Christa

He's my baby brother. He, his wife, and their son live here at my parent's house with me right now. I think it's cool that they're moving, but I'm really sad that it's to another state. My daughter and their son are like brother and sister, as they're around the same age. I'm dying with grief on the inside. My brother and sister-in-law are not saved. My brother was raised in the Christian faith, but he's been away from God for a long time. My sister-in-law was a Mormon, and she despises church now. Please pray for them to come to know Jesus. My heart is so incredibly heavy that my brother is leaving the covering of my family. I want Jesus to draw him back so badly. I want to know that he and his wife are going to be ok and heaven bound. I'm sad about them leaving.

I'm in charge of a Youth Group now....it has one member. She's so hungry. The church I'm in is old. The preaching is solid and good, but the worship is practically intolerable. I'm so missing my Vineyard church with the dancing, laughing, and awesome worship. I miss sharing in the experience of when the presence of Holy Spirit manifests in the church body. I want to leave in a way and take that hungry youth member with me. I love the pastor and his wife (they've been our family's pastors for 20 years). I talked to my brother today (who used to be the youth group leader some years back), he said, "Christa, just let the church die....the pastor and especially his wife won't ever change." The main reason why my brother said that is because, the pastor's wife always plays this old fashioned frilly tail at the end of every chorus of every song. It doesn't matter what type of song it is....she plays the same old way for every song. When people try to tell her that it doesn't "go," she suffers through the songs even more. She forces her piano playing on the church regardless of what anyone tells her. She is a beautiful person, and a fantastic intercessor, but she doesn't get that the church probably hasn't grown because of the horrible worship that has gone on for years and years. God's grace is sufficient though, and that's why the church is still around, but I need to know what exactly I'm doing there. If I can't worship freely because I'm so distracted by the aweful music, then I don't know how I'm going to last....or what to do in the meantime. Please either pray for me to have the right spirit about this, and/or pray for the leadership in my church. Thanks a bunch.

I'm in agreement with Halo and Princess. A lot of times, I know that I'm getting dangerous to the devil when the people around me get out of whack. The good news is...it's not going to last forever. Deal with your husband by anointing your house with oil....praying over the house that God would send his angels to surround and protect, and to sing songs and speak words of good news into everyone's ears there......plead the blood of Jesus in your home.....blast worship music....clean your house.....cook wonderful food....give thanks to Jesus with singing while you do those things....turn on the Christian TV station when you're not blasting worship music. Bring Jesus and His excellence into the atmosphere and in every square inch of your dwelling....this will push the devil out. He hates persistent believers, and he hates worship music unto the Lord. Do the things that the devil hates as often as you can. When the devil makes his appearances, say, "Get thee behind me satan, this isn't your house, this isn't your family, I bind you, I curse you, I rebuke you by the power of the blood of Jesus and by His name. I don't have to put up with you devil, your future is eternal fire, but my future is in the arms of Jesus!" Push him out and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit in. Literally invite Holy Spirit into your house daily by saying, "Holy Spirit please come, I invite you, come Precious Healer." There's no way that the devil's even going to want to hang out in your space if you're persistent like that. You just gotta claim it back sister....with due force!

Hi justblueskies. I've had similar experiences. When anybody starts in on you like that, it's really important to recognize that they are listening to evil things being spoken into their ears. Many people who blame like that have no filter between their ears/brains/mouths. They speak whatever pops into their heads, no matter the toll that it takes on the other person. Satan is the accuser, and we don't fight against flesh and blood (each other), so your battle right then, when those words come out of him, is with the devil.....and the devil only. BUT you have somebody that's going to stand in the gap for you....Mr. Jesus Christ of Nazareth. This has helped me: I say, "Get thee behind me satan...I rebuke you, I curse you. I plead the blood of Jesus over myself and everyone in this home." It usually shuts the other person up. Yeah, they think you're crazy, but you know what you just did to the devil?!?!??!! So.....let them think what they want. The devil doesn't think you're going to risk lookin' crazy in order to pound him into the dirt. He assumes that you'd rather take the tongue lashing from your husband over looking like the fool in front of him. It's hard for us to be bold, but it's part of warfare, and if we're not putting the devil in his place, then we're usually a part of friendly fire with the people in our lives. I'll be praying for you sister. God has you in the palm of His mighty hand. He'll stand in the gap for you. Things are going to change in your favor....God won't allow you to go through this forever. You're His precious child, He loves you and He's going to keep you. God bless you.

