God's Plan Archives

Have You Ever Been a Holy Mess? Interview with Michelle Rabon’s New Book: Holy Mess

July 19, 2019/1 Comment/in Bible study, Encouragement, Everything, Faith /by Heather Gillis

Have you ever just felt like your life was a mess? Or maybe even a Hot Mess? But a Holy Mess? That’s a whole other level! Just reading the title makes me relate!

What if our Holy Messes were apart of God’s Holy Purpose for us?

What if God’s Holy Purpose could not be carried out in us if we didn’t have our Messes?

Our messes are God’s platform to carry out His greatest plans. He doesn’t need us to do this, He WANTS US to carry out His plans. He could have chosen to live anywhere in the world but He chose to reside in our hearts.

I want to introduce you to Michelle Rabon the author of a Holy Mess. She actually wrote “Holy Mess” as both a traditional book with a coordinating Bible study. The benefit of the book is to help women find freedom from the messes of their life through Christ and walk forward in faith. It will help women see that God meets us in the midst of every mess we will face in this life and He will walk us through it all.

So let’s get started!

Heather: What is the story behind Holy Mess? What drove you to write this book?

Michelle: I never set out to write a book in all honesty. I accepted Christ at the age of 19, but it took until my late 20s to really understand what it meant to be a woman radically changed by the Gospel. I know God saved me and changed me, but I didn’t know how I was supposed to live that out.

From the time I was 19 to my late 20s, I was married, had three children, lost my father, brother, mother in law and had two miscarriages. There was a lot of life, a lot of hurt and little understanding of how the Gospel could meet me in the midst of it all. Holy Mess really is 10 years of hard fought lessons in one book. Everything God has used to teach me about what the Gospel really means for our lives every day.

I wrote the idea on a piece of paper three years ago. I knew that all I walked through was not without reason and it was meant to be shared. The desire of my heart and the burden God placed on my heart was to help other women see the power of the Gospel for every area of her life.

Heather: What does it mean to be a woman who is radically changed by the gospel?

Michelle: Being a woman who is radically changed by the gospel is a reflection of the power of what Christ can do in a woman’s life. When we accept the gift of salvation and surrender our lives to God because of Christ, who went to a cross on our behalf – God begins to shape us into His holy daughters. Our perfection isn’t required because He meets us in the midst of our messes.

When we are radically changed we are moved from our old way to a new way, a new life. A life of abundance and hope. It does not mean God is offering us a perfect life, but He says I will meet you in it. He says I am with you every step, and He will be faithful to bring the holy to His radically changed daughters.

Heather: What was your favorite and least favorite part of the process of the Holy mess?

Michelle: My favorite part of the process was learning so much about the women of the Bible. There is so much that God will teach us through the people in the pages of Scripture. Their stories resonate with us because they are like you and I, just a few hundred years between us.

My least favorite, having to walk out what God was teaching me, every word I wrote I lived out first before it found its way onto a page. It wasn’t easy but it was worth it.

Heather: If there is one take away message you can share from the Holy mess what would that be?

Michelle: That if God can change the women of the Bible then He can change you, and when He changes you, He will walk this life with you.

Michelle is a wife and mom of three who is learning to embrace the messiness of life and walk in the grace of God. When she isn’t chasing or homeschooling her little ones, she is writing, drinking coffee, and serving women in her local church. You can find her at Displayinggrace.com, Instagram @displayinggrace and Facebook @displaygrace

All book information is at www.holymessbook.com

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When Unconditional Love is the Outcome

July 5, 2019/2 Comments/in Christianity, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, God's Love, God's Miracles, Uncategorized /by Heather Gillis

Have you ever had to swallow some hard truth? A truth so hard to grasp you didn’t want to hold onto it?

When we truthfully sit with hard questions to examine our hearts to search for anything ruminating in the spaces that belong to God–we discover the fears, doubts, worries and anxieties holding us back from the ultimate outcome of receiving His love.

Have you ever been in a place of desperation or despair, wondering are God’s promises and miracles even for real? When I get to these places of doubt or disappointment I have to take a step back and see what am I holding onto and where am I really placing my hope?

Honestly I’ve been afraid of the truth of what might never will be. I’ve had to process what’s really God’s will verses my will and ask do they align with one another?

I’ve had to give A LOT of fears and doubts over to God over the years and Trust He know what’s best. Believe what He has for me is better. But when you’re in the daily grind and the cycles of brokenness continually perpetuate overtime, you feel like you’re just running on the treadmill and get weary and tired.

3 Ways to Allow Love to Be in the Outcome-

“Lord, who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?” Psalm 15:1

1. Sit with the Truth by Asking Hard Questions– Where are we dwelling in pretend world or reality? Where are we putting our hope and trust? What do God’s Promises and Miracles mean to me? Am I really committing to God or tweaking his plan to fit my own conveniences? Is my way to do things more important than my obedience to God? Truthfully answering these questions helps empty our hearts of anything getting in the way of receiving God’s love.

