Chosen Women

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

   While listening to a familiar Christmas hymn I had such a revelation. I heard a television minister say that revelation comes when the Holy Spirit shows you something that could have so easily just gone past your attention. Revelation breathes life into something and provides us a new or different perspective.

     The carol's phrase simply said, "God and sinners; reconciled." I'd heard it so many times. Yet this year the weight and truth of that phrase quite overwhelms me. Through Jesus' selfless and substitutionary work, a loving and peaceful relationship exists in my life with the Father. Moreover, heaven is in my view. Sin had a price; separation and death. Jesus paid it all. Merry Christmas -- thank you Jesus! Now, let us now finish this awesome teaching from Dr. Z!

In Service for the Master,

Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell
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3.     Learn how to be politically savvy and use the gifts God has given you to your advantage.  Daniel was a wise man of Babylon (read Chapter 1).  When King Neb initially called the wise men of Babylon to interpret the dream, why wasn’t Daniel called in too?  Maybe this was a part of the Divine set-up.  Daniel knew he didn’t have time to question everything – time was of the essence.  Apparently, Daniel knew he could stand before King Neb, so he used his political platform wisely.  Daniel was also gifted in dream interpretation.  He confidently stood before King Neb, asking for time to interpret the dream.  Pay attention in a crisis!  You must know who you are!  Your gifts are weapons to use against spiritual enemies!  Can you imagine where your life would be without your God-given gifts?  Servant of God, don’t panic; rather think!  If you are a Psalmist, you need to sing.  If you are a gifted teacher, then teach.  If you have the gift of service – serve; get the point?  God will always meet you in the operation of a gift.  His gift in you is what gives you the edge.  Daniel had a “Divine Edge” on all of the other wise men of Babylon, because the Spirit of God was the source of his gifting.  Daniel was confident in using his gift during a time of crisis.  Daniel also knew that God had given him Divine favor with King Neb (again, read Chapter 1).  When the other wise men of Babylon sought time, they were immediately turned down!  When Daniel asked for time – King Neb basically said; “No problem Daniel.”  Amazing!

 

4.    Don’t be arrogant – you cannot do this alone!  Daniel acted wisely: first he identified the problem, he had the courage to appropriately confront, and then he used all that God had already given him: political platform, God-giftedness and Divine favor!  Daniel knew that this was a new problem and it called for a new solution.  He had sense of enough to call the Community of Faith together in a prayer meeting, because all of their lives were threatened!  The wisdom literature says, “A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.” (Ecc. 4:12b)  There is power in numbers.  When you are confronted with an overwhelming problem, Satan will tempt you to isolate yourself, so that he can get in your head and tell lies.  The devil will tempt you with self-pity, and make you falsely accuse God.  The enemy wants you to believe the situation is your fault, so that you will make it about yourself, instead of perceiving it as a Divine assignment.  When you open your heart to other believers, there is much less chance of the enemy being able to attack in this manner.  True prayer partners have Godly ears and eyes for the devil; they listen for and recognize Divine order.  Have you ever noticed that when you are weak, your prayer partner is strong and vice-versa?  Get with your prayer partners when a crisis hits!  Get on one accord and pray through.  Don’t let up until heaven hears you.  Plead for God’s mercy, and don’t worry about the details.  Just pray!

 

5.    Expect results.  When you pray through, God acts!  When God acts: PRAISE HIM!!! 

      My friends only God can spare your life: both naturally and spiritually.  Are you struggling with God-given vision today?  Is Vision dealing with you?  Perhaps you unknowingly seek answers from the gods?  How often in life do we face illogical, insane folks who are in authoritative positions, and they wreak havoc over innocent victims?  This is the kind of stuff that makes you ask, “God why?”  It is okay to ask why, but remember when Jesus was on the cross, and he asked “My God, my God  . . . why?”  Jesus did not get an answer to his question.  He let go of his faith and said, “Into thy hands I commit my spirit.”  He put his faith to work.  In three days He was raised from the dead.  It was the Divine Plan in action!