How are you doing Ms. Delia? Thinking about you.

Hi Unaday. In my previous church (I've since moved which is the only reason I'm not going there any more), we had great worship, and we didn't even have a band most of the time.....just CD's that we sang along with. One time, we got a religious spirit that sneaked in through one of our worship members. The pastor started doing warfare, and the very next Sunday, we had really great worship, then the gift of laughter came. We had never had that in our church (since I was there at least...3 years). People didn't know what to do with that and some were offended. I was laughing my head off, along with other people, but we were scarce. That anointing of laughter started to break that spirit of religion off of my church....that and having children take over some of the worship songs. I LOVE when Holy Spirit comes and gives us laughter.....Holy Spirit laughter brings healing, breaks bondages, and miracles are for sure to happen. I'm going to a church right now that has SERIOUS issues with their worship team. I want to leave the church every time worship begins. I don't know if that's a religious spirit as well, but I've been told recently that music in churches can be more divisive than theology, and I believe it. I'll be praying for you that God will just give you the freedom you need in order to lasso this worship team into what God wants for it. I'll be praying that Holy Spirit will manifest so powerfully and will drench you guys with fire. God bless you, and please let us know how things progress.

Almost a decade ago, I was Sheri, and 5 minutes before I did the deed (I set my watch), my best friend Joel called me....forcing me to go to coffee with him (it was 11pm on a work night). If it weren't for him being sensitive to Holy Spirit........I would've been spending eternity in hell, because I had completely swore off God at that point. So, when Holy Spirit nudges us.....it's so important to listen and obey. It could mean somebody else's life is at stake...awaiting your obedience. Thank you Steadygaze for this beautiful testimony.

Hi Delia.... the devil lays it on thick doesn't he? He's stupid in thinking he's going to cover up and mask God's goodness with all of his lies & stealing. I'm so glad that you're staying in faith sister. You're an inspiration to me. You're SO going to get that money back + some....just remember to forgive and pray for the obviously needy person that stole the checks in the first place. Love ya.

Thanks for that Lurdys. I've decided to drop the math class and the pastor and his wife are simplifying the food bank thing to where I'd have to only do about 3 hours of work a month on it....instead of 8-10 hours. I'll no longer be going to the food bank to help out on Wednesdays because it conflicts with my class. Thanks for all of your help you guys. I wasn't aware that it was too much until I saw what you guys saw. I feel a little bit lighter already :) God bless Ya'll

Hi Princess D. Oh girl. God never wavers. It's easy to get tossed to and fro by the waves, but all He has to say is, "Peace, be still," and the sea will stop. Rest in the arms of God...let Him carry you, like in that poem "Footprints in the sand." Even though your case is dismissed, it doesn't mean that you have been dismissed by God. It's all part of God's plan. Rest assured in that knowledge. God is allowing it because it's going to turn into your and your son's benefit later on. Declare each morning that you are putting your trust in Him.....that you're putting this situation on the alter and all the fear that comes with it. Put on the full armor every morning and ask God to reveal to you the things that the devil doesn't want you to know (..and He does!!!! Believe me on this one!). It's going to be fine. You're going to be fine! God's already won the battle for you! God bless you sister. Love you.

Hmmm....Ok. Got some prayin' to do then. Thanks girls.

