Monday, November 29, 2010

I AM

My boss found this today to use in his lifegroup, but we had to try it out first. It’s an awesome exercise – spiritually, emotionally and mentally. I dare you to try it…..it’s most definitely a workout for your heart – and you just might get some revelation on yourself. I’ve included mine below the instructions.




Manthie



I AM Poem



FIRST STANZA

I am (two special characteristics you have)

I wonder (something you are actually curious about)

I hear (an imaginary sound)

I see (an imaginary sight)

I want (an actual desire)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)



SECOND STANZA



I pretend (something you actually pretend to do)

I feel (a feeling about something imaginary)

I touch (an imaginary touch)

I worry (something that really bothers you)

I cry (something that makes you very sad)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)



THIRD STANZA

I understand (something you know is true)

I say (something you believe in)

I dream (something you actually dream about)

I try (something you really make an effort about)

I hope (something you actually hope for)

I am (the first line of the poem repeated)


And here's mine!.........

Manthie’s I Am Poem



I am a passionate woman with a unique voice.



I wonder how I’m doing, if I’m living to my full potential.



I hear cries of the heart.



I see hope, as if it’s tangible, like I can touch it.



I want someone to hold me, to hold my hand, to hold my heart – tenderly.



I am a passionate woman with a unique voice.





I pretend I’m strong when I’m weak; I’m happy when I’m sad; I’m holding it all together when if feels like it’s falling apart – or I used to.



I feel the sun on my face.



I touch hearts, hands, minds.



I worry that I’ll mess it all up.



I cry in the presence of the Lord.



I am a passionate woman with a unique voice.





I understand the meaning of redemption.



I say that everything is purposeful.



I dream of making a difference.



I try to be better today than yesterday.



I hope for everything.



I am a passionate woman with a unique voice.



P.S. I would love to read yours, so feel free to share it in the comments. It's inspiring to hear to heart and thoughts of others.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Too Much Water and Too Few Towels!

I’ve started this post 3 different ways, so I think I’ve finally settled on this…..




My week over the last 10 days:



Monday: Had to find a place to live – immediately. – Found it! (And it’s great by the way).



Tuesday: Had to have money for rent and deposit – immediately. – God provided! (In amazing ways)



Wednesday: My roommate (who is such a blessing), along with her family moved our things while I was at work. (So sweet!)



Wednesday night: Sick! (Uh oh!....no time for that)



Thursday: Sick! (Still….thanks Heather for the sprite and medicine.)



Friday: Tried to work – wasn’t happening! (Still Sick)



Friday afternoon: Feeling better! (Thank you Jesus!)



Saturday: Got a bed, moved my things from storage, moved, moved, moved- all day! (Thanks Dad and Nancy)



Sunday: Pulled muscle, achy body. (Can’t move!)



Monday: Back to work – crazy busy. (It’s a blur!)



Monday night: Got everything in its place – finally! (Tomorrow night I can relax!)



Tuesday: Busier than Monday. (Blurrier……..exhausted!!)



Tuesday night – 30 minutes after I get home from work: (Remember, my night to relax) Washing machine overflows and floods the back half of the new apartment - yeah, it’s a true statement. (Overwhelmed!)



Tuesday night continued…. – My landlord saves the day! (So thankful for his help!), Tonya takes charge and makes sure we have towels for the morning. (She rocks & so does her friend for allowing us to use their washer & dryer!)



Wednesday morning – On my way to work, I see a double rainbow! (A promise of a better day!)



Soooo, what’s my point? Here goes……



Life happens - good and bad, laughter and tears, comfort and pain. Things don’t always go exactly as we think they should. We have sleepless nights. We get sick, we get tired, we get grumpy…..but we have hope!



As I look back over the last several days, I can’t help but smile. It has been crazy, hectic and exhausting, but it’s also been amazing. God provided in ways I could have never dreamed. Friendships have been strengthened, and new ones have developed. I have learned a whole new meaning to grace – and my constant need for it.



So this morning I woke with a different mindset…..today was gonna be a better day – I just knew it! Regardless of what happened, today was gonna be a day of laughter and smiles. I was choosing this day to embrace life, and all it entails – and I was gonna enjoy it! Then I saw it – the rainbow - the symbol of the promise of the Lord. He is my joy. He is my peace, and that foundation can never be shaken!



Now, reflecting on the latest occurrences in my life I see things differently than I did yesterday. In the midst of all the chaos there was laughter, joy, peace, family, love, friendship, provision and I believe the beginning of a new season. I don’t know what it holds, but one thing I’m sure of…..it’s definitely gonna keep me on my toes!



Oh, there’s one final thought – Don’t take everything so seriously. Trust me! Because standing in the middle of a hallway full of water, with not nearly enough towels, there is still something to laugh about, even that time can be enjoyed!



“You never know when you’re making a memory.” – Rickie Lee Jones




“Light-seeds are planted in the souls of God's people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.” – Psalm 97:11 The Message

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

The Room

I wrote this story a while back, and have only shared it with a few people. But this morning I read a blog on walls, and the Lord reminded me of this piece, so I felt led to share it. I pray that as you read it the Lord ministers to you, and you feel empowered by the Holy Spirit to allow Him access inside your walls - to heal you, restore you, and bring new life. I speak freedom over anyone who is still lingering captive to self-protective walls of bondage. There is a better way! God is our Protector, and He is the Master Potter who brings beauty from our brokenness. Dare to be vulnerable!

Manthie

The Room
Written originally February 2010

I am standing alone in a small dark room. I stare ahead at the walls of stone, wondering how I could have possibly gotten here. I am cold and afraid. The ceiling is so short I feel almost as though I cannot stand up straight. There is something so wrong about this place, but also so familiar. Anxiety grips my heart as I examine my surroundings.




I am the only thing occupying the vast emptiness of this space. There is no heat, no light, no chair or bed on which to rest. What is this place? How did I get here? I close my eyes desperately searching for some answer to these questions. When I re-open them I can barely see the outline of a window in front of me.



