Eyes of God Prophetic Ministry

God blessed me this morning to watch my “fluffy” squirrel and two chipmunks. They were too cute not to share. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

You were never meant to face things alone that is why Philipppians 4:13 says, ” I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” It doesn’t say I can do all things of my own strength. We do them through Christ who strengthens us. God spoke to me this morning and dropped this into my spirit. (That tension in my shoulders, that’s me trying to do it all… alone.) He went on, when you try to do things in self you fall short, it is through me that you excel. Let me back up. I had prayed a familiar prayer, “I’m disappointed in myself Poppa. I make bad decisions. My weight seems to almost never be in ‘my’ control and too often I feel like I’m frowning in life.” In a Father’s love He responded and in His response He reminded I’m not starting over, I’m resuming the path He has for me.

My Father has a winning mindset, He sees the bigger picture. The devil tries to plant seeds of doubt and misbelief, a losing mindset. My Poppa reminded me not to water those seeds and they will dry up. They need to then be rooted out and discarded. My (and your) success lies with the Lord. Water the seeds He has planted and watch them flourish. Not in self, but a dependence on God. My garden is beautiful and flourishing, look again He encouraged me. The devil is deceptive, weed out his lies and carry on. Detours provide pivots of learning and encouraging nuggets for others. Keep pressing my friends, keep pressing. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3

Hey YOU, His grace is sufficient for YOU and ME! I am my own worse critic. I tend to push myself harder than anyone possibly could. I also tend to replay my failures and bad decisions over and over in my mind. What if I’d done this? How did I allow myself to fall prey to that? If only I’d changed my response to him… instant replay in my mind on never ending pause. Early yesterday morning my Poppa woke me saying that same grace I give others I give to you. He didn’t stop there. He went on to say that the forgiveness I give others and that the grace He gives me, I don’t give to myself. I’ve thought on this for two days. This isn’t something new my Heavenly Father is telling me, but a gentle reminder. A co-worker recently made a jab about the tension in my neck and shoulders being caused by me carrying the weight of the world on them. It’s not too far from the truth, only I’ve been carrying the weight of so much more than even she could have imagined. My grace is sufficient for you daughter. Why are you weary, why are you disheartened? Oh Poppa! It all seems too much to bear. “8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 2 12:8-10 Daughter, your shoulders were never meant to carry it all. My grace is sufficient for you, it is sufficient for all you encounter, and it’s because of what you have been through that they will see this. Rejoice because I brought you out. Rejoice because you were lost and are found. Rejoice because my grace IS sufficient for you. Rejoice. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

We are about to the half way point through the book of wisdom. Today’s chapter doesn’t disappoint, it is full of Godly wisdom and starts from the very first verses, “1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. 3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. 4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” Oh that tongue! It contains so much power. I mentioned in an earlier post that the word “mouth” is used 50 times in the book of Proverbs. The word “tongue” is used 19. With only 31 chapters this is a good reminder to watch what we speak. Our words have power and it’s up to us how we we use that power. I pray you are gleaning nuggets of Wisdom as we read through this incredible book of knowledge and I share just a few of my favorites from each. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 15

1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

5 A fool despiseth his father’s instruction: but he that regardeth reproof is prudent.

6 In the house of the righteous is much treasure: but in the revenues of the wicked is trouble.

7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

9 The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.

10 Correction is grievous unto him that forsaketh the way: and he that hateth reproof shall die.

11 Hell and destruction are before the Lord: how much more then the hearts of the children of men?

12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

13 A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.

15 All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

16 Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith.

17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

19 The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: but the way of the righteous is made plain.

20 A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.

21 Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly.

22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.

23 A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

24 The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath.

25 The Lord will destroy the house of the proud: but he will establish the border of the widow.

26 The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

28 The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

29 The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

30 The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.

31 The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.

32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

33 The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

I read verse 12, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death,” and think back over my own life. There were so many times, so many decisions that I just knew were”right” for my life. Those same decisions may not have brought about a physical death, but they brought a lot of pain. Whether it was emotional, financial, or physical I’ve made decisions that I could have avoided some uncomfortable and sometimes life altering changes had I consulted my Heavenly Father first. But my gracious loving Father already knew the turns I’d make on this journey and He had them written into my story so that He could lift me up and give me a testimony to share. What a blessing that He expands our understanding as we grow and increases our wisdom. I have a long ways to go, but I am a long ways from where I started. I’m guessing many of you can say the same. Isn’t God good?! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 14

14 Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands.

2 He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the Lord: but he that is perverse in his ways despiseth him.

3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

4 Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox.

5 A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.

6 A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

7 Go from the presence of a foolish man, when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.

8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.

9 Fools make a mock at sin: but among the righteous there is favour.

10 The heart knoweth his own bitterness; and a stranger doth not intermeddle with his joy.

11 The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: but the tabernacle of the upright shall flourish.

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

13 Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

14 The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways: and a good man shall be satisfied from himself.

15 The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.

16 A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.

17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

18 The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.

19 The evil bow before the good; and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.

20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: but the rich hath many friends.

21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

22 Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

23 In all labour there is profit: but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury.

24 The crown of the wise is their riches: but the foolishness of fools is folly.

25 A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful witness speaketh lies.

26 In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

27 The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

28 In the multitude of people is the king’s honour: but in the want of people is the destruction of the prince.

29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.

30 A sound heart is the life of the flesh: but envy the rottenness of the bones.

31 He that oppresseth the poor reproacheth his Maker: but he that honoureth him hath mercy on the poor.

32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness: but the righteous hath hope in his death.

33 Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but that which is in the midst of fools is made known.

34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

35 The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame.

Things have been really tight since my move. My mind has been all over the place, headaches surging, weight fluctuating. At times the devil has been having a field day with my mind and going off my medication certainly didn’t help. I’m back on it now and I feel like I’m trying to win back lost ground, this is overwhelmingly frustrating. I’ve been working really long hours this week on top of it. Yesterday morning I prayed, “Poppa I need to see you in nature today.” I knew in my spirit I just needed lifted up, He knew it too. I turned around and the sky had turned pink. (God the Father)

A little later I heard a bird singing the prettiest song, I looked up and he was right outside my office window singing to me. (God the Son)

I took a break just before dark to take April out and was greeted with most beautiful sunset. (God the Holy Spirit)

Three times throughout my day my Poppa reminded me I’m not alone. You know what? You are not alone either. I don’t care what your going through, He’s there with you. I don’t care how far you’ve ran, He’s saying come home. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. I take great comfort in that this evening. Life is full of little bumps that frustrate and discourage. The devil likes you to think they are completely overwhelming you, but he is a liar. They are only making you stronger. Set backs, prepare you for the testimony of your comeback. Hold onto God and He will hold you up. I’ve got this, you’ve got this, because God’s got us. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.” Psalm 91:15

We read in Chapter 13, verse 1, “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.” And the chapter draws to an end with verse 24 saying, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” I was thinking on this in terms of our Heavenly Father this evening. Have you felt the Holy Spirit’s conviction in something? Our Father corrects us when we steer off path because He loves us. Sometimes a gentle nudge back on and sometimes it takes something a little more drastic to grab our attention. He doesn’t try to “break” us to “hurt” us. His correction is done out of love to bring us in alignment with His will for our life. Too many times I’ve wondered off the path my Poppa has planned for me. He knew I was going to do it, He still worked it out in my favor for His good but oh how much smoother things would been if I’d just listened. I’m a work in progress and so thankful He’s patient with me. I want to drink of the fountain of life guided there by the law of the wise. Help me Poppa, I surely can’t do it on my own! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 13

1 A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.

2 A man shall eat good by the fruit of his mouth: but the soul of the transgressors shall eat violence.

3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.

4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

5 A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

6 Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthroweth the sinner.

7 There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

8 The ransom of a man’s life are his riches: but the poor heareth not rebuke.

9 The light of the righteous rejoiceth: but the lamp of the wicked shall be put out.

10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

11 Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished: but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

13 Whoso despiseth the word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded.

14 The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

15 Good understanding giveth favour: but the way of transgressors is hard.

16 Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge: but a fool layeth open his folly.

17 A wicked messenger falleth into mischief: but a faithful ambassador is health.

18 Poverty and shame shall be to him that refuseth instruction: but he that regardeth reproof shall be honoured.

19 The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

21 Evil pursueth sinners: but to the righteous good shall be repayed.

22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children: and the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the just.

23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment.

24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.

25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

I was meditating over the beginning of verse 5 in chapter 12, “The thoughts of the righteous are right…” A lot of things take root in our thought life. The devil likes to attack us there because he knows this, so it’s important to be guarded and protect our mind from those attacks. Fight him with the Word. Verse 25 makes my heart smile, “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” No matter the problem, sickness, conflict, or demon you face The Word can defeat it. The Word can lift the heaviness. The Word can make you glad. If the Scripture says it, it must be! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 12

1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

2 A good man obtaineth favour of the Lord: but a man of wicked devices will he condemn.

3 A man shall not be established by wickedness: but the root of the righteous shall not be moved.

4 A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.

5 The thoughts of the righteous are right: but the counsels of the wicked are deceit.

6 The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.

7 The wicked are overthrown, and are not: but the house of the righteous shall stand.

8 A man shall be commended according to his wisdom: but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.

9 He that is despised, and hath a servant, is better than he that honoureth himself, and lacketh bread.

10 A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

11 He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.

12 The wicked desireth the net of evil men: but the root of the righteous yieldeth fruit.

13 The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble.

14 A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him.

15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

16 A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.

17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.

18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.

19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.

21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.

22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

24 The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the slothful shall be under tribute.

25 Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

26 The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

27 The slothful man roasteth not that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man is precious.

28 In the way of righteousness is life: and in the pathway thereof there is no death.

That mouth! Verse after verse speaks of it. It can destroy or it can build up. How are you using the words you speak? So much wisdom in Chapter 11, verse 2 is so good too, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” Poppa, never let me become too big for my britches! It sounds funny to say, but I never want to be consumed by pride and arrogance. I’ve seen it and it is a picture I never wish to become. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 11

11 A false balance is abomination to the Lord: but a just weight is his delight.

2 When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.

4 Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.

5 The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.

6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness.

7 When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

8 The righteous is delivered out of trouble, and the wicked cometh in his stead.

9 An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered.

10 When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish, there is shouting.

11 By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.

12 He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.

13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.

14 Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

15 He that is surety for a stranger shall smart for it: and he that hateth suretiship is sure.

16 A gracious woman retaineth honour: and strong men retain riches.

17 The merciful man doeth good to his own soul: but he that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.

18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

19 As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death.

20 They that are of a froward heart are abomination to the Lord: but such as are upright in their way are his delight.

21 Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.

22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.

23 The desire of the righteous is only good: but the expectation of the wicked is wrath.

24 There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is meet, but it tendeth to poverty.

25 The liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.

26 He that withholdeth corn, the people shall curse him: but blessing shall be upon the head of him that selleth it.

27 He that diligently seeketh good procureth favour: but he that seeketh mischief, it shall come unto him.

28 He that trusteth in his riches shall fall; but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.

29 He that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind: and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.

30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

31 Behold, the righteous shall be recompensed in the earth: much more the wicked and the sinner.

It’s in the little things that I find so much pleasure and love. I was incredibly busy today, I had to adjust to changes that made my heart weep, my head was hurting, yet through it all God was saying I’ve got you daughter and it’s going to be okay. Out of nowhere this fluffy cardinal showed up at my window, as I looked back through the pictures he was a friendly lil guy. That little bird made me smile, for a few moments in a hectic day he lifted my spirits and brought a smile to my face. It’s those moments I lookup and say, “Thank You Poppa.” Yes, it’s the little things. Some see just a bird. I see a beautifully made creature, this cardinal brought smiles from my Poppa with him. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:8

Chapter 10 speaks a lot about the mouth, whether it be from the wise or the foolish one should take note of its importance. “31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.” 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 10

10 The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.

2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

3 The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.

4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.

5 He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

6 Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

7 The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall rot.

8 The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.

9 He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

10 He that winketh with the eye causeth sorrow: but a prating fool shall fall.

11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.

12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.

14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.

15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.

16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.

17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.

19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.

20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

23 It is as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.

24 The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him: but the desire of the righteous shall be granted.

25 As the whirlwind passeth, so is the wicked no more: but the righteous is an everlasting foundation.

26 As vinegar to the teeth, and as smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to them that send him.

27 The fear of the Lord prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

28 The hope of the righteous shall be gladness: but the expectation of the wicked shall perish.

29 The way of the Lord is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness.

Help me Poppa to be teachable. Chapter 9 tells us to forsake the foolish and reprove not a scorner. Have you ever met someone who is always right? I wonder how they ever learn. Verse 8 says, “…rebuke a wise man and he will love thee.” If I am wrong, tell me so that I might grow. Verse 9 says, “Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.” I want to be like a sponge that just continues absorb more and more of everything Jesus. More of Him and less of me! Teach me Holy Spirit, open up my understanding in a way that only You can. Verse 10 tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” I don’t want to be the foolish or the scorner this chapter speaks of. I seek to be the wise woman God has called me to be. Another great Proverbs, steeped in wisdom. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 9

1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Almost the entire chapter of 8 cries out in wisdom and is written with such eloquence. We are told wisdom is better than rubies (verse 11) and better than gold (verse 19). Verses 22-36 speak of Jesus Himself and harkens for us to use wisdom, keeping His ways and following instruction, “32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” This book has so many gems hidden within in it I find it hard to choose a favorite. As I have struggled with somethings today, I took comfort in verse 14, “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” My Poppa always knows just what I need and when I need it. *** smiles **** I pray these daily Proverbs are blessing you this month. As many times as I have read them, the Lord still continues to use them to teach and bless me. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 8

1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.

5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.

20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:

26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Let’s talk medicine. Let’s also talk about listening too much to the voices of other people instead of THE One that matters. Depression often causes a chemical imbalance in your brain that can be treated with medication. Can God cure this? Absolutely! Is there anything wrong with taking medication to treat it? Absolutely not. I realize this is a touchy situation and many people have told me I share too much. “You don’t have to share everything,” they say. I take my leading from God and He woke me early to share this. It’s early, it’s Saturday, it’s too personal… someone needs to know they are not alone. So I am up writing, yet again sharing a personal experience. (“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Romans 8:1”)

I remember I was about to travel back to WV for a visit once and Billy had made the comment that I’d better get my head right before I returned. He didn’t tell me he was a huge part in messing with my head. When I returned I decided to see a Dr. and was placed on medication. God gave my Dr. the wisdom to know what my body needed. Amazingly, as that chemical imbalance equaled itself out I began to feel normal in some ways I hadn’t. Now, I was still in an emotionally abusive relationship and needed to get out. But God had used the medication to help begin clearing my mind. It took many more months, but the wheels of motion were in progress. As my mind cleared, the Lord began to speak to my heart and show me things about my relationship that I had been too clouded to see before.

