I've been trying to get AI to create an image for me of Judas kissing the blood stained face of Jesus. AI programs stop me and say there is something wrong or offensive with my request. Maybe this post will find someone who has a suggestion around the blocks. But in the meantime...

Consider that Jesus was laboring in prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane for HOURS. Consider the following for a picture to form in your mind of what Jesus would have looked like when Judas approached to kiss his cheek. Scripture accounts reveal this:

- After the last supper, Jesus and his disciples go to the garden on the Mount of Olives, Matthew 26:36 Luke 22:39.
- His shares with his closest companions that his soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of DEATH, Matthew 26:38
- He fell. He fell with his face to the ground, Matthew 26:39, Mark 14:35. Does a calm, composed person fall with their face to the ground and pray?
- To be sustained in his weakness, He needed to be strengthened by an angel, Luke 22:43.
- He was still in anguish after the angel strengthened him. He prayed more earnestly, to a point of sweating. Have you ever sweat in prayer? His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
- He cries out in this state, 3 separate times.
- Jesus is brought to the elders and chief priests in early morning hours. So how long was his distress in the garden if it began after the last supper?

When scripture records that Jesus sweat blood, that means he had been enduring trauma. And note that it is trauma without physical abuse at this point. Hematidrosis (sweating blood) has only ever been documented on rare occasions to be experienced by people who have endured terrifying physical abuse. Jesus was stirred up within to that level of trauma and wrestling with God through extreme mental and emotional strain.

"Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will." Mark 14:36.

So what state was the face of Jesus in when Judas approached?

I think it was clammy. I think his face was gaunt looking, deep distress in his eyes, and bracing for the moment his closest companions would scatter. I think he was at beginning stages of uncomfortable thirst. I think his cheek was lined with drip lines from the sweat stained with blood, specks of blood on his cheeks.

I think Judas tasted the blood of Jesus in the kiss of betrayal because he mentions, great regret that he betrayed innocent blood, Matthew 27:4. He is perhaps the only person who ever lived to physically taste the blood of Jesus.

People like to emphasize that Jesus called Judas "friend", Matthew 26:50. It does seem to reveal an amazing amount of grace. Jesus was also wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove. Jesus gave grave warning about the fate of Judas and called him "his betrayer" more than once, Luke 22:21-22 & Luke 22:48 & Matthew 26:46.

What did the blood of Jesus make Judas realize? He was seized with remorse, openly confessed, returned the blood money, and then hung himself, Matthew 27:1-5.

Do you slow down with the scripture accounts? Do you read the accounts and compare them to notice additional details? Do you visualize what is happening? What state do you think Jesus would have been in when Judas approached with a kiss?

How does that change your understanding and knowledge of Jesus? I pray it makes you fall more deeply in love with a Savior who poured himself out in traumatizing ways just for you! Confess to Him, in prayer, any ways you feel like you've been dishonoring to him. He is gracious and longs for time with you! Share any comments below!
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#betrayal #betrayaltrauma #JesusIsLord #GardenofGethsemane #hematidrosis #Judas #judasthebetrayer #mountofolives #spiritualcoach #kissofbetrayal #BloodOfJesus #confession #repentance #Repent

This blog ends with a meditation that includes this type of prayer... does it speak to you?  

• "Jesus I keep distant from you and others, because I think I'm a failure in your eyes and in eyes of others.  I am constantly thinking that I am not living up to the standards or expectations of you or others.  I do not handle criticism well; and don't know how to separate the voices of others from yours.  I have the voice of an accuser in my soul.  Please help me separate the voice of the liar from the voice of the Father.  Heal my soul.  Help me acknowledge the voice of the liar.  Helm me acknowledge my mistakes in honest and redeeming ways that reveal you are at work in me, to redeem, to save, to love.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen."

(It also ends with a free resource you can learn more about on the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR website tab.)
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This week, I was told by someone who has known me my entire life that...

1. I'm forming my own God.
2. That I don't really pay attention to God's words or hold them in my heart for them to change me. 
3. That I've come up with my own rules and beliefs that are radically different from any other Christian they’ve known.
4. That my actions don't line up with the Christian message.
5. That they’ve received many confirmations of these things about me, and that I give myself excuses for not bettering my behavior and changing my actions.

 
Those are hard words; and without God’s help, they would have great power to influence me to respond from guilt and shame, and would have great power to crush me.
 
And in fact, the words did hurt me deeply and brought some confusion.
 
They brought confusion because I did get upset in a situation.  I did end a conversation in anger and frustration.  And I haven’t been interested in reconnecting, so they sent an email to give opinion of me and my behaviors.
 
Was it deserved?  Was I wrong in my anger, in shutting down, and not being willing to engage any longer?
 
I turned to the Lord for counsel.  I prayed, and I asked God to give me a scripture that would give me wisdom and insight.  What was reasonable criticism, i.e. deserved?  Was there anything I needed to see about myself?  How was I to receive the harsh words?
 
Galatians 3:13 is what came... Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”
 
What was God telling me?  What is the “curse of the law?
 
First, Jesus took the curse I rightfully deserved. 
 
The curse of the law carries with it an expectation of perfection.  You cannot keep just one part of the law, but you must keep the entire law. James 2:10- For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. 
 
The curse of the law is demanding.  Who is perfect?  No one!  Only Jesus!  Christ became a curse for me through His death on the cross, taking the curse expecting my perfection!   
 
I know I am not perfect; and praise God I do not have to be!  Jesus does not GUILT TRIP ME that I prove myself, or tell me I’m not living up to his standards.  That is not His tone of voice.  His corrections are gentle.  The Holy Spirit impresses upon me when I need to redirect and soften or handle a situation better or apologize, etc.

Also brought to mind were 2 situations that happened this week.  I was able to listen for extended time to 2 different people with deep burdens.  In those times, I heard clearly from the LORD and shared love from the Spirit and truth about who they were in Christ.  God was reminding me that I'm a good listener and that I will stay in difficult conversations to be a representative of Him.
 