I rush over to see if that glimmer of hope is just a mirage or could this be my way out of this darkness. As I pull back the heavy black curtain covering the window light breaks through and I can see outside. My heart races as I take in the images I see on the other side of this pane of glass. The sun is shining so brightly outside. How can it be so dark in here? I see friends and family, acquaintances and people I don’t know…..yet. The sky is the purest color blue and the grass is the brightest green as if a rain shower just swept through and washed away all impurities to allow the blades to glisten in the sunlight. I see daisies scattered over the ground swaying beneath the gentle weight of the breeze. I hear laughter and singing. Outside of these four walls there is peace, joy, light and love. I have to get out there!



Desperately I begin to push at the window to escape out of this prison to the promise of a new life. It won’t budge. Why won’t it move? I need to get out of here! Sweat trickles down my back as I continue, for what seems like hours, to get the window to move even an inch. Suddenly I see that which is keeping it closed. It has been nailed shut. It is impossible for me to open it with no tools to remove the nails.



Frustration and anger rise inside of me as I realize that my hope of escape has just been snatched away. With tears streaming down my face I begin to maniacally punch the glass with my fists. Maybe just maybe I can break through. Hours later with bruised and bloody hands, tear-streaked face and a helpless heart I am no further to freedom than when I started. I slide down the wall in exhaustion, sobs gripping my body uncontrollably. Why? Why is this window here if I can’t use it? To give me false hope yet again, to leave me battered and bruised after trying with all my might to get out? Why? Why? Why?



I scream at the top of my lungs! First a bloodcurdling, earsplitting cry releasing the anger and bitterness bottled up in my heart, then waning to a simple plea of, “Help me! Help me!” It is the desperate cry of a hopeless soul. Jumping up and standing at the window again, I begin to beat against it with my sore hands, calling out to those just outside for help. Why can’t they hear me? I’m right here. Look around you! Don’t you see this room? Don’t you hear me? They continue in their own little world, a world I’m supposed to be a part of, but just outside my reach.



Finally I collapse from exhaustion into a heap on the floor. My desperate attempt to free myself has been in vain. There is nothing more I can do. I am at the end of myself. I curl into the fetal position and emotionally sit in a pool of discouragement and dismay. I am undone. I have no more strength physically, I am mentally exhausted, and my emotions are raw. So I pray, “Help,” that’s all I can say, “Please help, I cannot get out of here on my own.” And I finally surrender to the sleep I so desperately need.



When I finally open my eyes again I realize that as I wrestled during the night, I have awakened in a different position than I fell asleep. Still fatigued and hopeless I wipe the sleep out of my eyes and look around again at the stony emptiness. Then I see it….. a door. Considering the torment of my failed attempt with the window, I stare at the door. Do I dare to hope for a different result?



Sitting up, I begin to take in my dreary surroundings once again. As I look closer at the stony walls realization begins to sink in. Each stone comprising the wall to my left was set in place after experiencing hurt or betrayal. Studying each stone I remember and relive every hurtful word, every criticism, and every wrong done to me and once again I feel the pain and anguish as if it just happened. Yes, I remember, that is why I built that wall.



The wall to my right is comprised of unfulfilled expectations and disappointments. In my mind’s eye I see myself carefully placing each stone in place throughout the course of my life following each occurrence that did not turn out the way I had hoped. I remember feeling more control each time I set a stone in place, convincing myself that if I didn’t expect good things I wouldn’t be disappointed when they didn’t happen and, if by chance, something good did occur I would be pleasantly surprised. Doesn’t make much sense now, but it sure worked in theory at the time.



In front of me is a wall built from every failure in my life. I recognize every wrong choice which resulted in my landing face down in a pool of shame. Oh, there’s my divorce – I used several stones to commemorate that. I see broken commitment after broken commitment, wasted time, wasted resources, repetitive sins and failed ventures. I recall looking at that wall after it was completed and thinking, “You could have been so much more.” It is a constant reminder of a past filled with failure.



I turn and look at the wall with the window. This is the worst one to face. This wall was built to protect me, and others for that matter, from the piercing wounds of love…..the wounds I received and the ones I administered. The window was placed as a small opening so that I wouldn’t be completely void of giving and receiving love. At least I knew at some point that it was vital to life, but I was only willing to allow the transfer of a small amount to be passed back and forth, and I could shut it at any time when someone got too close and I felt my heart was in danger.



I slowly pull myself off the floor and walk over to the window. Pulling back the curtain I see those from my past and present. A vise grips my heart as I see my mom. Oh how I wish I would have loved her better. If I had known I would only have her a short time I would have told her more how much I loved her, I would have held those words that cut and wounded. I would have been less selfish, more appreciative, much kinder. It wasn’t until after she died that I came to the realization that I was not good at loving others. If I couldn’t correctly love the person who cared more for me than anyone, how could I possibly have anything to offer someone else.



Studying the wall again I see every failed relationship of my life. Did I really start building this wall that long ago? Every heartbreak is documented here, each stone reminding me that there is nothing in me worth loving. I return to the window. It symbolizes the hope of possibility, but reminds me that I can only ever give a small piece of my heart. I can never give it all because the risk of pain is too great….and this draws my eyes to the nails. That rejection was almost unbearable. It confirmed everything that little voice in my head always told me. “You can never let anyone get too close.” “You’re not good enough. You’re not pretty enough. You’re not funny enough.” He rejected the whole idea of me; never even considered it…..not an option….no way….never! I recall driving the nails into that window with such force, determined that I would never open myself up to that again.



Wow, that wall is a tough one, and reminds me of how I built the ceiling. The ceiling is one solid piece set on top of the walls. It is a blanket of fear. It holds up the left wall with fear of pain and betrayal, the right with the fear of disappointment, the front wall is held in place by the fear of failure and the last, the fear of giving and receiving love.



