Have You Heard? Christmas Is Coming!

Normally, I’m a Grinch this time of year. The holidays stress me out.
Too much to do.
Too little time.
What to give?
Who to give to?
But not this year.
The tree is decorated.
The carols are playing.
The wreath hangs on the door.
The table is set.
Gifts are bought, wrapped, and waiting under the tree.

What’s come over me?
Jesus is coming back!
Have you heard?
Have you seen?
The signs of His return are all around. Read Matthew 24.
So, it’s time to celebrate!
For unto us a Child was born.
Unto us a Savior was given.
NOW, is the time to let our light shine bright because the Bridegroom is coming for His Bride!

On that very first Christmas, there were some country shepherds living in fields, keeping watch over their sheep by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord appeared before them and said, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” 
And suddenly, a huge heavenly choir joined the angel singing praises to God: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace to all men and women on earth who please Him!” Luke 2:8-14 

I've realized this is not the time to be a Grinch! We need to celebrate Christmas like it may be our last one on earth. You make think, “What a morbid thought.” But, is it really? The reality of the world today is that we could be sitting in a subway, eating in a café, listening to a concert, in a college class, at a company Christmas party, and someone intent on violence comes and extinguishes our light forever. And there is no more time to shine bright for God. Will I regret missed opportunities to share Jesus because I was too concerned about the temporary when I should have been focused on the eternal?

As a Believer, I have good tidings of great joy. I have Good News of hope for a bright future and a peace about my eternal home. Can you imagine if the heavenly angelic choir had stayed silent on that first Christmas night?  That thought reminded me of my annual preschool Christmas show. Every year, there are children who refuse to sing. They stand on stage with pouts, tears, and stony faces while their disappointed parents sit in the audience. I got a visual of God, The Father, sitting in the audience of my life performance waiting for me to sing out praises and worship to His Son.  How disappointed He must be when I remain silent.

While the fear of violence and evil spreads throughout the world, Believers in Jesus should be singing and proclaiming:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you Good News of a Savior who was born and His name is Immanuel – God with us. He came to save us from the eternal consequences of our sin. He came to bridge the gap between a Holy God and a flawed people. He shed His blood on the cross to cover our sins with His Holiness and righteousness. For God so loved the world that He gave us His one and only Son, that who ever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life. All who call on the name of Jesus will be saved. There is nothing we can do to earn salvation. It is a gift freely offered by God. All we have to do is receive the gift of Jesus. For one day soon, Jesus will come back to set up His Kingdom and He will be KING of Kings and LORD of Lords and the government will rest upon His shoulders and He will be called Prince of Peace.”

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem inquiring about the King of the Jews. For they had seen a star in the East and they had come to worship Him. This news made King Herod and the people of the Jerusalem very troubled.  The wise men followed the star, until it stood still over the place where the young Child was. They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy, and fell down and worshiped Him. They opened up their treasures and presented Him with gifts.  Matthew 2:1-12

Did you know that on June 30, 2015, the Bethlehem Star was visible for the first time in over 2000 years?

“On June 30th, Jupiter and Venus merged into what is known as a super-star. The conjunction of these two planets has been building throughout the month of June and the result will be a dazzling bright spectacular on June 30th. Sky & Telescope suggest that a similar rare conjunction of Venus and Jupiter may have been what was known as the “Star of Bethlehem” in 3-2 BC and since then there has not been a brighter, closer planetary conjunction. That means that this is the first opportunity of seeing it so clear for 2,000 years!” Quote from article, "Star of Bethlehem" Visible For The First Time in 2000 Years.

And just like God placed the Bethlehem Star in the sky to point the way to Jesus over 2000 years ago, God placed the Bethlehem Star in the sky again this year to point the world back to Him. Do you think it is merely a coincidence that the Bible says that one of the signs of Jesus’ return will be wonders and signs in the sky? Four blood moons occurred between April 2014 and September 2015, and each blood moon occurred on a Jewish festival day (Passover/Tabernacles). Did I mention that the Bible says that one of the signs of the return of Jesus is a blood moon? (Acts 2:19-20, Joel 2:31) AND, the Bethlehem Star just reappeared after 2000 years during this same year!!! Can you hear God calling? Can you see His warning signs in the sky?

That is why Christmas is so important this year. It’s not about giving presents or receiving presents. It’s about celebrating The Gift that God has already given – JESUS – Immanuel – God with us.

This Christmas, will you receive The Gift before it’s too late. No one is guaranteed tomorrow so make that decision today.

Jesus said, "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks." John 14:27 (NLT); Matthew 7:7-8 (CEV)

Merry Christmas!
Love,
Yolanda

Cross the Finish Line With Thanksgiving

Last Thanksgiving Day (2014), I decided it was time to get moving. I was tired of being tired.
So, I started running.
I was 46 years old and overweight.
It was not easy.
But slow and steady became my mantra.

This Thanksgiving Day, I ran my sixth 5K.
It was the hardest one yet. All hills.
I refused to walk. I wanted to run the whole way. Every hill was test of my endurance.

I have never prayed more during a run than today.
With every step, I asked God to fill me with His Holy Spirit, to give me His strength. I asked Jesus to run along side of me and cheer me on.
As the praise music from my headphones renewed my spirit, I thought about how far I’d come in one year. My transformation has been more spiritual than physical. I used to say I couldn’t do something before even trying. I’d quit before I’d even start.  God has shown me that all things are possible for those who trust in Him to get them over the hills and through the finish line.

There’s a story in the Bible (Mark 9:20-24) of a father who asked Jesus to help his son. The father used the word “if”. “Jesus, if you can help…”
Jesus replied, “If? All things are possible for those who believe.”
The father replied, “I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”

That’s the journey I’ve been on with Jesus this last year.
“Jesus, I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”
Not just with running but in all areas of my life.
When I’m stressed, I cry out, “I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”
When I’m in trouble, I cry out, “I believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”
When I fear the future, I cry out. “I believe. Help my overcome my unbelief.”
Jesus keeps reminding me, “Everything is possible, Yolanda, when you believe. Just keep your eyes focused on Me. I’ll see you through to the finish line.”

