I recently was asked if I could do something for a person I hold dear to my heart. I don’t recall her ever asking me to do anything for her the 12 years that we have known each other. My heart leaped when she reached out to me. I was determined; “even if I don’t know how to do this task, I will get it done for her,” I thought to myself.

Once I started in on the ‘project,’ I couldn’t help but smile.  I was the only one in the room as I worked on the task; no one could see the joy it brought me to do as she requested. Truthfully from start to finish didn’t take me long at all.

I can’t being to explain the joy it brought me; it was an easy task; you would have thought I just gave her a million dollars the way I felt inside. My thought to myself: “I hope that she would ask me to do more for her.”

Driving home, I contemplated how much joy it brought me to do a simple task and connect with each family member. We didn’t go anywhere; it wasn’t long conversations. What brought me so much joy was being in their presence.

Holy Spirit dropped in my heart: How you feel right now is how Father God feels when you ask Him to do even the smallest of things and/or spend time with Him.  At that moment, I felt His love more deeply toward me.

How often do we think we “need” to read chapters in our Bibles or be in prayer for long hours to bring or Father in Heaven joy? How often do we avoid “asking” for the smallest of requests thinking we are ‘bothering’ Him? But Papa God wants to spend time with us.

It makes me think of the time that I set aside to “soak.”  Now you are probably asking, “what is that?”

Soaking is when a person purposely sets aside everything to gaze on the beauty of the Lord (Psalm 27:4). No one is teaching, and no questions are being asked. You soak in worship music that is being played. The atmosphere is relaxing, and at times I have dozed off.

The first time I was invited to soak, I asked Papa God what this would be like? I had heard of people getting tangible things when they were in the presence of God. Seriously I have a friend that can testify to this phenomenon.

I chuckled to myself and thought this question; Papa, will you give me a diamond?

There is a story behind that question, I will not go into the details, but years ago, God told me to look for diamonds throughout my day. That most people will only hear or see the negative in our world. But it takes purpose to look for the positive. He said to me, “Georgia, I am handing you diamonds all day long, every day. Look for them, and pick them up. Put them in your pocket; before long, you will have a wheel barrel full of them.

So, I only expected a positive experience when asking Papa about ‘diamonds.’ Though I must admit, there was a small part of me that hoped for an actual diamond (big or small). Either way, I was “looking” for something extraordinary. 

I instantly felt comfortable even though I had never been at this church or knew the people in the room; even the person who invited me was not there. But I felt I was around family. I got comfortable and just let my mind think of all the things God has done on my behalf. My heart was overjoyed as I ‘soaked’ in his presence. Some people were writing things down in a notebook, and some were resting. After about 45 minutes, someone turned the music down, and people began to sit up. Everyone looked relaxed with a sincere smile. One by one, the group shared the things that they had felt, seen, or heard while they were soaking. It was very encouraging. The couple next to me said; well, I got something for you, they pointed to me. To my surprise, I waited to hear what they had to say. “I am not sure if this makes sense to you, but I heard the Lord say; Diamonds, tell her I have got lots of diamonds for her.”

Oh my goodness, I was thrilled! No one knew the question I asked in my heart to Papa God. And I can only imagine that this couple felt odd saying something that made no sense to them to a person they have never met before. But! It spoke so much to me!

God hears us! He knows us and wants to bless us. Papa God loves to spend time with us, and when we ask Him for something, He is overjoyed to give it to us. 

                Psalm 37:4 NLT Take delight in the Lord,  and he will give you your heart’s desires.

The request that my loved one asked of me, which I had written about initially, was a task that ultimately helped her save a little money. It wasn’t some outlandish assignment; it was simple.  What blessed my heart was the fact that I was asked. 

When we ask Papa God for something, we can confidently go before Him, knowing that HE loves us and no request is too small. And whenever I remember how my heartfelt doing the simple task for my loved one, I  will connect this feeling of deep love to the way God feels towards me.

Be Blessed, everyone; look for the diamond in your day.

So our the days of our lives. I am not sure if you are as old as I am, but this was the theme phrase to an old ‘soap opera’ that has been airing for 56 years this November.

What?! Yeah, I cannot believe it either.

And those of you who don’t know the terminology, soap opera; is a radio or television series dealing especially with domestic situations and frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term “soap opera” originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored by soap manufacturers. Wikipedia

How about this; do any of  you remember the 1976 hit by the Steve Miller band, ‘Fly Like an Eagle?’ The song opens with these words:

Doo doo-doo-doo

(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo

(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo

(Tick tock tick) Doo doo-doo-doo

Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’

Into the future

Time keeps on slippin’, slippin’, slippin’

Into the future

And though the song has action-provoking words, I am puzzled by the phrase: time keeps slipping into the future. Because the fact is, time is slipping into our past.

Don’t get me wrong; I am not by no means a doom and gloom person.

I am the opposite.

However, the subject of “time” is on everyone’s minds. Most people I conversate with has questions that normally start with:  

                        “How much longer will it be before…” [you fill in the blank]?

Everyone can have their own opinion about time and even how they spend their time, but the bottom line is we each only have 24 hours in a day, and our days are numbered.

One morning when I had my quiet time, I asked Holy Spirit if I have grieved him. I instantly saw an image in my thoughts. It was of an hourglass. And as I watched the sand on the top half quickly make its way through the narrow neck to the bottom, I knew that Holy Spirit was telling me something. To my surprise, as I continued to watch this vision, and I saw my hand take the top off the hourglass and take pinches of sand from the top half and threw it out.

My heart was convicted. I knew exactly what HE was trying to say to me. I waste too much time. It is only a few moments here and a few there, jumping on social media, getting sidetracked with my messy office [just being honest here], or getting distracted by the many wonderful teachings online that make my head spin.