Recently, someone close to me told me I should not be on that medication. It dulls your connection to God they said. You cannot hear the Spirit of God clearly while on it. So, when it came time to pick my script up I didn’t. I don’t need it, I thought. I don’t want to vex the Holy Spirit or cloud out His voice. Big mistake. I found my thoughts clouded, crying, bad decisions followed. I prayed and God said clearly, did I tell you to stop taking that? No. Was I speaking to you while you were on it? Yes. (Our Father chastens who He loves, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” Hebrews 12:6″) Ouch. What do I do now Poppa? Over and over He has told me to tread softly (of course I have started the medication again). Some people aren’t going to understand or agree with my decisions. That’s okay, as long as I’m looking to my Poppa I’m okay.

I try to do so much from within and feel like a failure too often. Tread softly daughter. All that I have and all that I do comes from my Poppa. All I need to do is claim it and walk in it. He didn’t rescue me from a pit of despair for nothing. No, He saved me for His divine purpose and I’m walking into it. I might me treading softly at the moment, but I’m treading. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” ~ Psalm 62:5

A wise man not only keeps the commandments of the Lord, but writes them upon the table of his heart. I just love how Proverbs 4 opens up. “7 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. 2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. 3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.” I haven’t always followed this wisdom, but oh how much smoother my paths would have been had I done so! #realtalk 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 7

 My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

2 Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

3 Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

4 Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

5 That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

6 For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

13 So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

14 I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

15 Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

16 I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

18 Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

19 For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

22 He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Oh that mouth! Chapter 6:2 says, “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.” In fact, the book of Proverbs goes on to mention the mouth 49 more times. A stark reminder to watch what we say and rich wisdom in the importance of what we speak. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 6

1 My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger,

2 Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.

3 Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, when thou art come into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.

4 Give not sleep to thine eyes, nor slumber to thine eyelids.

5 Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.

6 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:

7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler,

8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.

9 How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep?

10 Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep:

11 So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.

12 A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.

13 He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers;

14 Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

15 Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.

16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

20 My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

21 Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

22 When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24 To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

25 Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.

26 For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adultress will hunt for the precious life.

27 Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?

28 Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?

29 So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

30 Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;

31 But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.

32 But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

33 A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.

34 For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.

35 He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.

Today’s chapter starts with sound advice, “1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.” The Chapter later tells us in verse 7, “Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.” Sound advice from a true book of wisdom. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 5

1 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding:

2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:

4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword.

5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.

6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them.

7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth.

8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:

9 Lest thou give thine honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel:

10 Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;

11 And thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,

12 And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof;

13 And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me!

14 I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.

15 Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well.

16 Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets.

17 Let them be only thine own, and not strangers’ with thee.

18 Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth.

19 Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

20 And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.

22 His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.

23 He shall die without instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

Chapter 4 has wisdom steeped in almost every verse. I have read the Proverbs countless times over the years and it never ceases to amaze me the new bits of wisdom my Father shows me as I read it. He continues to unearth hidden treasures within the lines just when my heart needs them the most and He will do the same for you. Verses 5-9 speak highly of the value of wisdom in such a beautiful way that I think of a princess as I read it, “5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. 8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. 9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.” This is truly a book of instruction, filled with Devine wisdom from above. I pray you are gleaning some of it this month as we read the chapters together and I share my favorite nuggets with you. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 4

1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

Proverbs 3 tells us, “13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.” It then goes on to tell us about life for those who have found her, “16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace, 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” Everything you need to find that wisdom is found in the Word of God and we have been given the sweet Holy Spirit to help us understand it. All you need to do is seek Him and He will reveal the hidden treasures within the pages. That is an awesome power we have right in our fingertips. That is worth a praise shout! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 3

1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

9 Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:

12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.

14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.

15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.

17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.

19 The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20 By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26 For the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

28 Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.

29 Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth securely by thee.

30 Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no harm.

31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.

32 For the froward is abomination to the Lord: but his secret is with the righteous.

33 The curse of the Lord is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly.

35 The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.

The nuggets of wisdom in Proverbs two are rich. It starts the chapter with instruction in the first 4 verses, “1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;” With the result of that instruction in verse 5, “Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Followed by a promise in verse 6, “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Our wisdom comes from our Father, we only need to look to Him and He will open up our knowledge and understanding. I find that to be just awesome and hope it blesses you as much as it did me. Have a great day my friends, stay encouraged in Christ, and remember you are not alone. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 2

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;

2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;

3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;

4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;

5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

8 He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.

9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

10 When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11 Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

12 To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;

13 Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;

14 Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;

15 Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:

16 To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;

17 Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.

18 For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.

19 None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.

20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.

21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.

22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

The book of Proverbs is known for its wisdom. The Old Scofield Study Bible says it is a “collection of sententious sayings is divine wisdom applied to the earthly conditions of the people of God.” Many years ago I was at a Women’s conference when a missionary pointed out there are 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. Most months have 31 days (7, while 4 have 30 days), making it the perfect book to read each month gleaning nuggets of wisdom. You would be amazed at what the Lord will continue to teach you from this book. As the year draws to a close, I thought I’d share a chapter a day and a verse or two (maybe more) that is my favorite from each one.

I put in bold print several verses that are my favorite in chapter one, but this chapter is really packed with so many. Verses 20-23 are sheer poetry to me in the very way they are written. The whole chapter ends with an awesome promise, “33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” I pray you enjoy a Proverb a day this month to end the year. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Proverbs 1

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;

2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding;

3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity;

4 To give subtilty to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.

5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

11 If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:

12 Let us swallow them up alive as the grave; and whole, as those that go down into the pit:

13 We shall find all precious substance, we shall fill our houses with spoil:

14 Cast in thy lot among us; let us all have one purse:

15 My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path:

16 For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood.

17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.

18 And they lay wait for their own blood; they lurk privily for their own lives.

19 So are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain; which taketh away the life of the owners thereof.

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:

21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,

22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?

23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord:

30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.

33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

As the month and year draws to an end, I am thankful for the progress I’ve made over the last year. I still have a long ways to go, but I have come even further. I’m learning to have patience with myself. It’s okay to break down as long as I don’t stay down. It’s okay to cry, those tears are cleansing. It’s even okay to make wrong decisions, that’s how I learn and grow. The important thing is not to quit and never again give someone so much control that I lose voice, I lose myself. I am truly a work in progress. #11.29.18

Finally, for day 30 I am thankful for all of you. Thank you for taking this journey with me. I remember when the Lord led me to start my blog on Facebook I had one follower, then two… some of you have been with me since I first started that page, others have joined me along my journey. Many have come and gone. I am truly grateful for those that have stayed and who continue to support me. We need each other in this thing called life. It is my hope and my prayer that my blogs lift and encourage you wherever you or on your path of life. I am thankful to you for joining me on mine. #11.30.18 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Yesterday I reached a milestone for me. Most know the Lord rescued me from an emotionally abusive relationship just a little over a year ago. I have been paying on the iPhone (that he lost shortly after getting over a year and a half ago) that I had gotten him this whole time. Yesterday I made my last payment. It represented my last tie with him being completely severed. My mind is still healing, but he doesn’t have a hold over me any longer. When the devil tries to apply those oppressing thoughts to my mind I can throw them back at him and tell him I’m healed, set free. There’s hope if you are still in a relationship like this, you can be free too. Don’t allow that person to manipulate you into thinking you can’t get out, you CAN. I don’t care if they have deleted every single person from your life, you are still not alone. Look up, your Father is reaching His hand down ready to lift you out of the hell the person has created. It’s not all in your head, allow God to free your mind. He did it for me and He’ll do it for you. I watched another blue jay yesterday. When I went to look at the pictures I took of her I was amazed at what I saw. I think she’s a pretty good representation of my milestone, the ties severed, and being free. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:36

There is a battle between my heart and mind. There is a profound sadness when you want something so much more than someone wants it for themselves. When you see them not only for who they are, but as the the man or woman God created them to be. You except them as they are, but you recognize the God given potential that lies within them. Yes, just a profound sadness. Oh this heart Poppa. You know, that conversation I’ve written about time and time again, that conversation me and my Heavenly Father have had in great lengths. Yes, that conversation. It falls in love too easily. It wants to fix and help everyone she meets. It cries over the silliest of things, yet the smallest things causes it to soar. It too often gets broken over and over in the process of it all. Oh this heart Poppa.

I sat, tears streaming. My Poppa gave me a heart for everyone, not just my brothers and sisters in Christ. He reminded me this morning that my heart draws the lost, downtrodden, oppressed, lonely, depressed… I just want to wrap my arms around them and say it will be okay! He also reminded me because of this I need to draw closer to Him. This heart of mine causes me to depend on my Father as never before. That enemy has really been up in my head with condemning thoughts the last several days. Then I thought back on yesterday. Twice throughout the day my Father allowed me to get pictures of birds I had been wanting forever to get. Seemingly unimportant to others, but He didn’t just give me pictures. He showed me them spreading their wings. *** smiles **** I’m just now getting the lesson from those pictures. Thank you Poppa, thank you. I’m spreading my wings, my heart continues to reach out and love. Treading softly, but solid in Christ. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Watching the clouds move across the sky this morning I was listening to “Beautifully Broken” and pulled out my iPad to write. I have no words Poppa. I’d just finished today’s study I’m working on called “I Do Hard Things” and it was about setting boundaries. I’m not doing too good with that either Poppa I mumbled. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Perfectly Broken. I looked back up and the clouds had turned into pretty pinks followed by a glow. You are perfectly broken. I couldn’t help but smile. I’m amazed at how the Lord could use me and then I look at some of the great men and women of the Bible. He doesn’t use perfect people. He uses those no one would have ever expected, those fallen from grace and redeemed, those who weren’t even qualified, and the broken. Not just broken as He reminded me, perfectly broken for HIS plan. It’s that brokenness that draws others to Him, that brokenness allows others to see they are not alone, that brokenness… it does so much in my Master’s hands. Yes, I am perfectly broken. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

Every day I am on this mountain I am more and more thankful for the peace and beauty that surrounds me in the middle of life’s chaos. Monday was a stressful day and when I looked up there were three deer. One was just beautifully marked, it was as if God was giving me peace right in the middle of the storm. #11.26.18

I’m learning a lot from my birds. I’m thankful to be able to feed them and to be able to hear them sing. I’m thankful for the lessons God teaches me through them. They are peaceful to watch and I am blessed to see so many different kinds every day. #11.27.18

I am thankful for a God that answers prayers. It doesn’t matter how little, small, or what the significance may seem to others… if it matters to us, it matters to God. Last night my iPad would not come on. I let it charge all night, this morning still nothing. I said, “Poppa, I need you to breath life into this thing.” During my first break it suddenly came on. But God!!!! He hears our every prayer. #11.28.18 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

It’s a beautiful snowy morning on our little mountain. I was watching it quietly falling as I pray and prepare for the day ahead. I’m reminded watching my birds and even my lil chipmunk we are never alone. Watching a gust of wind come and swirl up the snow, the birds scattered to their safe places, the chipmunk scurried away. A few minutes later, they were all back. Eating in complete harmony. It made me smile to know the Lord was using me to feed His creatures. You may be facing an impossible situation, but we serve a God that specializes in impossibilities. Look to Him for your help, you never know what the angel He sends to you will look like. But one thing I promise, He will come through on time. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.

2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.

3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.

6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.

8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

~ Psalm 121

The Lord showed me a progression of clouds while I was praying this morning. The clouds were moving fast and He had told me to watch for awhile. As I watched, I saw the clouds pass and the sky open to a huge clear space. This too shall pass He whispered to my spirit. The loneliness, the heaviness… lean into Me. The clearing is coming, the clarity is coming. Who is the King of glory? I AM THE KING OF GLORY. Open the doors and I WILL come in. My Poppa knows me so well. What’s more, He knows the days events and prepares me before they occur. I received an email right after watching the clouds that broke my heart. You can’t fix this daughter. I am the King of glory, you must give it to me.

A person has to look inside and see change is necessary, you can’t do that for them. Walking away doesn’t mean you love them any less, it is loving yourself enough not to be destroyed with them. Many times the best place to leave it is with God. He is the only one that can change hearts and transform lives. I know, He did it to mine. I looked back up and there was a break in the clouds that gave way to beautiful blue in the sky. God is the King of glory. I’ll keep praying and trust Him to do the rest. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” ~ Psalm 24:7-10

The Lord always sends a life preserver when we need it. For day 23, I am so thankful for Mountain Life and the family I have found there. When I found them on Facebook it was truly by the grace of God. I sent Pastor Manny a message, he had me call his wife Pastor Cheryl and that was it. She found me a ride to church that Sunday from Craig and Kathleen and I continued there until I moved. The days before that, I would lay in the floor and just cry out to a God. My heart was crushed, my life was in pieces. I knew God was the only one to fix it, but I didn’t even know where to start. I don’t think anyone ever believes they will fall prey to abuse of any kind. I was disappointed in myself, embarrassed that I had allowed it to happen, there were times I begged God to just take me from this world. I felt nothing but love from the moment I entered those church doors. I will be forever grateful for the love and guidance I found there. I went from having no one in Colorado to having an entire church family, one I will cherish forever. #11.23.18

Ahhhh, those Cripple Creek Donkeys. I am so thankful for each of them. God used them to heal my heart. I can’t even tell you how many times I looked up from a bad day to see a herd coming to greet me. They were my friends when I had no one but April. Trapped in a relationship with a narcissistic man is one if the worse places to be. Who do you turn to? You can’t tell your family, you’ve shut almost everyone else out. But God. He sends a herd of donkeys that listen and brays back. Ha! Only God can do that. Day 24, I am so thankful for those donkeys. #11.24.18

Today, day 25, I am thankful for the transforming power of the Holy Ghost. As I posted earlier, I’m not the same woman I was this time last year. I still struggle with many things and my Poppa knows this. All day I have been surrounded with doves, a symbol of the Holy Spirit. It’s His reminder to me that I’m not alone, I’m not doing this alone, and everything He has promised me will come to pass. What a loving Father. He knows me so well, He sends flocks of doves to reassure His daughter His Word will come to pass. I just have to allow that life changing power to keep working through me. #11.25.18 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“You’ve changed, your not the same person I met in the beginning.” Those words stung for a moment and then I began to think on them and pray about them. I was reminded of this conversation when I saw a Facebook post this morning that said, “I’m not the same soul I once was. A lot has changed. A lot had to change. So you shouldn’t expect out of me what I embodied in the past. For that part of me no longer exists.” I’ve continued to change drastically over the last year. Back then, I was a shell of a person who was barely existing. I was completely broken and the Lord continues to heal me every day. I was also reminded while writing this of a Word spoken over me, I had seen it in a vision and a sister was given it in prayer, of my mind being unraveled like a cord or rope. The Lord is freeing me, untwisting and undoing the years of emotional abuse. No, I’m not the same person I was.

