GOD IS ABOVE ALL, AND BIRTHDAY BLOODLINE

Helen Marie and Sandra Renee

Greetings - 

Scriptures are from the King James Bible. 

Isaiah 44:3
...I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring. 

My birthday is April 30th and I'm honored to have been given Helen Marie as the lady who our Lord appointed to birth me.  Of course, my earthly father had a role; a tribute to him may be done at some point...

Glory to GOD who is above all.  It is He who has led me to write this appreciation to celebrate my mother.  Some weeks ago, I designed a key ring that expressed, among other things, "Courage is in our bloodline - Revelation 12:11."  Then on Friday April 20th, in a dream, I spoke to someone and confidently referenced my mother.  Then, in the dream, I boldly proclaimed to that person that I came from a courageous bloodline.  

Below is a recent tribute that I wrote about my mother.  I wrote the tribute on March 8, 2012 - weeks before I had the "bloodline" dream on April 20, 2012.

Tribute to My Mother, Helen Marie 

Her first name means “torch,” “shining one.”  Her middle name means “star of the sea.”  Many are blessed to know the immense joy and comfort that is experienced when provided constant assuring love by our mothers.  My mother graduated from this earth when I was a teenager.  While here, she was a precious jewel who shone brightly in the lives of her children and others who were fortunate to enjoy her presence.  Mama left no doubt that she was a treasure of love.  Truly, there were countless moments when I felt the realness of her beautiful soul, the loving and protective embraces from her tender arms, the necessary discipline from her places of wisdom, and her clear messages to folks when they violated her boundaries of what was acceptable relative to engagement with her children.  To me, she aced the role of motherhood.  Thank you, Mama!

My mother’s signature style was to give unselfishly even to those who took her kindness for granted.  With all that she endured, she remained an optimist.  My heart swells with immense gratitude to God for the cherished gift of my beloved mother, Helen Marie.  Indeed, she lived up to the meanings of her names “torch,” “shining one,” and “star of the sea.”  Blaze on, Mama, blaze on.  Truly, you are a star.  It’s my joyous pleasure to be of your beautiful bloodline.

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Note: My first name, Sandra, is derived from Alexander which means: "defending men" - "to defend, help/protector"

My middle name, Renee, is derived from Renatus which means: "born again," "reborn"

Over the months our Lord has shared that He does blessed things for me, first - for His names sake - then for my sake as reward for diligence in seeking Him.  Also, He's shared that He shows favor to me for the sake of my parents because they walked uprightly before our Lord.  Thank You, glorious Father!

Of course, our Lord rewards and shows favor to all who abide in Him...  Here I've expressed what He shared with me.

This month, for the first week, the Spirit led me to consecrate to our Lord.  It was such a gain.  Later, He instructed me to consecrate to Him the first week of every month.  Until our Lord instructs me otherwise, that's what I'll do.  He hasn't led to share here what my consecration involves but surely the purpose is to spend more than usual time with our Lord in communion and intimacy beyond what is my norm.

Several years ago, I read where a holy man of GOD stated that if we can eat three natural meals a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner, then we can spend time with our Lord at least three times a day, as well.  That quickened me and since then it's been my practice to spend at least three times a day in fellowship with our Lord.  In the morning is my lengthiest time with Him.

In the Holy Bible, it mentions that Daniel was on his knees to our Lord three times a day- Daniel 6:10.

Psalm 55:17
Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Psalm 119:164 
Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Psalm 1:2
But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Joshua 1:8
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. 

This week I heard a testimony from a minister that struck me strongly.  He expressed that his practice is to spend time with our Lord three times a day.  He mentioned that once he missed about a week of devotions with our Lord.  Later he asked our Lord why He didn't rebuke him for not spending devotions with Him as he usually did - three times a day.  The Lord told the minister that such devotion times result in deepness in Him but that He, GOD, doesn't require such deep communion with Him.  Further, our Lord told him that such has to be desired.  "You have to want it," GOD told the minister.  Wow!  That had major impact on me.

Earlier this week, our Lord gave me this scripture: 

2 Corinthians 9:6
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 

When I heard that minister's testimony, the Spirit brought to my remembrance that scripture in 2 Corinthians 9:6.  Previously, whenever I read that scripture, I associated it with material things but our Lord taught me that it also applies to how we sow and reap spiritually relative to our devotion to our Lord.

