Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!
I've been focused on Job this past week and am continuing to linger there. God is shining His awesome light of illumination and revelation on so many things within that awesome book for me -- too numerous to address in a brief blog. However there is one area that comes to mind as I write to you. I again observed the emphatic, specific, seemingly spiritual and seemingly enlightened way that Job's friends falsely charged him with being responsible for his suffering. They stated that Job's own sin, own self-righteousness and his lack of love and empathy caused the suffering in his life. We know, of course, that this was not at all true. In fact, Job was a godly man who resisted evil. Regardless, if we did not have the background story on Job that was provided in the scriptures it would have been quite easy to believe the accusations waged against him. Some of them did seem to make sense. They were simply untrue. This made me think about the ease with which we can make accusation against others when we simply look at upon their situations without benefit of God's background story. How easy is it also for others to make false accusations and assessments of us. Suffering, tragedy, frequent transition, loss, temporary lack, illness and the like are not an automatic sign of sin, a lack of faith or judgment existing in the life of a believer. Some even today are quick to assume that an issue in one's life indicates sin. Jesus' disciples thought the same way. In St. John 9:1-3 it says, "as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him saying Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him!" Let us not be so quick to judge the issues in the life of a fellow believer. I Corinthians 4:5 admonishes us to judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes . . . " The Lord comes in due season to illuminate the hidden things and to show forth His works! He likes to show forth healing so a believer might have to experience illness so He can show His power to heal. Lack so He can show His power to provide. Loss and grief so He can show comfort. We do not own ourselves -- we are purchased with a price and our lives are canvases for God to paint pictures of His works. We then become His Works of Art -- His masterpieces! At the end of Job's trial he received double for his trouble because his trial was not a punishment for sin; but rather a situation ordained and allowed by God. A saint suffering for the cause of Christ is a saint partaking in the life of Christ -- knowing Him in the fellowship of His sufferings. If we hope ever to reign with Him we must know that we must suffer with Him. It is a part of this life in Christ. In fact we are told that our tribulations or afflictions will be numerous -- but have the blessed promise that He will deliver us from the all! Blessed people of God, please do not fall into the trap of judging your brothers or sisters as it relates to the issues of their lives. Even if you know for certain that someone has fallen short -- your job is not to judge but to restore, exhort, strengthen, encouraged, rebuke in love -- not gossip or rail accusations. Determine to abide in the words sung by Hezekiah Walker - I won't harm you with words from my mouth. I love you - I need you to survive. Have a wonderful week in Him! In Service for the Master, Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell
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Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!
John 15:12 ~ This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. What is Love? God is Love. Love is the blanketing theme of our lives in Christ. There is no end to the subject. When we think and speak of God's love, I personally find the subject too vast and too high to fully comprehend. Though we spend our lives in Him searching out and sharing in His love; I am of the belief that once in His presence, seeing Him as He is -- only then will we fully comprehend His LOVE. But there is one thing I DO know right now -- that Jesus loves me! How do I know? The Bible tells me so. In fact when I was yet a sinner Christ died for me. Moreover He has commanded me to love Him and others. And though love is high and vast in its depth, the Holy Spirit enables me to perceive and even to show forth the love of Christ. I am finding myself like never before focusing on that subject. Then, as God would have it my dear husband preached on the subject on Sunday. I promise he does not tell me about the message beforehand. I personally want to grow in my ability to love -- and growing in love means dying out more to flesh. Let us consider this: Leviticus 19:18 ~ Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge . . . but love your neighbor as yourself . . . (that is cut and dry. NEVER seek revenge? NEVER bear a grudge? Sincerely treating persons with kindness AFTER they do you wrong! Who's ready to love?) Matthew 5:44 ~ . . . Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you . . . (It did not say PREY on your enemies . . . it said PRAY for your enemies! Can you do it. Can you sincerely pray for a hater? Can you lovingly embrace someone that has purposefully set out to destroy your name and reputation? Something that might help is to understand that persecution is purifying your soul. Godly suffering, when endured like a good soldier, causes flesh to decrease. This is a part of our purification, our sanctification -- a part of living holy. I can love my enemies because I understand that my enemies are divinely appointed to cause my Spirit-man to grow and to help refine my character. If I understand this then I can truly say, "Thank you haters -- You make me greater!") Romans 12:9-10 ~ Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. (Having a smiling face and words smooth as butter when war in your heart? That is not love -- that's fake. Love must be sincere. Sometimes we are so hurt and wounded we lose the ability to love. We learn a fake smile and resort to fake pleasantries. This is not the love of Christ. We must ask God to heal and help us to forgive so that we can love again. It is mandatory. If not then our acts and words are without merit.) Philippians 2:3 ~ Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (Too many in the body of Christ are about self. I cannot support and build your vision because I am too busy trying to build my own so I can -- in my mind -- remain ahead of you. I cannot let you go before me. I have a vision too. I have a ministry too! But listen, I thought we were on the same team? I thought we had the same goal? I thought it was about souls? Is it really about your name. Is it really about money. Is is really about some perceived prestige? I tell you, the men and women of God that I personally esteem most are individuals that were loyal, faithful and not self-serving and self-motivated -- but committed to their spiritual fathers and leaders in building sound, stable, life-changing ministries. And those are the ones that are rooted, grounded, powerful, anointed and respected today. Deferring to someone else