Standing very still in the center of the room, something stirs inside my spirit. I begin to realize that these walls of self protection I have built around my heart are not serving as a barrier from those things that have hurt me, but have become a self made prison, locking me inside a room of constant torment. At that moment a small ray of light shines through an opening in the curtain covering the window, drawing my eyes again to the life outside, and my mind is filled with the word of the Lord. My Comforter begins to whisper in my spirit Jeremiah 29:11. God has plans for me, plans of good and not of evil, plans to give me a future and a hope. “Really God? Is there more for me than this?” Jeremiah 31:3 & 4 comes next, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again.” “Lord, you know everything in this room. You know the darkness of my heart, and you still love me? Can you build me up again?” And then He reminds me of His promises in Romans 8:38 & 39, “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”



I look toward the door. Could it be so easy as to walk over and turn the knob to escape from this prison or is it too, forever sealed? Have I built this place so firmly that I have eliminated any chance of escape? The only way to know is to walk over and try. Do I dare to try again? Do I dare to hope again? I call out once more to the Lord, “God, I am so scared. Can I trust you? Can I trust myself? Is it really better out there?” And He answers me, “You can trust Me. I love you perfectly, and there is no fear in love because perfect love casts out all fear.”



My entire body is trembling as I slowly make my way to the door and turn the knob, equally afraid that it won’t open, and that it will. It is not locked. As I hesitantly begin to open the door, it is not as I expected. With every inch I open the door, the walls of stone begin to dissipate, and I am not escaping and forever leaving this stony room, but it is being transformed into something beautiful and free. Opening the door further and further to the people I love and will love, the chances I’ll take, the hopes I have, and the future that’s promised. I begin to allow myself to receive God’s love and His heart, and I see things differently than ever before.



Building walls of stone around my heart doesn’t protect me from hurt, or failure or disappointment. It keeps me locked in those things. Yes, there will be pain, I will make mistakes, and my heart will be hurt, but that will not keep me bound, because I know the Healer and He promises that He will cause all things to work together for my good, that He will heal my broken heart and bind up my wounds, that He will direct my steps, and that He Himself will teach me how to love the right way, the fearless way, the selfless way, and that love never fails! So I lift my hands and revel in the freedom of my transformed heart. I will allow those I know to come close enough to see the real me, flaws and all, and I’ll love them with wreckless abandon, because that is the love that has been given to me. That love is liberating, and it is not contingent on actions or response. It just IS, and it’s amazing!



I think back to the door. It was there the whole time. I know I didn’t place it there. God did. He always provides a way of escape. He is faithful and true to His word. So looking forward to a future filled with purpose, hope and love I stand on His promise from Psalm 89:34, “My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips.” And I believe……because I have opened the door to my heart and allowed myself to be fully loved.

Monday, September 27, 2010

Faith - Our Secret Weapon

“In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” – Ephesians 6:16




Every morning I end my quiet time by praying the armor of God over myself for that day. This morning I stopped and lingered at the Shield of Faith, and I started thinking. Couldn’t we live our days more fully, with peace that passes understanding and joy as our strength if we really believed God on His Word more than we believed the appearance of our circumstances? The enemy sends his arrows in the form of worry, discouragement, depression, fear, and the list goes on and on. His job is to steal, kill and destroy, and he does that through circumstances that get us focused on the negative things instead of the truth. Jesus came so that we can have and enjoy abundant life.



“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” – John 10:10 AMP



I don’t know about you, but I want my life to be marked by supernatural peace and joy. I don’t want to be tossed to and fro with the wind, but to be firmly planted in the Truth, believing God at His word and walking out my faith with perseverance, character, and hope....not whining and complaining with a defeated spirit.



So how do we do this? Ephesians 6:16 gives us the answer in black and white. With the Shield of Faith we can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. It doesn’t mean they won’t come – they will, but they don’t have to penetrate, to inflict, and to consume us. Our faith is our defense. Faith is what extinguishes the darts, reveals the lies, exposes the deception, and reminds us of our inheritance as children of God. Trusting in God, regardless of the assault that may come against us, is the thing that takes those flaming arrows, repels them and completely extinguishes them with the water of the Holy Spirit….His life, His truth alive in you.



This revelation makes me want to trust, believe, and face my enemy with courage. Faith extinguishes ALL….all means all. Everything he sends my way can be defeated by faith. We have been given the plan of victory. We are empowered and enabled to overcome any and everything that comes our way. Walk in faith and let your light shine. The light of peace, of joy, of love….the light of Christ.



“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” – Matthew 5:14 NIV

Living by faith,

Manthie


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Do Not Let Your Heart Be Troubled

“WHEN YOU go forth to battle against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, is with you.



And when you come near to the battle, the priest shall approach and speak to the men,


And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies. Let not your [minds and] hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble or be terrified [and in dread] because of them.


For the Lord your God is He Who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you.” Deuteronomy 20:1-4



Battles – lately it seems like that’s all I see - in my life and in the lives of those around me. I know that there are always spiritual battles raging in the heavenlies, but recently it seems that the opposition has been kicked up a notch. I feel war torn and haggard and quite frankly – I’m weary.

It seems that the more I pray the worse it gets. Standing and believing, coming against strongholds, casting down imaginations and principalities, crying out to the Lord to heal our land and bring a deeper conviction for holiness and righteousness, open doors, make a way in the wilderness, open the blind eyes and the deaf ears…….only to see an overwhelming amount of rebellion, deceit and disobedience, apathy and compromise and so, so much settling for less. But the Lord just keeps saying, “stand and fight.”

Can I just be REALLY real for a minute? Because I don’t believe that fluff and fake happy faces help anyone. We live in a real life with real issues and I believe that transparency leads to truth and healing for the one speaking it as-well-as those hearing (or reading in this case). So hear goes…….

I’ve really been questioning the Lord over the last week. Not in an accusing or even necessarily doubting way, but in a “please give us guidance and understanding because I know that I know Your Word is true.” So I’ve been asking these questions to the following truth:

Greater is He Who is in us than he who is in the world

1.) Then why does it seem like the world is winning God? It seems that we’re losing people every day to the deception of the enemy and the lures and desires of the world.

2.) If we’re greater, then why does it seem like we are so outnumbered?

3.) What are we missing?



I know it seems like I’m doing a lot of complaining and negative thinking, but hang on, I’m getting somewhere.

In the midst of all this blah, heaviness, weariness and lack of understanding, the Lord has, as always, been forever faithful, and daily has given me bits of inspiration to shed a little light and revelation, a little guidance and direction, and yes, sometimes a little conviction and correction.