I'm a little under the weather....a little bit of bronchitis, but I've inherited a lot of wonderful tasks. I just want to be able to keep up. I feel asleep sitting up while I was crocheting a present last night. I need some strength. Can you guys pray for me, I have a couple of needs: - I inherited a Youth Group of one two weeks ago. It's only one young lady at this time, but she's such a precious girl and I want to do my best to help her with anything she needs. I want her to have peers in the Youth Group, but I don't know the first thing about building a Youth Group. Do I have to learn how to dance? Ha! I've sure been thinking about that, but being a single mom is draining and makes me scatterbrained. - I signed up for two college classes to defer my student loans for the Spring. I had e-mailed another college professor a long time ago to sign up for his class (before I had selected the two classes), and I just got an e-mail from this other professor saying that he added me into this third class. These are three very challenging classes, English, Collegiate Algebra, and Philosophy. I'm exhausted thinking about them already. - The pastor at my church handed me a church job to do this week. It took me about 10 hours to complete and I think he's putting me in charge of the administrative portion of the food-bank there. I just want to be able to handle the promotion! Praise God for promotion....I just need some help to pray for the organization skills and energy to accomplish it. I'm a master at details, but I truly stink at multi-tasking....I freeze. God bless you all.

OH yes....I'm doing the jig right now. The title should've actually been 2 down 5 to go, but guess what?!!!!!! I'm 4 out of 5 now. God provided the money yesterday for me to pay the back pay on my car....$500+ dollars, so it's not getting repossessed!!!!!! AND my husband's truck got impounded, he's not going to get it out, so he transferred his car insurance over to me (pretty nice for a guy who's been dragging me into court left and right)...all I have to give the insurance company is $25- this month to get my insurance going! The only thing I have left, before I'm completely legit, is to pay my $200- car registration, which expired 2 weeks ago. Praise God, I'm almost there.....almost back from INOP!!! It feels great! God is good and I love Him so much!

Steady, I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. Shock and stress can really affect us physically....it puts us into fight or flight mode (like a false form of adrenaline, and when we're not skydiving or running a marathon, the adrenaline doesn't know where to go, so it kicks our butts instead). When my blood pressure rises from stress, I get massive headaches. It's like our body's way of saying "ENOUGH ALREADY" and throwing in the towel. You know what though, God is so merciful. He knows our futures from beginning to end (and inbetween). I often wonder if God takes people home simply to save them from a future that He knows will be harder to endure than sudden death. I take great comfort in knowing that God has His eyes on us 24/7 and He orders our steps. He's in control and He loves us so very much. I often ask God to remind me that He loves me (I'm needy like that). I ask Holy Spirit to come, then I wait in silence (for Holy Spirit to manifest). God is always ready to show us that He loves us. His love will push us forward in this life of servanthood for Him. He's not going to allow this stuff to go on with you forever ....impossible .... because He needs you to be His vessel. A holey, beat up vessel doesn't move very far, and He needs us mobile, flexible, and ready with the baton for the 100 yard dash. I just want to encourage you that God has His eyes on you and He never blinks. He never misses a thing, He's always on point and always on time. Paul went through a lot of suffering, but became untouchable by the devil, because he rejoiced in his suffering for the best cause ever.....Jesus Christ. You are such a blessing to me. I thank God for you. I want to pray for you right now: Holy Spirit I invite You and ask You to come and manifest Your presence where Steadygaze is right now. We usher in Your presence Holy Spirit, our Sweet Comforter. Oh Jesus, we know that there is power in Your blood. We know that all we need is one single drop of your blood to cleanse our whole bodies. In the name of Jesus Christ and by the powerful, healing, cleansing blood of Jesus that was shed on the cross, be healed Steadygaze - Hallelujah....Praise You Jesus.....Hallelujah.....Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.....You are worthy to be praised Jesus.....You sent your Word to heal our disease....You are the Lord, our Healer! Thank You for healing our sister from head to toe.