My answer- I think we try to fit God into a box of what we want, demand he does them and then get frustrated when what we ask for doesn’t happen. I think we can stand on sides of God’s promises and miracles. One side is doubt and we dwell outside of his miracles thinking they are not for us and will never happen. The other side of God’s promises/miracles lies entitlement, we want his Promises and Miracles NOW. And when they don’t happen when we want them to, we become disappointed. Click here if you missed last month’s post Why we should let go of the miracle.

Are we truly living in his promises and what he's able to do or putting our own expectations on what God can do? Click To Tweet

When we put our hope and trust in God’s outcome, love is always the outcome. Any other outcome we put our trust in will only be temporary and leads to disappointment every time.

2. Peel back the labels. Just because we label or call ourselves Christians or believers doesn’t mean that is the fail safe for our relationship with God. Labels aren’t our identity or our truth– our identity in Christ is. We like to claim things over lives and believe we safely fall within this realm of ‘I’m a Christian’ so I’m safe, when in reality we hide behind the labels of false-images, status and accomplishments all the time.

Instead of hiding behind the labels, we need to stand in front of them and say ‘I’m broken and I need Jesus.’ So many of us (me included) want to stay safely protected behind these labels clinging to them like they’re the gospel. When in reality, we’re clinging to what is comfortable in fear of being shamed, not accepted or condemned for who we really are.

Are we more concerned with our own comforts or God’s glory?

What are we really holding on to?

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.” Jonah 2:8

3. Love Anyway, Embrace the process. Just because we don’t like our circumstances doesn’t mean we’re defeated or God doesn’t love us. Any outcome where love is the choice gives power for change. How do we do this?

When we choose to love knowing we will endure pain but God will use it for his greater good. When we pray for our enemy, hearts and perspectives change. When we accept the things we cannot change and surrender them to God, outcomes change. When reside in what God has for us and accept his plans are good enough, we receive his everlasting grace.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Is God’s grace enough? When I truly live under the umbrella of God’s truth and grace–Freedom becomes My Reality. I can CONFIDENTLY say, ‘I’m Free, no chains or anchors here.” In order to live under the banner of truth and live in the reality of it, we have to release any false pretenses, perceptions, images, identities, labels, disillusioned fears, anxieties, worries, doubts (that’s a lot to release), when we do WE ARE NO LONGER SLAVES TO OUR FEARS and THE ENEMY LOSES ALL POWER OVER US.

The reality is what we’re praying for may never happen the way we want it. Or maybe what we go through is part of God’s plan to prepare us what we’ve asked for. We have to release the OUTCOME to God and say, “I’m OK with YOUR OUTCOME God, what YOU have for ME is ENOUGH.”

When we CHOOSE God’s OUTCOME and ALLOW GOD’S OUTCOME for our LIVES, we can trust God’s Love will ALWAYS be apart of the OUTCOME. In God’s Plans, LOVE is ALWAYS the OUTCOME.

When we choose and accept God’s outcome, we are choosing a life of pain. No one willingly signs up for this type of life. We will have trials and heartaches that seem out of control and unbearable. It is a life that requires complete surrender and dependence on God BUT will be the most eternally rewarding.

Please rest on these nuggets of truth when you’re in situations of relentless turmoil and need to make more room for God’s love in your life.

God’s will, will never take you where His grace cannot protect you.

Every one of God’s plans will have his love in the outcome.

There is freedom and peace when we live under the banner of truth, when we are truthful and honest with ourselves.

We will no longer be slaves to fear when we accept God’s plans and His grace as enough.

We will always regret playing it safe by choosing comfort. We will Never Regret pursing and following the Will of God.

God’s love ALWAYS Prevails.

I pray and hope this is a safe place to leave your comments and start a conversation where no one has to fear being judged or condemned.

What is your number one struggle you cling to and haven’t released to God?

Do you trust God’s Outcome is enough for you?

Have you peeled back the labels to see what’s really underneath them?

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I would love to hear from you! Leave Your Comments Below. In Him,

In case you missed it here is last month’s post Why We Should Let Go of the Miracle

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Here are the Top 3 Prayer Posts on My Blog

June 14, 2019/2 Comments/in Everything, Faith, God's Miracles, Prayer, Struggles/Trials, Uncategorized /by Heather Gillis

I hope you read last week’s post The Top 5 Most Googled and Viewed Posts on my Blog. I was really surprised what people want to know, what they’re searching for and where they were spending the most time on the blog.

This week I wanted to focus on the top Prayer posts since these posts were one of the top searches and shared the most on social media.

Prayer has been ever evolving in my life. There’s been times I’ve been distant in my prayer life and times I’ve had such a passion for prayer I can’t imagine it not being a part of every single moment of my day. But there is a recent revelation about prayer that has impacted my life tremendously I would like to share with you.

Whatever you’re going through in your life. Whatever trial, struggle or burden you’re carrying, what if these things are God answering a prayer you prayed before? What if the things we go through is God preparing, equipping us for what we have prayed for?

How has Prayer Been Most Effective in Your Life?

In what ways do you struggle with Prayer?

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Why We Should Let Go of the Miracle

May 24, 2019/7 Comments/in Current Events, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, God's Love, God's Miracles, Prayer, Real life, Struggles/Trials /by Heather Gillis

Have you ever prayed so hard for something, for someone a situation for weeks, months, years and the outcome still hasn’t changed? What if that miracle, that outcome we’re praying for isn’t what God wants?