This Thanksgiving, maybe you’re facing a hill that seems insurmountable. Maybe you feel like quitting before you take the first step. Those are the times to press in close to Jesus. Press in as close as you can by reading His Word and by inviting Jesus to run with you through life. The Bible says we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. That means we enter into His presence by remembering who He is and what He has done for us. And when we do, here is what God promises to do.

A message from the high and towering God, who lives in Eternity, whose name is Holy:“I live in the high and holy places, but also with the low-spirited, the spirit-crushed, and what I do is put new spirit in them, get them up and on their feet again.” Isaiah 57:15-16 (MSG)

God will put a new spirit in you. His Spirit. He’ll exchange your low and crushed spirit with His Spirit, and He’ll get you up and on your feet again. Will you take that first step towards God? He’s waiting for you to open your heart to Him so He can pour out His Spirit and fill your heart with His love. (Romans 5:5)

Happy Thanksgiving.
I pray the LORD pours out His Spirit on you wherever you are. I pray He comforts the brokenhearted. I pray His angels sustain those persecuted and imprisoned for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I pray He provides for those in need. I pray He appears in visions and dreams to those who are searching for Him. I pray He strengthens and renews the faith of those facing trials and tribulations. Jesus, we long for Your return! Come quickly, LORD,
Amen.
Love,
Yolanda

  

Speak No Evil

What God has said isn’t only alive and active! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His Word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. Hebrews 4:12 (CEV)

God's Word cuts right to the heart of the matter. That’s why when I read the following verse in James this morning, I said, “Ouch, LORD!”

If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and everything you do is useless. Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil. James 1:26-27 (CEV)

I can get so caught up in politics, injustice, and what I perceive as a big, black cloud of evil approaching on the horizon that my mouth runs away from me. I was literally shouting at my television the other day during a news press conference. My daughter heard me from her bedroom and wondered if mom had lost her marbles. She had.

Yesterday, I literally felt like the Apostle Peter, BEFORE his Holy Spirit transformation during Pentecost. The old Peter would spout off and say, “Not me, Jesus. I’ll never deny you.” Then he proceeded to deny Jesus 3 times. Or “Let me walk on water, Jesus.” Then he sank after taking his eyes off of Jesus and fear set in. Or he’d speak first and think later. At one point, Peter pulled Jesus aside and said, “Hey, Jesus, stop talking about dying. You're freaking me out.” (That's a paraphrase.) Jesus reprimanded Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:21-23 AMP)

A friend tried to lovingly point out my "Old Peter" behavior yesterday while I was passionately debating current world events. It didn't go well. I felt indignant thinking,“What are we supposed to do? Just roll over and let evil win?” I want to fight the good fight but I tend to go charging in like a bull in china shop. Kind of like Peter, my heart's in the right place, but I talk or act without stopping to pray for God's guidance first.

This morning when I read James 1:27, I felt like God was warning me, “Don’t let this world make you evil, Yolanda, even in the name of justice.” That is why it is so important for me to stay in God’s Word. It speaks truth, piercing my heart. It reminds me, the battle is not mine to fight. It’s God’s. I’ve read the end of The Book. I know who wins. Jesus wins and I'm on the winning side.

Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. And the one sitting on the horse was named Faithful and True. For He judges FAIRLY and then goes to war. His eyes were bright like flames of fire, and on His head were many crowns. a name was written on Him, and only He knew what it meant. He was clothed with a white robe dipped in blood, and His title was WORD of GOD. The armies of heaven, dressed in pure white linen, followed Him on white horses. From His mouth came a sharp sword (HIS WORD), and with it He struck down the nations. He Himself will rule them...And He has on HIS robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:11-16

God is a fair and just God. So even though I want justice to be done a certain way, just like when Peter chopped off the ear of one of the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus; God will have mercy on whom He will give mercy. Jesus healed the soldier's ear showing mercy and compassion. And just like Jesus has been merciful to me, by taking my sins on Himself, He expects me to be merciful and compassionate to others.

So my prayer today is:

Jesus, don’t let my heart be troubled. I believe and trust in You. Your Word says You are preparing a place for me and that You will come back again and take me to Yourself so that I can be with You for eternity. (John 14:1-3) You will never cast me out. (John 6:27). Forgive me for my sins that are a stumbling block for the furtherance of the Gospel. Forgive me for setting my mind on the things of man, and not on the things of God. Pour out Your Spirit on me and transform me like you transformed Peter. Help me to control my tongue. Thank you for shedding Your blood on the cross so that it covers me and makes me pure and spotless in Your sight. Give me your eyes, ears, and heart for the poor, the widows, the orphans, and the lost. Make clear Your will for my life so that I can serve You. Let all I do, say, and write be for Your glory and purposes. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Love,
Yolanda

The Power of Praying Scripture

Last night, I had a terrible nightmare. I won’t go into details. Let’s just say it was filled with persecution, death, and mayhem. Mostly mine. I woke up and my heart literally hurt in my chest because it was beating so fast. Normally, when I have a bad dream, I try to go to my “happy place” and think good thoughts so my mind will be distracted and I can go back to sleep. But last night, my heart rate would not slow down so I started praying and reciting scripture. At first, I could only think of the Our Father prayer so I started with,
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Your Name. (Matthew 6:9)
I kept repeating that phrase over and over again.
Then I went on with,
For God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I still felt unsettled and couldn't control my heart rate.

Suddenly, I remembered a scripture I’ve been memorizing with my daughter, niece and nephew. I recently decided that I wanted them to memorize scripture, and since I have them captive in my car for 20 minutes each day, I figured why not. I have made each of us spiral notebook and we memorize one scripture per week. The first scripture we memorized was Psalm 119:11

I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You.