     After God revealed King Neb’s dream and its interpretation to Daniel:

“Then Daniel went to Arioch, whom the king had appointed to execute the wise men of Babylon, and said to him, ‘Do not execute the wise men of Babylon. Take me to the king, and I will interpret this dream for him.”

           
     When you hear from heaven, you will speak with authority concerning the problem, because you have will understanding.  God gives wisdom and understanding to those who ask!  In this lesson, the vision that caused so much trouble was from God.  Daniel and his friends prayed, and God gave Daniel the Vision that set everybody (King Neb, the wise men of Babylon, Daniel and his friends) free!  God set Divine order in Babylon.  He wanted King Neb and everyone else to know that Israel was his Chosen, and even though they were in captivity, God had not abandoned them.  God wanted everyone to see and know who he was and who his people were.  The same holds true today.  God wants everyone to know who he is and who you are Servant of God!  You are special, because God made you special.  Woman /Man may I encourage you to ask God for wisdom and understanding concerning the vision you are dealing with, and let Vision deal with you. 

                                                                                               

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

   Are you full in the swing of the holiday season? Go ahead and enjoy this season! For many it is festive and especially joyous -- a time of celebrations, family gatherings, giving and visiting. Yet for others it brings stress as they try to please people with tangible things which they cannot afford; and grieve over losses, unfulfilled hopes and unmet desires. Please keep Jesus in the forefront of your mind. Do not go into deeper debt. Encourage gratitude in your household. Help create an atmosphere where gift giving does not alienate anyone. What about encouraging handmade gifts or low dollar amount limits in your gift exchanges?

We are helping our son greatly purge his already overflowing toy boxes to give to more needy children. Our goal is to positively help impact his character as opposed to just piling more toys into his room to boost our parental egos. Parents, take a look at why you are doing what you are doing. So often it is not about them -- it is about your bragging rights. I am not trying to put a damper on your Christmas -- just please weigh your motives. Remember that famous saying, "Jesus is the reason for the season." If you do believe that please do something that brings HIM glory in these coming days. This week we continue into Part 2 of the powerful 3 Part Series by Dr. Zenobia Bereal.

In Service for the Master,

Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell
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"Dealing with vision -- while Vision deals with you!"

     King Neb was a bully who depended on gods!  He was a heathen king and he acted just like a heathen when under pressure.  He became desperate and threatened to kill the wise men of Babylon and destroy their personal property.  The astrologers answered him:

“There is no one on earth who can do what the king asks!  What the king asks is too difficult.  No one can reveal it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans.” (2:10a-11)

     My brother used to always say, “a man has to know his limitations!”  These magicians knew their limitations – the demands imposed on them were too great, and their futures were bleak.  They knew how to perform magic, but their sorcery skills could not work miracles!The gods work magic; which is a temporary fix.Magic may help you get by, but miracles set you free.A miracle will help you escape death – God sets you free from every oppressive foe!  The God-given problem upset the apple cart for everyone involved: King Neb, and the wise men of Babylon, which included God’s servants: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; who are more popularly known as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  They were completely unaware of what was going on!  All of a sudden, their lives were in danger.  God had not foretold them anything.  Servant of God, sometimes the trouble just appears out of nowhere.

     The furious, maniacal King Neb made a decree, ordering that all of the wise men of Babylon be put to death.The man was desperately insane because of his God-given vision.The burden of the Lord was on King Neb, and he didn’t have a relationship with God, so instead of him knowing how to deal with a vision, it dealt with him!  Herein lies the point concerning vision: 

Whenever God chooses to deal with any human being, no one can resolve God’s will, giving them peace but God. 

     In this case, God dealt with King Neb who ruled over Israel at that time, because they were in captivity in Babylon.  However, God never gives up complete authority over his people Israel.  God wanted King Neb to know, “look, I sent my people here to be under your leadership in order to punish them, but don’t get it twisted, I love Israel!  You and everybody else must understand that you are under my Authority.  They may call you king, but remember . . . I AM THE KING!” 