Of course we all WANT good health, our families to be SAFE, our kids to make good choices and not fight, our spouses to love us unconditionally even when we mess up. Lately I’ve been seeing so many families going through so some hard devastating circumstances–their child has cancer, dad has cancer, there’s been an accident or a death. There is a desperation for God to come through to resurrect our devastating circumstances.

But, what happens when God doesn’t come through and grant us the Miracle we’ve been asking for?

Doesn’t God care?

Why wouldn’t God want to heal a child whose about to die?

Why wouldn’t God want a family to stay together and heal the person with addictions?

Why wouldn’t God want to fix this unbearable, horrendous situation that will only lead to more destruction?

In the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), there is a pattern of a message from Jesus and then a miracle to follow. Behind every miracle lies a deeper message. There is nothing wrong in wanting, hoping or praying for the Miracle. Not to sound depressing, what if the miracle NEVER happens? Where does that leave us?

Why We Should Let Go of the Miracle

Here is the point I want to breakdown.

God is capable of anything, any miracle beyond what we could ever ask of him. What part of the miracle are we putting our hope in? The Gift of the miracle or the Giver of the miracle?Click To Tweet

When a Miracle happened in the Bible, they all started one of two ways–without any expectation/anticipation of the miracle or with a believing person or crowd who was seeking the Messiah not the actual miracle.

When Jesus healed the official’s son (John 4:46-54), the official sought out Jesus for a miracle to heal his son. He traveled a far distance to find him. The man believed Jesus had to be present to perform the miracle, but in this case his mere spoken words healed his son. The official sought out the one who was able to heal and Jesus granted the miracle.

In John 5, the handicap man sitting by a pool was not expecting Jesus to approach him and ask, “Do you want to be healed?” Jesus merely instructed the man, “pick up your mat and walk.” This man had no expectation to be healed and simply followed his instructions and was healed.

When Jesus fed the crowd of the 5,000+ people in John 6, they were seeking more of the Messiah and what he was able to do. When they were seeking and following him, they had no expectation he would feed the entire crowd with just two loaves of bread and five fish. They were seeking what Jesus was able to do, wanted more of Him not the reward of the miracle.

When We Let Go of the Miracle-

Letting go of the Miracle is HARD.

When we hold onto the Miracle, we put our Hope in WHEN or IF THE MIRACLE happens, we’re then seeking the GIFT.

Letting go of the Miracle, puts our Hope in what God is ABLE to do and TRUST He knows what’s BEST, we’re then seeking the GIVER.

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves hard questions and sit in the reality of the truth. What am I putting my Hope in the GIFT or the GIVER?

I’m not saying let go of the miracle and lose your hope. I’m saying let go of OUR expectation of WHEN the miracle WILL HAPPEN. We can’t put God in a box and DEMAND, ‘God, I want this miracle to happen, DO IT!’ We can’t EXPECT God ‘to FIX it‘ the way we want it. When we do, we’re putting a limitation on the miracle of what He’s ABLE to do.

Behind Every Miracle There’s a Deeper Message

Sometimes the deeper message isn’t God changing our outcomes, isn’t ‘fixing it,’ or even the miracle–it’s changing our perspective and changing our hearts. Sometimes God is waiting for the Breakthrough or the Miracle to Happen within US. If our hearts aren’t in the right place, we will never be able to receive the greatest miracle God has for us–Peace and Freedom. Eternal peace and freedom resides in God’s outcome of what He’s holding in His Hands not our circumstances that fall in this world.

There is PEACE and FREEDOM when we stop displacing our hope in things that may never happen and TRUST IN GOD'S OUTCOME, what he has for us is ENOUGH and more than we'll ever need. Click To Tweet

Jesus NEVER performed Miracles to PROVE Himself or give another sign He was ABLE. He is ALWAYS Able and CAPABLE of the IMPOSSIBLE.

Are you praying for a Miracle?

Where Do you put your Hope, in the Gift or the Giver?

Is there an unsettling struggle in your life and you can’t put your finger on it? I challenge you to sit with these hard questions and be truthful and honest with your answers. We will never regret pursing the truth. Join me next week when we discuss, “When God’s love is the outcome.” Your are loved my friend!

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Dear WIFE: An Invitation to Practice Connection

April 26, 2019/0 Comments/in Christianity, Current Events, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, Marriage /by Heather Gillis

Dear Wife: An Invitation to Practice Connection

After years of marriage, we can go on auto-pilot. You pick up the dry cleaning, and I’ll pick up the kids. It is Taco Tuesday and church on Sunday, and one day you wake up and realize you have just been going through the motions. This happens to couples all the time. Their once hot and heavy romance turns into a situation where they are more like roommates than lovers. Or maybe your husband works long hours and you stay home with the kids. By the time he comes home, he is looking for love and all you want to do is collapse when it comes time for bed. There are millions of other possible scenarios, but the bottom line is God has SO MUCH more for our marriages. When Christ is the center of your life, the connection you have with Jesus overflows into every aspect of your life, including your marriage. When we walk in the fullness of Jesus it changes our hearts, our marriages and it changes us.