But bottom line, I had been given 3 specific things to get accomplished in the first quarter of the year, and a 4^th   assignment being something that will be an ongoing mission, till I am told otherwise.

So what is keeping me? Why do I get stalled out? Well, one reason I stall out is I am not silencing the little voice in my head that says; you have no clue how to accomplish these things. Are you even ‘qualified’ to step out in this matter?

However, if I truly believe that God is leading me to accomplish these things, HE will supply me with everything I need to accomplish them.

Hebrew 13:20-21 AMP

Now may the God of peace [the source of serenity and spiritual well-being] who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood that sealed and ratified the eternal covenant,  equip you with every good thing to carry out His will and strengthen you [making you complete and perfect as you ought to be], accomplishing in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

This past week during my zoom bible study, we looked at Galatians chapter 5, and verse 23 in The Message Bible hit my spirit. Let me explain what the writer Paul is saying before typing out verse 23.

Paul is reiterating to the churches of Galatia that if we live a life lead by the Spirit, we are not under the law. What qualifies us is grace. There is freedom in the gospel of grace as compared to living life to the ‘law.’  That if we live with our selfish desires, we are living by the flesh [5:19-21].

Verse 22 lists what life looks like living by the spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. 

Then verse 22b – 23 from The Message Bible reads this way:

We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.

Wow, it still hits me. I have not loyally committed to those things I believe God has called me to. And as for directing my energies wisely, if that were true, I wouldn’t waste ‘time’ looking at pictures of what Mrs. Jones did on the weekend. Right?!

This is just me; I am not pointing the finger at anyone. It is just where I am at this moment. Maybe, just maybe, the enemy whispers in our ears because he doesn’t want us to accomplish the greatness that is in each one of us?

Do you know that God has given us all assignments and even prepared a way for us to accomplish them? Ephesians 2:10

We each have such a uniqueness that is essential to the world around us. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I get this wrong opinion of myself; that I don’t make that much of a difference.

That is a flat-out lie from the enemy! The thing is, each one of us makes a difference. We have all been created brilliantly for such a time as this. Psalm 139:13-16 MSG

He has chosen specifically the times of history we would live. Acts 17:26 NIV 

If God has something stirring in your heart to do that perhaps you haven’t heard of anyone else doing. Take courage, my fellow pioneer, take that first step, and the other one will be revealed. We need to trust that God will supply us with all we need to accomplish those assignments. 

This past week I had become a grandma for the first time. Wow, what an incredible love I feel for this beautiful gift from heaven. I was in awe to see such pure sweetness, innocents, and perfection all wrapped up in one. I can sit looking at pictures all day long.

Have you ever noticed how things get prepared at home for newborns?  Organization gets stepped up; the baby room gets prepared, items get cleaned and cleaned again to make it the perfect environment for when little one comes home. Some people will even play soothing instrumental music [soaking music] in their home or the baby nursery to enhance the little one’s calming experience. 

Preparing the environment with prayer is another way to clean the atmosphere. And we [grandpa and I] have been praying daily since before we knew our family was about to grow.

I share this to give you a mental picture because most of us know what I am talking about ‘preparing’ for a newborn.

But have you ever thought about doing this type of preparation before sharing the gospel of heaven? The message of Jesus Christ is as pure as it gets. Straight from heaven, our Lord Jesus came to show us the way. To free us from the bondages we get entangled in and free us from a performance mentality; we can push ourselves with unrealistic demands.

This past year, I have learned several different things about how principalities work to keep people in the dark, keep people in deception, and ultimately imprison them.

There have been times when I have talked to people I’ve met on the street but could not reach them. Yeh, they were probably on drugs, but maybe it is more than that. I started praying that the atmosphere would change as I walked downtown and in the park. Taking my spiritual authority – given to me by Jesus – and bound the spirit of darkness, the spirit of addiction, the spirit of rejection, the orphan spirit, wandering spirit. And I loosed the love of heaven, and I asked Holy Spirit to encounter these individuals, asking Jesus to meet them where they are at.

I presented the blood of Jesus – asking the blood to go before me and behind me. I ask for the Kingdom of Heaven to come to earth. That God would bring people or even angels to come alongside them to help them on their healing journey.

Engaging my heart and prayer in this matter, I eventually found that the atmosphere changed. Either the drug community moved on to another town. OR [what my heart wants to believe] these people encountered the love of God through people that genuinely have the spirit of Christ. The people I encounter thereafter were coherent and I could carry a conversation with them. I got to plant a seed or two and even water it with prayer. 

We each have a realm of influence: our families, our workplaces, our neighborhoods, our cities, etc. What if the church took their blood-bought keys and bound those things that go on around us that are illegal to function in heaven. Then lose those things that are a part of heaven; clarity, sound minds, love, compassion, etc.

What if we remember that we are representatives of Jesus Christ and our identity in HIM?  

What if God did more than we asked or imagine?

We would see that our lights are a bright beacon to those individuals who stumble in the darkness.      

 Ephesians 3:20, 21

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Just a reminder for all of us. We need to have discernment as we feed ourselves on information to understand the times we are facing.

Keeping in mind of some the struggles I had last year. Where I found myself in situations that my emotions were being manipulated, behave outside of my identity in Jesus, and no longer useful to bring LIGHT to a situation.

I didn’t want that to happen again.  So as I was about to read something that was sent to me, I had to stop myself, pray this prayer [above] then read what was sent.

These hours leading into January 20th we can find our emotional strings being pulled, so to speak. No matter what happens, let’s anchor ourselves to these scriptures:

Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Chronicles 12:7 … “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.

Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Jeremiah 29:11 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.

And lastly, remember we were appointed to this time in history.

Acts 17:26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.