Patience. The Lord has His hands full here, but more than anything I think I have a lack patience with myself. I want that “rope” in my mind to be instantly unraveled. The tears to just go away, the hurt to just seemingly be a lifetime away, and the damage from the kinks that were bound so tight to be instantly smooth. Those kinks and those knots took years to form and God is using the unraveling, the smoothing to strengthen me and encourage others. The crevices from the kinks and knots are deep and old mindsets try to resurface. For awhile, I tried to dull the pain with medication and even marijuana. I tried to rely on people and unhealthy relationships. All of those things merely prolonged the process, added kinks, tightening knots. The change had to come from within me through the power of the Holy Ghost. There is no way I could remain the same. No, I’m not the same person I was.

Grace and mercy. My Father, my sweet loving Father. He continued to pour His grace and mercy over me. He had His hand over me and He wasn’t letting go. He continued unraveling that rope, pressing out those kinks. I’m refining you daughter, moving you into where you need to be to take the position of your destiny for My Kingdom. Unraveling, pressing… unraveling pressing… unraveling pressing. No matter what I do, where my mind “tries” to take me, my Poppa keeps at it. The Holy Ghost sticks to me. By the time it’s over, the rope will be unraveled, beautiful flowing knot and kink free. Shining with my testimony, gleaming with the grace of God that carried me through. I am a work in progress. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my past, but God already knew I was going to make each one. He already had it in His plan to use them in my work for Him. No, I’m not the person I was. I am finally becoming the woman of God He created me to be. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I had to share a visit from my downy woodpecker. She came right after I posted my last blog. She is so little and so cute. Clinging right to the feeder. It’s a windy, rainy day on the mountain, filled with peace. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

My Poppa was giving me the reassurance that just as I feed His birds for Him, He is taking care of my every need. The winds are pretty high up here today and I got to noticing a woodpecker clinging to the tree pecking away, up from him was his mate doing the same. They weren’t moved by the wind and they weren’t alone. They were together. God used these woodpeckers to speak to me on a couple of different levels, but I wanted to share one with you. When we cling to God NOTHING can move us. The winds of life can’t shake us and troubling storms can’t move us. The winds simply shift our atmosphere while the rains cleanse our souls. Whatever you are going through, cling to Jesus. Your spiritual muscles are growing through these winds. The tighter you hold, the closer you draw to God. That’s the safest place to be in the winds of life. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name.” Deuteronomy 10:20

Today has been a day filled with much needed quietness. Peace broken only by April’s barking. The Lord has been dealing with me on fear so I spent much of the day reflecting on this and studying Scriptures about it. As night set in, the enemy took to his normal tactics. He was quick to remind me, you are doing this all alone now. You have no one to depend on, no one to turn to, no one to even vent to. I sat for awhile reading through Facebook, the TV on but not really watching it. Finally, my Poppa said shut it all down and draw into me.

It is so easy to believe the devils lies in these moments. In the natural eye, I am doing it all alone. But that sweet Holy Ghost, resides within me and I’m not alone. My Father is the King of Kings and has more than enough to meet my every need. The devil is the father of lies. My Father, is the giver of life and he doesn’t want me to just survive, but to be a living testimony for Him. Jesus died to give me life and give it more abundantly. There is no way I’m letting the enemy steal, kill, and destroy what Jesus died to give me and make no mistake about it, that is his intent. “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” ~ John 10:10

Alone, in my peaceful little have, I smile through the tears. By now anyone who follows me must know I’m a certified crybaby. It’s the heart God gave me. I have come such a long way in the last year and I still have so far to go. This evening I find hope in Isaiah 58:11, “And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” My Poppa is “watering” me as I go. Those places in my mind that were overwhelmed with weeds of emotional abuse choking the life out of me are being pulled out by the roots and the Holy Ghost is filling that space with His Word, His seeds, everything of Him. I’m pressing on through Him, in Him. His living water is running through that “soil” and those waters will not fail.

What have you been through? What do you need healed from? What God’s done, what’s He’s doing for me… He will do for you too. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I am so thankful for my family. When my world fell out from under me a little over a year ago I was hundreds of miles away from home and everyone I knew, my mom prayed me through. #11.19.18 My Aunt Lisa had many long tear filled conversations with me that helped me refocus and get me back on track. #11.20.18 Once I knew the Lord was moving me back home, my Uncle also listened to His voice and provided a safe, peaceful haven for me to come home too. #11.21.18 My brothers have been there every step of the way, supporting me, loving me, and encouraging me. #11.22.18

It’s hard to believe it’s been over a year since God set me free from an emotionally abusive relationship. If you are in one, I encourage you to get out. Do not believe the lie that you are all alone. You didn’t do anything to deserve it. You CAN recover. You CAN take back control and rebuild your life. Through God, the damage done to your mind can be healed. I know because I thought I was alone, but God showered me with so much love. He is rebuilding my life and restoring everything the devil stole. You deserve better, don’t settle for anything less. I’m so happy I didn’t. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

God never disappoints! My morning reading led me to one of my favorite passages and I was so encouraged as I read it that I had to share it with you this morning. “8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” ~ Psalm 24:8-10 Verse 8 asks “Who is this King of glory? Then answers, “The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” Verse 9 goes on to give instruction WITH a promise, “LIFT UP YOUR HEADS, o ye gates, even lift them up, ye everlasting doors, and the KING OF GLORY SHALL COME IN.” You have to get excited about that. Verse 10 then reaffirms, “Who is the King of glory? The Lord of host, he is the King of glory. Selah.”

The battle you are facing may look impossible, but you have the King of glory on your side. Lift up your head! Be encouraged, the battle is not yours but God’s and it’s already won. Don’t approach it from a posture of defeat. Believe in The God of impossibilities, the miracle working God. What He did for the Old Testament saints He can still do for you today. Put your trust in Him. Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty and He’s ready to show up and show out for you today! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

The devil doesn’t play and 1 Peter 5 tells us he seeks to devour us. One definition I read said to consume someone or something destructively. We are that someone, our faith is that something! 1 Peter 5:8-9 cautions us, “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” This is a warning to be taken seriously. The devil knows his time is limited and he is set on dragging as many souls as he can to hell with him. He’d like nothing more to take you and if he can’t, he’ll do the next best thing. He will try to destroy your testimony and force you to live in a place of defeat, but I’ve got good news for you. He is the father of lies and he doesn’t have that power. Jesus already defeated him on the cross, you’ve already been forgiven and it’s time to rise up and take your place as the son or daughter God has called you to be. I don’t care where you’ve been, what matters is where you are going. Don’t allow him to control you from a place of defeat. Be vigilant, recognize his tactics and shove him back out the door. You should start to feel a righteous indignation rise up from these attacks and fight back. Start speaking life over your situation, stand firm on your faith and the Word of God. He may seek to devour us, but we are going to grow stronger with each attack just as the great men and women of the Bible did. Someone is watching you and the attacks your are encountering. Those faith building encounters may be what draws them to Jesus. Keep pressing my friends, keep pressing. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

There are many battles we must face in this life, but when you walk with Jesus not one of them is alone. Psalm 18:19 tells us, “For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me.” That is not a strength that comes from within ourselves, it is a God given strength for the battle you are facing. I don’t know what or who your Goliath is, but I do know they are subdued under you because God tells us so in His Word. His Word is the same yesterday, today, and forever. What He did for one He will do for you. God has you through whatever battle you are facing. It doesn’t matter the size or number of the enemy, your Father has you. Stand on His Word, speak it, trust in it. Go forward knowing the battle is yours and give God the praise. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I clocked out of work early on Friday not feeling well, not something I do very often. I still didn’t feel well Saturday morning as I prayed. I as the Lord to bless my day and looked up to two does looking back at me. My heart smiled, thank You Poppa. The momma stomped her foot at me and I was certain she’d run, but my Poppa had given me grace in her eyes and they stayed. It was the most amazing thing for me to watch and was even more special that I had just prayed and my Poppa responded in such a tender way. He truly delights in giving us those things that make us happy. That morning encounter blessed my whole day. I am so thankful to serve a God that hears our prayers. #11.17.18

During my quiet time with God this morning, there was an incredible peace and awesome reverence for Him. I was in awe as I watched the fog rise up and the sun move in. Word can’t even express the peace and beauty of the moment. What an awesome God we serve, I am so thankful for the great I Am. #11.18.18 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.” ~ Exodus 3:14

I’ve been meditating on Romans 8:1 the last couple of days, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” This verse is a weapon in spiritual warfare that I think some people miss or overlook. The devil likes to attack our minds and he likes to remind of us of who we were before we came to Christ. What’s more, he likes to remind us of the mistakes we’ve made since coming to Christ. This might come as a surprise to some who sit a little higher than others, but Jesus knew we weren’t perfect when He gave His life for ours and God knew and knows every sin we would make before we made the decision to make it. The price Jesus paid on the cross gave a cleansing blood that sets free. It’s not a free pass to sin, but it cleanses a person who is convicted from sin. The devil wants you to live in the mental space of that sin and a no forgiveness mentality because he is facing a life sentence. Don’t buy into it. If you’ve taken it to Your Father, the blood cleanses and forgives. It is time to learn from it and move on. The next time the devil tries to remind you of your past, remind him of who you are in Christ and repeat Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I’m certain I saw the glory of The Lord descending over our mountain this morning. I was in complete awe as I saw the fog arising and spreading through the atmosphere. There was a quietness as if nature too was in awe of His Majesty. “Oh Poppa!” I exclaimed with tear filled eyes. These protecting your peace moments set the tone for the entire day. I wanted to share some pictures from this morning, I hope was able to capture the serenity God provided in that time with Him. I can’t encourage you enough to take a little time with Him each day and watch the peace in your life magnify. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Almost a year ago The Lord told me my “circle” would get small, really small. On a superficial level this was no surprise. When the emotionally abusive relationship I was in ended all of my ties were cut with “his” friends. It didn’t take long to learn they weren’t my friends. However, as I grew closer to The Lord and I changed I noticed my circle was indeed shrinking. I began to hear, “You’ve changed.” I even had “family” delete me from Facebook. “Friends” who had supported me started dropping off, “unliking” my page. Some didn’t like my change, others didn’t think I was making the change fast enough, still others thought I was still making too many mistakes during the change (because, I still have this human side to me). “Poppa, I don’t understand what I did to them personally. It hurts my feelings to the core of my heart. Why could they not just support me?” What I heard was, how did they treat Jesus? He was truly innocent and yet hated. The more He did, the more He was despised. How humbling. Yes, I have changed. I am not the same shell of an emotionally abused woman I was a year ago. I am my Father’s daughter and I am walking into all He has created me to be. For day 15, I am thankful my circle is small because it is true and customized by God. The Holy Spirit moves in those meant to be part of my destiny and He causes anyone that will hinder it to exit it. #11.15.18

I am so thankful for a God that is ALWAYS true and faithful in a cold world filled with betrayal and hypocrisy. I see it everywhere I look. It is another reason I am thankful for my small circle above. As each day passes, I learn more and more we can be acquainted with a lot of people, but those same people are quick to talk behind your back or not catch you when you fall (or worse kick you while you are down). But praise The Lord HE IS EVER TRUE AND FAITHFUL. We can go to Him with anything and He listens, He responds, He cares, He is a Father, and He is a friend. He will never hurt us and never betray us. He always picks us up when we fall. I’m just so thankful on day 16 that the world may be cold, but our Father never will be. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.16.18

Yesterday me and my Uncle had an interesting conversation about the devil fleeing. We know James 4:7 tells us “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” So why does it sometimes feel like minutes later he is right back at you, God’s Word doesn’t lie. What is happening here? He offered a perspective I had not considered. The devil sits from afar throwing his darts telling you he has never left, telling you that you have no authority to make him leave. He is the father of lies. Fire his darts right back and tell him the Lord stands in front of you as protection. You are a child of the most high God and with the authority of the blood of Jesus he has to and has fled. Stand firm on God’s Word and who you are in Christ. Once he’s fled from that battle don’t let him convince you he’s still there. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. RESIST the devil, and he WILL flee from you.” 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

The battle is not ours, but it’s real! I want to give you some verses over the next couple of days to help equip you against spiritual warfare. I got up this morning so angry with the devil I re-anointed my whole home oil, every window and door. I dealt with a skunk earlier in the week and now I’m dealing with a dead “something” (mouse maybe) today. I just felt like the enemy was trying to take the comfort from my home and I’m not having it. It may seem like silly attacks, but ahhhh he is attacking my peace and he knows it. So I want to share these verses with you too. Today’s it is from Luke 10:19, “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” Pray it out loud and claim it in Jesus name. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

It’s taken me a long time to get to Days 13 and 14. I think it’s human nature to want to hurt someone that’s hurt you. For day 13 I’m thankful to have the weight of vengeance lifted. I don’t want someone to suffer like I’ve suffered. The Bible says in Romans 12:19, “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” Yowsers! That makes me pray for them even more. I’m The Kings daughter, I would not wish that wrath on anyone. Think about it, what would you do if someone hurt your child? Now read that verse again and imagine that being you and God is avenging the wrong against you. Woe to the person who comes against a Kings kid.