1.) Time after time the Old Testament tells of the children of Israel going into battle outnumbered. Lots of times God actually instructed them to decrease their number before entering the battlefield, yet every time He delivered the victory. The numbers don’t matter, the heart does, our commitment to Him does, our willingness to deny ourselves for the betterment of the Kingdom is what matters. The victory never has and never will depend on our ability, but it very much lies in our willingness to believe God, follow His guidance and persevere.

The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites. When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, "The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."


"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian."


The LORD turned to him and said, "Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?"


"But Lord , " Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."


The LORD answered, "I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together……."


……The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. – Judges 6:11-16, 7:7

2.) Don’t focus on what you see with your eyes. The devil is a liar and uses our senses to convince us that a lie is the truth. Faith does not make sense, it goes against rational thinking, but faith is the element that activates supernatural empowerment in our lives. When Peter walked on the water he just stepped out of the boat and started walking toward Jesus because Jesus spoke. He knew His voice and he went. But then, the enemy started getting him to look at his circumstances (the size of the waves, the force of the winds), he allowed fear to creep in and he began to sink. Here’s something amazing that will enlighten you on the sneaky, craftiness of the devil’s lies…..even if there were no wind and no waves, Peter still couldn’t have walked on the water – it defies the laws of nature, so the wind and the waves had no bearing on his ability to or not to walk on water – his faith did. Think about this little gem the next time you find yourself in anxiety and unrest – check your emotions with the “walk on water” story, betcha every time the enemy is convincing you to believe a lie by getting you to focus on your circumstances.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8

3.) Finally, the Lord has reminded me again and again, daily, that He has overcome the world, and just yesterday He whispered in my spirit, “Don’t let your heart be troubled,” which immediately reminded me of a promise straight from the mouth of Jesus Himself, “take heart, I have overcome the world!”

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.” – John 14:1

Regardless of the fickleness of my emotions, the lies and schemes the devil sends my way, and the weight of the burdens that sometimes seem too heavy to bear, I am reminded of the truths that hold and keep me.

God is for me, He hears me when I call out to Him, and I find Him when I sincerely seek Him!

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD,”… Jeremiah 29:11-14

My responsibility is to do my part, and trust God to faithfully do His.

“Moses answered the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again”. – Exodus 14:13

No matter what the army looks like coming against me, no matter how dire the situation appears to be, greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world, and HE HAS OVERCOME THE WORLD, which means He has already fought this battle for me and I am guaranteed the victory as long as I stand and maintain my position.

You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you. – 2 Chronicles 20:17



So, my friend, don’t give up! Don’t you dare give up!! Keep fighting the good fight of faith, remember the faithfulness of the One who calls you by name. You are fully equipped with the Holy Spirit to endure to breakthrough, and you WILL overcome by the blood of the Lamb. The enemy has been defeated!!



Do not let your hearts be troubled……just believe.

Manth

Thursday, August 19, 2010

I Wonder

I read the following quote by Kyle Lake today on Beth Moore's blog and it grabbed hold of something in me so much that I couldn't keep it to myself. It's just right!!




“Live. And Live Well. BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply. Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD… and if you crash then crash well. Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done—a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old’s nose, don’t be disgusted if the Kleenex didn’t catch it all… because soon he’ll be wiping his own. If you’ve recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And grieve well. At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. If you’re eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke. And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift.” – Kyle Lake





You know, it's amazing sometimes how we take the very gift of life, given us from God, for granted. We grumble and complain, compromise, criticize, etc., etc., and most of all forget to live it for Him.



I wonder sometimes - isn't part of living it for Him enjoying and rejoicing in the things He's given us, the people He's knitted with us, and the places He has us?



Even when:



• The A/C breaks

• The words hurt

• We sit alone



Even when:

• We don’t have the money

• It’s hard to forgive

• We don’t understand



Why can’t we, even in the midst of those things, look for Him in every minute? (He promises He’s always there) And isn’t it correct that in Him is fullness of joy? So putting those two things together, shouldn’t we be able to find reason to seek, to praise, to be PRESENT in every moment. When I look for Him I will find Him and in His presence is fullness of joy.



I wonder if what’s really happened is that somewhere along the way we’ve begun to take ourselves way too seriously and have forgotten that life is to be lived, that it’s ok to get the giggles for no reason, that silliness lightens burdens, that true friends and family are a treasure, that sometimes the dishes can wait. I wonder if we’ve forgotten that Jesus tells us to come to Him as little children. I wonder what amazing things would happen if we chose to BE PRESENT in every moment, to look for joy in every moment, to live full lives- full in the fullness of God.

I wonder……….



Just some food for thought. I would love to hear your comments.



“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” – John 10:10 AMP





Manth

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

A Divine Appointment

Eight weeks ago I began teaching a class for single women called Single and Satisfied: Embracing this season in your life. The heart of the class was to address root issues with women so that we could find purpose and contentment in our single season, learn how to allow the Lord to prepare us for our next season, and get a new understanding of the sovereignty of God and His promise to work all things for our good. We began the class on Father’s Day and it concluded last night 8/9/10.



Since we left the church last night I can’t stop thinking about the class. Not only last night, but the 7 previous nights as well. I remember the journey that let to its birthing. This journey didn’t just start in December, but 5 years ago with a strange promise to a broken woman. A woman who along the way did everything wrong before she submitted to God’s way – all while trying to serve the Lord, but serving Him in her way instead of the way He was asking.



I remember times when I would cry out to God desperate for release, times when I was terribly disrespectful and angry toward Him, and times when I would rather walk in disobedience than wait for Him to open doors and clear paths in my life. I wanted answers. I wanted definites. I wanted to know the who, what, where, when and how’s. I wanted my way. I wanted control. But God wanted me – wholly, completely, devoted me, and He wouldn’t relent until He had it all – my heart. My whole heart, not just a heart that wanted Him above all other things, but a heart that trusted Him in spite of all other things.