So with scriptural guidance and through meditating on the promises and truths of God and reflections of who I am through His Spirit, I was clearly able to see that the cutting words weren’t from Him.  They weren’t for me to own. Hallelujah!!! 
 
In further prayer, I felt the Lord affirming that I was not to expect that I wouldn’t get upset in the situation that prompted the email.  I had righteous anger, and yes impatience, but I was rightly choosing not re-engage in the situation without healthy boundaries in place. 
 
The words sent by email were spoken in an ill manner without grace and were meant to accuse and control.  That is not the law I am under any longer!
 
The curse of the law comes to punish and hold to exacting standards and keep under control…
 
Galatians 3:23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.
 
The law always points out what is wrong, Romans 7:7-9.
 
For the Christian, the law is no longer my accuser.  For Christians, the law is good, as it is to be used for redemptive purposes, not corrupt judgment. 

For the non-Christian, unfortunately, you are still under the curse of the law and the expectation on you is perfection!  But it doesn't have to end that way!
 
You can be set free from that law of condemnation by coming under the law of the Spirit…
 
If you want to be set free from the curse of the law... pray...
“Jesus, I don’t want to strive any longer.  I give up trying to be good enough for you, for me, or for anyone.  I want to be set free from the curse of the Law, from control and demands of others expectations.  Thank you for becoming the curse for me, for being slaughtered for my sins on the cross.  I receive healing in your Name Jesus, set me free from the law of sin and death.  Justify me in your sight through my faith in your saving grace.  Grant me soul peace. Raise me up to eternal life.  Amen.”

Those under Christ are no longer condemned! You are now under the Law of the Spirit who gives you life!!!  Jesus knows we are weak!  So He became our weakness!  He took our condemnation!
Romans 8:1-4 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
    
Christ has come that we would no longer be under a guardian that demands perfection.  No longer under custody and locked up by an accuser!  Faith in Jesus brings a Good Father who lovingly corrects, offers promise of forgiveness, mercy, and grace and unconditional love!
 
Galatians 3   23 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. 24 So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. 25 Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
 
See His garments of purity upon you!  His voice is not harsh and condemning, accusatory and inflammatory!   His voice is one of a Good Shepherd who leads, guides, lovingly corrects, binds up, heals, strengthens, loves, is gracious, etc.
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Meditation Exercise- Here are some things to talk to God about, and evaluate about how you handle criticism...  Which ones speak to you?  Process the answers with God.  Speak your answers to God.  Admit where you are weak.  Admit what is hard.  Admit where you need to learn more about His love and mercy.

• When you are harshly criticized, how do you process it? 
• Do you just shut down immediately, refusing to assess the situation with God’s help?
• Are you able to separate yourself from the harsh tone and language of others?  Are you able to ask the Lord if there is any truth coming from the messenger (your loved one, your friend, your employer, your teacher, your coach, etc) , even if it comes in a hard and demanding way?
• Are you able to hear the LORD’s heart through His covenant of grace and mercy?  Are you able to hear His interpretation and assessment of situations? 
• Are you able to hear Him affirm you and show you how He is being formed in you?
• Are you able to hear words of correction and receive them as love from God meant for your good?
• Or do you perceive the voice of God have a demanding tone?  Do you have expectation of “living up” to God’s standards and laws?  When others talk to you in harsh ways do you think God sent them?
• Do you have a harsh way with others and expect perfection?  Do you expect others to meet your standards and if they don't you harshly criticize them?  If so, turn from that and ask God to heal you. 

 
Know this… Laws, rules, and demands to live up to standards of others have no power to impart life.  The only thing that laws and rules and demands for standards do is condemn and bring punishment. 
 
The curse of the law comes with punishment. But Christ has come to set you free!
 
God is a Good Father with a loving, gracious, and affirming voice.  Yes, sometimes there is a serious tone when correction is necessary, but it is meant for your good and to prosper your soul!  He has no expectation of perfection, but is merciful towards you and willing to transform your in His power through your reliance and confession that you need Him!  Christ is your greatest defender!!!

• Finish in prayer... If you have a hard time hearing God's voice as affirming, comforting, and gentle, tell Him. 
  • Example:  "Jesus I keep distant from you and others, because I think I'm a failure in your eyes and in eyes of others.  I am constantly thinking that I am not living up to the standards or expectations of you or others.  I do not handle criticism well; and don't know how to separate the voices of others from yours.  I have the voice of an accuser in my soul.  Please help me separate the voice of the liar from the voice of the Father.  Heal my soul.  Help me acknowledge the voice of the liar.  Help me acknowledge my mistakes in honest and redeeming ways that reveal you are at work in me, to redeem, to save, to love.  Thank you Jesus.  Amen."
• Finally, if there are words people have spoken or hurtful things they have done, judgments that have not been fair, redemptive, or have traumatized you... forgive.  Release that person to God.  Try praying something along these lines- "Jesus I need you to help me forgive.  I want to forgive because you have forgiven me.  I want to let the pain go.  I want to give it all to you to carry so it doesn't destroy me.  Though they have hurt me deeply, help me pray for them, and forgive as you God have forgiven me.  I let go Jesus; I let you take care of it.  I ask you help me heal and find joy, even in the loss or conflict.  Help me be like you by granting undeserved grace; and to love them by praying for them.  Show me where I am wrong and if I need to ask for forgiveness.  I choose not to destroy my family or others with my words or bitter actions, but to give you all of my hurt and believe you for healing and redemption. Amen.  Your kingdom come God, your will be done God, on earth as it is in Heaven.  Amen."

Romans 3: 21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses  and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.

23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24 Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26 for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

Give thanks for Jesus!  Be willing to go deeper with Wonderful Counselor!  Visit this tab on my website that tells you about a one hour session you can process in contemplative ways with Jesus via iaudio recording!
 
Isaiah 9:6- For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

YOU CAN CLICK ON THE PICTURE ABOVE FOR MORE DETAIL ABOUT THE 68 MINUTE AUDIO MEDITATION SESSION I'M OFFERING TO FOLLOWERS OF THE MINISTRY.