I wanted them to know how important it is to memorize scripture. I told them there may come a day when the Bible is outlawed, like in other countries. We need to treasure and store God's Word in our hearts and minds so that when trouble comes, God's Word can guide and comfort us.

Well, I guess, God wanted me not only to talk-the-talk but also walk-the-walk, because in my time of need, our second memory verse came to my rescue.

So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will find help. Hebrews 4:16 (CEV)

I kept praying this scripture over and over in my mind and visualizing myself walking bravely to the throne of my Father in heaven where He treats me with undeserved kindness and helps me. My heartbeat slowed, the fear dissipated, and the nightmare ended. I began to pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ around the world whose nightmare of persecution, torture, imprisonment has not ended. Who have been denied a Bible in their cells. I prayed that God would send angels to minister to them. That scripture would come back to their minds and hearts to comfort them.

We must never take our Bibles for granted. We must treasure God's Word and hide it in our hearts while there is time and we are still free to do so.

Praying scripture is powerful. We are agreeing with God's Word and He releases His power on our behalf. When Jesus was being tormented by the devil in the desert, Jesus used the power of scripture to get rid of the devil. Jesus was modeling for us how to use God’s Word as a spiritual weapon against the enemy. That is why the devil is so bent on removing the Bible from our world and from our hands. There is victory in God’s Word and the devil must flee when God’s Word is spoken against him.

So, I don’t know about you but I’m going to fill up my notebook and my heart with scripture so that I am spiritually ready, with God's sword in hand, for the battle coming.

Love,
Yolanda

PS: Recently, some acquaintances and friends have been diagnosed with serious illnesses and I wanted to pray scripture over them. I wrote this scripture prayer to recite on their behalf. Feel free to pray this prayer for healing over yourself or personalize it by inserting the name of someone else. 

Healing Prayer
Jesus, you are the Great Physician. (Mark 2:17; John 5:1-9)
You are the Lord who heals. (Exodus 15:26)
By Your stripes we have been healed. (Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24)
You forgive all our sins and heal all our diseases. You redeem us from death and crown us with love and tender mercies. You fill our life will all good things. You renew our youth. (Psalm 103:3-4)
You will deliver us, because we hold fast to You in love; You will protect us, because we know Your name. When we call to You, You will answer us; You will be with us in trouble; You will rescue us and honor us. With long life, You will satisfy us and show us Your saving power. (Psalm 91:14-16)
Jesus, You said, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:21-22)
Jesus, through the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Name, I pray for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing.
Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, who has cleansed me of all my sins, I come bravely before the throne of my merciful God, who treats me with undeserved kindness and helps me in my time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Jesus, in the multitude of my anxieties, comfort my soul. (Psalm 94:19)
I’m crying out in trouble, save me from my distress. Send out Your word and heal me, snatching me from the door of death. (Psalm 107:19-20)
O LORD my God, I’m crying out for help. Restore my health. (Psalm 30:2)
Let those who fear the Lord NOW say, “His mercy endures forever!”
I will not die; instead, I will live to tell what the LORD has done. (Psalm 118:4; 17)
Let all that I am praise the LORD; with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.
Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me.
Please hurry, LORD, and answer my prayer. Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life.
(Psalm 143:7-8)
In Jesus Name, Amen.

Buried Alive - A Tale of Life or Death

Have you ever heard or seen something that triggers a memory?

A memory you’ve buried, deep down, over and over again.

One you’ve covered up with mountains of dirt.

Laid cool, green grass over.

Planted fragrant flowers to cover the stench of your sin.

But something or someone always brings it back to the surface.

I have.

Each time it happens, I lay myself back down in a grave of my own making.

Covering my head in shame

Choking on dirt

Guilty

Condemned

Hiding from God

The enemy stands gloating at my graveside;

Writing an epitaph on my tombstone:

"Sinner, hypocrite, worthless, disgusting, beyond salvation, liar, unlovable."

I cry out in despair, “God, I am all those things and more. How can you love me?”

The enemy picks up his shovel intent on burying me alive.

Suddenly, a voice like thunder roars from Heaven.

“Leave her alone! She’s mine!”

The enemy makes one last attempt for my soul, pointing fingers and shouting accusations.

“Look at her dirty and filthy in the pit of her own making. Why don’t You just give up on her already?”

But the voice from Heaven declares, “I see no dirt. I see no sin. I see only MY blood covering her. I see MY robe of righteousness draped over her shoulders. I see the seal of MY Spirit given to her as an engagement ring. I see her clothed in her bridal gown of pure white waiting for The Wedding Supper of the Lamb. And I see the crown I have place on her head.” (Isaiah 61:10; Ephesians 1:13-14)

A hand reaches into the grave and pulls me out.

“My child, remember whose you are. MINE! I paid the price for that sin that keeps bringing you back to the grave. That sin is forgiven. It is as far from ME as the east is from the west. It has no power over you. Greater am I living in you than the enemy living in this world. I will never leave you or forsake you. I love you with an everlasting love. Nothing you have done or will do can diminish that love. Even if you run and hide, MY love chases after you. And, I will always receive you back with open arms.” (Ephesians 1:7-8; Psalm 103:11-12; 1 John 4:4; Deuteronomy 31:6; John 14:1-3; Titus 3:4-7; Psalm 23:6; Luke 15:20)

Collapsing, my tear-streaked face on His chest, I hold tight.

“Thank you, JESUS! Thank you for dying on the cross for me. Thank you that You paid the price for my sins, past, present, and future. Thank you that You conquered the grave and death has no power over me. Thank you that You sit at the right hand of The Father and intercede on my behalf. Thank you that You promised to never give up on me. There is no other name under Heaven that is greater than Yours. At Your Name, JESUS, every knee under heaven, on earth and under the earth bows down.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

In that moment, the enemy shrieked and bowed down in defeat. He slithered away to find his next victim who was laying in a grave of his or her own making. 

But I held firmly to the hand of my Savior and walked out of the darkness and into the light.