to support them does not make you weak -- it produces character and strength that will stand the test of time. I am a living witness that if God has called you, your vision will speak though it may tarry. If you are called God will open the door and you will be able to walk therein -- but wait upon it and labor diligently while you wait. Do not fold your arms until it is your time -- you will reap that kind of attitude. So many today have that Romans 10 zeal that's not according to knowledge. Be faithful and committed and watch God cause you to bloom where He plants you. Wait upon your appointed time!) James 2:9 ~ But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law of transgressors. (Did you see that? We know that God is not a respecter of persons. But did you know that if YOU show respect to persons you sin? This can mean disregarding someone because you feel she is not in your cliche; not in your class; not in our category; not up to par; less than you; doesn't carry the right bags; doesn't wear the right clothes or shoes or shop at the right stores to roll with you; then, you are in sin. No, not just scandalous and mean-spirited -- but literally in sin!) I want to be so full of love that it exudes from me like a precious cologne! I want to be like some of the dear and awe-inspiring women of God that I have known whose love measure knocks me out. I won't name drop but their names are in my mind right now. They showed love at all time -- showing love to any and all -- saint or stranger -- not just tongue-talkers but exemplifying the love of Christ in word and in deed. I am without excuse because I have seen it in practice. I want to have their testimony as being a woman of love. Jesus has done so much for me -- I owe Him that. Have a wonderful week in Him! In Service for the Master, Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!
Psalm 62:7 ~ In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. I pray that this message finds you well and encouraged! I am writing to you a bit later in the week; but I know this message reaches you at the divinely appointed time. I was not negligent in my timeline -- I just had to prioritize to allow time for the things going on in my household. My godchildren were with us and we focused on our unique opportunity to plant some things into their precious lives; to simply spend time; and, to cultivate relationship between them and their godbrother. This time was beautifully and well-spent. I know that it will produce a harvest for all of us. This morning my Spirit is filled with thoughts of the strength of God, and how that I am strengthened through and by Him. I am keenly aware that I have no strength of my own. My very breath and my ability to think, reason and move are based in His strength. I thank Him for enabling me to be and to live at all -- and specifically to live for and in Him. To be saved is such a miracle and a gift. Right now being seated in heavenly places . . . not future but now because of the Promise -- the Holy Ghost -- who lives in me. If this does not produce a praise within us we need to really better understand the work of Christ in our lives unto salvation. He paid it all! I wanted to share an excerpt from a book that is blessing my very soul. My husband is a voracious reader. One of the books that he has suggested that I read is blessing and challenging me all at the same time. It is full of affirmation and confirmation that my teaching and training was spot on; and then this powerful book challenging me to go much further! I recommend it to all ministers of the gospel. Each line and paragraph is rich. I focused on this excerpt for one reason -- the Lord told me to. He said write it out to you -- some reading really need the wisdom and instruction. Here goes: V. Priorities According to Webster's Dictionary, a priority is something to which we give precedence by assigning a degree of urgency or importance to it. Many ministers have not settled the issue of what their priorities should be. Among those who have, too few live according to those priorities. Life's many options compete for our time, and to have any control over our lives we must decide in advance to what we will give ourselves. The object of setting priorities is to allocate limited amounts of time and money where God directs us. What is important to God? The answer to that question reveals what our priorities ought to be. Priorities help us narrow our focus. Simply stated, God wants us to live by biblical principles, to be ministers who pattern our lives according to the Word of God. One day an expert in the law of God tested Jesus with a question: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said unto him, "Though shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all they mind." (Matt. 22:36-37) If we comprehend the full scope of this great commandment, then our lives will take on a new dimension. We will set our hands to the task God has given or will give us, at the same time remembering that our most important work is to love Him. Whatever task He gives us provides an opportunity to demonstrate our love and gratitude for Him in a tangible way. A minister's first responsibility is to guard his personal walk with God and to be loyal to Him. Absolutely primary to his calling and work is a minister's personal duty to cultivate his own spiritual life. Although spoken in another context, these words speak loudly to every minister: "They made me the keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept." (Song of Solomon 1:6) Unless we make our own spiritual life our first priority, there is a real danger that we may become merely professionals. The coldness of professionalism will never get the job done . . . (The Pentecostal Minister; edited by J.L. Hall and David K. Bernard; Word Aflame Press, 1991) As I was writing the Lord told me that some will think that this is not for them because of the word "minister." He said, "This is not limited to the minister -- the same priority exist for all saints in relation what you wrote on matters of prioritizing." I pray that you . . . like me . . . will take a very serious and critical look at all that you are doing daily, weekly, monthly, etc., and ensure that as you prioritize your many activities and responsibilities that God is rightly and appropriately positioned in the midst. Do you have anything set in front of Him? Have a wonderful rest of the week in Him! In Service for the Master, Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell P.S., IT IS TIME TO REGISTER FOR THE 2010 CHOSEN WOMEN CONFERENCE! IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO ATTEND AND HAVE NOT DONE SO, PLEASE GO TO THE CW CONFERENCE PAGE ON THIS WEBSITE, PRINT OUT THE REGISTRATION FORM, FILL IT OUT AND MAIL IT IN ALONG WITH AT LEAST $25 TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE. PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS INITIAL REGISTRATION FEE IS DUE BY 6/30/10. THIS IS THE ONLY WAY WE WILL KNOW THAT YOU PLAN TO COME AND TO RESERVE A SPACE FOR YOU. THANK YOU! Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!