Day 14 goes hand in hand with it. You must forgive as you have been forgiven. Ephesians 4:32 says, “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” Just as you should not seek vengeance, you should forgive and let it go. Holding onto it really hurts you more anyways and if Jesus died on a cross to forgive everyone of us the least we can we can offer is forgiveness. I don’t have to walk back into that same situation that hurt me, but I can forgive the person. I can even pray for them and then let it go. Seeking vengeance and holding on to something that needs to be forgiving causes a wound in you and it’s not worth it. Let your Heavenly Father heal those sores and you will be a happier person. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.13.18 #11.14.18

Yesterday morning my Poppa had me reading in 1 Kings 19 where He reminded me He often speaks in the stillness. Sometimes we get so caught up in life we don’t hear His voice. We rush from one thing to another, one problem to the next. One of the devils biggest weapons against us is time. There’s just never enough, I say this over and over. I also tell myself I’m too busy to take my scheduled breaks. God recently spoke to my heart and told me to give those break times to Him and He’d make my work time more productive. What you say? Getting quiet with God is a necessity that the enemy wants you to think you don’t have time for. He will calm the troubled waters, unravel the chaos, and bring peace to the storm if you just quiet yourself to hear His voice. Once again, I look up and there were my doves, His Spirit all around me. I’m listening Poppa. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” 1 Kins 19:11-12

There are many things I don’t understand and one of them is the gift God has given me to smell sickness or death. Many times I have questioned as to whether it is a “gift” and it’s certainly not something I would have ever prayer for. I’ve had many conversations with my Poppa over the years about this gift and why I have it and what I’m supposed to do with it. Intercession. Standing in the gap, when more times than not, I don’t even know whom it’s for. At times the smell is so overwhelming, I become physically sick and yet on day 12 I am thankful my Father trusted me with this gift. I’m only now realizing the importance of that intercession and urgency that comes with it. It is my prayer I become stronger in acting on it and how to pray when it occurs. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.12.18

I looked up from my morning prayer and it looked like the sky was on fire. I’m listening daughter and I’m in control. I don’t know what you are facing today, but this is your reminder that God is already there! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Freedom has a price. Many men and women have paid that price with their lives. Others are still paying that price by enduring complications that will never go away. Yet others are still sacrificing time from their families and risking their lives to ensure we stay safe and maintain the freedoms that we just assume will always be there. No, freedom isn’t free and I’m thankful for those who have served, those who are serving, and those who will step up to serve. You are our true hero’s of this nation. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.11.18

What about those prayers God doesn’t answer? Our Father is all knowing, He sees things in the unseen realm that we can’t see, He answers with our best interest in mind. Sometimes we ask selfishly. Others we ask from our heart, but it’s still not what’s best for us OR it’s not in line with God’s will. Looking back, I’m so thankful for many of the prayers He didn’t answer. He saved me from myself. On day 10, I am thankful for those prayers that God didn’t answer. He could have given me my hearts desire, but chose to protect me. There were other times He allowed me to be broken and grow from my bad decisions so I know a “no” was truly for my protection. Don’t see a no as a bad thing, it could be just a delay or it could be your Father looking out for His child with that no. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.10.18

“14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” ~ 1 John 5:14-15

Today after work I was blessed to watch 5 deer, 2 were still so very young. I could feel the stress of the week melt away as I watched them enjoy the corn my Uncle had set out for them. I am so thankful for these peaceful moments in a world full of chaos. It’s comforting to know we can find that peace by turning to our Heavenly Father anytime we feel overwhelmed. My Uncle had been watching these 5 all afternoon and had called me to come over after work to see them. I have no doubt my Poppa kept them there long enough to give me a special blessing tonight and my thankful picture for day 9. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.9.18

“The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” ~ Psalm 29:11

Momma ❤️

I woke to a beautiful golden glow this morning. Harsh winds had brought down a lot of the leaves and I had already started speaking to The Lord about this heart of mine and the kind of people it seems to draw to me. I smile now, He is God and gave me this heart so of course He gave it to me with a purpose and knows very well what kind of people I draw. At the end of our conversation the beautiful glow lifted and it began to rain, a cleansing rain. My friends, I just wanted to remind you God is listening. Go to Him with whatever is on your mind, your heart. Sure, He’s God and He already knows but He wants to hear it from you. He longs for that one on one relationship with His children. Have you talked with Him today? He’s waiting. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I am the kind of person that hates change, yet I am thankful for it because it forces me outside of my comfort zone allowing me to grow. I don’t want to become complacent in my life leading to a stagnant place that leaves me unsatisfied or unsettled. I want to constantly be learning and growing. This last year has been loaded with changes on just about every level of my life. I just may be ready for some level of normalcy, but never again do I want to fear change so much that I stay in something that is hurting me. Never again do I want to be complacent. I welcome change and I open the door to the growth it offers. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal 11.8.18

I overslept this morning. I failed You Poppa (not getting up as early as I should have for our prayer and study time). I came in and was watching the beautiful sky and as my doves showed up “Your Love Never Fails” began to play. There was one dove perched in the “Y’ of a tree facing me. “Is that a dove Poppa” I said as I tried to focus closer, “it is!” *** Smiles *** A reminder that even when I fail, He never does. The Holy Spirit is still right there watching over me. Friends, it is a reminder for you too. I continued to watch a dove land on a limb. It appeared feeble, the limb wavered and looked as if it could break. The dove however didn’t even move. It stayed rooted where it had landed. Some time later it flew off and that limb bobbed up and down as his weight released. God said stay rooted in me and do not be moved by the cares OR the things of this world. I will never leave or forsake you. He continued to speak to my heart and when I looked up the dove had moved to a branch closet to my window. I continued to write and looked back up to find three doves were on that same branch (The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost). I’m listening Poppa, I’m listening. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:6

I am thankful that God is always watching over me. Today was a little rough and when I went to the window I saw doves (a symbol of the Holy Spirit) descending from everywhere. They were settling on the branches of the trees, the ground, all looking towards me. It was as if they were watching over me. The precious Holy Spirit was surrounding me in perfect peace. It was one of the many awesome things I’ve experienced here. Friends, you don’t have to go through anything alone. God equips you with the Holy Spirit to weather the storms of life with you. The rains, the winds, the snow, the hails of life… you can have perfect peace through it all when your mind stays on Him. I started to forget that today, but God sent a flock of doves to remind me His Sweet Spirit is right here and He’s in control. He’s there with you too! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.7.18

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” ~ Isaiah 26:3

Sweet Holy Spirit breath on us today. It’s a beautiful morning here on the mountain and I just wanted to take a moment to remind you of how special you are and that you are loved. It doesn’t matter what you are facing in the day ahead, you are not facing it alone. The devil would sure like for you to think you are, but your not. Jesus is there ready to meet you at the point of your need, all you have to do is ask. I started my day praying for you and commissioning angels to stand watch around you. This is your reminder: you are loved, you are precious, you are a one of a kind God original, and He created you with purpose. Spend a little time drawing closer to Him today. Jesus loves you and so do I. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I am thankful for my fur baby, April. God knows what we need before we even realize it. He knew I was going to have to have a life changing surgery, he knew I was going to move to Colorado and be abandoned by the one person I trusted more than anyone else, and He knew just how much I was going to need April in my recovery of it all. It wasn’t just the abandonment, it was the emotional abuse that tore me down and left a shell of who I used to be. God could not have blessed me with a more loving dog or a dog with a personality so much like mine! He handpicked us for each other and she has been a special part of my recovery process. I thank God everyday for bringing us together. A dog you say? Friends, God can use anyone or anything in your recovery. Lean into Him and trust Him through the process. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.06.18

“5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” ~ Proverbs 3:5-6

I am thankful for that precious peace that surpasses all understanding. It doesn’t matter what is raging on the outside I can have peace on the inside. The flesh in me has not mastered this in all situations. I put a lot of pressure on myself and I find the Holy Spirit quickening me to stop and take a moment to pray when I get overwhelmed and turn it over to Him. When I do that, His awesome peace washes over me. I don’t have to do it alone and neither do you. When things get too difficult to handle give it to your Father. Our shoulders weren’t made to carry it all, but His… His can handle it all and more. He already has it worked out anyways, He’s just waiting for us to come to Him. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.5.18

“And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:7

I am thankful for the valleys. Without them, I would not have known the value of the climb to the top. It took climbing out of those valleys to know my strength. God has used each of them to teach me, solidify me in His Word, and draw me closer to Him. The view from the mountain top is beautiful, but it took a climb from the valley to truly appreciate it. There will be more valleys, that’s where we grow. I’m okay with that. I’ll savor the view from the mountaintop every chance I get. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.04.18

One of my favorite things about living on this mountain is protecting my peace early in morning while the fog is still rising from the valley up through the mountains. The precious time with my Poppa sets the tone for my day. No matter what happens throughout it, there is a peace that I can draw back on from these quiets moments. This morning I could see the fog moving through the woods consuming everything it touched. As I write this, I am reminded of my prayer in those early hours for the Holy Ghost to fill my atmosphere with His presence. Just as God causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth (Psalm 135:7), He shows up in our midst when we call on His name. Ours prayers rise like vapors and fills our hearts, minds, even our very atmosphere like the fog that was consuming our mountain this morning. How awesome is that?! If you don’t take a little protecting your peace time out of your day, you should try it. A little peace goes a long way with the things that we face in these days. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.” ~ Psalm 135:7

I am thankful that The Lord moved me back home to West Virginia after 14 long years. I’ve been blessed to live in New York, Florida, Louisiana, Colorado, and now back home to West Virginia. There have been many times I have strayed from God, but He never left me. He never gave up on me, He never stopped calling me, and never stopped drawing me to Him. I needed to learn and someone else may need to know, when you have a calling on your life you can’t outrun God. This time He grabbed hold and said it takes complete surrender. This time there is no turning back and no running. This time you will walk right into your destiny with Me. Complete surrender, I’m all in. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.03.18

“11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:

12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.

16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.

17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,

19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.

20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.

21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.

22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:

24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.

26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.

27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.

29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:

30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.

31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.

32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”

~ Luke 15:11-32

I am thankful for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.02.18

I am thankful for cleansing blood of Jesus that has set me free. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #11.01.18

I’m watching the leaves blow in the wind as the sun rises on our beautiful WV mountain. It’s such a peaceful thing to spend time with my Poppa first thing in the morning, He keeps reminding me to just be still. I tend to want to control of every little detail of my life and I don’t have to because The One who made world controls it all. I don’t know what you are facing today, but when it starts to get out of control and when you start to feel you can’t handle anymore… I want to encourage you to take just a moment to be still and give it to the one who already knows. I promise He can do more with it than we can anyway. I hope this encourages your day. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

‘Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.” ~ Psalm 46:10

It’s taken me years to know my worth and I didn’t realize until this evening that sometimes I try to overcompensate in certain areas. I strive to do better, be better, achieve more… I sit here reflecting on those things this evening and not one of them have a thing to do with my worth. My worth is rooted in who I am in Christ. He knew me before He formed me in my mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5) and God already had a plan for my life (Jeremiah 29:11). He not only had a plan for my life, but a calling on it. He goes before me and makes my path straight (Isaiah 45:2; Deuteronomy 31:8) I believe and I know He will perform all that He has promised me, “And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. (Luke 1:45)”

What is your worth tied up in? It doesn’t matter who you please or don’t please. It doesn’t matter who acknowledges you or doesn’t. Look at that person in the mirror, God created YOU with a purpose and it wasn’t to please other people. Find that purpose in Him. How awesome will it be to someday hear our Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant…” God is so good. Even through the more painful things in life He reminds us He is God. Daughter, know your worth. *** Smiles *** If no one has reminded you today, you are sons and daughters of Christ. That makes us royalty. I just wanted to remind you of who you are in Christ! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal #knowyourworth

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” ~ Jeremiah 1:5

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

“I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:” ~ Isaiah 45:2

“And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.” ~ Deuteronomy 31:8

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” ~ Matthew 25:21

God reminded me this morning that NOTHING is too hard for Him in Jeremiah 32:27, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” I wanted to pass that reminder along to you. Sometimes life starts to get busy and overwhelming and we lose sight of this. That’s one of the enemy’s biggest tricks in trying to defeat us. But it doesn’t matter how big, how hard what we are up against us because our God is bigger. Hold on to that today my friends. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

It’s a little dreary here today, kind of fitting for a Monday morning. As I began writing this I could here my Poppa saying, why are thy downtrodden my daughter? *** smiles *** He knows me all too well. I love our morning time together. This morning after prayer I continued to read in Jeremiah. As I started off I said to myself, “I could really use some encouraging words today Poppa.” Ahhhh, He NEVER disappoints! “11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13. My friends, all we have to do is call upon Him and He listens! Seek Him and He’s there! He’s already with us, He wants us to call upon Him!!!! How awesome is that. I found that to be an awesome and comforting reminder this morning, I pray you did too. Have a great and blessed day. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I’ve been spending a lot of quiet time with my Poppa lately. Someone recently told me, “You don’t call Him that.” It bothered me for a long time, causing me to question if perhaps I was wrong. I wasn’t wrong. I’m very thankful for the relationship I have with my Heavenly Father and the closeness we share. Some of the same people that have tried to cause questions like that or similar ones, are the same ones that have my number on speed dial for a call or text when it comes to a prayer request. Why is that? They must believe that on some level God hears and honors my prayers. If only they understood they could have that relationship with God too.

God is teaching and revealing so much to me during my morning time in His presence. There has to be a thirst for that knowledge that most don’t have. That makes me sad, why wouldn’t you want more of the One that gave His life for yours. I want to be like a sponge that continues to absorb, soaking up every bit of wisdom, knowledge, anything, and everything the Lord has for me. People say, “You’ve changed.” I hope so. I’m not perfect, but I am forgiven. I’m focused on my “Poppa’s” business. I’m centered on my destiny at hand. Higher in Him means a decrease in me and the things of the world. I’m okay with that. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

It’s a crisp beautiful morning here on our little mountain. The sun is shining in so brightly here. When I took the pictures and then looked at them I was just amazed at the beauty and presence of God. I know today will be okay because He’s already with me and, child of God, He’s with you too. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Powerful prayer time this morning as my Poppa reminded me I am His daughter and He is my God. As my “circle” gets smaller He reminded me Jesus was betrayed, beaten, and hung on a cross all so that I could live and be His child.