Enter Amanda Davison. Sometime last year Amanda had a big God-sized dream to help wives thrive in their marriage through community. Amanda formed the non-profit ministry A Wife Like Me and developed an online space to gather wives in community. She assembled a team of authors from across the country to help her implement the vision that God gave her to start a community and a movement of wives. Women who were committed to growing in relationship to Jesus and their husbands by practicing Biblical principles in their marriages. The A Wife Like Me team has written its first book in response to the needs of women through our gathering space and feedback from the blog.

Dear Wife: 10 Minute Invitations to Practice Connection with Your Husband

We have a fantastic team of contributors at A Wife Like Me team who have come together to contribute monthly blog posts and provide Biblical resources for wives. We’ve had the best time coming together under Amanda’s leadership to dream, plan and pray how to best serve wives. And thus Dear Wife was born. Dear Wife is written by seventeen different contributors from the A Wife Like Me team. All the contributors who wrote this book are accomplished authors, speakers, and Christian leaders who have walked through fire in their marriages and have lived to tell about it.

Dear Wife Contributor Team

Dear Wife begins with a sweet invitation to draw near your Savior Jesus Christ and contains 26 invitations, with ten-minute practices, to grow in your connection with your husband by growing closer to Jesus. Each invitation includes scripture from the life of Jesus and a devotional application, and thought-provoking reflection questions to grow closer in connection to The Father and to your husband.

My two invitations in the book are the third invitation entitled What We Really Need and the final invitation Surrendered Service.

Dear Wife: 10 Minute Invitations to Practice Connection with Your Husband

Do you wish you had more alone time with your husband? Do you find yourself going through the day-to-day busy routine of life while your marriage is on cruise control, without intentional time together spent connecting? Do you desire deeper intimacy and love with your husband?

Being married is great, but being married and feeling intimately connected is what every wife desires.

Dear Wife provides you with twenty-six heart-changing invitations to discover how Christ desires connection with you and how through connection with Christ, you’ll develop deeper connection with your husband.

In this book, you will:
Replace boring and busy with building deep intimacy and love
Swap ongoing complacency with intentional connection
Spend guided alone time with your husband and God
Experience more depth in your marriage relationship
Restore and build connection with God and with your husband

Dear Wife is available for preorder now and releases 5/1. Dearwifebook.com #dearwifebook

Misty Phillip is passionate about helping women overcome challenges in life by seeking Jesus, studying the Word and growing in grace. She is the author of The Struggle is Real: But so is God Bible Study, Founder and host of the By His Grace Podcast, sought after speaker at MistyPhillip.com and contributor to both Dear Wife and to A Wife Like Me.

Website: MistyPhillip.com

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The Second Chance That Saved My Life

March 29, 2019/10 Comments/in Current Events, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, Holiday, Real life, Uncategorized /by Heather Gillis

The Second Chance That Saved My Life

Are you getting ready for Easter? I love this time of year, for what it represents and the rich gifts that God gives us even when we don’t deserve them.

Have you ever been a second chance that saved your life?

God has given me so many second chances I didn’t even deserve. I’m so thankful for second chances and wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

One man in the Bible reminds me of a second chance that saved his life. His name was Barabbas and he was a criminal convicted of committing murder in a rebellion (Mark 15:7).

It was during the time of Passover and every year the Roman governor would release a prisoner to the people of their choice (Matt. 27:15). Jesus had been arrested and was in custody of Roman authorities. Barabbas was a well-known prisoner among the people. When Pilate asked, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus, the people knew exactly who each one was.

Pilate was convicted that he was persecuting an innocent man because Jesus wasn’t guilty of any crime under Roman law. Jesus couldn’t be prosecuted under Jewish law during Passover because the Jews couldn’t crucify anyone during that time. So Jesus was to be prosecuted under Roman Law.

When both men were in the judgment seat, Pilate’s wife tells her husband “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man (Jesus) for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” (Matt. 27:19).

But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed (Matt. 27:20). When Pilate asked, which one do you want me to release? The crowd shouted, Barabbas! Then Pilate asked, what should I do with Jesus? The crowd shouted, “Crucify Him!” Pilate then questions their decision and asks, why, what crime has he committed? They shouted even louder, Crucify Him! (Matt.21-23).

Pilate felt so guilty about the outcome he took water and washed his hands before the crowd and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood” (Matt 27:24). “Then he released Barabbas to them” (Matt. 27:26).

Can you even imagine this scene? A prisoner who committed murder being set free! And Jesus a man who committed no crime under Roman law sent to be crucified!?!?!

I can’t imagine what Barabbas was thinking, I was just set free! He merely received his freedom by default all because the crowd wanted to persecute Jesus. I can’t help to think of the parallels in Barabbas’ story. He was a man guilty of a crime and set free. He was given a second chance at freedom something he didn’t even deserve!

Barabbas being set free and Jesus taking his place on the cross was a foreshadowing of our future story of what Jesus was going to accomplish for us. Barabbas’ name actually means “Son of Abba” or father. How coincidental the meaning of the criminal’s name who was released is the very thing that Jesus is to us, “Son of God,” our Father.