     Daniel and his friends were God’s servants who were subject to King Neb’s evil authority, and because of this things went crazy.  Arioch, the commander of King Neb’s guards had gone out to put to death all of the wise men of Babylon.  Men were sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.  Daniel spoke with Arioch and asked him, “Why did the king issue such a harsh decree?”  Arioch explained everything to Daniel, and he went to the king and asked for time, so that he might interpret the dream for him.  When Daniel got home, he explained everything to his friends. 

“He urged them to plead for mercy from God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that he and his friends might not be executed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.  During the night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision.  Then Daniel praised the God of heaven.”  (2:18-19)

     Using Daniel as a model, let’s walk through the process of finding God when God-given trouble is dealing with you:

1.      Daniel plainly asked Arioch, “why is this happening?”  Get a clear understanding about what the problem is.  When trouble presents itself, there is a tendency to emotionally overreact!  The devil gets busy in the mind, and creates false realities that seem very believable!  If you feel insecure, afraid, defensive, etc. recognize that the devil is driving your feelings.  Satan loves confusion, because it keeps you entangled.  Insanity and frustration are hand-in-hand.  When trouble comes, get a clear understanding about what is really going on.  Take the time, calm down and listen carefully.  If you don’t have an understanding of what the problem is, how can you seek a proper solution? 

2.  Daniel went to King Neb about the situation.  Go straight to the source of the problem.  Once you find out what the problem is, does it really help to rehearse it over and over and over again with anyone who will listen?  Usually it doesn’t help at all!  People will give you all kinds of counsel and opinion, but at the end of the day, you will still need to have the courage to confront.  Think on this.

(Find out what else to do when we complete this powerful series next week. If you missed Part I please scroll down to see last week's blog. Have a wonderful week in Him!)

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

    This week begins a new season for the Chosen Women Website! In the coming weeks and months the website will feature ministry from anointed friends and ministry gifts within our Chosen Women Network! This week we start with a powerful series from Dr. Zenobia Bereal of West Angeles COGIC, and Share Wisdom, Inc.!

    Rev. Dr. Zenobia Bereal (“Dr. Zee”) received a calling to teach and preach God’s Word at age 13. Her academic achievements include: a B.A. in Religion and Leadership (with honors) from Vanguard University; Masters in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary; Masters in Divinity equivalency from Ashland Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Ministry from Ashland Theological Seminary. She was ordained under the authority of Christian Bible Fellowship Church. 

    Currently, Dr. Zee serves as President/CEO of Share Wisdom, a ministry that has birthed "Seminy-to-Pew" and "Let's Talk About It"; para-church ministries that are designed to reach souls who have needs outside of traditional models of teaching and therapy. Dr. Zee has served as an Adjunct Professor (Old Testament) at Vanguard University and substitute Professor in the School of Professional Studies at Vanguard. For more on Dr. Zee visit her website at www.revzee.com.

    Dr. Zee's ministry and friendship have been a profound blessing in my life. I know her to be a true worshipper, an anointed psalmist, an accurate and sure prophetic voice, and a woman sincerely seeking to fulfill God's will and purpose for her life. I pray that her teaching series blesses you!

In Service for the Master,



Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell
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"Dealing with a vision - while Vision deals with you!" 

“Take me to the king. . . I will interpret his dream [vision] for him.”  Daniel 2:24b

    Dreams and visions are sometimes very intriguing.  Have you ever had a dream that was so vivid you thought it was real?  When visions and dreams seem real, we usually assume they mean something.  You can be so moved that you will find someone you trust to share your dream.  Dreams comfort, teach, guide, and even frighten people.  Such was the dream that King Nebuchadnezzar (“King Neb”) experienced in Daniel chapter 2.  His dream was so troubling, he could not remember it!  The dream caused King Neb to be unable to sleep.  He became so upset, he summoned his supernatural helpers: the “magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers.” (2:2a) It seems that somebody in the group would be able to conjure up an answer for King Neb’s vision; but, because the dream was from God, no one could speak to it but God!  King Neb called on his gods (the wise men of Babylon) to help him with God Almighty.  It is sad but true . . .  Let’s not get on King Neb’s case.  You may not realize it, but we do the same thing in the 21st century!  Instead of humbling ourselves before God Almighty when we are confronted with a crisis that is too much to deal with, we often resort to conjuring up ways to cope.  Over-eating, smoking weed, drinking alcohol, lewd sex, etc. are coping methods we use to conjure up answers to comfort ourselves in times of need.  Like King Neb, we call on our “magicians, enchanters, sorcerers and astrologers” to help us get by trouble that can very well be a God-generated crisis in life.