R.I.H.P (Rest in His Peace)

Love,

Yolanda

This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending His Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in Him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust Him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to Him.

This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is. John 3:16-21 (The Message)

Freeze! Don't Move!

The word “freeze’ has taken on a whole new meaning for me. This school year, I have a preschooler who has mastered the “freeze pose”. When it’s time to transition from one activity to another, we flash the lights. When the lights go off, we freeze. When the lights go on, we clean up. Well, my little student takes this transition instruction very seriously. She’s created her own freeze pose (modeled here). At first, I thought it was hysterical, until God decided it was time for me to master my "freeze" pose.

You see, lately, I’ve been totally stressing. Oh, you know, little signs of God’s Judgment Day coming, such as:

• Four blood moons occurring during a Shemitah year and on Jewish festivals (Passover April 15, 2014, Feast of Tabernacles October 8, 2014, Passover April 4, 2015, Feast of Tabernacles September 28, 2015). And it just so happens that every time there’s been a tetrad of blood moons, significant events have occurred concerning Israel. Coincidence? I think not. (Luke 21:25) 
• The economies of the world collapsing and we seem to be on a fast track to a one-world currency. Did I mention this is an End Times prophecy?
• This last month, multiple nations deciding on an agenda that is basically preparing the way for a One-World Order. Did I mention this is an End Times prophecy? (Revelation 17)
•  The world is embracing the concept of a one-world religion. This religion will be led by a man of peace who claims all roads lead to heaven. He’ll say all gods are the same. It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you follow the golden rule. Everyone will be worshiping this religious leader because he’ll be promoting world peace and equality for all. Even professed Believers in Jesus Christ will drink the “all roads lead to heaven” kool-aide; ignoring the fact that Jesus said, “I am The Way, The Truth, and The Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6) This False Prophet will pave the way for the Anti-Christ and then he will show his true colors and force everyone to bow down and worship an image of the Anti-Christ or face death. Did I mention this is an End Time prophecy? (Matthew 24:24; Revelation 17, Deuteronomy 13:1-4)
• As the nations economies collapse and the world is thrown into chaos, a charismatic political leader is going to come on the scene. He is going to be promoting peace and security. He is going to make a deal with Israel, allowing them to rebuild the 3^rd temple.  He is going to be in cahoots with the False Prophet who will demand that people bow and worship the Anti-Christ. The Anti-Christ is going to force people to have a mandatory identification mark on their foreheads and right hand if they want to buy, sell, or work. If you do not bow down and worship the Anti-Christ and you refuse the mark, you will be beheaded. Did I mention this is an End Times prophecy? (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12, Revelation 13:16-17, Revelation 19:20)
• We are losing our freedom of speech, religion, and ability to protect ourselves in the name of political correctness and tolerance in order for us to be controlled. Hatred and persecution against Christians is escalating. Did I mention this is an End Time prophecy? (Matthew 24:9-10)
• The Middle East is literally a war zone, with nations aligning against Israel. Did I mention this is an End Time prophecy? (Ezekiel 38, 39)
•  And the last major sign of the coming Tribulation period is that all nations will abandon Israel. We see this happening now. An agreement will soon be negotiated that will desire to split the land of Israel, which is God's land. (Joel 3:2) God has a big problem with the nations dividing HIS land and when it happens, all Heaven will break loose. (Isaiah 63:1-6)

And even though I know that all of the above is foretold in the Bible to warn us so we can be watching and ready for the return of Jesus, I don’t know what God wants me to do with all this information. Does he want me to shout warnings from the roof of my house? That would probably annoy my neighbors. Does he want me to email everyone on my contact list? That would probably get me blocked from their contact list. Does he want me to keep annoying my “friends” on social media with all my doom and gloom updates because, seriously, that doesn’t seem to be working?

So, I’ve been praying and asking God to give me some kind of clue about what He wants me to do to spread the message. But, no clue has come.

Until the other tonight….

As I was driving home from getting take-out, I hear one of my favorite pastors on the radio and he says something like this, “I feel like this is a prophetic message for someone listening tonight who is wondering what God wants them to do.”

I slammed on the brakes and pulled over thinking, “That’s me!”

The pastor continued, “God wants 2 things from you.”

“YES! Clear instructions. OK, Lord, I’m listening. I can do 2 things.”

“First, do not be afraid. Second, do nothing.”

WHAT? Did I hear right? Do nothing?

The pastor was preaching a message on Exodus 14. Moses was leading the Israelites out of Egypt and Pharaoh had sent his armies after them. The Israelites appeared to be trapped with the enemy approaching from behind, mountains on each side, and the Red Sea before them. The Israelites were afraid and Moses told them:

“Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” Exodus 14:13-14 (NKJV)

The pastor explained that in the original Hebrew, the word salvation is translated Yeshua (JESUS). And the phrase “stand still” can be translated “do nothing.” So the scripture is telling us, “Stand still (do nothing) and see Yeshua fight for you and you will hold your peace.”

As I’m sitting in my car dumbfounded, the pastor reiterated, “God wants you to do nothing! He just wants you to rest in Him. Don’t be afraid of what is to come. God is in control. Remember He is for you, not against you. He wants you to be still in His presence and do nothing.”

Then the pastor read Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world."

Suddenly, my stressful world went dark. God had flashed the lights and whispered to my spirit, “Freeze, Yolanda. Stop what you’re doing and freeze. Do not be afraid. Focus your eyes on Yeshua, you’re Salvation, and see Him fight for you. If you do that, you will hold your peace.”

Then God flashed the lights back on, and just like He told Moses, “Tell the Israelites to move forward”, He was telling me, “Yolanda, move forward in faith.” So, that’s what I’m doing. I’m not looking back at the enemy. I’m not focusing on the mountains on either side of me. I’m keeping my eyes on the glorious flaming fire of my LORD JESUS who has promised to part the sea of chaos before me and get me through to safety on dry ground.