I greatly encourage you to take time to go deeper with Jesus right now.  Consider it a mini-retreat with the LORD.  The session will help you process current feelings, thoughts, actions, and words in His presence and invite His counsel and supernatural transformation.

God wants to counsel you; and set you free from all strongholds of flesh!  He wants to do a deeper work of healing in your life!  He wants you to be a demonstration of the power of His Spirit!!! Jesus is to be witnessed by others as being alive in you!!!

He wants an end-time army of believers who know who they are in Him! 

God wants the Body of Christ to embrace the fullness of the 3rd person of the Trinity for transformation, Romans 12:2!  Holy Spirit is to lead us!  We are to be living a Spirit-filled life, not one of the flesh. 

Romans 8:5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.

What are some examples of Holy Spirit leading me?  Of living a Spirit-filled life?

First, I have given myself to serve Him.  The gifts of the Spirit are given to each one and are meant for the building up of the Body, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

Ephesians 2:10- For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

If you want God to heal you, if you want God to do great things in your life, are you positioned to receive it through serving Him?

I was an absolute mess of emotions when I rededicated my life to the LORD after falling away in a season of great disobedience.  As part of repentance, despite my deep depression, I signed up for children's ministry. 

I will never forget the moment I was sitting at a child table with a little child coloring.  He had bright red hair, his face covered in adorable freckles.  He put his little hand on mine and he said, "Teacher, Jesus loves you very much."  I broke under his discernment, tender touch, and words.  It was a moment of great healing that I would NOT have experienced if I had NOT been willing to serve God in the midst of my own chaos.  I didn't lead the class, I just signed up to be a helper.  It was one of the best decisions I could have made at that time.

Many layers of healing happened from there.  God continued to do deep and wonder-filled things in me for my healing.  Over the years, this has led to receiving "words of knowledge".  He has done some amazing things that continually leave me speechless and in awe of Him!  He gives me prayer images and insight that lead people to great breakthroughs for healing! 

These are not human gifts, they are clearly supernatural and they are meant to strengthen, encourage, and comfort God's people, as stated in 1 Corinthians 14:1 and 3.  

Before I share some of them, I should preface to say that the LORD has prepared me to know how to handle what I receive. If there is a primary message about the Spirit and gifts, God takes time to mature us, test us, transform us through suffering and calls to obedience.  With our cooperation, He takes time to mature us and teach us how to discern what we receive.

2 Timothy 2:15- Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

The Apostle Paul urged believers to follow the way of love AND eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially that we would prophecy, 1 Corinthians 14:1.  You can see that he qualifies that gift is for the purpose of building up others throughs words that strengthen, encourage, and comfort, 1 Corinthians 14:3.

Operating in love is huge!!!  Many times over my walk, I've observed that Christians want to just disappear without addressing what is bothering them with another Christian.  That is not love.  I myself have experienced this many times.  If we are to love one another deeply, we don't just disappear.  We don't talk behind the backs of others.  We address our concerns in love, speaking hard things where we need to.  

We should NEVER expect God to do big things for the Kingdom through us if we are not operating in love...

1 Corinthians 13: 1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. 

Does that bring up any situations to you?  Is there anyone you need to forgive?  Is there anyone you need to go to and talk about something that has hurt you or that you are confused about?  Is there any difficult feedback you need to give someone to help them understand why you have drawn away from them?  

I urge you to do this.  

1 Peter 1:22- Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

My main growing experience and exposure to the gift of prophecy was during my time in Southern CA while attending Calvary Chapel in Capo Beach, CA.  (I had previous experience witnessing it at Jubilee Christian center in San Jose, CA and Word of Grace church in Mesa, AZ)

God healed me in many ways through people who operated in the gifts of prophecy and prayer at those 2 former churches.  He did further healing work in my 3rd church.  This is where He began to train me as an intercessor and introduce me to gifts of the Spirit .  This was during my time at Capo Beach Calvary.  

On Sunday evenings at Capo Beach, one of the pastors led an inductive bible study.  It was held in a café setting opposite the sanctuary.  Before starting, he would always announce we would spend time in worship and give time for others to pray out loud.  He gave people time to say out loud what God was impressing on their hearts.  He always gave warning that whatever was spoken would be evaluated by the elders present in the room; and that if the elders felt it was not of God, that person would be addressed in love during or after.  No one was to speak divisively, and it all had to be scripturally sound.  After the time of worship and prayer, he taught from scripture. 

I grew by leaps and bounds in this setting!  It was safe.  He had a godly structure that was spiritually protected with authority in the room.  People spoke freely with God’s love, and the Holy Spirit's presence was palpable, very powerful!!!  The whole setting was extremely edifying, healing, and comforting!

I remember one woman in particular who clearly had a special gift to speak what the Spirit of the Lord was saying.  Countless, countless times what she said deeply ministered to broken places within me.  Because of Roma modeling how to receive and speak words of prophesy, I began to trust the whispers of God and the creative ways that God speaks.  Her words were closely matching with loving words I was beginning to hear in my spirit!  Roma was a true gift and mentor!  She was the first person who encouraged me to speak out loud what God was impressing on my heart.  Praying out loud is one of the most critical aspects of growing in courage and maturing in intercessory prayer with prophetic encouragements! 

Through that experience, and ever since, He has taught me to test the spirits; and at the same time not to grieve the spirit through unbelief or disobedience.  I have learned through experience that the activity of the Holy Spirit will stop, especially due to unbelief and disobedience.   

Lately, the LORD has taken me to each of the Gospel accounts that point out how unbelief hindered the power of Jesus.

Mark 6: 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. 

What a terrible commentary that Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith!!!  I do not want to be included in that crowd!  What about you?

Yet I see a lot of limiting belief in the church body (wide sense).  And in my own world, I have noticed there are certain circumstances where I’m gathered with believers of limited belief, and the LORD doesn’t speak to me as He does when I’m free from that influence.  It’s been interesting to observe and take notice of it.

If we reject Him; or treat prophecies with contempt, we quench the spirit, i.e. extinguish and put Him out.

