Shower Revelations Part 1

Have you ever thought, man I get the most information and the best answers to life in the shower? I do lol. This is something God showed me in the shower 😆. 

The difference between an educated man, a spirit-filled man, and an educated Spirit-filled man. 

It's like a cupcake. An educated man is the cake. Is it edible? Can your stomach be filled with it? Absolutely. 

A spirit-filled man is the frosting. Is it edible? Can your stomach be filled with it? Absolutely. 

An educated, spirit-filled man is the frosting and the cake. It's the whole package. 

See, a spirit-filled man has great influence but has to pray that God would cover where he lacks. Most of the time if not every time God does. God has to stand in the gap. 

An educated man battles with pride and the idea of all-knowing. See the educated man at times never seeks Godly advice because though education is a tool, it can be crippling. Sometimes man will rely on his own capacities and his own knowing as the "best" knowledge. This is where he lacks. Just man alone will always fail. 

 I think where the tricky part comes into play is the spirit-man relies too much on God to do the job whereas there are things that we can do to make the job happen quicker. There's the natural and the supernatural. The spirit-man lives by and in the supernatural always waiting on miracles from God. We as humans, can do things in the natural and not rely own miracles. Can God do all things? Yes. But, instead of making God work double time to stand in our gaps of lack and having to shift people and shift circumstances and shift doorways, we could be working on our end to make God's promises come quicker. 

I saw a quote this week that said this, we can't ask God to guide our footsteps if we're not willing to move our feet. 

If we are working to be the spirit-filled educated man, God will honor that and bless that way quicker than just relying on God to send a miracle. As we work, He is working. And don't give up! Just cause a promise or desire takes a little time to get here don't give up and just say... I'm just believing God...

It's like the picture of a miner digging for gold who had dug for days but never reached it and quit digging. But what he didn't know was just one more strike and he was there. 

Bottom line...make God's job easy by doing all that you can do In the natural whether that be education, practice, seminars, tutorials, whatever so that His work becomes easy in the supernatural. 

2 Samuel: David

Been a minute! With school starting again, I have come home beat. But! I just finished 2 Samuel. I am so proud of myself for getting this far since February! David had no bitter or revengeful word over the death of his greatest enemy.He mourned the death of his enemy. Saul lived as though he had not been anointed. In reference to David, just cause you are anointed doesn't mean that it is for that day and that hour. David was anointed as a teenager but, was not made king until he was 30. David's first act as king was he blessed those who buried his enemy. Abner's death was the most wicked in history. The Lord rewards the doer of evil according to His wickedness. The capital of Israel was moved from Hebron to Jerusalem. David succeeded in always seeking God's will first over His own choices. The biggest victories are won in the valley. One sin usually leads to more. 1) To look upon unGodly things 2) Lust 3)Adultery 4)Deception 5) Drunkenness 6) Murder Something so small can lead to something so extreme. 1 Sin can have the reprecussions of 20. What is done in secret God will always bring to the public. The Crown of the King of Ammon weighed 131 pounds!!!!! WHAT!!!! Lust is so unhealthy it can cause sickness. You cannot serve and work for the Lord and also be dividing His people. Words have quicker mileage than actions. David lost two sons because he did not confront sin. Absalom only needed to know that he was loved and accepted. David allowed Absalom to question his relationship which led to rebellion. We can't say things are from God just because He allows something to take place or because he takes no action against it. Accepting everything as God is noble, but isn't always truth or fact. Lust causes loss. Something good in the wrong timing is no good at all. Regardless of how good or perfect as man and his work may be, there is always someone better. There is no matter hidden from the King. In every gathering there's always a person seeking division to promote their own desires. Even if it hurts, we are to hold true to whatever vows we make. The giants race ended during David's reign. David took his eyes off God and looked at his success. Regardless of our opposition, if told to do it, do it!

1 Samuel: Overcoming Evil with Good

Whew this book was packed full of stories and characters! Here's my nuggets from 1 Samuel! 

Men of God can miss God or mess up just as any other person just as Eli had assumed Hannah was drunk when her prayers were just like no one else. (Don't assume to know the story behind someone's glory.)

Hannah! 

Wow. I want to read more on her! She was barren and wanted a child and she trusted in her heart it would happen and she PUT AWAY HER GRIEF. That's how much she trusted! Her countenance completely changed by the faith that she had in her heart that she would have a child. 

At this time we see the tabernacle had become contaminated or corrupt. The church ministers were using it at their own means. You can minister AND be in the church and Not Know God. 

What God begins, He also makes an end. 

I feel like at times the Phillistines had more fear of the Lord than the Israelites. Even pagans recognize power. 