Perhaps someone else needed this reminder this morning too. It doesn’t matter who exits your life, there is one who never leaves. Some people just weren’t meant to stay. Jesus is the one who will love you like no other. Have a blessed day. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10

I’ve been reading “Let Us Pray” by Watchman Née. I have been on the last 35 pages for 2 days. Last night, I could not hold my eyes open. Earlier today I tried to read it on my break and my phone rang constantly and things kept popping up distracting me on my iPad. This evening I think my phone has rang more than it has since I got it connected. I have no doubt the devil did not want me finishing that book since the ending was all about praying against him. Even as I write this, I am fighting almost everything I type, I am reminded our fight is not with this world or the people in it, it is with the enemy. Although the he does a really good job at wearing us down and pitting us against each other. He even sets Christians against one another and family members on opposite sides. He’s really good at being the puppeteer and pulling those strings. I bet some people don’t even understand the decisions they’ve made, they don’t even realize the devil is in control. If you get a chance read this book by Watchman Née. I have learned a lot and I’m excited to watch my prayer life grow and the enemy tremble! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12

Today I posted my 50th blog on my new forum. I just wanted to take a minute to thank those who are following me and reading my blog. I remember when I started on FB with one person, that was scary enough. When the Lord started moving me out onto WordPress I was terrified, but fear is it of God so I stepped out on faith and did it anyways. I said Poppa I don’t know who will read it or how it will grow, but it’s in Your hands. You will draw who You want, You will bring and encourage who You want. To His glory, I’ve placed it in His hands and I’ve watched it touch people in ways I had never imagined. I am blessed by each and every person that has read, liked, shared, followed, and even those that have unfollowed my writings. We are not alone on this journey of life, we are here to encourage and lift each other up. There is a lesson even from those I lose along the way. I pray you are encouraged as I share my journey. It’s been far from perfect, full of twist and covered by the grace of God. Thank you again for being a part of my journey. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” Psalm 28:7

I woke to a cleansing rain falling. It was more representative to the work The Lord was doing on the inside of me than outside of my home, funny how God works that way. Some of the things I’ve been through make it very hard to trust my “inner” voice. Earlier in the week I heard The Lord tell me someone close to me was manipulative when it came to my emotions. I had felt this for a long time, but feared I wasn’t seeing it clearly. “Lord, if this is you I really need confirmation.” I continued to get ready for work and then went in and began to watch a single dove. It was the first day that it was really cold here. She was on a tree limb, all alone and her feathers were ruffled to keep warm. I studied her for the longest time. As I watched her, all alone on the bare tree (exposed to the wind and cold) The Lord brought to my memory a Scripture in Matthew. “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves,” Matthew 10:16. I sent my sister, Jennifer, a message and The Lord quickened the same verse to her. There was my confirmation.

Later in the day, I was sharing this encounter with my manager and as I did, I realized I had been seeing this lone dove for a couple of weeks. My Uncle had been telling me it was odd because there were always more. They usually had a mate and traveled more in flocks. His deck would be full when he feeds them in the winter. Yet, all I had been seeing was my lone dove. The very next day after The Lord revealed this to me, I got up and there were three. By the afternoon, I had a tree full. He had showed me what I needed to see. Now, He was showing me I was not alone.

His lesson with the doves continued. He reminded of something He had already taught me. I had learned that doves only focus on one object at a time because of the narrow shape of their head, giving them singular focus. http://www.marklake.org/eyes-of-a-dove/ I want my focus at this point in my life to be fully on God and where He wants me to be. Any distractions pull me away from the destiny He has for me. Once God started opening up these things to me, the enemy started attacking. If he was scared enough to send a “legion” to try to pull me down I’m on the right track. *** smiles *** One final thought, doves also represent the Holy Spirit in Scripture. This is perhaps the best part, yesterday He began to fill my trees with doves. He was reminding me, I’m filled, surrounded, protected by His presence. Every time I see a dove I am reminded of His sweet Holy Spirit. That is worth a praise shout! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:” Matthew 3:16

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 It has rained here most of the day. I lost power several times, the first couple were during work. The power went off for mere seconds, but sheer panic swallowed me. I lost connection with my main work office, I grabbed my cell phone and had no signal. I have not yet bought a phone you plug in so my cordless was useless. I felt helpless. I was on this mountain just miles from people, but I felt hundreds of miles from the world. I was reconnected within minutes, but it was long enough to spawn a migraine and fear that gripped out of nowhere. I had a mountain of work and every second counted. Peace daughter, peace be still…

After it came back up, I called one of our wonder IT guys and came up with a game plan for reconnecting in the future when it happens (because of course it didn’t come up as fast as I wanted) and I’ll go buy a phone to plug in this weekend (something my mom had already told me to do), but this whole power outage was more of an exercise in faith (that I did not do to well in). After work, the lesson continued when a friend “reminded” me to lean into my faith and Scriptures and stop working so hard and stressing. I stood outside for a long time and watched the clouds. I came in and kept hearing peace be still. I fell asleep with April in the chair watching the trees sway in the wind and the leaves fall (one of my favorite pastimes these days).

When I woke, I looked through the pictures of the clouds. A storm was trying to blow in. There was peace in the storm, a beauty in the midst of it. Even a light shining through it. We are not alone in the storm. The enemy likes us to think we are, but we aren’t. In Mark 4 the disciples thought there were going to perish “37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. 38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? 39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” That was me today. #realtalk

“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26 He brought that Scripture to my remembrance today, I find that awesome. He cares so much about us that He reminds us of His Word and His promises to us. How awesome is that?! Continue to help us Father God to claim that power of the Holy Ghost and bring to our remembrance the things You’ve taught and are teaching us. Help us to keep our minds, our hearts, our eyes fixed on You. In Jesus precious name we pray Amen. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” ~ Isaiah 26:3

I sat and watched the rain quietly fall in unison with the leaves this evening, the wind seemed to be carrying them both gently through the air. I listened to the birds sing their chorus while my wind chimes carried their own melody through the breeze. I still had the nightmare on my mind from earlier in the week, so much weighing heavy on my heart. Poppa, are some people just evil? Do I try so hard for nothing? You already know the answer you seek. It doesn’t really matter anyways because what you do, you do for Me. If not one thing comes from it on this earth, do not be discouraged, do not be disheartened; the things of this world aren’t what you seek after anyways. Your true reward is in heaven. I see everything, the just and unjust. Nothing goes unseen. Just rewards will always be given in due time, in due season.

The leaves peacefully falling, the rain seemingly cleaning the atmosphere. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 42:11 The birds chirping away. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 43:5

Daughter, less of you and more of Me. “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30 Praise Me daughter, rise up, draw to Me. I didn’t say it would be easy. It’s time to pull away from the world and retreat unto Me. I’m grinding, refining, molding, smoothing, moving you into position… all for such a time as this. Will you listen as Esther did or will run and cower in fear? “For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Esther 4:14

I don’t know exactly what God has in store for my “such a time as this” but I’m not about to “cower.” No, I fully want whatever He has for me. So, I’m drawing closer to Him. I’m excited to see what He has in store for me. Any fear in me has to go. The devil is a liar and the power within me is greater than any lie He tries to put in my head. I’m excited for this new path I’m on, it’s leading right into my destiny. Thank you so much for taking this path with me. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

There is a lot weighing on my mind and while my knee is painful and nauseating (from a fall last night), it is the least of them. Some blogging time is coming (get ready). It has been a little over a year ago this month that God rescued me from an emotionally abusive relationship. The scars left are deeper than physical ones, but I’ve learned my worth over the last year. Manipulation and control aren’t weapons that can be used against me anymore. I’ve grown in my relationship with The Lord and The Holy Spirit quickens me when something is wrong. No, I’m stronger now. I have a long ways to go, but when I look at the absolute broken place I had come from… I have no doubt that Jesus Himself pulled me up from a place of complete despair and started piecing His daughter back together again. I won’t go back to that place again! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.” 1 John 3:13 I was mediating on that verse this morning. There are many times on this walk that people are not only going to disagree with our walk, they are going to vehemently oppose you. Some are going to feel so strongly that dislike turns to hate. It’s okay. They don’t even realize it’s not you, but the light within you that they hate; so love them anyways. Jesus gave His life knowing He was hated, we can pray anyways. No one said it would be easy, but hanging on that cross was the hardest part. We can handle the dislike for His light that shines through us. For years I’ve had endured hate that I just could not understand from a person, it was the conflict in our spirits. Now it saddens me and I pray. But, I’m in good company and I marvel not. There are going to be people in the world that hate the light that shines from within me. I’ll shine anyway and pray without ceasing that my light will start to invade their darkness. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

This morning God woke me early to pray and read. You need to prepare for the day ahead, He then lead me to the book of 1 John. I began reading it and before I realized it I had finished the entire 5 chapters. Tonight, I went back through the entire book. I got to the end and found great hope in chapter 5 verse 4, “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” There is a lot to shout about in that verse and I hope it lifts you up as much as it did me. The whole book of 1 John is full of encouraging nuggets and rich with wisdom for these difficult days. I just wanted to share a glimmer of it with you. Have a blessed night my friends. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Wow, look at God. When He shows up, He does it in the most amazing ways. I have been struggling financially since my move. Increased stress in several areas of my life has lead to an increase in migraines. I’m drowning Poppa. Still I keep pressing. I keep trusting. I keep believing. He did not bring me this far to leave me. Last week He miraculously helped me close 19 accounts in 5 days to reach my goal of 25. That was God, without a doubt. Yesterday my Uncle moved my bird feeders to the backyard and I anointed them with oil. In the evening I had noticed small birds in my backyard. This morning I had the most amazing experience.

I went out to take April for her morning walk and heard what I thought was a squirrel. I said, “Good morning squirrel, I can’t see you but I hear you.” I went on to say, “Good morning birds. I will be feeding you this winter.” Then I began to pray, I continued to pray in my prayer language. As I prayed in the Spirit, birds began to come out in the trees from everywhere. All sizes and kinds. They flew up high from one tree to another and chirped away. It was the most awesome thing I have ever seen or experienced. It’s like they were praising God. I just continued to pray and talk to them, they continued to just chirp the most beautiful melody. I have no doubt that was God.

I came back in and watched the leaves peacefully fall. Those birds are going to be okay this winter and I am going to enjoy feeding and watching them. You know what else? I am going to be okay too. Is God going to allow me to provide for them while not providing for me? Of course not. Daughter, you put too much pressure on yourself. Draw into me during this season. Chase after me, not the things of the world. I will give you peace. I will give you rest. Even as I type this I am watching my precious birds chase after each other through the air. That’s the confirmation I had prayed for as I started this. Our God is so good. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?” ~ Matthew 6:6:25-27

“My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me.” Psalm 63:8

My Facebook Blog Page hit 300 likes today. I am humbled by and thankful to God first and my friends, family, and so many people I’ve never even met for taking the time to like my page. I remember when I first started it with just a few likes and so scared that it would never grow, never touch anyone’s heart, never make a difference. But God!

I pray my post here and on FB will continue to lift you on this journey of life and encourage you along the way. It is God that has brought me this far and God that sustains me. The Holy Ghost works through me, My Poppa’s light shining for the world to see as a beacon of hope in a wayward world. I’m not at all perfect, just forgiven. My path has not been straight, but full of grace. I’m here to let someone who needs it know, you are not alone. Thank you for allowing me to do that. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

This heart of mine, I say that a lot. My heart is so soft, the silliest things hurt my feelings. Everyone says, don’t take it personal. That approach doesn’t seem to work for me. My “hurt” feelings seem to reach into the very depths of my heart. This morning I realized my circle had gotten smaller. You would think one would grow used to it at this point on my journey, but it still hurt. It hurt more than it came from a sister in Christ. I heard my Poppa say, I told you your circle would be small. Not everyone can go where I am taking you. Draw into me.

I sat on my bed looking out the window, watching leaves peacefully fall. There appeared to be a gentle breeze blowing through the trees. You are never alone; I am all around you. I dwell within you my Poppa whispered. Then I saw something in the trees, I thought it was a bird at first, but it was a squirrel. He was frolicking on the branches. He appeared to be all alone, but enjoying the morning air. You need to be more like that squirrel. Stop focusing on hurt and what you don’t have. I will supply your every need. Those leaving your circle are doing so because I am moving them out and more are to come. I have placed you there for such a time as this. It is time to draw unto me as WE walk into your destiny.

Wow, that’s heavy. God blessed me with this heart of mine. He has instilled in me a love for everyone, the lost and saved. What good is it to be a light to only God’s people? No, He wants His light to shine so bright through me that the lost are drawn to Him. He wants me to encourage others through the paths I’ve taken. I may have went off path along the way (okay, I took a lot of detours), but He always draws me back. It’s those detours and His grace that gives me the fuel to tell others you can get through this. I can say His grace is sufficient for me and you because I’ve seen it on those detours. Yes, my circle is smaller this morning. Jesus’ circle got pretty small too, so I’m in the best of company. No matter how small my circle, Jesus is in the middle holding in those that should be there and sending out those that shouldn’t. That overall plan makes my heart smile even when it feels broken. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

My view this morning…

Wow, I love it when God tells me something and then confirms it. My stress level and headaches have been out of control. Yesterday He told me to “Be still and know I am God.” He went on to tell me to draw into Him this weekend. I was filled with His perfect peace for the rest of the day. This morning I woke to the Reminders from God and it said, “Seek a silence of spirit-understanding with Me then all will be calm and at peace.” Confirmation! Our God is so good, so patient. I think He is especially so with me. When I opened my eyes I was thinking, “I need to do and this and that today.” My Poppa knows His daughter. The reminder was quietly saying, Hey what did I tell you yesterday?! I’m listening Poppa, I’m listening. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Two days in a row God has called my attention to Proverbs 3:5-6, “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” It took almost everything I had to make this move home. I’ve had a migraine for the last several days. Poppa, it’s just too much. How do I climb out of this financial drought? Trust in me. Lean not unto thine OWN understanding. Where is my focus? Is it on my bank account? Is it on how much I have to do and not enough hours to do it? It’s time to shift my thinking and allow my faith in God to pull above all else. He is directing my path. That path may not be paved on an easy road, but it is etched and already recorded in God’s book. He knew what I’d think, what I’d do before I knew. He already has a plan in place, I just have walk close to Him and listen to His voice.