1 Thessalonians 5: 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

Not long ago I had a prayer appointment with a man who has a very strained marriage.  One of the things he shared before we started praying is that he loathed himself.  He had terrible descriptions of who he was.  He also noted he couldn’t remember much from childhood.  He wanted prayer for his wife.  As I started praying the LORD immediately moved our conversation and prayer away from his wife and over to him.  I asked some questions, and shared a “word” the LORD put on my heart.  He didn’t understand it at first, but I’ve learned to press in and encourage the person to keep asking God for insight. 

The Holy Spirit helped him connect; and very quickly, he was remembering a traumatic event from his childhood.  The LORD was taking him back to when fear took root in him.  He was just a young boy.  After we processed that first memory in prayer, the Lord then led to the next memories that came in detail like a flood.  He was shocked.  But the revelations of going back to those memories unlocked deep, hidden things that showed him how fear gripped him in critical moments of fear and loss.  God clearly showed him how a stronghold took over when he was just a little boy.  The Father affirmed his love and helped him see how the enemy entered. 

Wonderful Counselor brought up that memory because it was a critical moment that established a strong root of shame that has been crippling him all these many years later!  It’s the reason why he has spoken so terribly about himself.  The LORD was beginning to address the lies and the shame, in order to set him on a path of healing and freedom!  

The LORD kept taking him deeper in our prayer appointment.  He showed him another significant moment in his childhood where Jesus was clearly present to establish his future in hope and godly identity.  He showed him that he was there with him, guiding his path, establishing his life purpose. 

The memory, vision, and images the LORD gave this man were filled with light, power, clarity, and unexplainable beauty!  It was very powerful, deeply moving!

After we went through these memories, I asked him to go back to one of the most painful ones.  I asked him if he still felt that overwhelming fear and dread.  He didn’t!  It was gone!  The LORD took hold of that root in him and removed it!

Jeremiah 17:14- Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.

Hallelujah!  Woot!  Woot!

Through the time, the LORD opened up the place in his soul that helped him access and grieve… things he said he hasn’t been able to do on his own!!! God was so sweet to show him hope in the midst of all the grief, connecting him with the greater reality that God was with him as a little boy, and didn’t define him through his weaknesses, but defines him under the covering of Jesus, the perfect One.  The Father sees him as perfect because of Jesus.  He blesses him, surrounding him with songs and promises of deliverance!  

Psalm 34:5- Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Jesus is Wonder-filled, wonderful Counselor!  Isaiah 9:6! 

The lesson for you in the testimony I just shared is this... You are NOT meant to process your deep soul issues on your own.

Proverbs 20:5- Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water,
But a man of understanding will draw it out.

Deep waters in that scripture are overwhelming waters, unsearchable waters, mysterious waters of unknown depths.

You DO NOT have the power to go into these places on your own. 

You need counsel and help from the Holy Spirit. 

He prevents those waters from overwhelming you.  He lifts you up and rescues you from those waters!  He takes your hand and delivers you!

Psalm 18:16- He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.

What does this testimony stir in you?  Do you long for deeper healing?

If so, I have a new resource to share with you related to Jesus as Wonderful Counselor!

It’s a new page of my website.  Take a look.

In the testimony I just shared, take notice that the LORD wanted him to work on his unresolved brokenness, instead of focusing on praying that his wife change.  That is not to say the man isn’t to pray for his wife, but the bigger lesson is that Jesus longs we are transformed by the Spirit.  Our transformation will mean dynamics shift in our relationships.  People in our lives will take note that the light of Christ shines through us, that we are secured in the love of Christ.  His wife is meant to see that he is not self-condemning, that roots of shame and fear are being healed through his abiding relationship with Jesus.

May their marriage and other strained marriages be healed in the Name of Jesus!  Do the deeper work in yourself with Christ to save yourself and your families!!!

Our transformation in Christ will be challenging to those in our lives who witness our healing under God’s power and counsel.  Sometimes we lose relationships when we heal because others will not give in to the same thing.  But that is not to stop us from making choices that lead us to wholeness in Christ! 

Do people see that Christ has done a deep work of healing in you? 

Is it clear the LORD has healed and set you free? 

We all need to continue pressing in for more.  Are you pressing in for more? 

The times require you to be strong and whole in the LORD.  He needs you as a witness for the many who are not strong; who do not believe, but will because of the transformative work that is made clear through you!

If you eagerly desire spiritual gifts as scripture encourages, ask God to put people in your path to be with you as you step out in faith.   Go to your pastoral leaders and ask them to pray for you.  I did this at my current church many years ago, asking the 2 head pastors to pray for me as I was being asked by God to step out and teach.  They willingly prayed for me; and I am confident their anointing and authority has covered me, as has my obedience to follow God and serve.

In any gift, it should be evident you’ve spent time with God.  You must be grounded in scripture to discern or interpret.  If you don’t know the Word of God, asking for gifts is not what you should do.  First, know the Word of God.  You test spirits through the Word of God and His voice.  A healthy fear of God is required as is time in His presence.  Jesus spent extended time with His Father in prayer. 

Time equals intimacy of knowing.  I’ve heard people say Jesus’ public prayers were short, so ours can be short too.  This is wrong.  Short prayers of Jesus may have been captured in scripture, while his long nights and early mornings with God were not captured in words. 

Yet it is clear that Jesus carved out regular time for prayer with His Father and labored in prayer, Mark 1:35 & Luke 6:12.

“The short prevailing prayer cannot be prayed by one who has not prevailed with God in a mightier struggle of long continuance.”- E M Bounds

Jesus had prevailing in prayer on the mountains, in the temple, in the wilderness, in the garden, of being in Heaven with the Father in eternity before praying on earth.  He is still praying!

Romans 8:34- Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Jesus does NOT want us to be overwhelmed in self-condemnation.  He has been interceding for you.  Are you working with Him?  He wants to step in to heal, redeem, and raise up!

Here are some more examples of strengthening, encouragement, and comfort the Spirit has given me when I intercede for people.  May they encourage you of the awesome Sovereignty of our Mighty God!  (Note how the interpretations are tied to biblical truth and an inner knowing the Spirit reveals about the state of God's child.)
 