    There are times when God will deal with an authority in your life, in order to show the world who he really is AND who you really are as his servant!  The situation may be adverse and unfair, but God is still at work.  This can be a confusing time, because like King Neb’s dream; it comes out of nowhere!  The authority may be a pastor, spouse, boss, professor, etc.  Scripture teaches us that God does, at times, generate circumstances that are impossible for humans to deal with outside of his Divine participation.  Always remember, you are God’s servant, and all trouble is not about you.  Can you say it with me, “it’s not about me . . .” Although it may appear to be directed straight at you, and it feels like it is a frontal attack on your spirit - God has a plan.  You are dealing with a problem (vision) and Vision is dealing with you.  Another thing, God gives people vision, because he is the only true Authority.  The Psalmist declares: “the earth is the Lords, the fullness thereof, the world and they that dwell therein.”  (Ps. 24:1)  The situation you now face can be God’s plan to promote you in the long run.  Could it be that like King Neb, you are caught up in a move of God?  King Neb was caught up in a move of God and no one was prepared to deal with it but the man of God; his name was Daniel. 

    Let’s go deeper into this story.  King Neb told the magic men:

    “I have had a dream that troubles me and I want to know what it means. Then the astrologers answered the king, ‘May the king live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will interpret it.’ The king replied to the astrologers, ‘This is what I have firmly decided: If you do not tell me what my dream was and interpret it, I will have you cut into pieces and your houses turned into piles of rubble. But if you tell me the dream and explain it, you will receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor.  So tell me the dream and interpret it for me’” (2:3b--6) 

    If I were one of those magicians, I would have answered King Neb, “You’re kidding right?”  King Neb wasn’t kidding!  It was all or nothing for the magicians.  King Neb’s troubled spirit was imposed on those under his leadership.  At this point, injustice prevailed.  It all seems so unreasonable!  Sound familiar?  Are you in an impossible position, because of a troubled authority over your life?  Has someone imposed their trouble on you because they can?  I call it a “dump”!  Be encouraged servant of God; God really is in control.  Maybe it is a test that is building your faith.  Perhaps the Lord is maturing you in Kingdom matters.  I know it is very uncomfortable, but rest assured, God will bring you out of it! 

    All of a sudden, the wise men of Babylon found themselves in a life and death dilemma.  They faced death and destruction, because they were unable to do the impossible – tell King Neb what he dreamed, and then interpret it.  The gods could help the wise men of Babylon to interpret the dream only if they already knew the dream.  The problem was too big for the gods, because in order to help the magicians, they needed something to work with.  That is the way it is with humans when it comes to dealing with supernatural troubles (visions).  When troubles come, and people depend on “gods” the gods use their powers to manipulate and control people and circumstances.  When a vision is a God-purposed matter, only God can reveal and resolve it!  God doesn’t need something to work with – he is the Creator.  God works out of nothingness. 
(Part II Next Week!)

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

I hope that you had a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends. In the coming year the Chosen Women Website will move more towards becoming a platform to share what you have to say to minister to and to encourage others. I welcome your submissions for weekly posting. Please begin to send them. If we select you for a weekly posting we will contact you for a picture and your ministry/organization information.

 
In Service for the Master,

Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell
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Now, to the blog:

This week I had occasion to share the same story twice to two different people. I had not thought about the story content in years. I do not think I had ever really shared it with anyone before. With age I find even greater ease with transparency and realness. I have always been that way -- now it's ridiculous! (LOL) In retrospect I find so much significance in what I experienced. It came to me this evening to share it with you.

