONSUMERS] who will always attempt to manipulate and strategize ways to wrestle from you what is in your hands so that they may line their pockets

It is an unfortunate by-product of living in a fallen world.

Scripture tells us, ‘We are not ignorant of the devices of the enemy’ II Cor. 2:11

Yet, so often, so many of us are just that – ignorant of the ways he is working and the people he is using

EVEN SO

TODAY – A LINE HAS BEEN DRAWN FOR MY FAMILY

Every generational curse is broken

The enemy has been commanded to restore that which was stolen

The LORD Himself has raised up a standard against those who would rob, and con and pillage

THIS DAY – A MANDATE HAS BEEN DECREED AND DECLARED

GENERATIONAL BLESSING HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED AND ENACTED

I keep feeling the LORD speaking to me as He did King David so many years ago:

“Arise! Pursue! For you shall surely overtake them and recover all!” I Samuel 30:8

I speak to your situation – even as I make declarations over my own:

I command every curse be broken

That ill-effects be cancelled out

That what has been stolen, be restored

That goodness and mercy follow you –

And, that the blessing of the LORD overtake every area of your life

I have a very important meeting with a publisher on Tuesday and another publisher reviewing the same manuscript. Please be praying for me, and know I am doing the same for you.

Have a Blessed Evening & an Amazing Week!

Zenobia

Love that lasts ...

Well – it is Saturday afternoon and I am embarrassed to say that I have been utterly unproductive today [that is, if driving to Dunkin Donuts to get a large coffee does not count as productivity]

I have spent the morning … watching multiple episodes of a Chinese romantic drama. Every so often, I just need to relax and have some girl time. However, viewing all these declarations of love has taken back to my time of prayer and reading from this morning.

This morning – in my devotional – I came across a verse that the LORD spoke to me years ago.

“… Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you … that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

Fast forward – Jesus has been crucified, buried, and is risen … sitting on a beach with His disciples.

 And, “He [Jesus] said to him [Peter] the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” John 21:17

Surely, this situation had reminded Peter of the hours before Jesus was crucified, when he – after being asked three times – denied knowing Jesus three times.

So, here is Jesus … basically granting Peter a ‘do over’. He has given him a fresh start – something He extends to all of us through the free gift of salvation.

Peter responds in that same verse,

“Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

And there is the beauty. He did not allow Peter to endure the challenges so that He would know where Peter’s heart stood. After all, He is God in the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us, who is also all fully Omniscient.

The challenges were not for the benefit of Jesus

The challenges were for the benefit of Peter … and the body of Christ

YES – sometimes the trials of life are permitted, not so that God knows where we stand, but so that we know where we stand

There comes a point – particularly in intense spiritual battles – where you realize…

No matter what I endure, no matter what it costs, no matter what I lose …

I LOVE YOU, LORD and NOTHING will change that!

It develops in you, character and the fortitude to face whatever may come – in faith, with boldness

“More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” Philippians 3:8

Perhaps it was not a completely unproductive day after all …

Have a Blessed Evening!

Zenobia

PERSPECTIVE ...

Good Morning!

I pray your day is off to a great start.  

My day – well it started several hours ago and it is only just past 6 AM now, if that helps put things in perspective.

YET – I amazingly do not feel tired

I feel energized as I’ve spent time this morning,

Praying and reading, reflecting and meditating.

My thoughts keep circling back to the amazing grace of GOD and,

The comfort that comes in knowing that the Creator of the universe is universally in control

In that process, there are verses and songs that keep flooding my heart

Earlier this week I shared a song entitled – Surrounded (This is How I Fight My Battles)

Well, there is a line at the very end of that song that says:

“Your blood puts everything in the right perspective”

That single line reminded me of something the LORD spoke to me many years ago:

“You have not yet resisted to the point of bloodshed” Hebrews 12:4

FACT

For all the challenges we face, we have not endured what Christ endured for us.

There has been no greater sacrifice – EVER

And nothing can separate us from His love.

The day the LORD spoke those words to me – all those years ago – I was feeling sorely overwhelmed with the situations of life. Having lost focus, I was well on my way to having a most profound pity party. But the LORD put a swift end to all of that as He charged me to keep things in proper perspective. It was then that I was reminded of all Christ went through in striving against sin and securing our eternal salvation. 

I am reminded – everything outside of that sacrifice is sweat and tears; and the only way those things will destroy me is if I make a conscious decision to let myself sit in it and drown.

I am reminded further – there is still much work to do.

I am reminded ultimately – there is NOTHING that can separate me from the love of God. 