Listening to Pastor Swaggart this morning, he prayed against migraines. I know that specific prayer was for me. Overtime has been approved while we work with a skeleton crew due to Hurricane Florence. I’m teaching you to trust ME, lean on ME. Your help comes through Me, I am meeting your needs as they arise. I’m listening Poppa. We don’t always understand in our natural mind, but when we draw close to our Father we can understand and see things more clearly in the spiritual realm. I just wanted to share that this morning. You may be facing seemingly impossible odds, but your God is able. Draw to Him, don’t lean unto your flesh, don’t be tricked by what you think you understand. Draw to Your Father, when He is directing your path you can be assured it will all work out according to His plan. No demon in hell can stop what your Heavenly Father has for you, how comforting is that?! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Unpacking and setting up my home office, I found at least 10 journals. I think that might be a sign of a born writer. I have journals in almost every room of my home so that I’m always ready when God gives me a Word. He has planted me here to walk into my destiny so it’s time to focus on Him and His plan for my life. This means my writing is about to blow up and flood timelines. It is my prayer that through me, God will encourage, enlighten, and save people across the world. I am so excited for you to take this journey with me. 💛 😉~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

A new leg on my journey, 1,421 miles from Cripple Creek, Colorado to my new home in Mount Olive, WV. At this stage in my life, it is a move I could never have imagined making alone. Amazingly, after what I have been through in the last year, I had grown into a comfortable place and had to fight the fears of moving. In fact, I had put off scheduling my move until some recent changes forced me to set a date so that I could request the vacation time off. What am I going to do Poppa? I don’t have money for an almost 22 hour move. Where am I going to live when I get there? I’m doing this all alone. Ahhh, but my Heavenly Father! He said, you are going to set a date and trust Me. So, I did just that.

When it came time for a place to live, he opened the door to a beautiful home on Mt. Olive. How am I going to get there Poppa? What about the things I’d like to take with me, like my fireplace. He said, leave them. I am doing a new thing and you have emotions attached to those things. I called my mom and Uncle to tell them what The Lord had said and found the place I was moving in to was completely furnished. A dear friend from home offered to ride out and pick us up. Poppa, I can’t even afford the U-Haul home. A friend stepped up with his truck to come and get me and April. So, the end of August I fit everything I owned into a Chevy Silverado and came home to WV.

When I got here, I found God had blessed me with a huge yard, with beautiful trees. He provided a furnished home where the furniture seemed to be handpicked just for me. I had used my internet money (that I needed for work) just to get here and had no food, still a week from payday. My Uncle and mom stepped up and helped me get it on and provided the food and personal supplies I needed for the week. God has met each and every single need I’ve had on this new leg of my journey. Still, I am human and fear started to kick in when I got my check and started paying things. The Lord spoke clearly to me and said Be still and know I am God!

I got reverse altitude sickness when I went to moms and required a trip to the ER for IV fluids and nausea meds. I was so sick I could barely stand, but my brother got up after working a midnight shift and took me to the ER. I can’t even express how much and to what degree God has carried me through the entire last year. I didn’t know anyone a year ago when I was abandoned in Colorado and He gave me a whole church family that watched over me. Now He has transplanted me onto another mountain and positioned me to walk into my destiny. This one is Mount Olive. The symbolic significance of that name doesn’t escape me. Jesus often went to the Mount of Olives to pray. He has placed me here to draw me close to Him; He has placed me here for a time such as this. I can’t wait to see His awesome outpouring over me through this leg of my journey and I can’t wait to share it with you. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I didn’t realize how bad the depression had gotten until I cleaned my house yesterday. Goodness Poppa, how long had I been riding the waves of depression? I cleaned and cleaned, cleaning out the old to prepare for the new. The dates have been set for my move back to WV. I can’t help feeling a little like the prodigal daughter returning home. I left home in 2005, 15 years later I am returning. I am coming up to 2 years here in Colorado. Before even making my way back to God, He had told me this would be a place of healing for me. He’s still healing me, the last couple of weeks were proof of that. This morning cleansing tears are flowing as my Poppa teaches me to let go of things I thought I’d released over 7 months ago: hate, hurt, and bitterness, while He replaces them with love, healing, and His promises.

Poppa, I thought I’d already been down this road and moved past it. Now the painful words and what was done to me is bombarding my thoughts. I feel alone and I’m finding trust so very hard to do. Help me Poppa. Daughter, you can’t do this alone, but my grace is sufficient for you. Lean into me instead of running. I have paved the way before you. All you have to do is walk on it. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. Your wounds are still gapping, allow me to heal them. The bleeding has stopped, but the wound is tender and open. The pain you are feeling is a healing pain, soon itching will set in as the wounds heal and excitement for what is ahead of you will take root. I’m bringing you out of the tears and into your destiny.

I was emotionally abused for years. I am learning it is okay to allow time (and more importantly God) to heal those wounds. Years of damage takes a little time to be unraveled and that’s okay. God is using every hurt, every deception, every tear to propel me into my destiny and to allow me to use those things to encourage others! Growth is not easy, but necessary on this path. Soul wounds. God is healing mine and He can do the same for you. We all have different paths to walk and different demons to conquer, but we all have Jesus interceding at the seat of His Father on our behalf. If we look to Him and keep our eyes fixed on Him we will come out pure gold. We are being refined, processed for the shine that is to follow. That is worth a praise shout! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

What an awesome and loving Father we serve! I have been REALLY struggling with depression the last couple of weeks. So much so that a couple of the ones closet to me started to notice. Last Sunday at church the Preacher had a word for me, God wants to heal my heart. Only me and God knew the things my mind was struggling with the last couple of weeks so this was enormous for me. This morning I found a new work time off policy was forcing me to schedule my move. I was overcome with fear. As I was requesting prayer from my precious sister, I heard The Lord tell me it was Him that was forcing me to set the date because I wouldn’t do it any other way. I said, if this is Your voice give my sister the same word, show me Poppa. He not only gave it to her, but my other sister! She also had a word from The Lord that confirmed I’m on the right path, again just enormous for this lady!

God knows where you are and where you’ve been. You know what else? He knows where you are going. He knew what was in my head and my heart and after I had stepped out on faith and scheduled the move, He confirmed and reaffirm that I’m doing as He wants. He knows His daughter very well and has continued to reaffirm it the entire day. My Uncle is set to close on the place I’m moving into at the same time I’m coming home. We have a holiday around the same time I’m moving, giving me three extra days (because it falls on a Monday). The place I’m moving into is right on top of a mountain and is completely furnished all the way down to dishes and a coffee pot! My Poppa has planned every detail for this move. I’m not sure how He is going to provide the money, but I KNOW He will. I can’t wait to see how He does it!

Friends, our God truly cares about every need we have. Emotional, spiritual, physical, financial… He doesn’t leave anything out. He knew I was struggling and He met me at the point of my need. He gave me an awesome word, comforted, and reassured me. His love knows no limits. If you are struggling or have a need, take it to you Poppa, I promise He will not leave you alone. Silly devil, he thought he was breaking me but he was simply making my testimony stronger! God can use whatever you are facing to do the same thing for you! 💛~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

The hardest thing in the world for me is understanding some battles aren’t mine to fight and letting them go. Sometimes the battles people face are coming from within and I can’t fix people, they have to fix themselves. I’m still learning how to do this. I tend to just want to fix everything and make everyone happy. I’m learning how to step back and give them to God, not an easy lesson.

Some people don’t even want to get out of the mess they are in, they almost thrive by trying to pull others under. I’m like a magnet that attracts these people and my efforts to help almost always end with a knife in the back. Do I stop trying? I’ve pondered that for a long while tonight. No, I press on and pray for a discernment in these situations and that God protects my heart from those that aren’t genuine.

These people really need Jesus almost more than anyone; however, their demons aren’t mine to fight. It’s okay to walk away when it starts to hurt me emotionally or spiritually. Perhaps my seeds of kindness and God’s love will take root and God will water it. It’s okay to put it in His hands and walk away. ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

On my walk this evening, I saw a flower all by itself growing in the rocks. I feel like that flower Poppa, all alone. Look at the flower again daughter, it is thriving right where it’s planted. Poppa, I can’t do anything right, help me. Tears streaming, I began to pray “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” How many know when you call on His name He won’t leave or forsake you? “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” He met me at the point of my need and spoke directly to my heart…

Going ahead of me, lagging behind me; neither will work. Daughter, you have to walk with Me and seek Me in everything you do. You have been so hurt you’re afraid to live, trust, or love; but when you give everything to Me I go before you clearing the way. You’re not the flower standing alone because I’m with you, My Spirit lives in you. You are the flower thriving in the environment it has been planted. Your biggest mistake right now is trying to do it all alone. Stop running before Me in search of happiness. You will find it through me and our daily walk.

As for this man, he is a good man but your validation can’t come through him. I’ve made you in My image and it will take a special man to handle your heart. Allow Me to work in and through you both. You’ve been running in the wrong direction, run to Me not away. Allow Me to be the glue that binds your relationship. Give it to Me daughter, put your heart in my hands.

Wow. I don’t know what you’re going through or where your at in life, but I hear God saying slow down. Walk with Him. Talk to Him. Lean on Him. Stop running and give it all to your Father. He knew the plans He had for you before you were even formed. When things get really difficult do what I did and call on the name of Jesus. I promise He won’t leave or forsake you. He hears every prayer and catches every tear. Don’t rush ahead and don’t lag behind… walk with Him and allow Him to be your guide. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.” ~ Jeremiah 1:5

“Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?” ~ Psalm 56:8

So many family and friends are struggling right now. I want you to know God hears every tear you cry, every obstacle you are encountering and He’s got you! 💛 😩~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Big verses little, one against two, raven verses magpies… this is what I saw as I walked April this evening. I smiled as I watched the trio. The raven was clearly annoyed by the tenacious magpies who eventually won as the bigger raven finally flew away in defeat. The three were atop the Post Office roof. The raven didn’t want to give up his perch, but two against one proved to be too much. The magpies were little in comparison to his stature, the two probably made one of the bigger bird. Even though smaller, they had something the raven didn’t. Teamwork. They were almost tag teaming him. The Lord spoke to me as I watched them, two are better than one. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, “9 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? 12 And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”

You try to do everything alone, you against the world. You have Me to draw on and I’ve surrounded you with a circle to lean on. You’re shoulders weren’t meant to carry it all, no one can handle that. What is happening in the unseen will eventually come to light. Use those I’ve placed in your path. Matthew 18:19, “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.” The prayers of two people are more powerful than the magpies against the raven. Whatever mountain you are trying to conquer has to crumble when you have a strong, praying circle behind you. I’m not alone, you are not alone. Whatever you are struggling with, trust your inner circle to pray you through, and give it to a God. He will show up and show out on your behalf. Don’t think you have a circle to form that threefold cord? Send me a message and I’ll pray with you.

I couldn’t help but smile at the bird showdown. It amazes me how God speaks to us in the little things around us. Too often we miss conversations with Him because we are immersed in self. Too upset, too happy, too mad, too sick… all we have to do is silence ourselves and listen. He may speak in that still small voice, He may have someone call you, or even have someone post something that speaks directly to your situation. Are you watching and listening for your Father? Poppa remove any blinders from my eyes and unstop my voice, I want to hear from you today! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“ Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”

I was taken aback by the flowers I saw on my evening walk with April. They were growing in what appeared to be rock. I’m sure they had dug into the soil, but they were surrounded by rock. I had a long day full of upsets and hurt feelings. I was reflecting on that when the flowers came to my mind. Poppa, how do they do that? I sustain them, they grow where planted. It was a simple answer, yet packed with meaning,

These flowers grew where their seeds fell. They dug into good soil beneath the rocks and were flourishing. I didn’t see any grass over this area, yet little pretty patches of white flowers spotted the brown, rocky terrain. Then God showed me, there were no weeds to choke out their life. They had obstacles to over come, but once they dug in they flourished.

I am being refined, prepared for all the Lord has for me. Through the process, the weeds must go. People that choke the life out of my dream must be weeded out. Others that twist and grind against me preventing me from taking root must be excavated. Those that condemn and judge without merit must be pulled up and tossed out. This is why my Poppa told me my circle would be small. It takes a select group of Godly people to help encourage, support, and propel one to the next level. Yes, my circle got a little smaller today; but my roots dug in deeper and God is sustaining me through each stage of my growth. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Behold, God is mine helper: the Lord is with them that uphold my soul.” ~ Psalm 54:4

The mind is a crazy thing. You can be all smiles, things moving along great and bam! Tears overwhelm you and you sit there like Poppa, where is this coming from? Old soul wounds, I’m still healing them. You were cut deep. It wasn’t a surface wound, it cut to your very core. He wounded your loving, giving, gentle spirit. I’m giving that back to you, replacing everything that was stolen. Healing mind and soul.

Tears are cleansing, but how much cleansing could one mind and soul need? I caught myself reverting to my old thinking, that is why the renewing of one’s mind is a daily thing especially when recovering from a narcissistic relationship. Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Yes, after 6 years it was going to take time, a whole lot of God’s grace, and a daily renewing of my mind to heal me completely. Last weekend I took a little time to do me. No more hiding behind what other people wanted, it’s time to step out and step up. It’s past time to do what’s best for me.

God is healing me, but I must do my part. Oh that devil, he knows where to hit and how hard to bring on blows that almost transcend me back in time. But I have the Holy Ghost to quicken me to his tactics and help bring the Word back to remembrance, I am armed and ready. It doesn’t mean tears won’t overwhelm me at times, it doesn’t mean there won’t be moments where I am teetering on the past. It does mean I’m whole and healed through Jesus. I walk in that reassurance and face each day as it comes. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I sit here listening to music and smiling. A real, genuine smile that I couldn’t hide if I tried. Sometimes life has to take you through twist and turns to get you where you need to be. All of the tears and struggles, they are simply tilling the ground and preparing the soil for the growth that is going to come from it all. It’s not an easy process, but you are being refined, shaped, and molded for something bigger. All you have to do is stay the course. However, any detours only delay the inevitable (they don’t end the dream). If God has promised something over your life He is faithful to see it through. Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”.