You guys wouldn't believe the miracles that have happened this week. It has been one of the hardest weeks of my life, but God is so faithful. Monday morning - Court with husband over visitation The judge saw us first, got fed up with trying to mediate us, so he sent us to mediation. In mediation, the mediator realized that there wasn't much she could do to help us at this point. BUT THEN she mentioned, "You guys could do the S.A.F.E. program." I jumped on it, because it's very affordable and it would assure my daughter's safety as well as keep my husband in line (by being closely watched). The mediator said, "OK," and went out to bring my husband in to go over the details. The mediator finished the paperwork and was going over it with us. When my husband heard the part where he'd only get to see her once a week for only two hours, he flipped out. He jumped up, screamed the "F" word, walked out, and threw the S.A.F.E. program packet with some force, almost hitting the mediator's clerk. He did this in front of the bailiff. I thought he was going to get arrested. The mediator sent us back up to court to see the judge. The judge decided to go to lunch before he handled us (I think he was really fed up at that point), so we had to wait in the courthouse for an hour. I ran into a friend of mine who's other friend had a similar case going on. She was very comforting to me. When she left, I actually found an empty spot in the court house (which is nearly impossible inside of a public Los Angeles building) to be alone to pray and lay down on the bench (nobody could see me and I could hear footsteps if people were walking towards where I was). By that time I had a monstrous headache and my neck and shoulders were hurting. So, God gave me some rest before we saw the judge. When we finally went in, the judge barely let me speak. It was like he completely saw through both of us and reamed my husband so badly as a result. The judge didn't even say one correctional statement to me, it was all about correcting my husband. The one thing the judge did let me speak about was how my husband had just said the "F" word and threw the packet the mediator had just given him. It doesn't end there though..... The judge made a decision to "allow" my husband to see our daughter two days a week and to call only three times a week through the SAFE program. My husband left happy and was rubbing it in my face. As I was about to leave, I looked at the judge and he nodded at me in an agreement sort of way. It was kind of bizarre, but I nodded back. I wanted my husband to leave first, because I didn't want to deal with his mouth all the way out, so I sat down for a minute. I started thinking about the nod...then I remembered that the mediator said that the SAFE program is for only one day a week for two hours, there's not other option because it's government (or state) subsidized. I decided to go down to the mediator again to get the packet that she made us give her back when my husband refused the program for the first time. I told her that the judge ordered two days at two hours a piece for my husband. She said that that was impossible and the judge didn't understand the program, that my husband was only going to get two hours whether he liked it or not. You guys.........the judge knew it! I KNOW HE KNEW IT, and that's why he nodded. He made that judgement to get my husband the heck out of the courtroom because he was acting like a jerk! The judge knew that the program was only for two hours a week, that's why he nodded at me! Can you believe that?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God moved heaven and earth for me that day! He even moved a judge to play dumb you guys!!!!!!!!!!!! A JUDGE! Thursday night - Court for my $800- ticket -God sent me a person to tell me about alternate community service programs, to ask the judge for that. When the judge called my name, he read off my charge and asked me if I watched Oprah (cell phone campaign I guess). I said, "Not really." Then he asked me how I plead, I said "No Contest." He started reading off my fines. He started to hit me with a "failure to appear" fine on top of the $262- fine (which got drastically reduced from $800-!). I asked the judge to please dismiss the failure to appear. He asked, "why?" and I told him that my husband got arrested for abusing me only four days after I got the ticket and I forgot. He suspended that fine! All I owe is $262- and I can do community service at a food bank or pretty much anywhere I choose. I have until Cinco de Mayo! Praise God huh! MIRACLES happen you guys................! I'm so happy. Thanks for all of your support and prayers! God bless you all!

Wow Cholette.....Great is thy faithfulness, Oh God my Father! There is no shadow of turning from thee! All I have needed....Thy hand hath provided!

Virtual hug here ----> Thank you for your empathy. I'm so very thankful for you.