And if you are interested in a prayer appointment, please reply to this email and inquire!  I’ll get back to you with details!

- One time I became aware of a prayer request about severe panic attacks someone was experiencing.  After praying at home, God gave me an image of this person in an anorexic state.  I did not get an idea it was physical; but spiritual.  It took us awhile to connect via email; and we kept missing each other’s phone calls.  I reached out via email as she came to mind again.  She shared an update.  I had not yet shared the image; but she described an anorexic state regarding a recent relationship conflict.  I shared the image that came to me.  It ministered deeply to her.  After hearing what she was experiencing, I had interpretation for the image.   Her opening up to me was critical for interpretation.  It put in the context her recent experience.  She felt affirmed in the steps she had already been taking for healing, and comforted that she was seen by God.

- Before a meeting, I received a picture of a man holding an ancient spear, the kind that is taller than the warrior.  He was steady on his feet, with a strong stance, body language in a resolved state of assurance and knowing.  I shared it with interpretation that he was grounded as a man of God, aware of surroundings, a calm and a seasoned warrior whom God has established to war on his behalf and represent him in difficult situations. It ministered to him.

- Several years ago, while asking God for wisdom on whether or not I should talk to someone, I received a picture of that man on the ice in a hockey rink.  He was swift and sure on his feet with a hockey stick in hand, moving a puck with great accuracy down the ice.  The interpretation being he was a man who is on solid ground of the Word of God, clear headed, steady and sure on his feet, knowing a path, receptive to coaching, and executing his life with godly skill and training.  Being in a very calm state on the ice, Jesus affirmed his gentleness of heart.  Yes, I was to talk to him.  Yes, I was to share how God perceives him!  It was a word to strengthen, encourage, and comfort!

- Another time, God gave a picture of a woman I know working underneath a car, but her feet were sticking out from the side door indicating she wasn’t working where she should have been, i.e. under the engine.  I got a vague sense of her having skill to work on a project but didn’t understand why her legs were sticking out from the side of the car.  It wasn’t until I spoke to her a couple hours later that I understood how to interpret.  Just that morning, she was left out of a meeting she should have attended for her expertise.  This is why she was misplaced under the car in the image.  She later found out it was a mistake she was left out of the meeting, so the image was just a reminder God was sending to her that He is absolutely in tune with every waking moment she experiences.  Nothing escapes his notice with His children.

- Once I got an image of a person sweeping the floor.  The LORD put on my heart that his heart was like that of the psalmist in Psalm 84, preferring to be a doorkeeper in the house of God versus dwelling in the tents of wickedness.  I held on to it before I shared because I wanted to hear what he might say in our conversation.  He told me he wanted to hear God’s voice better.  He wanted a passion that he had in an earlier career situation.  He wanted to have impact for God.  I was able to tell him that not hearing God’s voice can be a protection against the snare of pride.  It also seasons the man and keeps spiritual hunger alive, like it did with God’s servant Joseph. I told him I’ve heard the Lord’s voice speak through him many times, that he has a clear gift to mentor and speak testimony for God.  I told him not be discouraged because God has used him mightily many times without him realizing it, and will continue to do so.  I encouraged him not to seek another project passion, but to seek the LORD.  I see him as a free flowing evidence of the Holy Spirit not tied to a project but to people God sends in his path, John 3:8.  After I shared, he told me he was speaking to a group that morning, giving testimony of God’s grace in his life.  He is exactly where God wants him! Finally, I shared the image and it touched him deeply.  

Do you see the power of the gift of prophecy to strengthen, encourage, and comfort?

- One image I’ve never forgotten is that of a little girl eating a bag of candy.  She was alone resting against a door.  Suddenly the door swings open; and Jesus is there with a bright smile on his face, arms flung open to receive her!  She throws the bag aside, and jumps into his arms.  After sharing this with her, she told me that as a little girl she would eat bags of candy to calm her anxiety over feeling disappointment from a parent.  At that particular time, God was working on her to see show her a tie to sugar as a way to calm herself when she felt heaviness of condemnation.  He wanted her to come to Him first in her anxiety, not sugar.  He wants her to see He always approaches her with His arms open to love her unconditionally.  This ministered to her deeply, clear that God was speaking to her about an area He wanted to heal from childhood.  God is so sweet!

I hope these have ministered to you!  The Spirit is given for the building up of the Body!  I hope they encourage you to stir up your gifts and to go deeper in healing with WONDERFUL COUNSELOR! 

God wants HIS children to be healed in every area!  He is Wonderful Counselor!  Are you open to His counseling?  Be open to start the process with the WONDERFUL COUNSELOR audio session I’ve put together. 

Who is this meditation best suited for?

• Spirit-filled Christians who...
• are willing to be honest and transparent with the LORD
• are open to the Holy Spirit searching the deep waters of their soul
• seek His counsel and abide regularly in His Word
• are open to receiving redirection from the LORD
• want to be set free and experience greater levels of supernatural transformation and healing

Who is this meditation NOT for?

• those who only want to hear "whispers", without interpreting those whispers through the Word of God.  God DOES NOT speak separately or contrary to His Word.
  • ​​— "I seek the Will of the Spirit of God through, or in connection with, the Word of God. The Spirit and the Word must be combined. If I look to the Spirit alone without the Word I lay myself open to great delusions also. If the Holy Ghost guides us at all, He will do it according to the Scriptures and never contrary to them."  -"Answers to Prayer" by George Muller
• Christians unwilling to be redirected by the LORD
• those who limit Him through unbelief
• non-Christians, i.e. not Spirit-filled, not born-again. 

Some of you may want to go even deeper after you do the session on your own.  God will give some of you some things that will not be resolved in one session.  He will want you to go deeper.  If you are interested in going deeper, I can help you through a prayer appointment.  Sign up to do the meditation first.  Then after, see if you need help going deeper for breakthrough!  

Above are 1 page of notes from my study on John 18.  I printed out the chapter in a double-spaced format.  It was 5 pages total.  Then I slowed down and observed detail about the text.  And then I went deeper to find answers to questions I had. 