As noted earlier this week, “Whether we live or die, we are the LORD’s” Romans 14:8

• Whether the relationship lives or dies
• Whether the career lives or dies
• Whether the finances live or die
• Whether our own health lives or dies

AND SADLY, YES –

• Whether the loved one lives or dies
• We are still the LORD’s and we can be comforted. I have comfort because I know that the particular loved one who stays in my thoughts continually – My Mom, SHE IS THE LORD’S AS WELL

KNOW THIS – The entirety of every situation and circumstance is in the LORD’s able hands. The earth and everything in it belong to Him. And He cares for that which concerns us.

KEEP STANDING! KEEP PRAYING! KEEP TRUSTING!  KEEP MOVING!

Praying You Have a Tremendously Blessed Day!

Zenobia

SHIFT

I find myself in an interesting position this morning. To be honest, I am not quite certain what is happening. I have not written in ages – not due to a lack of desire but due to a lack of inspiration.

YET – 

For the past few days, it has felt as if A SHIFT IS OCCURRING

Above Me … Around Me … And Within Me

UPWARD –

He beckons us to engage with Him on whole new level.

He draws us toward heightened levels of intimacy with Him

“Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13

DOWNWARD –

He sends His Word of Promise that He will proactively engage in all that impacts our world

“For the eyes of the LORD roam throughout the earth to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is fully devoted to Him” II Chronicles 16:9

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear” Isaiah 65:24

“Do not be afraid … Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them” Daniel 10:12

“I AM making a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert” Isaiah 43:19

BACKWARD –

He is driving back the effects of all that has caused loss. 

He has come: “to bind up the brokenhearted; to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve …. —to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” (Is. 61:1-3)

“I will restore the years that the locust has eaten [I will give you back what you lost]” Joel 2:25

FORWARD –

He is enacting a great acceleration

He is causing the harvest to spring forth at an expedited rate

“Yes indeed, it won’t be long now.” God’s Decree. “Things are going to happen so fast your head will swim, one thing fast on the heels of the other. You won’t be able to keep up. Everything will be happening at once—and everywhere you look, blessings!” Amos 9:13MSG

UNDERSTAND – He is the GOD who opens doors no man can shut; who [for our good] closes doors no man can open; who makes the impossible, possible; the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY who does exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ask or think – often when we least expect it!

He is our Eternal King – And He is not bound by the timeframes of man.

He can declare a new beginning any time He desires.

I perceive a new beginning … A SHIFT IN THE ATMOSPHERE!

“See, I AM doing a new thing!

Now it springs up;

Do you not perceive it?”

Isaiah 43:19

Praying You Have a Tremendously Blessed Day!

Zenobia

ALL I WANT

ALL I WANT –

These are the words that I have been reflecting on lately

You see – the past few weeks have been filled with ‘MORE’

Praying More …

Reading the Word More …

Meditating More …

AND –

Listening to Music More …

Yet, something is happening in all of the self-assessment and meditation:

I find myself zeroing in on certain verses, and words … on phrases and ideas

With respect to music, that phrase ‘All I Want’ has been a cause of deep reflection

It is a key phrase in a song that keeps showing up in my playlist – Let Praises Rise –

It is not a new song. However, it is a very passionate song performed by a musical assembly & community of artistic individuals – ORU Worship Center.

I’ve listened to this song over and over –

Focusing intently on its message of not wanting anything but the LORD and for Him to be glorified,

I have had to ask myself, ‘Is He all I want? Do I only desire that He be glorified?’

NOW –

I would like to say that I am that spiritual

YET –

The truth of the matter is there are so many other things I often find myself wanting

• I would like for the storms to come to an end
• I would like all that has been stolen to be returned
• I would like to rescue my mom from her current conditions
• I would like to see healing manifest in my life and in the lives of those I love

HOWEVER –

With increasing frequency and intensified desire,

I find the words of that song truly resonating on the inside of me,

“Fill my life ‘til all they see is You LORD … Glorify Your Name”

“Fill my heart ‘til all they see is You LORD … Glorify Your Name”

YES –

If none of those things I would like actually manifest in the manner or timeframe that I would like

YET WILL I PRAISE HIM

ONE DAY –

I will get to a place where it will not take extreme circumstances to get me to this place

I will move beyond a place of visitation to a place of habitation

A LIFE TRULY AND ENTIRELY SURRENDERED

I will be like those heavenly beings around the throne of GOD who cry out continually,

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY – who was, and is, and is to come” Revelation 4:8

THERE WILL COME A TIME –

Night and day, without interruption – where I can sing that song without duplicity,

‘ALL I WANT IS FOR YOU, FOR YOU TO BE GLORIFIED … FOR YOU TO BE LIFTED HIGH’

BUT TODAY –

I will embrace where I am presently

‘ALL I WANT’ is my heart cry today.

I do not know if it will be my heart cry tomorrow,

Or how much of tomorrow it will occupy my inner being

BUT THIS I KNOW …

“I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12

EVERY MOMENT –

As often as opportunity and unction arise, I will let praises rise!

I Pray You Have a Tremendously Blessed Evening!

Zenobia