I wonder what Barabbas’s life was like after he was released. I wonder if he was thankful for his second chance at freedom or if he just reverted back to his old criminal habits? If I were Barabbas I would have been convicted of the new freedom granted to me.

Jesus someone who was innocent and didn't deserve to die took our place for us instead. Click To Tweet

I wonder if Barabbas was at Jesus’ crucifixion, standing at the cross thinking, this man saved my life and set me free (in more ways than we could ever imagine). I wonder if Barabbas looked at Jesus on the cross and thought, he took my place, that could have been me.

This whole scene sounds barbaric with the crowd yelling, “Crucify Him!” In the end, we can point fingers about who was to blame for the death of Jesus. In reality, it was all apart of God’s plan for us to be set free and forgiven. The only way for us to receive this amazing gift, was for God to sacrifice His only Son for us.

'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16Click To Tweet

Barabbas’s story is a physical representation of what God does for us every day. How he extends us His mercy and grace, even when we don’t deserve it. We are all criminals (sinners) just like Barabbas. I once was lost but now I’m found. God’s second chance of mercy and grace has saved and changed my life forever.

We are all given a second chance at freedom, just like Barabbas.

Have you ever been given a second chance that saved your life? Please Share!

The second chance God has given me has changed my life forever.

You have been set free. What an amazing and wonderful gift! Happy Easter!

Prayer–Lord, Set me Free from my burdens and the things I cannot control. Set me free from anything weighing me down not allowing me to live how you designed me to live, in freedom. I love you and praise you, God. I thank you, God, for sending Jesus to take my place even when I didn’t deserve it. Thank you for giving second chances. Forgive me of my sins. You have set me free, Lord. Thank you, in Jesus name. Amen

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I would love to hear from you! Leave Your Comments Below. I pray your week is filled with God’s abundant freedom! In Him,

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Do You Know What You Need?

March 22, 2019/2 Comments/in Bible study, Christianity, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, God's Love, Uncategorized /by Heather Gillis

Do you know what you need?

I can tell you better what I want more than what I need. I want a big piece of chocolate cake without reaping the consequences. I want my kids to be obedient without giving me a hard time. I want to work less, sleep in and go on vacation more. The same goes for my kids. I ask are you hungry, do you want something to eat? Ten minutes later they tell me they’re hungry. I’ve learned over the years don’t do what they say, do what they need.

What I need? That’s a different story. I know I need to be discipline even though I don’t want to. If I wasn’t disciplined I would eat whatever I wanted, let time go by and never get anything done.

Not knowing what we need is apart of most of our stories.

Did you know in America there are over 52,000 Self-Storage units? That means despite the 65% of Americans who already have garages to store ‘stuff,’ there’s an additional 21 extra feet to store more ‘stuff.’

In a study of overeating rats, Scientists examined their eating habits and their reward system (dopamine receptors). What they found was once the rats started down the path of overeating it drove them towards a dysfunctional reward system. In order to feel the ‘reward’ or satisfaction of eating they had to eat more in order to feel the ‘reward,’ which led them to their downfall.

It makes me question with our hoarding and addictive tendencies, do we even know what we need?Click To Tweet

Give me what I need not what I want.

One story in the Bible reminds me of what happens when we look within and seek God for provision instead of relying on ourselves or the world to rescue us.

In 2 Kings, a widow who was in financial trouble came to Elisha who her husband had worked for. She tells Elisha of her troubles, how creditors are looking for her. Elisha asks her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house? (2 Kings 4:2). She tells him I don’t have anything except a small jar of oil.

Elisha then tells her go to your neighbors and ask for jars, bring them back to your house, shut the door, pour the oil into all the jars and put them to the side (2 Kings 4:4).

“She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring until they were full” (2 Kings 4:5).

3 Lessons from the Heart:

Three important lessons can be learned from this message.

1. She Chose Wisdom. Out of desperation, the widow who was in fear of losing her two sons to the creditor as slaves, turned towards Elisha, a man of wisdom. As a widow she was in a desperate situation, no husband, no way to financially provide for her sons, she chose to seek counsel of a wise man (Elisha) instead of acting out her fear.

2. God Provided. Elisha asked, “What do you have?” When the widow came to Elisha, he didn’t immediately dive in to rescue her by giving her what she needed, he pointed her to look within to see what she already had. As Christians we are called to love others, but we also can be guilty of taking over the role as the Savior and rescue people from their situations instead of helping them gain the skills they need to do for themselves. There comes a time when helping helps and when helping hurts. Elisha didn’t create a cycle of dependency, he gave her the skills to utilize the resources she already had.

3. God Multiplied. The oil never stopped flowing until all the jars were filled. God used what she had and made it plentiful, into more than she needed. Elisha said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left. (2 Kings 4:7). The jar plan Elisha told her, sounded kind of crazy. But she trusted and obeyed and God multiplied what she had.

How Amazing is our God?

One thing the widow did that makes an impression on my heart is how she embraced the suffering. She was dealing with the grief of her husband, having to be the primary breadwinner/caretaker of her sons and deal with everything on her own. She didn’t throw her hands up, say ‘I give up,’ and let her sons be sold as slaves.