What about you?  How do you slow down with the scriptures?  

Did you learn anything new about Jesus this Easter?  Did your meditations on scriptures about his walk to the cross reveal something you hadn’t seen before? 

One thing I pondered for the beginning of John 18 is realizing the scene of what happened when Jesus said, "I am he."  It was a great demonstration of the power of His breath.

I saw this when I stopped on the detail of the "multitudes" who arrested Jesus in the garden.

Who were the multitudes who seized Jesus? How many bullies came for him?

Matthew 26:47 says it was a "great multitude".
Mark 14:43 also says it was a "great multitude."
Luke 22:47 says it was a "multitude".
John 18:3 gives the most detail-  So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons.

​The Apostle John uses technical military language to describe part of the crowd who came for Jesus.  He says "detachment of soldiers".  King James version says "band of men".  In studying further, I discovered, this was language for a Roman cohort, which was typically 1/10 part of a legion.  A legion was made of 600 men soldiers.  

So a detachment of 60 Roman soldiers accompanied the officials sent from the chief priests and the Pharisees.  The 3 other gospels say that they were captains of the temple, elders, scribes, officials of the chief priests, etc.  

These groups combined made up the "multitudes".  We're talking easily 100, or even up to 200 or more people coming to seize Jesus.

They come armed with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

It is night when they arrived.

Jesus has already been laboring for hours in prayer, to a point of sweating blood. ie hematidrosis.

Dr. Frederick Zugibe, a renowned forensic pathologist says that Jesus would be very weak after experiencing hematidrosis.  The rare number of times it has been documented, it was by those who were victims of extreme mental and emotional trauma due to terrifying violence inflicted upon them.

This was the state Jesus had just come out of as the bullies approached.  Perhaps those droplets of blood were beginning to dry on his skin as the light from their torches lit up his face?
​
 Jesus isn’t afraid.  He asks them “who are you looking for?”
 
“Jesus of Nazareth.” They say.
 
They’re just looking for a guy from a local town?
 
Jesus says, “I am he.”
 
With those words they draw backward and fall to the ground. 

Jesus?  An ordinary man? With merely his words, a great multitude is blown back and falls in a heap?

I’ve never met a human whose words had such power!
 
This would have been the perfect opportunity for Jesus to run, but He doesn’t.
 
While they’re all on the ground, He asks again, “Who are you looking for?”
 
Imagine this clueless crowd of bullies picking themselves up, and assembling again to reply, “Jesus of Nazareth”.
 
Before he is seized, Peter attempts to defend Jesus, taking his sword and cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant.
 
Jesus is greatly disturbed, “No more of this!” 

But hey, no big deal, Jesus simply reattaches Malchus’ ear!
 
Just a man?
 
Then he says, “The cup which the Father has given me, shall I not surely drink?”
 
Cup?  What cup? 
 
The cup of suffering, that pays for every sword you’ve used to cut another, every violent word you’ve spoken in your heart & through your mouth, every wrong judgment you’ve made, every perverted and unholy thought and action, every lie you’ve ever told to make yourself look better or innocent.

We're violent.  We carry swords.  We've viciously attacked others with our words, thoughts or actions. 

According to Jesus, violent thoughts alone equate to you murdering someone.

Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ (meaning "you wicked person!") is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
 
Jesus took your blows.  He paid the cost of your imperfections and violent acts.  God's judgment is the cup of suffering that sinless Jesus drank on your behalf.  Why? So that you can escape the wrath of God... IF you believe..

Can a mere human being save the whole world?  Or is Jesus who He was revealed to be?

Fully man, fully God.  The promised One.  The Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world?

John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies. 26And everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

You must answer Jesus' question.  You must decide what you believe about Jesus.

Your decision will decide your eternal fate.

​May you decide by faith in Jesus Christ!
 
Acts 4:12- Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

​​At the age of 28, and before I was a Christian, I was absolutely obsessed with a relationship. My world revolved around this person from the age of 18 forward.

My self-esteem was based upon his desire for how I looked and how I served him. I tried very hard to meet his standards. He would praise me for being the “hottest” girl in the room. But at the same time, he was never faithful, and his praise wasn’t love.

My behaviors were based upon getting and keeping his attention. My internal voice was always active with anxiety and wondering what I could do better. I was a shell of a person, conforming to someone else's demands and manipulations.

He spun wild stories to cover his tracks. I always knew the truth, but talked myself out of it. It took me over a decade to wake up. My first change was to confront in order to change him. I started playing his game of manipulation. I thought if I caught him, that would change his behaviors.

In reflection, the poor way he treated me was so obvious. Everyone knew; and I’m sure they pitied me, but never said anything. And I acted clueless in their presence, and split off from reality, trying to keep my face happy and bright, excelling in my job.

I look back at that girl with pity and great sorrow.

I’m not her anymore.

Jesus saved me.

God is calling me to reach for my former self through others

… who wonder if God still heals and saves
... who are stuck in self-deception and self-defeat
… who are blinded by idols
… who live a double life and need forgiveness
… whose strategy is to manipulate others for love and acceptance
… who long to know what true love is
… but whose hope is in this world and what it offers

There are lots of lies we believe. In retrospect, I had no idea how perverted and twisted my soul was. If you stay open to my story, praying that you’ll be open that you also believe many lies, you too have twisted perceptions.

Consider… you have no idea the depth in which you are defeated by the dubiousness of your own soul.

There is no quick resolution.

Even after believing in Jesus, I was susceptible to my own twisted lies, and the false idol I worshipped.

But there is immediate rescue within if you believe.

The way Jesus snatched me suddenly from darkness, was in a period of great grief. The false idol I was with abandoned me at a Raiders game in Oakland. If you know Oakland, it is not a safe place to abandon a woman. I was over an hour from “home”.

I snapped. The feeling of abandonment in a scary place slapped me into reality.

I found my way back to our place, and got a Sunday newspaper for rental ads.

I grabbed my kitty and left the next day, immediately renting a garage converted into a studio. It was a desperate move. There was a side entrance. But the main garage door was not converted or sealed, so if you grabbed the front latch of the garage, there I would be; sitting on my sofa sleeper. But at least I was out, at least for a little while.