 

I spoke of a time early in my saved life where I became acquainted with a young lady whose name I will change to Darla. I knew about her because she and I had dated the same guy at different times as young college freshmen. She was a friend of a friend, and I had actually heard good things about her. The guy whom we both dated was a tall, fine chocolate basketball player who turned out to be quite the idiot. Neither of us was seeing him anymore.

 

As God would have it Darla started dating my stylist at one point. Yikes! This required me to encounter her on more occasions than I desired. You see quietly, not outwardly, just within my heart I hated Darla. I could not immediately tell you why. I have never been a hater. I was not jealous-hearted – never have been. Yet in my heart, even with all of my Holy Ghost, I hated Darla.

 

I did not perceive my feelings as hatred at that time. This revelation came in retrospect. What I felt at that time was that I just “could not stand her.” I reasoned that there was “just something about her” that I did not like. Yet I could find no fault in her. In fact, she was overwhelmingly kind. At one point I asked our mutual friend if she was really that kind. They both let me know that it was real. She was just ‘good.’

 

I found Darla to be pleasant, kind, warm, not a gossiper, giving, with a ready compliment or willingness to help. Her smile was so broad and sincere. It was a though Disney birds should come out singing when she entered the room. And for some reason she really liked me. After some time she became engaged to my hairdresser and I was invited to their wedding. Yet the feeling in my heart towards her remained. What was it?

 

I attended the wedding and watched God seemingly parade this woman through my life. All this attention and energy seemed to be towards her. I could not get away from Darla! There came a point that my hatred towards Darla seemed to come to the surface. I had been able to dismiss my feelings as having to do with her. But the Holy Ghost confronted me one day in prayer. He let me see that the feeling that I had towards Darla were because her Godly character challenged me. She was so good! I realize that her presence was challenging me to be better. When the Lord showed me the purpose of her presence and the error of my response I had a decision to make.

 

I could either go on as I had been with this evilness in my heart pretending that the Lord had not revealed it to me. Or I could embrace the challenge and become more like Darla. She had been sent as an example. I might have been able to pretend I was okay just as I was. That is if I not been given a living, breathing example. She was not sent to cause me to imitate; but rather to show me how I literally needed to change.

 

What I chose to do was to accept the challenge of Darla’s presence in my life. I chose to come up higher. I chose to be better. I chose to increase in my own Godly character. Instead of being a hater I chose to get like her. I was able to become a true friend and really love and appreciate Darla.More than that my life changed for the better . . . I was headed in a direction that God had ordained for my life.

 

We all get a Darla at some point in our lives. She or he is the one that challenges us by some area of his or her life. It could be their;

 

~ Commitment

~ Presence

~ Diligence

~ Faithfulness

~ Stand

~ Righteousness

~ Drive

~ Humility

~ Anointing

~ Prayer life

~ Word life

~ Consecration

~ Study habits

~ Exercise regimen

~ Eating habits

~ Affection for their spouse/family

~ Strength

~ Perseverance

~ Faith

 

Instead of making a decision to reject, to destroy, to kick out, to excommunicate, to fire, to be mean to or pretend that you are not affected by your Darla just go ahead and take the challenge. Go ahead and rightly respond to the example that God has sent to your life.

 

The greatest example of this was, of course, Jesus Christ. Many of the religious leaders and people of his day could not handle the conviction created by Jesus’ life and stand. So, they conspired, lied and connived to ensure his unwarranted conviction and death. Yet he was without blame. Make sure that you do not ‘crucify’ the one sent to help you change your life. They cannot help how they make your flesh feel – God sent them. Instead of crucifying Darla, crucify your flesh and change.

This week Evangelist Lisa is preparing for the Word of Life "Get Rededicated, Revived and Ready" Women's Retreat in Ventura, CA where she is a guest minister. This event is hosted by Word of Life First Lady Alice Ross. Evangelist Lisa solicits your prayers; and will be back to the blog next week, should the Lord tarry. Have a blessed week in Him!