I am back from a week away with family feeling refreshed and well rested. I pray that each of you is resting in the Lord; knowing full well that He is going to perfect every single thing that concerns you! I came back to you ready to post Part II of "Submitted." I had something else prepared to share, but my experience on yesterday has produced another message. Just before we went away I hurt my knee. Movement was often excruciatingly painful. It got slightly better while we were away; but I was still experiencing pain that made it difficult for me to walk, and nearly impossible to stand for extended amounts of time. Fast forward to yesterday when we had a wonderful time of worship at church. Because of my injury I was seated through nearly all of the service -- including Praise and Worship and while testifying. This is not typical, but It just hurt too bad to do otherwise. The Word was phenomenal . . . "Guard Your Treasure: Part II!" My husband preached under the power of the Holy Ghost. At the close he made an altar call and some came for prayer. Now my church family knows that I avail myself always to pray with souls. They looked to me yesterday and I motioned for the an evangelist to work in my stead. My husband, my pastor looked at me and told me to pray for the souls! Here beginneth the lesson! LOL Of course my mind quickly went to, "I know he sees me in pain!" Then other thoughts raced in like, "He can just pray!" But what I did in an instant was to cast down those thoughts, grabbed the arms of that chair to steady myself, got up and submitted! As so often happens when we obey the voice of the Lord; there was a demonstration. God wanted to speak into the lives of His people. The prophetic gift He graciously imparted into my life is for the people -- for the profit of all. He wanted to use it. He used my husband/pastor to call it forth. I did not get a lot of explanation from my husband/pastor. He did not take the time to say, "I see you are hurting, but God wants to bless His people." He just told me to move! And because of obedience -- because of submission -- something happened for the people. Now here's the kicker . . . I got so involved in the move and God's presence that I forgot my pain. After all was done I began to walk back to my chair with my hands lifted up still rejoicing. I heard a soft voice say, "Where's your pain?" I stopped dead in my tracks and put all my weight on that knee. THE PAIN WAS GONE! I spun around and started lifting up my knee and pointing, in complete shock. Without missing one beat or even looking surprised my husband said on the microphone, 'That is why I told you to pray; God told me that if you would let Him use you -- if you obeyed -- He would heal you!" That's the information that I was not told; and would have forfeited had I not submitted. The healing is real; the pain has not returned. So how do you submit to leadership? How do you treat leadership? You do what I did. AND, you also do what Sarah did when Abraham came up with his hair brained scheme to pretend to be siblings. You obey. You submit. In either instance -- whether the outcome is immediately favorable or immediately dismal but favorable later -- God will honor His leader; and God will honor those that submit to His leadership. Every decision the leader makes will not be right -- but we must still treat him/her with respect. Wives, we must run things by our spouses. "Honey, I was thinking of doing thus and so -- WHAT DO YOU THINK?" Do I have to run it by him? No, I'm grown. Yet I do it anyway because that is how you treat a leader. You must build up; not tear down. The leader will not always make the best decision -- but by respecting his/her position we help them rise up and become that great man or woman of God that his/her future dictates. I thank you God for being pain free today and healed. I thank you for speaking to my husband the instruction that produced my miracle. I appreciate Godly leadership. And, I am willing to submit. Have a wonderful week in Him! In Service for the Master, Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell | Chosen Women Founder
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