I’ve had a lot of tears lately as the refining process shifted out roots within me that were not of God. Many tears as people exit my circle, but God held me close through the process. The town donkeys dropped by today and that just made my heart smile. I was reminded I’m not as alone on the journey as I think. My Poppa will never leave me, the Holy Spirit comforts me, and the blood of Jesus sustains me. Whomever exits my circle simply wasn’t mine to keep, they were seasonal. But as people exit, God moves others in that will give me the support on this journey I need. My Father’s love knows no bounds, I just have to give way to the process and trust Him. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

When you’ve cried so many tears that no more come, you just sit in silence. When you don’t even know what to pray, you just sit there and mutter, “help me Poppa.” When you just feel like giving up, yet God is still there. I could feel the presence of the Holy Ghost as I sat, not even able to cry another tear. This storm was knocking the wind out of me, clearing people and things in its path. The winds of change were sweeping through my life and seemed to be taking my world away with them. Less of me and more you Father, help me…

When God set me on this path to my destiny, He told me my circle would be small and the path would get lonely. I have a tight yet awesome circle, but at times the loneliness is almost too much to bear. Poppa, why am I too much for the people I tend to care about the most. “Less of you and more of Me.” While not answering my question, that has rang through my spirit since a conversation I had on Sunday. I came to know the Lord at an early age, but I guess you could say I’m the prodigal daughter. I’ve wandered away several times and came back. This time the Lord got a hold of me and said I’m not letting go. After being baptized with the Holy Ghost, He set me on the path to my destiny and there is no turning back.

God took control and it forever changed me. My outlook changed, my appearance changed, the way I thought changed… it all had to change. “Less of you and more of me.” Poppa, people think I’m crazy because of how I communicate with You. They say You can’t speak to me that way. He brought me to Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” How did He communicate with people in the Old Testament? In some Scriptures, He spoke directly to His servant. What He did then, He can still do today because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I’ve never heard God’s voice in an audible way, but I have heard Him in the stillness of my heart. How do I know it’s Him I hear? John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” I am human, I tend to question what I’ve heard. “Poppa, show me I am hearing you correctly.” He confirms and re-confirms, He never leaves any room for doubt.

These storms will pass and give way to His will. Once again the storms are cleansing me, saturating the ground, removing anything that will hinder my walk. The rains are watering the ground the Lord has planted me in so that I will grow. Somethings have to be purged out of me creating a painful death to self. It is a process that must happen for me to grow, less of me and more of Him! I finally looked the Scripture up. John 3:30, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This lonely, painful process is me decreasing so that my Father can increase within me. This must come to pass in order for me to fulfill my destiny, but I’m not as alone as I feel. My Poppa is watching over me and the Holy Ghost is walking with me every step of the way. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Your light is too bright for some to handle. Shine anyways. The devil doesn’t like that shine that draws people to God and he will seek to destroy it. He will send people to discourage and move you off course, no one is off limits. Some of the very people you love might be moved by his ploy and not even realize it. It’s tempting to give in to them when this happens. I almost caved today, but God has placed the “right” people in my circle to lift me back up. I realized the importance of who’s in my circle too. After I realized this, my Poppa sent me one message after another as confirmation. He showed me several months back that my true circle would be small, but powerful. I am so thankful for their guidance and encouragement when I have tears streaming down my face and need help seeing the bigger picture.

When I look back to 7- 8 months ago, I am amazed at the change in me. Spiritually, emotionally, and physically, I have completely changed in all areas. It’s a true statement to say I’m not the person I was back then. Today I thought I needed to find “me” when the truth is, I know who I am and where I’m headed. I know the plans and destiny God has for me. How do I know? I’m walking closer to Him than I ever have before. Yes, He talks to me. It’s not an audible voice, but I still hear Him deep within my spirit and He confirms everything He tells me. John 10:27-28 says, “27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” My heart was grieved today because I have some people in my life that want no part of Jesus while others don’t believe He communicates with us in a real and tangible way. How then does He guide us? I want everyone to have that closeness I have and it just breaks my heart when they don’t.

A lot of tears today. I fell asleep early, but when I woke God placed this word in my heart to share and moved me to get up and write. He also spoke to me. The power within you is great and it’s too much for some people to comprehend. My closeness with you is real, it’s not in your head. It comes from seeking me. I’m drawing you closer, pouring my spirit out into you. Soak it up. Dust your feet of those that don’t believe it or can’t comprehend such power. Write what I give you and allow my light to shine from within. It’s going to be too bright for some people and that’s okay. You serve me not them. Wow, that was an on time Word for me. I scrolled through my FB and listened to one sermon after another confirming what He’d shown me. My heart still hurts, my Heavenly Father made it a little soft (alright, a lot soft). It’s okay to cry, it’s not okay to let anyone question who you’ve grown into. When God is shining through you, let that light shine through. Yes, you will be too bright for some to handle. Shine anyways! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

My favorite shirt is officially too big and hangs on me! I don’t have a full length mirror in my home. When I go out and walk past one, I am amazed at the change in me. “Who’s that?!” I say to myself. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that you can’t do something. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you! No matter the goal, press into the Lord and keep going. I promise HE will see you through. I just wanted to remind someone of that today. NOTHING is too small OR too big for God! Press into Him my friends and keep moving forward. If you are moving forward you are making progress, the speed is irrelevant.💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” ~ Philippians 4:13

When God moves on your behalf, He moves mightily. Yesterday He answered something huge for me! Today He has placed one thing after another before me telling me to keep going and not to detour from the path He has me on to my vision. He’s also shown me that “thing” I want the most in my heart can still come to pass if it’s what I’ve chosen. We have free will, but when we align ourselves with God’s perfect will we can’t go wrong. He says in Jeremiah 29:11-13, “11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” This is exactly what I’m doing right now. I’m staying before His throne and asking Him, “Poppa, align my thinking, my will with Your perfect will for me.” You know what I’m finding? He’s doing just that and He’s working behind the scenes to give me the desires of my heart. Psalm 37:4, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

This morning when I took the April out, the dandelions once again caught my attention. They were closed up, protecting themselves from the night elements. The Lord said, protect your dream. Just as the flower closes itself from the elements, you must protect yourself and the dream I’ve given you from the world. In the shower, I was praying and saw myself become very small as I lifted my hands toward Heaven. The world wants to swallow you up and take the dream I’ve planted within you. Draw to me, seek me, and it will come to pass. That was a Rhema Word for me, on time and needed! Habakkuk 2:2-3, “2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. 3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”

I am standing on the promises of God. I was discouraged for a minute, I couldn’t see a part of the dream anymore. But I turned to God, “show me Poppa” and He did just that. Not only that, He started to open doors moving me in the direction of His will, reassuring me I was on the right path. Stay the course daughter, stay the course. My spirit needed that renewal and He gave it to me. He never leaves us wandering and will always nudge us on course. We are human, stumbling is part of that. Becoming discouraged is also a part of life, but when you take it to your Heavenly Father He will lift you up. He wants so much more for us than we even want for ourselves, we just have to stay on course with the vision He has for us. When we do this, we walk right into our destiny. Acts 26:19, “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:” 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Where did all of these dips and crevices come from?” I kind of mumbled as I walked through the field yesterday morning. They appear to have popped up over night. In truth, they had always been there. Perhaps the brown grass made it all blend in and now the green grass gave way to its appearance. Whatever the reason, the field was certainly full of dips. I had walked that field so many times, not really paying attention. This time I was watching not to fall or twist my ankle in a dip. The Lord spoke to my heart and said life is full of peaks and valleys.

There was an awesome glow from the sun, so awesome that when I came in I could it’s rays shining though the window right into my living room. This had never happen before, I was mesmerized by it. I heard God say, MY light guides the way. I started reflecting on my own life, so many twist and turns followed by ups and downs. The one constant was God seeking me. It didn’t matter how far I strayed, He was always pulling me back. I learned a lot in those valleys, but He always cleared my path to the peak. He continues to do just that.

God teaches me in the valley how to soar when I reach the top of the mountain. All the dips and crevices along the way help to shape who I am and equip me for the journey ahead. Regardless of where I’m positioned, God’s light still shines down on me. It guides me every step of the way and draws me back when I get lost. It’s a beacon of hope when I feel helplessness overcoming me. Are you in a valley? Look to the light, He’ll draw out and help you on the climb back to the top. He will never leave you in the valley alone. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.” Deuteronomy 31:6

Moments of tears still overtake me. I spoke to my Heavenly Father about this as I was getting ready for work. Poppa why do I still cry for him? Help me. I shouldn’t still be crying, I feel so stupid. It’s your heart, it’s so full of love and concern it makes it difficult to just let go. In my hands is where he needs to be. I will heal your heart and replace it with a love like you never knew. I began to think on this. God wants so much more for me than my mind can fathom. Know your worth daughter, He told me that days ago.

I deserve someone that celebrates my weight losses with me. I deserve someone who encourages me along my dream and destiny. I deserve someone who is proud of who I am and excited for where God is taking me. I deserve someone who thinks I’m beautiful with or without my makeup, with short or long hair. It’s taken me too many years to know my worth to settle for anything less.

What are you settling for? Do you know who you are in God? Do you know your worth? God created you in His image, your worth to Him is more than you can even imagine. I stayed in one relationship after another that diminished my self worth when God had so much more for me. He has so much more for you too. Don’t settle, ever. Know your worth. I’ve finally learned mine and I’m not going back. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:27

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

“The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:” Numbers 6:25

Today was a rough day

This silly heart is always getting in the way

Tears rolling down my cheeks

Trying to be strong when I feel so weak

Poppa, I thought I heard you so clear

About the one my heart was holding so dear

You both have the freedom to choose

My daughter you didn’t lose

You’re learning your worth

And spreading my light throughout the earth

I know it was hard letting him go

But I have more for you than you know

The players changed your hand

But walk with me through this land

Your dream and destiny I promised will take place

Just follow my pace

When you feel weak I’ll carry you through

And I will bless all that you do.

~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

5/7/18

Ugh, my first thought when I looked in the mirror lately. My weight loss is on track, but my face is broken out and when I look in the mirror I just see blah. My child, know your worth whispers my Father. Stop seeking it from others and know I formed you and cherish you. You are beautiful and I created you in my image. Last night at an event the speaker and author Sharon Patrick commented on my smile. This morning I was called beautiful. Once again Poppa, you have my attention and I’m listening!

Yesterday I bought myself some pretty yellow flowers and said sometimes you just have to spoil yourself! I didn’t even realize it at the time, but I’m worth it. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in helping others that I lose myself. I definitely become so focused on “fixing” people that I tend to neglect myself and it’s not even my job to fix them. I can’t “fix” them, only God can do that. So here I sit this morning, reflecting on my worth.

God reminded me of Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” I am wonderfully made, you are wonderfully made! God took great care in making us, we are beautiful in His eyes. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” I usually stop there, but today the Lord took me to verses 12-13, “12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Are you calling upon me when you feel unworthy and ugly so that I can repair those thoughts and show you your worth? Are you calling on me daughter? The answer was no, I was just struggling inwardly.

My vision gets swayed by wrong thinking. My perception of myself causes me to waiver and feel inadequate. God doesn’t want that, know your worth daughter! Seek me, stay close to me. It’s so awesome how He knows what we struggle with before even telling Him and how He meets us at the point of that need. It may not be what you see in the mirror, you might be struggling with something else. Whatever it is, God already knows. He loves you and He wants you to know your worth. My worth is found in Him and the destiny He called me for. I am precious in his site and so are you! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Hail and rain hit us earlier this week, followed by snow the next day. I was curious to see how my dandelions had faired. I went out and they still had ice on them and looked a bit ragged. Will they make it Poppa? I came back in and continued through my day. That evening I went back out, the sun had been shining and all of the snow and ice had melted away. I was excited to check on the dandelions. They had sprung back to life. Some looked a little tired, but most had sprung forth shining bright above the ground. Wow Poppa, look at that!

I think life does that to us. The rains of trouble and hails of life pelt us, while the snows of too many issues tend to bury us. It’s during those times we have to draw on our Heavenly Father, His light shines down on us. Melting the snow and ice and energizing us for the rest of this journey. I’ve heard so many times, He doesn’t promise us everything will be easy, but He will sustain us through it. We just have to trust in Him. Nahum 1:7, “ The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.”

Trust can be so difficult when the storms of life have beat you down. Oh Poppa, help me to trust You completely. Remove any blinders from my eyes and unstop my ears. During the remainder of the week, my timeline was overwhelmed with post about leaving the past in the past. The Lord led my precious sister to send me one directly. It read, “Don’t stumble over something behind you.” My devotions over the next couple of days led to the same place! I’m listening Poppa! The past traumas, hurts, broken hearts, it’s all behind me and behind you too! Our Heavenly Father will heal any brokenness and piece us back together. Not only that, He’ll turn it around and use it as a testimony to His faithfulness, goodness, and mercy. How awesome is that? 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I noticed flowers are starting to spring up here. I was so excited to see the tiny yellow ones just above ground, but hidden in the still turning grass (it’s mostly still brown and yellow). Just a couple of days later I started seeing the dandelions pop up. This made me smile, it’s already May and our flowers are just coming out. Late bloomers compared to most places, but here they bloom on their own schedule. I got to thinking about the dandelions I saw, they weren’t growing in the field but by the road. How odd I thought, then I noticed in the pictures the grass was also greener there. They had grown where their seeds had planted themselves and were thriving, more so than my tiny yellow flowers in the field.

The field has many more obstacles for the tiny flowers to overcome. They had to sprout up in a place with a lot of growth pulling for nutrients. It’s harder for the sun to reach these little guys too. Yet here they were, popping up. It’s a little harder for them to flourish because of where their seeds were planted, but in a few weeks I will start to see tiny yellow all throughout the field. It reminded me of us. Sometimes the things in life make it hard for us to grow, but when we lean into the Lord instead of the world we too overcome those obstacles and start to flourish. It may be delayed like my little yellow flowers, but when God is watering what He has planted we will grow.

Earlier in the week I read Psalm 133:3, “As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.” I had it highlighted and written beside of it, “Powerful there, God commands His blessing.” That is pretty powerful indeed, the verse says God commanded the blessing. I had been meditating on that verse when I saw the dandelions. Lord, I want to be in the right place to receive the blessings you are commanding over my life. Grow where you are planted. Not only will you flourish, but you will plant seeds that will last long after you are gone. I will continue to water those seeds so that they can flourish in the hearts of those you touch.

We live in a world that is looking for a quick fix, but it takes time to grow. It takes time for heart wounds to heal, but God is faithful and He won’t leave you in the same condition He found you in. When I moved to this little town, God told me it would be my place of healing. A lot of turmoil ensued, but I’m finding now it was necessary for my growth. Now I’m in a place to receive the blessings the Lord is commanding over me. He holds tomorrow and wherever He moves me, but today I am growing where He has planted me. Where has the Lord planted you? Ask Him if you are where He wants you to be and if you are, grow there. Spend time with a Him in prayer and His Word, let Him water the grounds there and watch with anticipation for the blessings He has commanded over you. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

The clouds bellowed through the skies much like the PMDD was screaming within my body. If you’ve followed my Facebook blog you know this8s something that can be severe. Today I was doubled over in pain, the irony didn’t escape it. A surgery took my uterus, but left my ovaries- the source of the pain. I know there are many health reasons for leaving them, but I as it felt like my ovary was twisting and being squeezed like washcloth I couldn’t help but think my Dr. missed the mark. She took away the “bigger” problem and left the root of the condition there.