We see just like Lot's wife, curiosity killed the Israelites that looked into the ark. 

Physical goodness is never as good as the high quality of character and mind. (Saul vs. David)

Samuel lived a blameless life. 

Convenience - Squelches faith. 

Not doing what God tells you is worse than fooling around in an occult. 

Rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft. 

When we reject God's word, He rejects us. 

Fearing Man over God- Aaron and Saul

Repentance shouldn't be out of fear but out of separation. 

God always has a man for the job. 

Samuel was more obedient than Abraham. 

The Lord looks not on appearance but on the heart. 

I'm not even going to begin to talk about David. David deserves his own blog post. So that will come later.... 

Worship song I suggest: Champion by Katie Torwalt. Goes hand in hand with David and Goliath! 

Ruth: Parent Prayers

Super quick! I'm back! Well, Ruth is only four chapters lol. Soooooo here we are! 

I'll explain what I mean by parent prayers at the end... Here are my nuggets from Ruth!

She is the great grandmother to King David. 

She was a Moabitess, the Moabites held Israel in captivity for 18 years. The Moabites were one of the cursed people created through Lott's daughters. 

There was a famine in Canaan (the land of milk and honey). Israel had brought death to their promise by all their apostasy. 

Israelites were not to marry Canaanites and we see here they had transgressed that law many times over. 

Ruth being a Moabitess lived a pagan life. However, after her husband died, she was willing to adjust, change her entire life to be with Naomi and accept the Israelite God. After Rahab, this is the second woman on record laying down a pagan lifestyle to join the Israelite life. 

She was patient, humble, a stranger and because of her sacrifice she gained favor. 

Good that is done will be recognized, maybe not today or in this lifetime but, it will be in eternity. 

There are blessings stored up for us behind the scenes. God works in the unseen places just as much as He Does in the open places.

Ruth must have been gorgeous because *without delay* Boaz went to the elders at the gate to discuss his kinsmen redeemer possessions. 

Bethlehem became famous due to the blessing given to Boaz and Ruth. 

Boaz was Rahab's son. (THIS RIGHT HERE IS HUGE)

Parent prayers. I think all prayers are important but, out of a parent's heart there comes a different cry. I think back to Samson's parents. They knew their son had a call on his life and they called on the Lord multiple times to seek guidance how to raise him to please the Lord and to make sure he reached his purpose on Earth. I think for those parents who stay in a prayerful lifestyle, God shows them things that their children don't even know about their lives. And because of this, many times the children can refuse their advice because they don't know and see what their parents know and see. Naomi thought God had left her and cursed her because her husband had passed as well as her sons. She thought her family was over. But what I love about her is even though she FELT like that, she continued to DO things for Ruth and POSITION Ruth to receive promotion and blessing in the form of a new husband. Naomi was the reason (besides God) for Ruth meeting and receiving Boaz as her husband. Naomi could have easily allowed her situation to control her and keep her from going back home. But she didn't. She had the best for Ruth in mind during this hard season for herself. Mothers know. Parents know. I think parents (good parents) see their children through eyes that are looking at potential and purpose instead of what looks good at the moment or through gain. I'm not saying parents know everything or are right in everything but I think when it comes to their children, they try their hardest to do right for them and to them and give advice according to their children's calling, purpose and potential not based on their own wishes and path. If this isn't the case for all parents, Naomi's story has shown me what kind of parent I want to be. 