The journey to that is what birthed this group. I may not have known it along the way, and I’m not really even sure I knew it when He spoke the name to me in December, but I see clearly now, and I am thankful. I am so thankful that He doesn’t give in to my demands and my wants when they don’t align with His will. I am thankful for disappointments that turn me back to His guidance. I’m thankful for His grace that covers every mistake. I’m thankful for His faithfulness that every time, without fail, picks me up and sets my feet on solid ground. I’m thankful for His love that is unending, and I’m thankful for His plan that surpasses mine in ways my mind still can’t comprehend.



So, looking back on the past 8 weeks I see differently too. The last two months weren’t anything like I expected when I began teaching this group. Along the way there was opposition from the enemy (in my life and the lives of the women of the group), there was doubt (God, did I hear you correctly?), there was testing (thank God for second chances). I felt weak. I felt inadequate. I felt ineffective. I felt incapable. I felt confused. Now having come full circle with the completion of the class and a new beginning in front of me, I see with new eyes. Out of my weakness I gained strength; out of my doubt I grew in faith; out of my insecurity came confidence; out of my inadequacy I was empowered.



I’ve learned that I can trust myself to hear God’s voice, to act on it and to believe Him to deliver on what He says. I’ve seen hard, broken, confused, lonely, rejected women get a new revelation of the love of God. I’ve seen dreams resurrected, hope restored and joy renewed. I’ve seen God move in the most personal and specific ways in the lives in this group more than I think I ever have before. I’ve seen Him etch His name on our heart and ours on His hand. He has remade us, encouraged us, revived us, transformed us and renamed us. He has corrected, guided, encouraged, inspired and encouraged us. And most of all, He has completely lavished and consumed us with His amazing love.



I know, without a doubt, that He has accomplished everything He said He would through this class. I believe that each life that entered those doors has been forever changed. I now have even more of a revelation of Romans 8:28, with the knowledge that He works ALL things together for our good penetrating deeper into my Spirit. And more than anything I believe with everything that comprises me – spirit, soul and body – that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven” – Ecclesiastes 3:1



And THIS was our time!!



I am including Kat Dufrene’s note about the final night because I, for one, want to have it recorded. The Lord paid so much attention to every detail of this journey that this could not be left out. Thank you Kat for your heart for the Lord.



Dear friends from Single & Satisfied:



We started on a holiday (Father's Day) and ended on one (Rosh Chodesh Elul).





We began our journey together on a day that marked God's Fatherhood over us, the birthing of something new. We ended on a holiday of celebration of the beginning of a new month (Elul) ushered in by a New Moon. (Rosh Chodesh stands for "Head of the Month".) This was our EIGHTH meeting, the number symbolic to NEW BEGINNINGS.



The date is also 8/9/10. A succession of numbers in a progression that has already been established. Any other sequence would have been improper. Ladies, our next step in this journey is to move forward in the proper direction that God has already established. Like Amy said tonight, He will not fail us.



We began with celebration and worship. We ended our time alotted for this class with celebration and worship.



Now, it's time to live in the month of Elul, the season we have been ushered into through His presence. What were the songs Todd sang over us and with us tonight? Songs of LOVE.



Get this! The month of Elul (spelled Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed) is said to be an acronym of "Ani l'dodi v'dodi li," "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine," a quote from Song of Songs 6:3.



Let us relish in this season of God's lavish love without distraction or hindrance!





To the ladies in the group, thank you for your faithfulness, for your openness, for your honesty, and for your determination to keep moving forward despite the obstacles in your path. You have blessed me beyond measure, you have stretched me and made me better, you have encouraged and inspired me. My life is forever changed for having shared this 8 weeks with you. You are beautiful, courageous daughters of the Lord. Rise up! Go forth in your new season (however that looks in your life), live your life fully, and reach your destiny!! The Lord has paved the way for you. You are chosen, you are called, and God will fulfill His purpose for you. He will not forsake the work of His hands!! I love you.



Manthie Hayes

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Stand Against the Wind

Winds – this word has been on my mind all morning. Actually, it’s been there for about a month, I’ve just finally had enough clarity to begin putting it together.



The last few weeks have been especially difficult. Nothing major, or even worth mentioning, has occurred, it’s simply been a time of internal struggle, wrestling, warring with the enemy…...and yes, a few failures. Quite frankly, I’m beginning to feel the battle scars.



I believe there is a shifting of the winds happening for us spiritually. Things are changing, developing, building - ushering in this new season we’ve all been waiting for expectantly. However, what I forget sometimes is that there is increased resistance in transition. This oversight often sets me up for some scrapes and bruises. Let me explain.



I often get so focused on the new thing, the new season, the next place that I neglect the responsibilities and assignments in my current position, and I’m caught off guard by a strong gust of wind that knocks me on my backside. Can anyone relate or is it just me?



Now let me just say this, in my mind I’m not “rushing” the Lord or getting in His way, I’m simply welcoming the new thing with open arms and running toward it. When in truth, what I’m actually doing is trying to “skip” over some parts of the journey that I know are going to be a tad uncomfortable for me. I begin walking, when He has told me to stand……stand against the wind.



Why would He want me to stand in one place, when clearly walking is the way to get there quicker? Here is what He showed me. Guess what happens when we stand firmly planted in the position He currently has us, facing the winds of adversity, temptation, and transition…….the chaff is burned off of our lives. This is a deeper cleansing and more thorough preparation for the next season He’s bringing us to. When we try to rush through these winds to get there sooner, we are tossed to and fro and stumbling is inevitable.



The anticipation of a new season, of fulfillment, of breakthrough is exciting, and if you’re like me, you are oh-so-ready to enter into the next place God has for you, but remember – His timing is perfect. Allow Him to finish His work in you during this season, so that you are fully prepared for the next one. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven….. He has made everything beautiful in its time……” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,11)



Let go of the things (chaff) you’re holding so desperately to, open your arms, lift your face, expose your heart to the Lord - He is making you more beautiful than you can imagine, and……..stand against the wind.



Then listen………..



“And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice.” – 1 Kings 19:11-12



He will tell you when to move.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Confessions of a Cry Baby

I have a confession to make. It’s a big one. Those who know me well are gonna understand why this is so difficult for me to admit…………




I’ve turned into the biggest cry baby, sissy girl!! The woman whose always prided herself on being composed, keeping it together, not showing emotion, and being in control, has become a sniffling, blubbering, cry-ee (my term – it’s a Manthieism) girl!