I spiraled into depression.

I was falling apart, and Jesus swept in for rescue.

He captured my attention through the NFL great Reggie White who was speaking on a tv channel. I loved football; and wanted to see what he was saying. Turns out, he was preaching at a local church. I made sure to write down the name of the church. I’d never gone to church except a few times to Catholic services. Those prior church experiences were very confusing and intimidating to me. I didn’t like them.

But what Reggie said spoke to me and the church he was at was very different. It seemed interesting. And though it took me about 6 weeks to go, I responded to Christ’s subtle pursuit and went to Jubilee Christian Center.

It was awesome. The worship was amazing and the messages were relevant to my life.

After a few months of attending church, one Sunday, a traveling evangelist showed up. He asked people to come back that night. Completely blind to what it would be, I went back that night.

Turns out he was an evangelist who believed in miracles. I panicked when I heard he would be doing “healings”; and wanted to leave immediately. I was sure they were all crazy, thinking all of my recent church experience was based upon deception and lies. But I was seated in the front row because I showed up late; and there weren’t other seats. I felt if I got up and left, they would notice, and I’d be stopped, “Stop in the Name of the Lord!” kind of moment. I was horrified of this as a possibility, so I stayed.

And then the inner critic came out. I was sure I could discover the people being healed were plants in the audience. But these are faces of people I had seen over the several months of attending.

I felt great conflict that they could be in on it. They were giving great testimony of healings.

So I kept returning. I attended 5 straight nights.

Upon leaving night 5, with some skepticism, but also with great hope, I prayed for the first time. “God I believe in you, and I believe in Jesus, but what is this healing thing? Is it real? Do you still heal? Give me a dream.”

He gave me a dream.

In the dream, I was in my Saturn driving on the 280 freeway going North. Suddenly I was passing major accidents with people screaming, laid out on the freeway, many ambulances and firetrucks blaring their sirens. It was terrifying; and my heart was leaping out of my chest.

Then a figure appeared. He was clear as light, his outline like a glass figure, but alive. He positioned behind my seat. He put his hand on my shoulder and suddenly a big, beautiful yellow butterfly flew in front of my windshield.

My breath caught, and I spoke to the figure, “Look a butterfly!” And then I woke up.

The dream made no sense to me; so I dismissed it, got up and on with my day.

It was a Friday. It was also the 6th and final night of the “healing” services.

It’s on Day 6 that God breathed life into Adam, Genesis 1:26-27 & Genesis 2:7.

I had gotten bolder by that final night; and sat in the middle, closer to the stage. Typically, the evangelist gave a sermon before the healing service began. But since it was his last night, he wanted to use the entire time for healing and miracles.

While he was calling people to the platform for healing prayer, my eyes wandered. In one magical moment, my eyes crossed paths with a working stage light with a flat face. There was no opening to the light. But suddenly, out of that light came the butterfly from my dream! I gasped in utter shock watching it fly to the stage. Tim Storey (the evangelist) said, “Oh look! The Holy Spirit in the form of a butterfly!”

At that moment, the presence of God fell upon me, and I heard God’s voice in my heart and mind, “Yes Gina, I still heal; and I will heal you.”

I broke upon the filling of the Holy Spirit, flooded with His love and comforted by His whispers. The pressure from enduring abuse and manipulation broke like a dam and could not be held back. I desperately wanted to hold back aware I was in the middle of a large crowd, but I could not stop crying. It lasted to the end of the service.

I was saved, filled with the Spirit of God!

Some may think that miracles, signs, and wonders are everything.

They are not.

As I said earlier, because of my brokenness and twisted perceptions, there was no immediate resolution of my broken ways. And so, I went forward quickly corrupting the purity of that miraculous holy moment.

I was saved; yes, but my old nature was in charge. And I was still desperate for the human dream of marriage and family. So, I thought that I could insist that God would do for the man I obsessed about, what He did for me. Miraculously intervene.

I was very wrong. I could not force God’s hand, nor someone else’s will.

About 6 months after my conversion, the man of my obsessions got fired. He lost millions in stock. His dreams and life dramatically and quickly crumbled. More on that in a second.

Meanwhile, God was blessing my life. I was promoted and excelling in my career. I had great joy. Related to church, I joined the choir and offered to help in children’s ministry. The highlight of my week was church.

But my heart was still tethered to the false idol. And as I worried about him becoming homeless; after all, he lost everything! So, I of course let him move in.

God was giving me scriptures of warning and whispering. “No.” “He is not for you.” “Stop.”

I closed my ears.

One weekend, while we were living in the garage, he said he had a weekend construction project to help a friend expand a room in his church. But really, it was a front to spend his time with another woman. I guess he was in the church briefly, but only for the LORD to call his bluff. He ended up with a rusty nail through his foot, and a painful end in the hospital. Eventually I found out about the woman, and confronted her.

I insisted we go to counseling. He went once.

And I went back.

Signs and wonders and miracles are not your answer. Getting to know Jesus is.

End of Part 1.

#christian #testimonial #jesussaves #JesusIsKing #jesuslovesyou #Jesusiscoming #JesusIsLord #healingprocess #healingjourney #healingprayer #bibleverse #HolySpirit #holyspiritfilled #miracles #signs #wonders #believe #GoodNews #gospel#gospel #savedbygrace #amazinggrace #amen

​(In this blog, you'll read testimony statements from a former Muslim, a grieving child, a lost girl [me], an Egyptian slave girl, and an atheist who were all found in wilderness places by Jesus!)

​Revelation of who God is comes through personal encounter.  You can't really know Him through others experiences.  Yes, you can hear about Him through others; but to really know Jesus, you have to know Him for yourself.  And in the knowing, are times of deep revelation, when you learn different aspects of Him.  He is a deep well of unmatched treasure, always something new to learn about who Jesus is!  