Prayer: 

Father, please help us to keep You as our FIRST LOVE for we breathe Your precious air.  Increase our knowledge of You, dear Lord, as we purpose to steadfastly draw nigh to You.  

Thank you, Lord - Amen

You may wonder what are some of the main things that I desire for my birthday.

The top three things: 

- To love GOD more deeply
- To utterly obey and to wholly trust and follow GOD firm unto the end
- To live a holy lifestyle to impact others so that they won't go to hell.

Please pray that we who profess Jesus as Lord will steadfastly be DOERS of the Holy Bible.  To GOD be the glory!

Thank you for your love and prayers.  Certainly, you are in my prayers, as well. 

Numbers 6:24-27

The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:

The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:

The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

DEATH OF TOXIC RELATIONSHIPS

Copyright 2012 - S. Hicks
Photo available from http://www.photoflourish.blogspot.com/ 

Greetings  -

How many of us are in continuance mode with relationships that are dead weight associations? I mean they add nothing to us but certainly subtract from our positive progressive journeys. The subject relationships could be relative to family, friends, acquaintances,  and dating associations. I don't exclude from these descriptions some “Christian” connections which can also prove hazardous to godliness.

Our Lord does appoint us to minister to the dead and instructs us to be mindful that we were once dead ourselves. It is, however, crucial to be in tune with our Father to discern when to move on as the Spirit leads. My experience has been to linger too long where I should have cancelled some “subscriptions” to relationship “magazines.” Fool that I was, I remained in the “pages” well after the expiration dates. Hampered spirituality was the result when I continued engagements where I no longer had any business.

We can allow vice grips on our emotions that cause us to cling to toxic connections. Why do we cling? The reasons vary. Fear readily comes to mind. We can fear the absence of the entanglements. Granted, the entanglements are toxic but we foolishly desire them, regardless. Often, we are afraid to disengage. We have become accustomed to the presence. Inner battles rage.

We know better but are afraid to do better. What will it mean? What can replace them? Reluctance is stronger than logic.  There is hope. Undoubtedly, it can be difficult to trade in liabilities for assets. One reality is that assets aren't always immediate after cancellation of liabilities. Hurt tends to be the immediate consequence. Separation anxiety is a definite result. Tough it out, though, because rainbows can be a certainty.

It is absolutely a surety that we can rise above the pain. What is vital is a heart to work through it with awareness that it will hurt but conquer we shall.

Emotional warfare is an apt way to describe it. We must purpose to do it and allow nothing and no one to impede our journeys to wholeness. GOD can show us the paths of life. His question is, “Do you want to press on to gain it?”

Recently, someone gave me declarations that, in essence, amounted to rejection of me. Gratitude is felt for that rejection because I learned that inwardly I've come to a new place. What he said was beneficial for me to know. It may, to some people, seem odd for me to express gratitude for rejection. The truth that he spoke resulted in some measures of freedom for me. Something shifted within when I digested the content of his words. That shift has been instrumental in turning some things right side up. I am thankful.

Burial of dead relationships is essential to move forward. We cannot embrace freedom if we cling to death.

In the interest of balance, I cannot conclude here without inclusion of another aspect on the matter of toxic dead relationships. Evidence supports that there are instances that the dead can live again or live where there was no previous life. Once toxic doesn't necessarily mean always toxic. Remedies do exist to bring the dead to life.

Happily, toxic dead marriages have been revived, healed, and restored to blissful unity. Family estrangements have gained healing. Those are glowing reports.

My experiences have also proved that it is possible to have peace in the presence of storms. Dissension has surrounded me where I had to reside, that is, relationships severed but I had to, for seasons, remain in the same physical places. I learned to go and glow in spite of it. That meant that heart disconnection happened before physical disconnection occurred. Immediate physical relief isn't always attainable. What can be attained, though, is a heart set to reject attempts to discourage joyous progression. Peace can be resident in the midst of toxic dramas. Determine to sing in the rain. Escape before you leave. Leave intact. Victories are choices that begin in our hearts.

Wisely consider relationship choices. Ponder and select what is reasonable, safe and responsible. Chances are some relationships can be “saved” while others should be categorized as permanent deaths. Let’s face it – all cannot be salvaged. The better we discern and understand the differences, the more liberated we shall be as whole beings on this great planet earth.

Written Friday August 6, 2010
Revised Sunday September 26, 2010
© Copyright 2010

Note: This is an excerpt from my $4.99 e-book, Warfare Solutions Loaded with the Lion of Judah.

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