And you know what...IT’S AMAZING!!!



Let me explain.



I have learned that tears heal. I asked the Lord back in November to begin healing my heart, and with every tear shed there is a piece of me that is being made new. The very thing I used to fight with all my might is the catalyst which helps transform me into the woman God made me to be.



“And I will give them one heart [a new heart] and I will put a new spirit within them; and I will take the stony [unnaturally hardened] heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh [sensitive and responsive to the touch of their God],” – Ezekiel 11:19 AMP



In the last 8 months the Lord has flipped me upside down, got me off my bearings, turned me inside out, and completely blown my mind in ways I have never experienced before. He has shaken me to the very core, opened my mind to things I never could have imagined, and broken down every false image I had of myself – and Him. There were tears, many tears, streams of tears….and now there are more, but these are different.



These new tears are tears of reverence and awe, love and passion. I have come to know Him in a way…..a way……a way that is so hard to explain because I can’t tell where I end and He begins. He has covered me. He has healed me. He has loved me in a manner that has so completely captured my heart that He is my every thought. He has knitted me in Him. He has shown me elements of His grace that take my breath away. He has brought good from my hurts. He has given me wisdom through my trials. He has brought purpose from my mistakes, and He has spoken destiny into my heart. He has overtaken me, overwhelmed me and overshadowed me. There is no me without Him. I am taken by Him, I am moved by Him, I am consumed by Him……I am undone.



He has shown me His power, which is so incalculable it can’t be measured – He is God, and He is sovereign; He is the final authority on every thing; He speaks and worlds are created; He breathes and life is born; He has taken into account every action, circumstance and decision that will ever happen in my life and before time began orchestrated it all to work for my good. How can tears of reverence and awe not flow when the God whose power cannot be contained chooses to visit with me throughout the course of my day, and guide every step that I take? Wow!



He has loved me so passionately and unconditionally that my heartbeat speeds up at the sound of His name. He holds me. He comforts me. He tells me who I am and who I am to Him. He values me. He accepts me. He is jealous for me. He wants me. He chose me. He loves me – on pretty days and ugly days, bad breath, bad attitude, bad behavior – He loves me completely. His love is not dependent on me, it’s who He is. He is MY love. I am His love. I am His bride. I am His heart. I am His hope. I am His. He died for me, just so He could be with me – now………. and forever. I have never experienced anything so sweet, so tender, so consuming.



And here’s the thing – He feels the same way about you! This is the mystery of the gospel in my terms – the love of Christ. It is unmerited, undeserved, unearned, but it is available to everyone who says, “I choose You, Lord!”



If we can ever fully wrap our mind around the fullness of the cross and have a true understanding of the grace of God, then surrender is no longer a choice, it's a compulsion. His love is so big - an all-consuming fire, an unquenchable passion, a flood of desire. You can never get enough of Him, and there is no end to Him!! It’s constant abundance in the center of His grace.



When we “get” that, then trusting Him is the easiest thing we can do. How can you not trust the intentions of a heart like that? The revelation of the abundance of God will make a cry baby out of you.....and that’s a good thing! He is worthy of every tear.



So my prayer today is this:



“My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask Him to strengthen you by His Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite Him in.


And I ask Him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love.


Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.


God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!


He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, His Spirit deeply and gently within us.” – Ephesians 3:14-21 The Message


Overflow in the love of Christ today!

Manthie

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

The Edge of Destiny

“Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]." 1 Thessalonians 5:24



Standing on the edge of the cliff I close my eyes. I want to remember this place, this time, this moment. A season of transition has led me here, and suddenly I find myself at a place of destiny. I know in the depths of my spirit that once I take that step there is no turning back to the familiarity, the comfort, the normalcy of what I have always known as my life. I also know that in front of me is what I was born for – my completion, my fulfillment, my destiny. The call of the Lord beckons me forward, and I step closer to the edge. However, unlike times past, I do not look down, for I no longer have a fear of falling. I look forward - to the beauty of promise in front of me. Glistening like a diamond in the noonday sun, my future calls to me out of the breadth of the uncharted. I hesitate – not from fear of the unknown (as in times past), but from fear of leaving the comfort of the known.



The words of Jesus in Mark 8:34 begin to take on a deeper, more personal meaning as I deliberate my next step, “"If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Live for me or live for Christ? - the lifetime battle between flesh and spirit continues to rage when suddenly I am reminded of His promise in the next verse, and the Word again divides soul and spirit. “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me and for the gospel will save it.”



I recall standing in this very place several times in years past, and I ponder the difference this moment holds. Why am I now so compelled to make this leap, when before the very thought sent me fleeing in the opposite direction gripped by fear? Slowly realization begins to dawn – the difference is me. I have come to understand with every stumble, fall and temptation, the faithfulness of the Lord. I have experienced the loving touch of His mercy and grace in ways I never could have imagined, and finally, after gut-wrenching internal (and external) battles I have learned that I can irrefutably trust His heart and confidently surrender mine to His hand and His will.



I turn my head and look back once again down the path which led me here. It is my choice to make, and the gravity of this knowledge grips my heart. Trading known for unknown, seen for unseen, comfort for faith, I am called to transfer my weaknesses for His strengths. I am called to trust Him with my life……and I do – finally, without reservation – I trust Him!



The assurance of this is the confidence of my being and the anchor of my soul.



So I jump!

Monday, June 14, 2010

His Grace is Sufficient - Excerpt from Bubble Bath Moments

Below is an excerpt from my book Bubble Bath Moments - a compilation of inspiring stories for women.  Please feel free to contact me at manthiehayes@yahoo.com if you would like to purchase a copy of the book.

Praying God warms your heart with His peace, joy and love today.