So, if there is anyone reading this who has felt like me, looking at an enemy approaching from behind, surrounded by mountains of trouble on either side, and seemingly trapped at a dead end, God wants you to "freeze", stand still in His presence, look up at the Salvation (Yeshua) of the Lord, and hold onto your Peace. He's fighting for you. He's going to part your Red Sea, and get you through to the other side.

Mighty is our God! Worthy to be praised! The Great I AM. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The First and The Last. Who was and is and is to come!

Psalm 62:1-2 (MSG)
God, the one and only -
I'll wait as long as He says.
Everything I need comes from Him, so why not?
He's solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle: I'm set for life.

Love,

Yolanda

Our Father In Heaven - Prayer

Our Father in heaven

Hallowed be Your name...

You will know at last that I, the LORD, am your Savior and Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.  No longer will you need the sun or moon to give you light, for the Lord your God will be your everlasting light and He will be your glory. The sun will never set; the moon will not go down. For the Lord will be your everlasting glory.

Your kingdom come

Your will be done

On earth as it is in heaven...

Arise, Jerusalem! Let your light shine for all the nations to see! For the glory of the Lord is shining upon you. Darkness as black as night will cover all the nations of the earth; but the glory of the Lord will shine over you. All the nations will come to your light. Mighty kings will come and see your radiance. In that day, I will make My Temple glorious! Your days of mourning will come to an end. Though you were once despised and hated and rebuffed by all, you will be beautiful forever. You will be a joy to all generations. For I will make you so.  They will call you the City of the Lord, and Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Look, I am creating new heavens and a new earth - so wonderful that no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation. And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and delight in My people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be no more. 

Give us this day our daily bread...

Your godliness will lead you forward and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day. The Lord will guide your continually, watering your life when you are dry and keeping you healthy too. You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

For since the world began, no ear has heard, and no eye has seen a God like You, who works for those who cheerfully do good, who follow godly ways. 

 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors...

LISTEN! The Lord is not too weak to save you, and He is not becoming deaf. He can hear you when you call. But there is a problem – your sins have cut you off from God.  Because of your sin, He has turned away and will not listen anymore…The Lord looked and was displeased to find that there was no justice. He was amazed that no one stepped in to help the oppressed. So He himself stepped in to save them with His mighty power and justice. He put on righteousness as His body armor and placed the helmet of salvation on His head… “The Redeemer will come to Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “to buy back those...who have turned from their sins.”

 Keep us from being tempted and deliver us from the evil one...

Keep the Sabbath day holy. Don’t pursue your own interests on that day but enjoy the Sabbath and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day. Honor the Lord in everything you do, and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly. If you do this, the Lord will be your delight. I will give you great honor and give you a full share of the inheritance I promised to Jacob, your ancestor. I, the Lord, have spoken!

O Jerusalem, I have posted watchman on your walls; they will pray to the LORD day and night for the fulfillment of His promises. Take no rest, all you who pray. Give the LORD no rest until He makes Jerusalem the object of praise throughout the earth....The LORD has sent this message to every land: "Tell the people of Israel, 'Look, your Savior, is coming. See, He brings His reward with Him as He comes.'" They will be called the Holy People and the People redeemed by the LORD. 

For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

For I, the LORD, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. I will faithfully reward my people for their suffering and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known and honored among the nations. Everyone will realize that they are the people the LORD has blessed.  I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For He has dressed me with clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bride with her jewels. Because I love Zion, because my heart yearns for Jerusalem, I cannot remain silent. I will not stop praying for her until her righteousness shines like the dawn, and her salvation blazes like a burning torch.

The LORD will give you a new name. The LORD will hold you in His hands for all to see – a splendid crown in the hands of God. Your new name will be the Bride of God, for the LORD delights in you and will claim you as His own. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.

Lord, hear my prayer.

In Jesus Name. Amen.

Yolanda 

Scriptures references are Matthew 6:9-15 and portions of Isaiah 57-62.

The Mad Run

I just went on a MAD run…

I was so upset that I couldn’t even drive myself to my normal running track.

I just put on my shoes, grabbed my headphones, and ran out the front door.

As my feet hit the pavement and the music drowned out all the world’s noise

I started talking to God.

God, I’m mad!

I’m mad that the world is spinning faster and faster into darkness.

I’m mad that women are being raped by men who think it’s their right.

I’m mad that children are being slaughtered because they refuse to denounce their faith in Jesus Christ.

I’m mad that my brothers and sisters in Christ are sitting in prison, tortured, and murdered for simply spreading the Gospel.

I’m mad that wrong is now right and right is now wrong.

I’m mad that the good guys are now considered bad guys and the bad guys are laughing all the way to the bank.

I’m mad that evil seems to be triumphing because good people do nothing.

I’m mad that political correctness has made us blind, deaf, and dumb.

I’m mad that babies are being killed and sold for their body parts and the world is silent but animals die and the world raises the roof in protest.

I’m mad because I want Jesus to come back right now but He’s taking His sweet time.

But mostly I’m mad at myself…

I’m mad because I’m impatient for You to come back and right every wrong.

I’m mad because I’m fearful that things are only going to get worse before they get better.

I’m mad because I feel helpless and I don’t know how to help.

I’m mad because I’m not sure I’d have one iota of the courage those martyred children had.

I’m mad because instead of praying I’m whining.

I’m mad because instead of praising I’m complaining.

I’m mad because instead of having mercy I want justice.

I’m mad because I want to escape when You want me to stand my ground.

So please help me, God, to not be mad anymore.

Help me see the world the way you do.

Help me to see people through the eyes of Your love.

Help me to pray for the righteous as well as the wicked.

Help me to have faith that You will work all things for good for those who love You and are called according to Your purpose.

Give me the wisdom to stand firm on Your Word.

Give me the courage to fight the good fight.

Give me the endurance to run the race You have set before me.

And thank you, God, for running with me tonight on the road of my distress.