Judges: Leadership

It almost won. I came close to saying that along with Deuteronomy, Judges was going to tie with the Deut and be another favorite book of mine from the O.T. but, due to it's ending whoof! No thanks. Deuteronomy still has first place. However, leadership is a very close topic to my heart and Judges showed me so much about leadership. I feel like it's one of my callings besides teaching. Judges was super entertaining and had a lot of cool stories in it that I had no clue that was located in that book. Here's so nuggets from the Judges! "A generation arose that knew not the Lord" - This hit hard in my heart. For all that God had done to save the Israelites bringing them out of Egypt, giving them a route through a body of water, performing miracle after miracle, He instructed Moses of ONE THING. Keep my commandments and teach the people to always remember the things that I have done for them. Here in this scripture we see that along the way, after Joshua, the people quit talking about God, discussing the blessings that He had given them and quit recalling all that the Lord had done for them. This sets up the stories to follow of all the destruction and moral corruption that is to take place over the next few years. So bad, it had crept into the very Levites who were the ministers at this time. THE CHURCH HAD BECOME CORRUPT. Because they had taken their minds off of God. So a generation was born and raised without any knowledge of God. We cannot afford to forget God. God will always raise up a standard amidst wickedness. Without leadership, people are left to do what is right according to their own eyes. God is a God of covenant. When God is in control there is peace. When God is not in control there is bondage. Deborah - First woman recognized with authority. She was a leader. She heard from God and the Israelites followed and respected her leadership. God does not forsake us. We forsake him. Gideon was the least in his family. Jerubaal: Let Baal Plead (Gideon was renamed Let the Devil Plead) How freaking awesome is this?!?! Ishmael and Midian were half brothers from Hagar. Back then in their culture you were known by your jewelry. Where there is no accountability, there is no right-standing. From our ears our hearts are led. Impatience and wrongly given positions to those not called to those positions can bring destruction. God gives choice. Meaning with free will He ultimately allows the choices to be made because He has to according to His Word. God allowed Abimelek to lead for 3 years but, in season, He removed Abimelek in leadership. Men of Schechem - the very ones who helped plot the murders, were the very onces to first turn on Abimelek. What distracts our hearts can bring death to our body. God permits the reaping of what has been sown good or bad. God does not forgive mere words. Jephath's daughter was the first nun. By this time, Israel had turned on God eight times. Back and forth with serving and worshiping the Lord. (backsliding) Sight of the Lord - sometimes the world will tell us what we are doing and how we are living is okay, but, the world shouldn't be as believers what we look to, it's the Lord we should be aiming to please. His sight and the World's sight are two different things. God gave Samson a calling from the Womb. Marriage was celebrated for 7 days!!!! A week long feast!!!!! Samson - a man of strength had very childish behavior always trying to take vengeance which wasn't his. Samson's desires always got him in trouble. Delilah was given $3500 for cutting Samson's hair and revealing his strength. Satan's temptation comes in the form of things we like. Goodness doesn't follow the works of Christianity, goodness follows the faith in Christ. Moral Corruption follows backsliding. Civil strife begins among Israel and we see the Tribe of Benjamin almost entirely cut off. Even in anger we must be just and fair. When we shield criminals we become party to the crime. When we shield wrong-doing we become party to the sin. So we see that ALLLLLLLLLL OF THIS mess happened because of what I stated at the beginning.... "a generation arose that knew not the Lord"

Joshua : Take Courage

It took me a little time to get started back in Joshua.... After Moses died I was a little down lol. (He's my fave right now) as my husband said lol, "Katie, what are you going to do when you meet Jesus?" Haha 

Joshua was short and quick! This is what I saw.....

The key to success is obedience. The key to obedience is meditating on the Word. 

Rahab is in the lineage of Jesus. She had no relationship with God but, because she had HEARD of the God of Israel she had turned to save the two spies in hopes of safety which she received. 

The Story of Jericho is a story of obedience and patience. 

Joshua became the leader of Israel at 80 years old. 

Committing one sin brings the same result as a multitude of sins. 

What is hidden will always be brought to the surface. 

People try to join your side when there is always blessing and favor. 

When opportunities come to your door, always talk to God first. 

Fame attracts. 

Murmuring leads to division. 

Caleb was a man of truth and bravery. 

Be careful what you ask for. - Manasseh

JOSHUA CALLED THE EARTH TO STAND STILL AND THERE IS A DAY RECORDED IN HISTORY THAT IS MISSING! #what 

A soft word turns away wrath. 

Inquire before accusing. 

Joshua saw the fulfillment of all of God's prophecies for Abraham, Jacob, Isaac and Moses. Everything God had said, had been won and inherited. 

God does not make errors. 

I think reading Joshua right now is a timely book for this season. I'm noticing a word going out of the call of Joshua. Two worship leaders have both just put out a song called Take Courage (Kristene DiMarco and Lindy Conant) I highly advise you to listen to those songs! I'm going to wear those songs out! Music definitely is the easiest key to getting things imprinted in your mind and spirit. So TAKE COURAGE! 

Deuteronomy: Plan and Purpose

Finishing Deuteronomy tonight was bittersweet as I watched the final words of Moses being written. (My Homeboy) Here's the tidbits I gathered while reading the Deut. :) Out of all the books of the Pentateuch, I think this one was my favorite and the book that I gathered the most from. It showed me as well, though God enforces law He gives all the warnings for disobedience to show those which way is easiest for a prosperous and abundant life. God warns the Israelites over and over and over again of things NOT to do so that they aren't punished. Like He basically made it ridiculously easy to NOT get in trouble. Yet, Israel stills goes their own wayward route. "Take heed" And where there is disobedience, consequences must be enforced. God must perform His word. So here we go!!!!