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

You my dear sister are a gift, a blessing, a prize, a jewel. You must know that -- you must embrace that. I greet you in the name and in the love of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Yesterday I was unable to write to you. The day was filled with meeting after meeting -- task after task. I know many of you can related. This morning as I prepared to blog the Lord told me to look at my social network page. Lady Scott had sent me an excerpt of a message preached by Bishop Troy Dockery -- and it blessed my soul!

The Lord said it blessed you, but it is for some of my daughters. And so I post it for you. Just click the box to the right to play the message, "Don't Let It Go."

Also, I had the blessed opportunity to pray for a fellow student in my grad program. That was quite an awesome testimony, and I will share it at another time. After our beautiful fellowship I gave her a card when she said she did not have anybody in her life that was spiritual and wanted to be able to call if she needed prayer. She looked at the card, referenced the website and asked if it had testimonials. I thought, "Great idea!"

If you are willing to share a testimony about Chosen Women Conferences past or more recent; the Chosen Women website, or my personal ministry in your life or ministry please share with me at [email protected]. Your testimonials will be posted in a new area of the website coming soon. That young woman was so impacted by the power of prophetic prayer I do not think her life will be the same. Amazingly she has left the program -- I believe that she only came to have a seed of faith planted in her life. The Lord spoke prophetically about her family situation -- and by the next class she was hugging me in the hall of our campus as God had moved just that fast in her household. Only God! He gets the glory . . . now others need to hear the story! Please share yours with me.

In Service for the Master,
Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell 

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

Thank you to those that supported in ministry this week -- you are so greatly appreciated! We praise God for Sis. DeAnna Featherstone doing a wonderful job at the Bethlehem Temple Church Women's Conference -- God used you and all of the speakers mightily!

Now, to the blog . . .
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Last week I found myself going to great lengths to exhort those that now find themselves out of the local church. This week my spirit-man is in the same vein.

All week I was thinking about how some of my coursework seems so difficult when I sit at home trying to decipher the convoluted writings in my textbook. The authors seem like they are attempting to purposely confuse me by hyper-intellectualizing the topic. Sometimes I actually feel like the information is over my head.

But when I get to the classroom and participate in the lecture and class discussions the material is hashed out and makes perfect sense. I need to have that connect with the professor. He is skillful at removing all the smoke and mirrors and helping me identify the meat of the theories.

The Lord dealt with me this week about the saints. Some are confused about the issues of their lives due to enemy's smoke and mirrors. He has made life seem so convoluted and complex. You need to get to the lecture and have an audience with The Professor. And thing is, these classes are not offered online. Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, The Word Network, TBN and the rest can all offer inspiration and connections. But it is necessary to show up to class to get the full benefits. Your presence is needed in corporate worship!

Week two -- same topic. God is trying to get someone's attention. It makes me think of an old hymn:

Softly: and tenderly Jesus is calling, calling for you and for me;
See on the portals He's waiting and watching, watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home;
Ye who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!

Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading, pleading for you and for me? Why should we linger and heed not His mercies,
mercies for you and for me?

Come home, come home;
Ye who are weary come home;
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!

In Service for the Master,
Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell

Praise the Lord, Chosen Women!

I pray that this is a wonderful week for each of you! I want to invite you to meet me this Saturday at Christ Missionary Bible Church -- detailed flier on this page.

Now, to the blog . . .
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This week I would like to continue and expand a Facebook status that I wrote yesterday. It said:

It's Sunday - time to get ready for the house of the Lord! "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves together." Got hurt in church and haven't gone back? Read on . . . If we get hurt @ work, @ school, etc., we somehow find the ability to press our way back into those settings. Why? Because we understand that we must persevere because we have an ultimate goal (graduation, pay check, etc.) Please do not allow a former church situation that caused you hurt to keep you from coming back. You miss out on the benefits associated with being there. You miss out on pursuing that part of your purpose found in the house of God. I know it hurt -- but growth takes stretching and even breaking. You survived! And you've grown. It's time. Come home.