Thank you for revealing Yourself to me in the glorious light of the sun shining through the darkness of the clouds.

You reminded me that You are here. You are always here.

You will not leave me alone to face what is unknown to me but known to You. 

You promised You would guide me through the dark days to come.

So use me God, however you see fit, to share the Good News that You are still working. You are still in control. Darkness may think it’s winning but You will be victorious. The day is coming when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Until that day, give me Your joy and peace so that I will not lose sight of You again.

I ask all these things in Name of my Savior and King, Jesus.

Amen.

Yolanda

  

Psalm 59:16-17 (ESV)
But I will sing of Your strength;

I will sing aloud of Your steadfast love in the morning.
For You have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.
O my Strength, I will sing praises to You, for You, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.

2 Peter 3:9 (CEV)

The Lord isn’t slow about keeping His promises, as some people think He is. In fact, God is patient, because He wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.

Isaiah 25:7-9
But for those who are righteous, the path is not steep or rough. You are a God of justice, and You smooth out the road ahead of them. Lord, we love to obey Your laws; our heart's desire is to glorify Your name. All night long I search for You...For only when You come to judge the earth will people turn from wickedness and do what is right. 

Isaiah 24:23
Then the Lord Almighty will mount on Mount Zion. He will rule gloriously in Jerusalem in sight of all the leaders of his people. There will be such glory that the brightness of the the sun and moon will seem to fade away.

Marriage - Fight the Good Fight!

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Ecclesiastes 4:12

My husband and I fight like cats and dogs. I think people took bets our first year of marriage on whether we’d survive to celebrate our first anniversary. Well, 20 years later, we're showing them. But what they don’t know is that we have a little secret to surviving the highs and lows of marriage… FEAR!

No, we don’t fear each other. However, we do fear SOMEONE.

I recently read a heartfelt post from a mom that encouraged women to make their men cower once in awhile. It was written in response to a husband found cheating on his wife. While I fully agreed with the underlining message of the post suggesting that we must raise our daughters to be empowered, independent, educated and strong, one aspect of the article made me cringe. Growing up, my sisters and I received wonderful advice from our mom about education, independence and confidence. That advice shaped me into the woman I am today and I’m very grateful. But the suggestion that women needed to breath fire and make their men cower made me cringe a bit. I thought to myself, “I don’t want a husband who cowers and fears me.” That would be emasculating and he would eventually resent me.

The post was written in regards to adultery, so I understood the message the writer was conveying; women should be a force to be reckoned with and, in the same situation, I would probably breath fire. But, as I see the world falling further into darkness and the return of Jesus imminent, my outlook is shifting from the temporal to the eternal. If I’m going to be empowered in the days I have left, I want that power to come from God and not myself. I want my daughter to be confident, strong, empowered but I want her to know that all power worth having comes from God.  And if she and I are going to breath fire, I want it to be Holy Spirit fire. The fire that takes hatred, anger, and selfishness and consumes it in a blaze of God’s glory and leaves in the ashes joy, peace, wisdom, grace, and love.

So back to marriage survival 101…
I truly believe that the only reason my marriage has survived and thrived is because of our FEAR of God. What? The Bible says God is love. Why should we fear Him? Because God says to! The fear of God I’m talking about is reverence, awe, respect, acknowledging WHO HE IS.
Creator
God Almighty
The Great I AM
The First and The Last
Alpha and Omega
The ONE who holds our lives in His hands, our every breath and heart beat
The ONE who counts our tears and knows our every thought before we have them

When we acknowledge how great God is, when we see God for who He is, then we see ourselves clearly for who we are. We become less and He becomes greater. We take ourselves off the throne of our lives and put Him back on the throne where He belongs.

Here is what God says about the kind of fear He expects:

Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God’s providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man. Ecclesiastes 12:13 (AMP)

God says the whole duty of men and women is to FEAR Him.

Let all the earth fear the Lord [revere and worship Him]; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.  Psalm 33:8 (AMP)

God takes pleasure in those who fear Him and these are His promises for those who do:

• The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love. (Psalm 147:11)
• The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7; Psalm 111:10)
• The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding. (Job 28:28)
• The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. (Proverbs 8:13)
• In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26)
• The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life. (Proverbs 14:27)
• The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear Him, and He makes known to them his covenant. (Psalm 24:14)
• He is merciful to those who fear Him, from generation to generation. (Luke 1:50)
• All who fear the Lord have no lack. (Psalm 34:9)
• The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. (Proverbs 19:23)
• Blessed is that man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments! (Psalm 112:1)
• God fulfills the desire of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. (Psalm 145:19)
• A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. (Psalm 31:30)
• Blessed is that man who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways! His work, wife, children, and grandchildren will be blessed. (Psalm 128:1-5)
• Our holiness is brought to completion in the fear of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 7:1)
• The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and life. (Proverbs 22:4)

Can you hear God’s heart?

Oh, that they had such a mind as his always, to fear Me and to keep all My commandments, that it might go well with them and with all their descendants forever! Deuteronomy 5:29

As the days grow darker and the signs of the End Times grow stronger, the devil knows his days are numbered. Jesus already won the war, the victory is His, but the devil is still battling and he does not want to go down alone. He is targeting God’s people and one of his favorite targets is marriage. He has declared war on marriage because marriage represents God’s covenant with His Believers. God calls Jesus our Bridegroom and the church His Bride.  The devil hates that! If he can get a foothold into our marriage and destroy it, he knows that he not only destroys our love for one another, he also blemishes our Christian testimony, and the ripple effects of that destruction go beyond your children, parents, grandparents, friends, neighbors, ministry, and so on and so on. And he gloats and rejoices and moves on to the next victim.

Everywhere I look, marriages are being ripped apart. However, even more heartbreaking than our human marriages falling apart are the collapsing marriages between the Bridegroom (Jesus) and the Bride (Christians). Christians are being deceived by the world and tempted into detrimental sin by the enemy’s lies. Because of their lack of knowledge of the Word of God, they are being lead away to their own slaughter by a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Apathy and lukewarm relationships with God are causing them to fall into the arms of adulterers who are offering cheap pleasure instead of everlasting love.