The Lord spoke to me through that pain and said isn’t that what people do in life? I started reflecting on my own life. For years I stayed in an emotionally unstable and abusive relationship. More times than I can even count, I treated the symptoms of the problem, yet stayed in it. It wasn’t fixable my way, yet I tried for 6 years. I was more stubborn than the children of Israel! God couldn’t start the healing process until the root was cut out. That meant dealing with some major emotional baggage and a heart that wasn’t just broken, but shattered. But God. Once the root was dug up and thrown out, my Father went to work. I just realized that root had little tiny roots dug into me and latched in. He has started pruning me and cutting away those harmful roots that were invading the very areas He needed to make changes in me.

I’m still a work in progress, I have so far left to go. Poppa is working in me and teaching me to address things at the root in so many areas of my life. That’s where my healing takes place, that’s where my growth occurs. As those negative roots are uncovered and dug out, the roots God is planting in me can grow. If they are left, they risk choking out the roots God is planting. What kind of roots are buried within you? Are treating the problems with quick fixes and trying to fertilize grounds that need rooted up? Don’t be discouraged by them, ask God to help you dig them out. With God ALL things are possible and He would love to help you weed out your life so that His roots can flourish! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”

Mark 10:27

The beautiful rays were shining down on me as I went to bed and there they were again when I woke. God’s light illuminates our path at all times. It is a beacon of hope through the storms of life, lighting the way in the midst of the world’s darkness. When we start to feel troubled or like the darkness is in control, we need only quote His Word and pray to chase it away. When things are great, His light shines as a reminder that all good things come from Him. He never leaves us in the darkness and doesn’t forsake in the day’s light. I’m finding it important to mediate on God’s Word to keep my mind from straying into the darkness.

The Bible tells us to mediate on God’s Word day and night. Joshua 1:8 says, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” It says to do this “that though may observe to do…” God already knew how easy it could be for us to fall away so we are instructed to mediate on the Scriptures so that we stay on the path He has for us. His path is prosperous, straying from it delays our destiny and can cause unnecessary pain. How awesome that He loves us enough to instruct us in His ways! Have you meditated on His Word lately? 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Earlier this week I went out and there were clouds over the mountain, blocking the sun. It could be seen beneath the clouds, but was covered. I came in and read my morning Scriptures and something with Psalms 126:5-6 really resonated with me this time. I had a pretty rough week and I would usually focus on verse 5, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” You read and see that verse a lot, it’s a comfort when tears are falling, but this time God kept bringing me back to verse 6, “He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” Those tears your crying, I see them; those prayers your sowing, I hear them.

Not even an hour later, I walked back by the door and the clouds had already almost cleared and the sun was shining bright. Your timing is not like mine. We want things right now, God moves when it is right for us. Patience is a fruit that is still growing in me, but my precious Father nurtures it and continues to show me He hasn’t forgotten me or the things He’s promised. Now when I see or read verse 5 my mind will immediately go to verse 6 because it’s a promise that my harvest is coming in. What are you sowing? If God has you planting it, you can believe your harvest is coming in too. It’s not a matter of “if” but “when”. It’s in His hands and His timing, that ensures the harvest with be rich and plentiful! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.” ~ Psalm 126:5-6

I looked at the mountain as I took April out this morning and didn’t see the sun coming up as I usually do. We headed back in and I heard God say take a picture, but there’s nothing there I thought. I went ahead and took the picture and was amazed to see the sun. I couldn’t see it with my natural eyes, but it was there and so beautiful. God whispered I am working in the unseen. That renewed my spirit like you can’t even believe and put a huge smile on my face. Talking about a praise shout, I wanted to tell everyone what He’d shown me all day!

I tried to focus in on the sun with my phone, but the more I focused the more it seemed to disappear into the sky. I’d take another picture and it was still there, shining with such a beautiful glow. We focus on our problems like I was trying to focus on the sun. Everything else becomes a blur and we miss the bigger picture. We become discouraged and forget our Father sees it all and is always working behind the scenes on our behalf. Just as I couldn’t see the sun, we can’t always see Him in the midst of a storm. However, He’s there and still in control.

I was so grateful for the pictures and the Word my Poppa gave me this morning, I couldn’t wait to share it with all of you. I pray you are as encouraged as I was. Whatever you are going through or praying for, God hears you. Just because you can’t see it yet, doesn’t mean He’s not working on your behalf. He has a plan and it’s in His timing, it’s also so much better than we could have planned for ourselves! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

2 Corinthians 4:17-18, “17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

Wow look at God! That’s all I could really say and of course thank You Poppa for knowing just what my heart needs and answering my prayer! From my morning devotion by Joyce Meyer to the Reminders from God to checking my email and reading the KLOVE’s Scripture for today, He used all three to directly speak into my situation. I love it when He does that!

“I’m listening Father, You’re daughter is listening,” I looked up and smiled! 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.” I just sat and reflected on that verse for awhile. This was my prayer in the early hours without even reading the Scripture and then there it was in my inbox from KLOVE! The Reminders from God today said, “Rise above your fears into My Joy. It will heal your sores and wounds.” Do you see a pattern here? These are the things I posted about yesterday and that I’ve been praying about!

My devotional today spoke just as loudly! John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Joyce Meyer wrote, ““His peace is a spiritual peace, and His rest is one that operates in the midst of a storm—not in the absence of a storm. Jesus did not come to remove all opposition from our lives, but rather to empower us to go through times of opposition peacefully.” (Excerpt From Power Thoughts Devotional) Wow, that spoke right into my spirit man.

Oh my friends, He listens. I prayed about these things and He just confirmed what I knew, but needed to hear again. He knew what I needed and He provided it; not once, not twice, but three times. He is so good. He loves us so much and He doesn’t want us to struggle, He wants us to take it to Him! I told Him, “Poppa, I’m struggling. Strengthen my faith, forgive me for any lack that causes any unbelief.” I woke with the same peace I went to bed with, He’s holding me in His perfect peace. That’s awesome. Not only did He give me peace, but reminders that I so much needed. Yes, He listens, we just have to take it to Him. Mark 9:23, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

No tears, not to today. I sat on my bed just gazing at the snow falling silently listening to praise music. This morning in my Bible reading the Lord took me to Philippines 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:” He has given me a vision and a dream and the devil can’t have it. He has started a good work in me and He will complete it.

The enemy loves to try to fill your mind with the negative thoughts and this would be where he whispered, you should be crying now. I continued to watch the snow fall, I’m not opening that door. Fear can’t abide here, God is in control. Philippines 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” It’s not His pleasure for me to live in worry and fear causing unbelief. No, the vision and dreams I have aren’t just mine; God instilled them in me so He will give me what I need to fulfill ALL of them.

My thoughts are focused, God has heard my prayers and it is finished. I just have to do my part, that includes casting out worry, fear, and ultimately unbelief. Philippines 4:6 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” He knows my heart, my desires, and He planned my destiny. My prayers are in His hands and aligned with His will. Philippines 4:7-8, “7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” I will think on these things and devil will have to flee.

I continue to watch the snow fall. No tears, not today. I draw my strength from my Father and things of this world can’t detour me. Philippines 4:13, “ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” As I gaze out the window, that precious peace that passeth all understanding covers me. 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

I don’t trust “me” Poppa. You don’t have to trust YOU, you have to trust ME. I have went over and over that it my head today. I know in my heart what God has told me, but my thoughts start to cause me to second guess. Perhaps I didn’t hear Him right, maybe I missed something, what if I’m wrong about everything? Early this morning, before ever even getting out of bed, the Lord told me to go back and reread about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abendnego. I read it and then read it again this evening.

The unwavering faith and trust these three men had in God is amazing. In verse 17 – 18 of Daniel 3 they say, “17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. 18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.” They trusted God completely with their lives and had faith he would bring them out of the fire and if He didn’t they still would not submit to the king’s demand. They believed with no doubts that God was in control and if you’ve read the story, you already know He was. Once cast into the fire, the king saw a fourth person in the fire (verse 25) that was “like the Son of God.” They were not alone in that fire! When the men were brought out in verse 27, “And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.” The fire had no power!!!! That made me want to shout, I had to read it again.

Trust is so hard for me. Finding it difficult to trust myself has a lot to do with what I’ve been through, but God is sifting that out of me. “The fire had no power.” My past has no power, the attack on my mind has no power. God spoke it over me, God spoke it to me, that seals it. Are the attacks going to stop? No. With a high calling on your life comes a high probability of attacks; however, I’m equipped in yet another way. The fire, those attacks can’t harm me! Jesus is with me (and you) in the fire. Has God promised you something? What fires are trying to harm you? It may not be trust issues, addictions, financial issues, emotional hurdles, or even health problems. Don’t let these things steal your peace and rob you of your joy. Jeremiah 20:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Trust Him! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

“8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.

9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.

10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:

11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.

12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.

14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?

15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.

20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the flames of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonished, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king.

25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.

27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.

29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.”

~ Daniel 3:8-30

The snow crunched beneath my feet with each step. The fresh snow from the two days before had frozen solid. The sun was just coming up over the mountain and glistened beautifully against the frozen white layer that was still covering everything. As I walked April my back was to the sun, but I felt it growing brighter and brighter until I turned around to see it’s shining glow spraying out over the mountain. It’s beautiful Poppa!

The storm had passed and it wouldn’t take long for the bright sun to melt away the pretty snow. I started thinking about my post yesterday. The snowy frozen grounds kill off the the harmful things. The storm passes, the grounds thaw and that snow turns to the water that is essential for life. The ground absorbs that water and makes it fertile for new life to spring up. It’s the same way for us! When that storm hits, the frozen ground that you think has you trapped, is killing off the toxic things in your life. When you give it to God, He’s with you through the storm and when the grounds thaw and melt, His water flows through you and around you. He’s making it fertile for your growth. You start to see new fruit sprout from within you.

When you draw close to Him through His Word and prayer, when you seek Him, He starts to prune and weed out the things that will hurt your growth. The process isn’t easy, but it’s done in love. Sometimes these storms purge and help that process. When you find yourself in them, seek God. He will not only help you through it, but you will be amazed at the changes in you once the storm passes. Then His beautiful sun will come out and you will be left with a testimony that draws others to Him. That is amazing process done out if love! John 15:1-2, “1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Daughter, why do you weep? Get up from this bed, wash off your tears of weariness.  Have I not promised you, why do you worry so?  About that time the messenger alert went off on my phone, it was my prayer partner and sister. Talk about God’s timing, always perfect.  Within minutes, I was smiling through the tears.  Sometimes you just need reminded who you are in Christ and she did just that!  I am truly blessed that God has placed her in my circle.

These are difficult times we live in and you have to guard your mind. The devil is out to destroy anyone that is a vessel for God. His destiny has been cast and he is set on dragging as many souls to hell with him as he can. If he can’t take you there, he will do the next best thing. What’s that? Destroy your testimony so that you can’t draw people away from his darkness into God’s light. The higher your calling, the more intense the attacks. You have to stay prayed up and in God’s word because the devil is out to devour you. 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

I have an incredibly soft heart, some may say it’s too soft. I fully admit to being a crybaby. Commercials, movies, it’s insane.  With the soft heart, comes feelings that are easy to tread on. I guess this heart of mine is my weakness and my strength.  I’ve ask God about this so many times and He says, I have His heart.  I’m made completely in my Poppa’s image, how can you not smile at that?! Unfortunately, the devil also knows how to manipulate the strings on my heart and this is where I must be wiser and grow in the Lord. I’m so thankful to have a Heavenly Father who said get up! Hebrews 12:6, “ For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.” But He didn’t stop there, He went on to remind me of His promises to me.  My awesome Father didn’t want me worrying about something He has control of, wash off your tears He said. 

The weariness was not something I needed to carry.  What are you carrying that should be left in your Father’s hands?  When He says to trust Him, there is no other person in this world you can trust more.  When He says not to worry and those thoughts come up, cast them out. He takes care of the fowls in the air and the lilies on the ground, He can handle whatever you and I face.  Sometimes we just have to get out of the way and let Him! Matthew 6:26-29, “26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Abandoned, rejected, left completely alone. I guess that’s probably one of my greatest fears. Some would say this stems from my daddy dying when I was three months old. Unfortunately it is a fear I’ve never really overcame and was only solidified in every adult relationship I’ve had. Most know my last relationship was extremely toxic and he played on this fear very well. The Lord is working on repairing this in me, thankfully He will never leave me and always hold me close. Those old wounds were once again opened this week and this old soft heart has really been in turmoil. I have cried out to Him and cried and cried. I don’t know how many of you face this particular struggle, but it can be overwhelming. There have been times this week that I thought this storm was going to overtake me.

Then right in the midst of it, God would show up and pull me under His wings. At times it would be a whisper asking why I weep, reminding me He was in control and to trust Him. Other times I would wake to encouraging post or songs from friends directly to me! He has blessed me with a prayer partner that understands, I mean really understands where I am. He flooded my timeline with post that spoke directly into my situation. He has put people in my circle to encourage and lift me so that I keep working on me and the destiny God has for me. Only my God can do these things. This wasn’t an easy week, the tears are still falling as I write this, but it was necessary for me to grow and maybe to encourage someone else going through it or something similar. You are NEVER alone, I want you to know this.

Do you feel like the storms are about to overtake you? Perhaps they are purging you in preparation for better days. Is snow falling at a steady pace? The frozen ground kills off the toxic things in your life in anticipation of the best that is yet to come. Do you feel like the snow is flying from every direction? The clouds may fill the sky, but the Son is still in heaven and your rainbow is promised in the end. Keep pressing, keep believing. We are in this together! 💛 ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal

Thanks for joining me!

Life can be tough all on its own.  When you add depression, abusive relaltionships, addictictions, whatever you are facing, it’s important to know you are not alone.  Each of us have our Goliath to conquer and our mountain to climb, let’s to it together! ~ Chelle, #f8ithgal