You may not know Him yet, and if that is true.  Listen to what those of us who have walked with God for many years, boldly proclaim-
"You are the God who heals me."
"You are the God who comforts me."
"You are the God who calls me your own."
"You are the God who forgives me."
"You are the God who supplies all my needs."
"You are the God who defends me."
"You are the God who gives me new beginnings."
"You are the God who suffered a terrible death to save my soul from eternal judgment."

Are these ways you would like to know God? 

Our declarations reveal intimacy with God through the most private things of our soul.  He found us in desperate places and transformed us with His Spirit!  We Christians have experienced Him through the most trying circumstances of our lives!  And He has been faithful, even when we have not!  He repeatedly makes the way of escape for us, always letting us know that we are not alone!  He is with us!

Consider this testimony, "I was born a Muslim in Iraq. I was worried and depressed, sitting and looking at the Tigris River in my city.  Jesus' face appeared to me in the water and told me. "Son, you're not alone." And now I'm a Christian, and I pray every day at the edge of the river.  Thank you Jesus for this grace. I'm not alone right now. Jesus is with me."

Jesus' message that "you are not alone" is a primary message.  And yes, Jesus supernaturally speaks and reaches for people to comfort them in their loneliness!  That former Muslim youth's testimony is a modern day example of it.  It also parallels an ancient encounter found in the book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible.  

In Genesis chapter 16 we find a mistreated and lonely woman who had a personal encounter with God that transformed her destiny.  She was an Egyptian slave girl and the first recorded person to give God a name!  Think about that, an Egyptian slave girl was the first person to give a Name to God!

And it was based upon personal encounter!!!

The Egyptian slave girl was named Hagar.  You can read the full account in Genesis chapter 16.  She was a maidservant subjected to the will of her mistress Sarai.  In these ancient times, it was part of survival and accepted culture to have maidservants.  Having maidservants was common in ancient society because most were farmers and lived off the land.  Families were "tribal" for reasons of survival.  It was not according to God's instruction, but because of the brokenness of human soul that families would choose to reproduce through maidservants.  And it should be noted that Hebrews were known to treat their maidservants much better than other cultures, so Hagar was in a privileged "tribal family".  Abraham and Sarah were very wealthy.

But Sarah was old and barren, beyond believing that God would provide her and Abraham a child, even though He promised them that He would, Genesis 15:4-5. 

In Sarah's unbelief, she tried to find relief for her sorrow by human means.  She took note that Hagar was of childbearing age.  So she cooked up a scheme for Abraham to father a child through Hagar.  In Hagar's own error, once pregnant, she felt she had one up on Sarah, and began to despise her.  Sarah in turn mistreats Hagar.  Hagar then runs away, which leads to her personal encounter with God. 

Are you running away in any area of your life?  Are you resisting authority, feeling mistreated?  It could be an opportunity to open yourself up to God's word over your life and His counsel.

I was running and lonely and depressed and being mistreated when Jesus found me.  I opened myself up to hear about Him.  I went to church and opened myself up to hear the message spoken about Christ.  He manifested himself to me through a dream, sign and wonder.  He spoke to my heart and said, "Yes Gina, I still heal and I will heal you."  And He has!!!

Romans 10:17- So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.

Even and especially if you are suffering right now, you need to position to hear the Good News about Jesus! He is speaking through the Word of God being proclaimed about Him in churches.  (side note- Find an evangelical, community church that preaches from the Word of God.)

Often, it is in suffering and sorrow that people meet Jesus and experience profound revelation about who He is!  In our suffering, we wrongly think He isn't paying attention.  But the truth is, in times when we need rescue, He is as close as our breath that humbly cries out, "Jesus help me."  

When God meets Hagar in the wilderness, He tells her a hard thing.  He tells her to return to her mistress and submit to her.  But in the same breath, He also tells her she's going to have a son, and to name him "Ishmael", meaning "God hears".  God has a personal conversation with Hagar, telling her intimate things about her life, her coming son, and his destiny.  And so she obeys and goes back to the place of provision God gave her through Sarah and Abraham.

Jesus says that His sheep will hear His voice, John 10:27-  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

If you want a transformed life filled with hope and promise, believe in the goodness of Jesus!

Listen to another testimony from @loveiseverything- "I remember when my mom died, I was upset at God because He didn't heal my mom. I stayed away from God for 8 years not church nor praying or reading the Bible. One night Jesus came to me saying it's time. When I woke up I cried because I thought He didn't love me anymore He spoke to me in spirit that He was always there for me. After that day I was so hungry for Him it's been 4 years now I got baptized clinging to Him daily."

Hagar's personal encounter with God greatly encouraged her just like @loveiseverything, so much so that she gave God a name!

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me.”  She says “I have now seen the One who sees me.” (Genesis 16:13).

Can you say that about God?  "You are the God who sees me."  If not yet, do not despair.  Position to hear Him.

We're approaching Easter.  It's a great time to know God through Jesus.  Lots of churches will be talking about the gift of Jesus!

He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!  Who gives new beginnings!  

He can take your guilt, your shame, your disappointments, your sorrow, your anger, your bitterness, your doubt.  He doesn't want you to clean yourself up.  He just wants you to come and hear His Good News!

"I was an athiest and mocked jesus and called him a fairy tale until i overdosed and stood before jesus. His face was so bright that i couldnt see anything but light, his arms were held out to hug me when the light got brighter, i felt so much love and peace, this why I will never stop telling people. Especially Muslims, about Jesus. I cannot stand to see people deceived." - @whocaresxx92

If you open up to Jesus, He can completely transform your heart, giving you a new beginning, making all things new!!!

Jesus removes your sin as far as the East is from the West, Psalm 103:12.

I pray you open yourself to believe that Jesus is the God who sees you! Who hears you! Who loves you!  Who can heal you and transform you and make all things new! 

Go to church this Easter!  Ask God to lead you to a strong, bible-based church to hear about the Good News of Jesus.

"God, please lead me to a church that will tell me about the Good News of Jesus.  Amen."

Blessings this resurrection season!   New beginnings await for those who believe!  Go to church!  And don't leave without signing up to receive my blog via email!  Form is top of page in right column!)

2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come:  The old has gone, the new is here!