When she pursued wisdom and embraced the suffering, it drastically changed her situation.Click To Tweet

What do you need?

Looking at our world, there is an epidemic of brokenness. A world that turns towards crime, drugs, prostitution, eating, hoarding to fill a void of something we all desperately need–LOVE.

We can have everything taken from us but if we still have love, we have everything we need. Things and stuff can be replaced but the love from others cannot.

God’s love is the solution to brokenness.

God's love has the power to mend and provide in ways this world can never do. Click To TweetDo you need Love? Leave a comment below how can I pray for you?

The best way to receive love is to give it. Who can you love on? A widow, a person who needs groceries, a parent who could use a date night? Every small act of kindness makes an impact in someone else’s life.

Prayer- Dear Lord, Give me what I need, not what I want. When I ask for what I want, it makes me dependent upon worldly things that leaves me only wanting more temporary rewards. I need you Lord. I want you God. You are my Maker, my Lord who knows what I need. Help me seek you, stay focused on you so you can give me the desires of my heart. Help me be like the widow, who chose wisdom, had faith and trusted in you Lord and allowed you to lead her Lord. I thank you and praise you for who you are. In Jesus name, Amen.

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The Top 3 Most Powerful Influences In Our Life

February 15, 2019/4 Comments/in Christianity, Current Events, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, God's Love, Uncategorized /by Heather Gillis

Influence (Noun)- the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc., of others:

We are all under the influence of something. Cops use this phrase all the time, he was driving under the influence. Now there are breathalyzers and blood tests to measure someone’s blood alcohol level. When a person comes into the ER they tell us “I only had 2 drinks,” but the results of their blood tests, tells the real story.

In 2016 over 10,000 people in Colorado were arrested for DUI’s. Being under the influence of alcohol clouds judgement and allows not good choices to impact the future. Being under the influence, influences them in ways they would normally not be influenced.

'Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit.' Ephesians 5:18Click To Tweet

I don’t know if you’ve come across this verse before. But I always found it odd how the Holy Spirit is compared to wine. Looking closer I see why. Being intoxicated on wine ruins our judgement controlling our minds. Paul is trying to express to the Ephesians be filled with the Holy Spirit instead which leads to self-control. Sounds boring right? In reality we receive so much more in our self-control. Being filled with the Holy Spirit isn’t just a one time filling but a regular pattern of life.

What Really Influences Us?

FRIENDS. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been influenced by my friends when I was growing up. Somewhere along the way I valued what my friends thought more than what God thought. I fell to peer pressure over and over again, reaping the consequences every time. We are who we hang out with. If we hang out with others who curse chances are we’ll start cursing. If we hang out with others who (fill in the blank) ______________________ chances are we will start doing what they are doing. We are influenced by those in our inner circle.

“Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Corinthians 15:33

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17

“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20

THE WORLD. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

There have been so many times I’ve been intoxicated on worldly treasures. I made them more than God. I pursued worldly treasures instead of what God desired for me.

How often are we lured away by everything the world has to offer? We form little g, gods we bow down to allowing them to rule us. We chase dangling carrots, empty promises of being rich, false images that fall apart don’t last–all for what? This year I want to ask myself, what influences me? Following the world or Jesus?

POSITIVITY. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1. I admit I have gotten into bad patterns of negativity at times. I’ve allowed negativity to encroach my thoughts and spill out into my actions. How much more are you impacted when someone responds in love? When a person could have chosen to get angry and yell, but instead chose to speak love.

JESUS. His influence changed the hearts and lives of the world while he was on this earth and still impacts us even after he’s gone. The legacy of love, kindness, compassion, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, joy and patience is insurmountable.

I’d like to say church influences us. But really many of us, me included, for years have shown up to church sat there, listened to the message, let’s be real here, zoned out and thought of the hundred other things I’ve needed to do. I’ve sat there taking up space, but my heart wasn’t focused, wasn’t present. After leaving church, life just went on as if I never went. The message didn’t seep through.

The message didn’t influence me. Why? To be under the influence one has to receive. One has to partake. One has to be engaged. We can’t just expect to be under the influence of something by merely taking up space or by osmosis. Just like a car can’t run without it’s gas tank being filled with gas over and over, our spiritual lives can’t be influenced without being drunk on the Holy Spirit. Sounds weird right?

Being influenced requires a regular pattern of life. A regular filling. A regular receiving.

We may get mad at God and ask why has nothing changed in my life? The answer may be what influences us? Who do we hang out with? What do we spend most of our time doing? What music do we listen to? What words come our of our mouths? What are we really putting into our hearts, minds, mouths and minds?

There may not be a blood tests that measures what is the level of our spiritual influence. But there is an indicator in our lives that lets us know what influences us–what fruit is growing in our lives? An apple tree is recognized by its apples just as a lemon tree is recognized by its lemons. The fruit of kindness, gentleness, joy, peace and self-control is evident when it is growing in our lives. (Galatians 5:22-23)?

What kind of fruit is growing in your life?

If you would like to know what is preventing growth in your life, revisit the Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13. Read what sets a person up for success and eternal growth. There is no one else who influences us more than Jesus. His influence has transformed our hearts and lives forever that makes an eternal difference.