Did you know that when you put your faith in Jesus Christ and ask Him to be your Lord and Savior, He gives you an engagement ring? That engagement ring is the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14). That ring is a divine promise and unbreakable seal of possession. You are His bride and He is coming back for you. God has given us the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of the inheritance we will receive in Heaven as brides of Christ and children of God. (2 Corinthians 1:22)

I read a book once that described a warrior who had two men constantly fighting so he had them bound together, back to back. He told them that they would stay that way until they learned to work together. That’s the image that came to mind of my husband and I. We are linked, arm-in-arm, back-to-back, learning to work together, bound by our fear of the Lord and a reverence for His Word. I never want a husband who fears me. I want a husband who fears The Lord!

No marriage is 100% secure. Not even mine. The devil is always roaming searching for his next victim to devour. He’s waiting for a sign of weakness in our marriages to make his strike. My husband and I will probably fight like cats and dogs until one of us dies or preferably we are both Raptured because we have a little problem -he thinks he’s always right and I know that I am. We are always battling our selfish flesh. But the one thing we agree upon is that God comes first. We both know that every blessing we have comes from God’s goodness and grace. The more we love God, the more His Holy Spirit helps us love one another. We want to continue to receive the promises listed above for those who fear Him. We want His protection, wisdom, provision, salvation, and blessings for our daughter. I pray that is always the case, that we fight the good fight until we cross that finish line together.

So BRIDES of Christ (BELIEVERS), are you ready to fight the good fight? Remember who your everlasting Bridegroom is. Put on your armor and pick up the sword of God’s Word and get ready for battle. Pray for your spouse daily, in the authority that’s been given to you as a child of God and in the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that they always have a fear of God. My husband asks me to pray for him every morning and wants me to send him scripture verses via text. I envision my daily prayers for my husband like this: We are standing back to back, and the battle is raging all around us, he’s watching for the enemy on one side and I’m watching for the enemy from the other, our child is sheltered between us. Every time, he leaves the safe zone, he tells me, “Yolanda, watch my back and cover me.” Taking out the sword of God’s Word, my prayers unleash God’s army of angels to cover him throughout his day.

So husbands and wives, if you want to breath fire, if you want to destroy the dragon, then breath the Holy Spirit fire throughout your house, praying and singing in the Spirit. Pray for yourself first, that you always have a fear of God. Secondly, pray for your spouse and children that they are filled with the Holy Spirit, have a righteous fear of the Lord, and that they learn to hide God’s Word in their hearts. Because the Bridegroom is coming soon to take us to the Wedding Feast! Hallelujah! And we want to be found ready and waiting! I don't know about you, but I seriously can’t wait!!!

Love,
Yolanda

PS: I highly recommend the movie, WAR ROOM (2015). It's an amazing film that will inspire and prepare you for the spiritual battle by learning the power of prayer.

The Pesky Fly

Special thank you to my photographer, L.V.

Recently, two things happened that tried to rob me of my time with God. Very annoying!

First, I was about to hear a great message from a pastor, when a lady spilled her coffee a few minutes after he started speaking. Immediately, those of us seated next to her froze in indecision. Should we help her clean up or will that distract the pastor, causing her more embarrassment. As she was crawling around with paper towels, I’m literally sweating for her. I’m trying to keep eye contact with the pastor, appearing to listen so he would not be distracted, and feeling guilty for not helping her cleanup. Suddenly, I have to inwardly sigh thinking, “Seriously, God? Isn’t this just how life goes. We want so badly to give You our full attention and then life just spills all over us.”

Later that same day, during our staff devotions, a pesky fly kept buzzing around while our director was trying to share a message about the Fruits of the Spirit. As much as we tried to pay attention, that pesky fly would not leave us alone. Someone grabbed a fly swatter but it just kept flying out of reach.  I kept thinking, “Let’s just forget the fly already and concentrate on the message.” However, I knew that until that pesky fly was crushed, it would prevent us from relaxing in God’s presence and giving Him our full attention.

And that’s how life goes sometimes. Pesky flies will invade our peace until we get our fly swatter out and crush them. The sole purpose of these pesky flies is to distract us and keep us from God…

Once there was a pesky fly

Who kept buzzing in my space

Though I tried to ignore him

He’d boldly fly right up in my face.

“Lord, I want to hear from You

The words You want to speak

But this pesky fly

Won’t leave me in peace!”

The Lord paused in His message
And looked down at my distress.

“Lord, are You going to crush this pesky fly

Who’s causing me all this stress?”

“No, My Child, you must rid yourself of the fly."

“But why? You could easily smash him with Your mighty fist.”

“Because, My Child, you left the door wide open and invited him into your place.”

Awareness set into my soul.
Contritely I asked, “I’m sorry, Lord. Now, what should I do?”

“My Child, pesky flies can't bother you if remain focused on Me.
I want you to have a love for My Word and consume it daily; that will slam that door shut.

Put on My Spirit every morning; that will repel that pesky fly.

And pray and talk to Me throughout your day; that will crush him in mid flight.”

God leaned in close and whispered into my heart,

“And next time that pesky fly comes flying near your place, get out your spiritual fly swatter because:

Nothing can ever separate you from My love.

And though you may get distracted every now and then, I will always call you back to Myself because you are My Beloved, now and forever.

I have sealed and marked you as My very own. 
My Spirit dwells in you.
And in MY dwelling place, there are no flies allowed!”

So with Bible in one hand and fly swatter in the other, my mind and heart were set free, and God and I continued our conversation.

Job 11:13-20 (MSG)

Reach Out to God

“Still, if you set your heart on God and reach out to him,

If you scrub your hands of sin and refuse to entertain evil in your home,
You’ll be able to face the world unashamed and keep a firm grip on life, guiltless and fearless.
You’ll forget your troubles; they’ll be like old, faded photographs.