Praise God! Girl, you put that in great perspective for me. The more impossible it looks with man.....the more glory God's going to get when He proves Himself to be Almighty God! Amen to that! Praise you God! Thanks for your prayers Hind's Feet :)

I have just about every car issue right now: -Driver's license possible suspension (pending court decision on Thursday) -Car registration is suspended as of yesterday...no proof of insurance -Car insurance canceled (haven't had money...thought I was getting a tax refund of $3000-...I'm getting $0-) -Car payment not made in nearly 3 months (relying on that tax refund that's not coming) The car is still in good shape and has low miles. It's fairly new, 2006, and I'd love to keep it, but I feel like God is doing something here, and who am I to stand in his way. If He wants the car, He can have the car. I'd love something nice and reliable to drive my daughter around in, but if God wants me home-bound more, then I want what He wants. But if He wants me in a fine ride like I think He does - then I'm going to trust Him to provide. I don't think it's coincidence that I'm having Murphy's Law going on with my car right now. What do cars or the ability to drive represent in dreams again?....your walk? Dang, if that's the case, I'm having major symbolism right now as well as overhaul. Please pray for direction for me and for Holy Spirit to take the reigns. I don't want them anymore. I want to be safely tucked away in the carriage. Praise God.

I have two court dates this week. Tomorrow, I go to court with husband over visitation rights for my daughter. I have a lot of good evidence to back up how unstable my husband is with my daughter, but pride comes before a fall....so, I don't even want to go there. Truthfully, I'm scared to want what I want out of this, it would be a miracle if God granted this to me---> I want my husband to have NO visitation with my daughter until he gets his life straightened out, and gets in line with God (he's a baby Christian). 85% of couples have joint custody and overnight visitation. He had supervised visitation before and if Todd and I don't agree tomorrow....I don't know what's going to happen. Todd is petitioning that the court will allow him to have supervised visitation with his friends as the supervisors. These people are so unfit to do that, I'd be scared to leave her with them for one second. I'm trying not to be worried, I just feel very frozen in my faith right now. Please help thaw me out believers.....I need a thawing and serious divine intervention. I honestly want to walk into the court tomorrow drenched in God's glory. I don't want to be nervous or anxious one bit. I want the bondage of fear of court and public speaking to be broken off of me. I don't want any of my words to come out of my mouth tomorrow, only God's words. Please help me pray guys and gals. My next court date is about me owing $800- for a cell phone ticket (apparently you can't even be on the speaker phone while talking either....it has to be a hands free device). I also want a miracle there because I have about $4.00 to my name. I might even walk in there with no money, which is very risky, as I could get jailed for not paying my bail. I am my daughter's only stable full-time parent, she doesn't need me in jail or without a driver's license or car. Cholette gave me such inspiration when she owed lots for unpaid tickets....she said she walked in with mercy on her left and grace on her right and walked out of there owing nothing. Praise God....I want to pass that testimony on as well! Thanks believers.....people of great faith! Say a little prayer for me please?! Love ya'll.

Praise you God! Heal Jacob's body completely Jesus, 100%. Thank you Jesus that your blood was shed on the cross for Jacob. Give Jacob that life-giving, healing blood of yours Jesus, so that it can flow through his body and heal everywhere it flows, getting into the crack and crevices. I pray for a transfusion of your blood to flow through this young man. Oh the blood of Jesus.....thank you for taking it on the cross for Jacob 2000 years ago, so that he can be healed today. Thank you Jesus, You wonderful, precious miracle worker! Oh, we love you so much!

The dirt road sucks though........I got dirt in my ears, in my nose, and in my eyes, under my fingernails! Enough dirt.

Thanks you guys...........you know, I feel this whole court thing is a set up for a big testimony. Once I get off this dirt road, there's going to be a scenic freeway to venture on for sure. :)

Thank you for that Halo.....good advice.

You two are such blessings to me. Thank you for your words of encouragement. The judge wouldn't see me that day, so I had to make an appointment for February 4th. I know that God is going to show up in that courtroom and prove Himself victorious once again. I needed your encouragement though. Thanks ladies. Luv ya.