What Influences Your Life?

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The Great Escape

December 21, 2018/0 Comments/in Christianity, Current Events, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, God's Miracles, Holiday /by Heather Gillis

In a few days, Christmas will be over. Gifts will be given and presents will be opened. Just because Christmas will be over doesn’t mean the story of Jesus ends.

A very important prayer was answered over 2,000 years ago that changed the course of our lives forever. During the time of the birth of Jesus, King Herod an appointed Roman ruler was king of Jerusalem. He was a very ruthless and mean man. He murdered his wife, his 3 sons, his mother-in-law, uncle, babies in Bethlehem and many others. He was not a person the Jews wanted as their king. They very much were waiting and praying for a new king, one that would save them from Herod’s rule (Matthew 2:1-2).

It all started with the Magi, the wise men who were following a star that predicted the birth of Jesus, the king of the Jews. Even though the Magi were Gentiles, they went to seek Him in Jerusalem the Jewish capital city so they could worship Him (Matthew 2:2). But after meeting with the chief priests and teachers they discovered baby Jesus wasn’t in Jerusalem but born in Bethlehem.

When King Herod heard the news of a possible king being born, he was angry. He called upon the Magi to tell them “Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him” (Matthew 2:7). What the Magi didn’t know was Herod was an evil man and never had any intentions to worship the new king.

The Magi were overjoyed when they finally met baby Jesus and Mary. They brought them gifts and bowed and worshipped Him (Matthew 2:10-11). In their rejoicing, Satan was at work behind the scenes, using Herod as his vessel, creating a plan to have baby Jesus killed.

I love how God intervenes to protect His will and plan.

How was baby Jesus able to escape the evil plan of the Satan?

3 Ways God Intervened:

God warned the Maggi about Herod’s evil plan in a dream. The Magi decided not to return to Herod but back to their country by another route (Matthew 2:12). Herod learned he had been outwitted by the Magi, that he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under (Matthew 2:16).
God sent an angel to appear to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him” (Matthew 2:13). So Joseph and Mary left with baby Jesus to Egypt until the death of Herod.
After Herod died God sent another angel in a dream to Joseph telling him it was safe to head back to Israel (Matthew 2:19).

God was always one step ahead of Satan. He knew Satan was using Herod for his evil plan, in an attempt to stop one of God’s greatest plans ever—God is bigger.

God heard and answered the prayers of those praying for a new king and saved (Mary, Joseph and Jesus) from the evil hand of Herod. God provided a way to escape from the plans of the evil one. His merciful hands had it under control the entire time.

Satan will always be at work trying to prevent God’s plans from happening. Whatever our circumstances are please know, if God is able to provide Mary, Joseph and Jesus an escape from Satan’s evil plans then God is able to do the same for us. You are loved!

When we trust in God’s plans for us, He will always provide an escape for us protecting us from the plans of the evil one.Click To Tweet

The only temptations that you have are the temptations that all people have. But you can trust God. He will not let you be tempted more than you can stand. But when you are tempted, God will also give you a way to escape that temptation. Then you will be able to stand it. (1 Corinthians 10:13 ICB).

God’s timing and plan are perfect in every way. If God can answer a prayer from 2,000 years ago, He can answer yours as well.

Your Prayers Matter. Don’t forget to include PRAYER in Your Christmas Story. You never know what one prayer can do, it might just change your life or someone else’s.

Do you include Prayer in your Christmas Story?

What have you prayed for this Christmas?

Here is a Christmas Prayer for you.

A Christmas Prayer-

Dear God- Thank you for your amazing gift of Jesus this Christmas. Thank you for hearing our prayers and sending us Savior, a Messiah one that will redeem our world. You are so merciful and gracious. Thank you for sparing us and delivering us from the hands of the evil one. May your light shine through us this Christmas to others. May they see your bright light and know you have sent them a Savior. May everyone know and witness your love. May everyone receive the greatest gift of all this Christmas, eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Enjoy your families and know you are loved!

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A Letter From Jesus: A note to my inner Enneagram

November 23, 2018/0 Comments/in Christianity, Encouragement, Everything, Faith, God's Love, God's Miracles, God's Promises, Prayer, Real life, Struggles/Trials, Uncategorized /by Heather Gillis

This year has been a really hard year for me in regard to discovering things about myself I never knew. It’s been a year God has been using to grow me in ways I never knew I needed. I’ve done a lot of soul-searching, reading and just spending time with God. I’ve read books like “Kill the Spider,” “Soul Detox,” “Nehemiah,” and “The Road Back to You.” Based on the titles of these books you can guess what kind of person I am, which ironically I didn’t know about myself until just recently–I’m a perfectionist. Anyone who knows me would say, ‘there’s no way you’re a perfectionist’ based on what they see outwardly, but inwardly quite frankly, I beat myself up every day.

In Kill The Spider, I learned I need to kill the spider creating cobwebs in my life. If I never target the very thing creating the mess, the mess will just keep reoccurring over and over.

In Soul Detox, I learned I need to get rid of the things contaminating my life, whether it be relationships, things in my environment, or what I’m goes into my ears and eyes, holding onto things that are toxic will only make for more toxicity.