I got some responses to the comment, and they were positive. I know that there are negative responses -- they went unwritten. I want to address a few of the responses that commonly prevent one from coming home.

I AM SAVED! I DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO CHURCH -- I AM ALREADY A CHILD OF GOD!

Yes, that might be true. The problem is that you are a disobedient child if you do not obey the Word of God. The Bible categorizes disobedient saints as rebellious, on milk rather than meat, and immature. (Hebrews 5:13-14; I Corinthians 3:1-3; Titus 1:15-16)  The writer of Hebrews 10:25 tells us to come together and exhort one another. Did you realize that gathering together in church is not about you as much as it is about you giving to others? Somebody needs your gift -- your smile -- your exhortation -- your testimony -- your hug -- your song -- your message -- your face. It's time to once again render your gifts to the body. Even if you do it other places God said to do it there too. Come home.

THE LORD KNOWS MY HEART!

He does. In fact He described it in Jeremiah 17:9 as "desperately wicked." God knows your heart -- the problem is that we do not know our own heart. We need the experience of the washing by the Word of God within the setting of corporate worship anointing as a part of our heart cleansing and perfecting processes. The church family or church experience produces friction sometimes. But this friction is a sometimes needful experience. Resistance and difficulty sometimes causes us to push back right into our destiny. All church experiences are not bad. There are wonderful ministers, saints and laborers in the local church. But even bad leadership and bad church experiences can have a purpose. They can teach us to pray harder, stand stronger, or even give us a vision to live and to do better than what we have seen. Let us not paint everyone with the same brushstroke. Corporate church experiences help manifests maturity, growth and spiritual insight. Come home.


CHURCH PEOPLE ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A CRUTCH!

Some people see individuals like myself that faithfully attend church as weak, dumb, and needy. They need to perceive us as ignorant to exist within their secularist mindset of superiority. Funny thing is I am far from dumb or needy. I just believe the Word of God. Revelation 21 tells me very clearly that the fearful and unbelieving are going to hell with the devil and his demons. I experienced horrible things in church and the worst of leadership at times that tried to tear me to shreds. It hurt. I went through. And now I say, "So what?" They misrepresented God -- but they were NOT God. Jesus is God! His Word still stands. I am well educated. Yet I do not care if someone regards me as less than because of my pentecostal, holiness, apostolic, tongue-talking, foot-stomping, shouting lifestyle. My life is not just in the church -- I live this life daily. I am not ashamed.  I am not fearful. I am not unbelieving. I do not put my trust in man. The preacher and evangelist are not God. But Jesus directs me towards association with His kids through His Word. And I must obey. I encourage you to obey as well. Come home.

I JUST CANNOT STOMACH THOSE  HYPOCRITES!

Yes, some hypocrites exist in the church. But they also exist in your neighborhood, your business, your job, your school -- probably within your family. Did you stop educating your children because of the hypocrites? Did you quit your job to avoid them? What about shopping? Did you stop shopping because of those hypocrites checking you out at the register? People kill me. We play God to the left -- it's really sad. People persevere past hypocrisy and other negatives in areas that are important to us. Yes, I will again acknowledge that some have misrepresented God and even abused or mishandled their role of church. I cannot make their wrong, right. Wouldn't try to. I simply say what God says in Romans 14:10, "But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." S/he will be judged for his/her actions -- but so will you. You cannot use them as an excuse for your own disobedience. If I was an abused child it does not give me a free pass to abuse my own child. My challenge is to get help and healing for myself so I do not become what I experienced -- an abuser. If you know better then you do better -- and better represent the living God. My heart goes out to new saints. Who will be an example of righteousness for them if we all just check out? And I do understand that this work of righteous living is not just in the church -- far from it. But God still requires that as a part. Come home.

If this message speaks to you then respond -- react -- move. Time is winding down. Come home.

In Service for the Master,
Evangelist Lisa Y. Mitchell