Manthie


His Grace is Sufficient


By: Manthie Hayes


“But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10




In 2002 my mom was diagnosed with leukemia. If you or a family member has ever had an experience with cancer and chemotherapy you know how destructive the chemicals are to the body. Throughout the weeks of her treatment I watched as her body deteriorated from the medication. She had one complication after another, from staff infections in the port which was used to administer the medicine, to her body becoming septic and literally poisoning itself. It was incredibly hard to watch her go through that, and I can’t imagine what it was like for her. But it was during this time that I really got to see God’s lordship in her life. I remember one day in particular, she had been so sick all day from the treatments. She had nearly no strength at all and nothing they gave her seemed to help. Her phlebotomist came in to take her blood and asked how she was doing. With the most peaceful and joyful look on her face she said, “It hasn’t been an easy day, but isn’t God good!” I thought to myself, ‘How can she say that? I’ve seen what’s she’s gone through all day, and most people would be miserable and complaining (I know I probably would have), but she just says, “Isn’t God good?”’

That is one of the most vivid memories I have of my mom. She went to be with the Lord in October of that year, and since then when I think of her, that moments sticks out more than others, and has helped and inspired me when I was going through difficult times myself. You see, she was so covered in God’s grace, so comforted by His hand, and so confident in His love that she understood what the apostle Paul spoke about in 2 Corinthians 12. I’m sure her greatest desire was for the Lord to remove that thorn from her side, but regardless of her circumstances, she knew with her entire being that His grace was sufficient. I absolutely believe that my mom fulfilled her purpose in the hospital, and that when we all get to heaven there will be people there who were touched by how she lived her life those last few months, for without a doubt, His strength manifested in her weakness.

If you’re facing a difficult time, I encourage you to meditate on this verse. Allow the Lord to strengthen you and minister to you. Completely turn your situation over to Him and rest in the knowledge that His grace is sufficient. It will give you strength you never thought you could have, and you never know when someone’s life will be changed by witnessing Christ operating in you.



Father, thank you that your grace is sufficient. Help us to continually strive to enter that place in You, where Your comfort, grace and mercy overtakes anything we may be experiencing. In Jesus name, amen.



Additional scriptures:

Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 4:7

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

From Bruises to Bandaids to Balm - The Journey to Restoration

I believe……


that light pushes out darkness;

that forgiveness is key to freedom;

that truth will always defeat lies;

that when we choose to love authentically & sacrificially it changes us first, then affects those around us;

that a sincere smile from a pure heart has the power to change a life;



that both laughter & tears have healing power;

that we learn more from our failures than our successes;

that patience really is a virtue;

that sometimes you just need to spend some time with yourself;

that true friendship gives us a glimpse of God’s heart;



that there is a spiritual dynamic between believing women;

that there is power in agreement;

that no matter how old you get you never outgrow the need to be hugged by your mama;

that grace is the most beautiful word in speech and action;

that kindness is never in vain;



that the first step to wisdom is realizing you really don’t know anything;

that everything is purposeful;

that good always triumphs over evil;

that sometimes listening is better than giving advice;

that having a great life is a choice……in angels.



I don’t believe……

that people never change;

that pride is a good thing;

that we can scare people to heaven;

that anyone is too far gone;

that you have to defend yourself;



that there is any excuse for prejudice;

that saying is doing;

that enabling is loving;

that humility is weakness;

that you’re ever too old;



that one voice can’t make a difference;

that your teens are the best years;

that it’s our place to judge;

that being in a bad mood is an excuse for anything;

that true beauty is fleeting….in coincidence.





I know….

that each person has a destiny and purpose;

that everyone makes mistakes;

that God speaks;

that miracles still happen;

that there is an appointed time for everything;



that submitting to God’s will is the most difficult decision to make, but the easiest one to walk in;

that His grace is sufficient;

that joy is not contingent on circumstances;

that He works all things together for good;

that God is faithful;



that peace is always possible;

that a warm & sincere heart cannot be imitated;

that deception is dangerous;

that God can change a heart;

that things are not always what they seem;



that independence is not necessarily a good thing;

that prayer works;

that He orders the steps of the righteous;

that the enemy has been defeated;

that love never fails…..in the power of redemption.



“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.” Matthew 5:14



Manthie Hayes

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Everything is Purposeful.........

What exactly does that mean?



If you would have asked me 6 months ago I would have given you some random answer concocted from my limited knowledge which held no meaning or significance…..and I wouldn’t have thought another thing about it. However, in February this phrase took on eternal significance for me and will forever be etched, branded and sewn into the fabric of my spirit and soul.



Have you ever had an event occur that to the natural mind is really no more than a normal occurrence, but spiritually shakes you down to your core? That is what happened to me that February evening….it knocked me off my bearings, turned my world upside down, and made me question everything I knew to be the specific word of God to me.



I remember sitting in my car, my mind reeling, my hands shaking, completely dumbfounded over what had just happened, and not having a clue what the correct course of action was to be in response, and I started talking to God.



“Lord, what just happened?”



“I don’t understand.”



“What am I supposed to do with this?”



And finally ending with…



“You could have stopped this!”



This was the question that prompted His response, and the following conversation pursued:



“I could have.”



“But you didn’t.”



“No.”



Job and Paul came to mind, and I remembered that God allowed things into their lives for a reason….a purpose.



“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” – Romans 8:28 NIV



From this revelation came my defining moment, my paradigm shift, the understanding of eternal perspective in natural things..…



“You didn’t.….Ok, then God, I cannot begin understand or grasp how this could even possibly serve any purpose at all…..but that’s ok, I don’t have to, because You do. I’m handing this situation to You and trusting You to work it together for good.”



From that moment on I have looked for purpose in every single occurrence in my life – the big and the small, the seemingly insignificant and those things which are so big I’m left speechless.



EVERYTHING IS PURPOSEFUL!!



Everything. Everything. Everything. EVERYTHING!



The good and the bad

The pretty and the ugly

The laughter and the tears

The joy and the pain



The ashes…

The brokenness….

The wilderness....

The narrow road…

The fire….



This is what is so amazing about our God. He is all knowing. He is the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last. He knows the beginning from the end, and He knows exactly what things need to happen in my life to mold me, make me and polish me into the woman He created to be. He knows the perfect way to turn my mess into my miracle, my confusion into clarity, my trouble into triumph, my ashes into beauty!