Moses wrote Deuteronomy all in one day. The day of his birthday, and the day of his death. (Feb. 1st.) God hears the small as well as the great. He goes before us and fights for us. Miracles do not cure unbelief. Encourage your leaders. Sin blocks blessing and promise. Obedience prolongs life, disobedience quickens death. God teaches and addresses teaching and raising up children. "Don't forget where you came from." The law was always taught to new generations. Being brought into blessing we can forget who gave us the blessing and what it took to walk into blessing. Backsliding IS a possibility for believers. It IS possible to know God and turn from God. The most possible time to forget God is during success. GOD ALWAYS GIVES WARNING. 40 years of rebellion and God still pursued Israel. (That'll preach!) Your call and purpose never leaves you no matter how many mistakes you make. Israel was spiritually immature. Coming out of bondage they had no direction and self-control like children because they had been in control all of their lives. Moses fasted 80 days!!!! The longest on record. To appear as though you have nothing to lend is considered wickedness. Don't give to earn merit or to put on a show. (PREEACHHH!) Deuteronomy is the first mention of Christ. "I will raise up a prophet" At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall matters be established. Don't listen to just one person before making judgements, hear two or three. Fingernail polish is as old as Deuteronomy. :D Stubborn sons were to be stoned! ***Steps on Toes*** 

Erasing Distinctions - God really showed me a lot of his heart in this book mainly transgenders. I would be reading and the transgendered community would just continually come to my mind. Once again I do realize I am reading the Old Testament and Jesus has not come on the scene yet. But, what I saw in Deuteronomy was that God was very distinct and aware of his creations and of all the things that He made. He never looked at something He made with His headed tilted kind of like, huh? What is that? If His hand was involved He knew what He made and created. God has never been a God of confusion. His work is good and perfect from conception. I really took this word in my heart for those who have Identity problems and God would have them know, any thing of confusion is NOT from Him. He has made you perfect and whole and when questions arise KNOW God is not a God of confusion. He has a distinct plan and purpose for each person breathing. He turns curses into blessings. Breaking a vow against God was considered sin. God holds us responsible for our words. Divorce on scriptural grounds is not sin. His love is unconditional but His blessing is conditional. He takes care of what is hidden. Every seven years is to be the year of release and every three years is to be the year of giving. This is the last time God appeared to Israel in a pillar of a cloud when Moses transitioned leadership to Joshua. God knows our imagination. "Be Strong and of Good Courage"- Moses' last words to Joshua. Observe His Word and Keep His Covenant - this is said about alkfuewamfciuonwlakec times. Lol Ch. 32 - This might have been the most powerful chapter I have read in all four books. In this chapter God tells Moses to write a song of the last thing He would have Moses tell Israel so that they can remember it always. God prophecies the future by saying I know Israel and even though I have laid out in front of them life and death AND I HAVE TOLD THEM TO CHOOSE LIFE, they are still going to forsake me and my wrath will have to come. God literally tells Israel and gives Israel all the warnings to NOT receive punishment and Israel still chooses to follow their own will instead of God's will. Moses even says to Joshua, if they were this corrupt while I was alive, I can't imagine how they will be after I am gone. oh! This chapter was so hard to read yet so powerful!!! THAT GUY MOSES. So if anyone were to talk to me about the Bible right now in small talk, Moses is practically my role model. Abraham didn't do it for me, Adam, Noah, nope. Moses has completely taken hold of my mind (kind of like Bethel worship if that gives you any indication of how much I respect this guy) He sinned one time and lost his opportunity to see the promise which speaks volumes of God too in how leadership holds a different responsibility. I think that is what it all comes down to too why Moses holds such a great impact on me. He was a leader. He was never to be born, He was a Hebrew raised in a palace, He was a stutterer with a self-worth problem who developed a close relationship with the Lord. He was dedicated, He CHANGED GOD'S MIND THREE TIMES and God raised him up to be the greatest leader of Israel because he was willing and selfless. I just find Moses to be the best thing besides Amanda Cook and my husband! God buried him and to this day no one knows where he is buried. He died in complete health and to this day, no prophet other than Jesus has performed as many signs and wonders as Moses did. I felt like I knew Moses through reading these books of the Bible. I've decided to continue studying Moses in his leadership and in his life and to be honest, I should be more in awe of Zipporah, his wife who stood by his side through it all. I probably will read about her after I finish this book by Charles Swindoll. That's pretty much a wrap! I love Moses and it's official! I've read all of the Pentatuech! :D If I can do it busy as crap in my life, you can too! Don't make excuses just read! :) Question: Why is Benjamin called God's beloved?