Your world will be washed in sunshine, every shadow dispersed by dayspring.
Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again; you’ll look around, sit back, and take it easy.
Expansive, without a care in the world, you’ll be hunted out by many for your blessing…”

Love,

Yolanda

Which Wolf Will You Feed? - Back to School Teacher Devotion

It’s time to go back to school. Summer flew by, especially since I’ve been preparing myself for a challenging school year. You see, my lead teacher, who I loved working with, is deserting me. OK, she’s not really deserting me. It just feels that way.

She has a good reason for leaving me but I still feel like throwing a preschool tantrum. She was a joy to work with. It was like working with Mary Poppins and Snow White all wrapped in one sweet package, which allowed me to be the occasional dwarf. When I was Dopey, she laughed at my jokes. When I was Sleepy, she surprised me with my favorite caffeine fix. When I was Grumpy, she modeled love and grace, which turned my Grumpy into Happy. I often joked with her that our teaching partnership was like good cop-bad cop. On the rare occasion she took a day off, our more timid preschoolers would cry and have to be convinced to stay with bad-cop. I understood their pain because I felt like crying myself. However, she taught me well so the class would survive until she returned the following day.

Every school year brings new challenges but when you add a major change, such as change in staffing or classroom, the challenges can seem overwhelming.

Recently, I saw the movie, Tomorrowland, which is all about the power of optimism over pessimism. The main character, Casey, has a conversation with her dad who is lamenting the fact that he will be out of a job as a NASA engineer. Casey, ever the optimist, reminds him of the story of the two wolves, “There are two wolves who are always fighting. One is darkness and despair. The other is light and hope. The question is which wolf wins? The answer: The one you feed.” As I sat and watched this brilliant film about hope conquering negativity, I reflected on this coming school year and I asked myself, “Yolanda, which wolf will you feed?”

It would be easy to throw a tantrum, whine, complain, and feed the dark wolf but here is what God says about feeding the dark wolf:

The Spirit and your desires are enemies of each other. They are always fighting each other and keeping you from doing what you feel you should…. People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds...[they] hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are  envious…No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom. Galatians 5:17-21 (CEV)

When we feed the dark wolf, we allow our flesh to control our thoughts and actions. We are “hard to get along with, angry, selfish,” Our negativity spreads like a virus in your workplace, home, and relationships. That is not what God desires for our lives.

You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. So don’t you see that we don’t owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There’s nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God’s Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! Romans 8:9-10 (ESV); Romans 8:12-14 (MSG)

So now that we know the dark wolf has to die, how do we feed the light wolf?

Step 1 - Prayer. Every morning, pray to be filled and renewed by the Holy Spirit.  I've discovered life is impossible without the Spirit of Jesus guiding me. There was a reason why Jesus told the apostles to wait for the baptism of the Holy Spirit before they went anywhere. He knew that they would need His Spirit residing in them to conquer their fears and to empower them for the work of the ministry. Praying in the Spirit has become an essential part of my morning. When I had postpartum depression, I would wake up overwhelmed and distressed every morning. I would look in the mirror and say, "Snap out of it, Yolanda." No matter how much I tried to snap out of it, I did not get better until I received help. When life gets overwhelming we can't power through it in our own strength. We can't will ourselves to snap out of it. Jesus, our Great Physician, wants to give us His Healing Spirit so that we can conquer the stresses that come with life. That is why daily prayer is essential for conquering the dark wolf. 

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. Ephesians 6:13-18 (MSG)

Step 2 - Read God’s Word daily, preferable first thing in the morning. God’s Word is food for our soul; better than any cup of coffee for waking us up. God’s love will flow through His pages nourishing our hearts. The more we read and learn about God, the more we’ll crave His Presence. God’s Word is addictive. I never would have believed this if I had not experienced the addiction myself. When I open my Bible, I expect God to speak to me. I have my highlighter ready for that scripture verse that God has prepared just for me.

I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me. Proverbs 8:18 (AMP)

Step 3 - Consistent church attendance. Some believe this step is debatable. I recently got into a friendly debate on this topic and I'll concede that church attendance is not a salvation issue. However, in my own life, it's a survival issue.  Take for example this morning, a little thing turned into a big thing right before church. I was stressed, anxious, and had a very heavy heart.
I prayed in the Spirit. Step 1 - check.
I opened up my Bible and read my daily reading. Step 2 - check.
However, I still felt burdened. Nothing and no one could have prevented me from going to church today. Step 3. 

There is something powerful, healing, renewing, life-changing about being in God's presence surrounded by people praising and worshiping Him with one voice and one heart. I go to church expecting God to speak to me through the message but also through the lyrics of praise music. God never disappoints me and never fails to show up. A new song, Prince of Peace by Hillsong United, was played this morning and here are some of the lyrics that ministered to my soul:

"You're always there

and You hear my prayer

My soul will know 

Your love surrounds me

When my thoughts rage war

When fear comes knocking

There You'll be my guard

When day breeds trouble

There You'll hold my heart

Come storm or battle

God, I know Your Peace will meet me there

Oh, be still my heart

And my soul will ever know

That You are God

And You heard my prayer."

When I heard those lyrics, it was as if God was giving me a hug saying, "Yolanda, I heard your prayers this morning. Don't stress. I will be your guard. Feel My love surround you."

So, other people may debate whether church attendance is necessary, but for me, it is not debatable because the God of Love and Peace meets me there. 

So this school year, instead of lamenting the loss of working with a sweet light wolf, I'm praying that, through the power of the Holy Spirit, I'm the light wolf that brightens up my classroom and workplace.

Let me ask you, "This school year, which wolf will you feed?"

Dear teachers, aides, directors, principals, students, and parents:
May the God of Peace bless you this year.

Love,
Yolanda

Dedicated to my Mary Poppins and Snow White, Heather.