Understanding that everything is purposeful is the very thing that brought me to a final, complete submission to the Lord’s hand in my life. This is were I surrendered everything, where I was no longer afraid of being vulnerable and exposed, where I allowed Him access to those deep, deep places in my heart – to heal, to restore, to make new.



Understanding this is where I finally learned the fullness of His heart, finally got that He is for me, finally accepted His all-consuming love, and finally trusted Him to navigate my life. This is where I surrendered control and moved into the passenger seat of my life. And WOW, what a ride it’s been since then!



I challenge you to change your question when things happen in your life. Stop asking “Why?” and begin asking “What? What are you trying to teach me, sift out of me, reveal to me out of this experience, Lord.” Not one thing is ever wasted. Nothing is in vain. He is a purposeful God living in a purposed and destined you!



P.S. I have seen so many good things, eternal things, amazing things happen from the event that occurred in February. These things could have never been done had that not occurred. It was purposeful and will continue to be!



I pray that you are surrounded and covered by the revelation of the fullness, the greatness, the sovereignty and the amazing love of our beautiful Lord. In Jesus precious name, Amen.



“You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” Psalm 56:8 NLT



“You've kept track of my every toss and turn, through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.” Psalm 56:8 The Message


~ Manthie

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Change Your Measuring Stick!

What REALLY makes a woman valuable?

This was one of the topics we discussed last night with the ladies at our county jail, and to be honest, I haven’t been able to move on from it. So, let’s talk about it!!

What makes us valuable?

College degrees, great paying jobs, luxury cars, designer clothes, husbands/boyfriends, children?.........now tell the truth, did you just sit there and measure yourself against those things as you read them? Maybe/maybe not….I know this, it wasn’t that long ago that I would have been doing that very thing.

In the past 10 years I could have checked most of those things off the list, and in the last five, I can check none. Does that make me less valuable now than I was before? Don’t think for one second that the accuser doesn’t try to tell me that every day, and for a while I allowed him to convince me of those lies he loves to whisper.

“You are such a failure!”
“No man will ever love you.”
“Who would want to be with you? You have nothing to bring to the table.”
“You could have been so much more.”

I could go on all day! The point is, I was using the wrong measuring stick. I was comparing myself to others, to myself in the past, to what I thought I should be and do and have. I was looking to jobs, possessions, status and a man to give me value….and I was coming up with the same answer every time….”You have no worth.”

So I decided to get a different measuring stick….the Word of God. What does He say about me?

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14

• “I have a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11

• “I am made in His likeness.” Genesis 1:26

• “I am the Righteousness of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21


But let me go even deeper.

I have been bought with a price. (1 Cor. 6:20) Jesus paid the ultimate price for me! I am valuable because He loved me enough to pay for my life with His. I am priceless!


I didn’t choose Him, He chose me! (John 15:16) He CHOSE me! He created me, formed me, made me and chose me. Doesn’t it feel good to be chosen? That one fact, right there, just blows my mind sometimes. He picked me! The Creator of the universe chose me! THAT makes me valuable.

When I change my measuring stick and begin to look at the TRUTH of my Father instead of the LIES of my enemy, my perspective changes, and I begin to see what’s really important. What really makes me valuable....... He does! I have worth and value because He made me, He bought me, He chose me, and He lives in me!! He is all that I am, and I am all that He is. And lemme just tell y’all….there is nothing else that compares to that. No car, no house, no man…..nothing!

It is in this understanding that we stand up straight, shoulders back, head up, eyes ahead, and assume the full position of a woman of God. This is the place where we open ourselves up to the exceedingly, abundantly more of His promises; where we begin to walk into fulfillment, because He has become our total Source. We are hidden in Him, and we are now prepared, equipped and ready to handle the man, the job, the possessions in His perfect timing, without putting them ahead of Him in our lives!

Change your measuring stick, know your value, and allow the Lord to transform you into the woman He created you to be!
You’re gonna love her!!

“For in Him we live, and move, and have our being….” Acts 17:28


~ Manth

Saturday, May 15, 2010

Welcome to my life in words!

Welcome to Blonde Moments and Bubble Baths!  What I hope to be an inspirational, encouraging and helpful blog about the lessons the Lord is teaching me as I try to navigate this journey called my life on the way to my destiny.

I know the first question you may ask.  Why would anyone care about the goings on in the life of a self-confessed ditzy blonde?  And the only way I know to answer that is.....for some reason which defies logic, but defines grace, God has asked me to speak into the lives of women.  Having walked on both sides of that proverbial fence in the life of a Christian - obedience and disobedience - I've decided that doing what He asks of me really does suit me much better than doing my own thing, so as crazy as it seems, I believe Him to do His 'immeasurably more' thing with the meagerness of my efforts.

To be completely honest, I'm not exactly sure what this will look like once it develops, which leads me to one of the latest things God has been teaching me - "Have a vision, but live your today, and let Me lead you to your tomorrow.  Then day by day you will arrive at those things which I have promised you at the perfect time and fully prepared."  Which is really kinda cool for you who will follow this, cause you never know what He's gonna do from one post to another!  Gives ya something to look forward to!

And finally, why Blonde Moments and Bubble Baths? Because I felt the title described me pretty completely in 5 short words. I sometimes feel as if I live from one Blonde Moment to the next in the natural and the spiritual......just a little 'out in space' on occasion, which makes the ability to laugh at yourself a very necessary trait, and takes the appreciation of the grace of the Lord to a whole 'nother level! 

Now on to the Bubble Bath part.  Anyone who knows me knows that I am a Bubble Bath girl.  That's my "Manthie Time" to relax and allow the worries of the day to wash off of me.  As a matter of fact, I just compiled an inspirational book for women titled "Bubble Bath Moments" (see photo).  Feel free to contact me for purchasing information.  All prejudice aside, it really is an amazing book, and it will bless the socks off of ya.

So, I invite you to join me through the struggles, falls, revelations and victories as I journal my process.  Hopefully we all will come to know the Lord in new ways, allow Him to mold and make us into the women He created us to be, and somewhere along the line discover exactly who that is and cheer for each other as we walk in our promised land!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

Abundant Blessings to you!
Manth