In The Road Back to You: An Enneagram Journey to Self-Discovery, I learned I am a one with a two-wing, which in enneagram language means I am a reformer at heart, I want to change the world and I have helper qualities. For anyone who has taken a personality test and doesn’t like to be pegged to a number, this is more than labeling you into a certain category. This book has helped me see myself the way God sees me, to not allow my flaws and inadequacies define me or make me stumble, but embrace them to be used the way God intended for them.

My flaws make me closer to God and more dependent upon Him. If I didn't have inadequacies, I wouldn't need God. Click To Tweet

I can be overly critical or judgmental of myself at times. I constantly go over in my head how I could have done things better, how something could be improved, what I wish I would have said. It can get tiring hearing these voices in my head over and over pointing out mistakes I’ve made, telling me whatever I did wasn’t good enough.

Sometimes I just need a break from myself and replace these nagging voices with what God says about me. I have to be careful not to allow the inner critic in me or my constant comparison to unrealistic standards pull me down to the point I can’t hear God’s voice. So I turn to the One who knows me best.

A Letter From Jesus:

Dear Child, You are loved. I want to remind you, you are good enough. You are more than your failures, you are more than your past mistakes. You aren’t the labels you have put on yourself. You are definitely not the lies the enemy has told you. You are who I say you are. I have created you just the way you are for a reason. Your flaws don’t define you, I do. I will use your flaws for my greater plan. Stay close to me. Depend on me for all your needs.

Find refuge and peace in my presence, don’t go ahead of me. I have the greatest plans for you. Trust in my goodness and in what I’m able to do. Don’t focus on your obstacles, your mistakes or flaws, stay focused on me and my purpose for you. I will guide you if you let me. I accept and love you for who you are. Don’t allow your flaws to hold you back or keep you from participating in the plans I have for you. Don’t beat yourself up. Don’t seek your value and worth in the comparison of others, find your value and worth in Me. Be gentle and forgiving with yourself when you make mistakes.

Surround yourself with my truth in who I say you are. I created you. Seek your identity in me, guard yourself against the lies of the world surround yourself with my truth. You may not be where you want to be, sweet child, this is a journey, not a race, enjoy it. You are one of my best creations. I find joy in you. I will be your strength. You are loved whether you succeed or fail. It’s okay if things aren’t perfect. I will use you to display my perfection. You are loved and you are good enough. I will never leave you. I am here for you, hold onto my promises, we will do this together.

Love, Jesus

A couple pieces of advice I give myself to help battle through the process of perfectionism are,

Give yourself permission to laugh at yourself. I tend to be serious at times and just need to have a good ole chuckle when I do make mistakes or don’t say things perfectly.
When the volume of your inner critic starts getting loud, smile and say I appreciate your help but I am learning how to accept and embrace my imperfections. Say, “I am who God says I am, He loves me just the way I am, it’s okay if it’s not perfect.”
Find a hobby you enjoy doing just because you like doing it. I have picked up card-making (I’m not that good at it), but it’s one of those hobbies I enjoy and give myself the liberty to mess up and be okay with it, because the cards I give to people give purpose to the reformer in me, helping others when life hurts.
Surround yourself with God’s word of who He says you are. Read Scripture about who God says you are (Psalm 139:14 and 2 Timothy 1:7). Listen to Lauren Daigle’s song, “You say,” or Hillsong’s song, “I am Who You Say I am.”

If you know anyone who struggles with perfectionism or who they are in Christ here are other helpful articles I’ve written that have helped me in the process.

Failures Don’t Define Us

You Are Not Qualified

God is refining us. One of the best lessons I am learning on this journey is to embrace God’s purpose for me despite my flaws and obstacles. If you are a One on the Enneagram and can relate to this message please leave a comment, I would love to hear from you. Authors of The Road Back to you write, “May you realize that the shape of your soul is unique, behind every facade of your life is something eternally beautiful. May you learn to see yourself with the same delight, pride and expectation which God sees you in every moment” (Cron and Stable).

Join me in the journey of embracing who you are in Christ by taking the Free Enneagram test and reading “The Road Back to You.” It’s not about labels but living in the healthiest version of yourself and allowing God to use all of you including your flaws.

Can you relate to this article? Please share. Want more encouraging messages sent right to your inbox? Subscribe to my blog and receive a FREE mini E-book “The Jericho Prayer,” and a weekly Monday Message or like my Author Facebook page to catch the latest posts. Have a blessed week!

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God's love has the power to mend and provide in ways this world can never do. Click To TweetDo you need Love? Leave a comment below how can I pray for you?

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What Really Influences Us?

Being influenced requires a regular pattern of life. A regular filling. A regular receiving.

What kind of fruit is growing in your life?

What Influences Your Life?

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God was always one step ahead of Satan. He knew Satan was using Herod for his evil plan, in an attempt to stop one of God’s greatest plans ever—God is bigger.

A Christmas Prayer-

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A Letter From Jesus:

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Parts of Mark Batterson’s Whisper How to Hear the Voice of God 5-day Reading Plan from the You Version Bible reading plan were used for this post.

Cron, I. M. (2016). The road back to you: An Enneagram journey to self-discovery. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press

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