Chocolate Chip Cookies from Heaven

I bet you're really good at something.

Maybe it's playing sports or texting super fast or cleaning your room or whittling a piece of balsa wood into an amazing four-poster bed. 

I make these off the hook, melt in your mouth, really crazy good chocolate chip cookies. 

There have been times when hoards of people (OK so maybe not hoards, maybe its closer to one kid on a skateboard) will follow me around at parties, begging for the recipe or at the very least more cookies to stuff in their pockets for later consumption.

One hazy morning found me baking up a very special batch of these cookies for a new friend--a friend that I wanted to impress with my cookie baking skills. I knew that these would be a huge hit, not only for her, for but for her entire household. (Can you sense the humility here? It's borderline embarrassing.)

Fresh out of the oven, I zip-locked the gourmet goodies and carefully put them in a gift bag, ready for delivery.

It was her birthday after all. Man, was she in for a treat!! (And yeah, I fully realize that the horn-blowing is reaching maximum overload, but please indulge my profound big-headedness for just a moment.)

One problem though. When I asked for a good time to drop them off, I never heard back from her.

A day went by and nothing. And the special part? The part I'm not proud of? 

I got mad.

How dare she IGNORE my prize-winning treats of joy? How dare she blow me off? Didn't she know what she was passing up?? 

Not only my sweet delicacies, but my FRIENDSHIP!! (Insert sarcasm here. I can be a tad (ha!) overdramatic. Not to mention self-centered.)

I was so upset that I PRAYED. On my knees, bag of cookies in hand.

"God?? What do I do?"

"Give them to Lisa."

"Lisa? Who's Lisa?"

"At Starbucks. Give them to Lisa."

Shocking.  God was aware of my daily sojourn to my neighborhood Starbucks. 

And so off I went with the cookies.

"Is there a Lisa that works here?" I asked in between making sure that there were plenty of Splendas in my soy latte. 

If there was ANY question that God was involved in this transaction, that notion was IMMEDIATELY dismissed upon hearing the barista's response.

"Lisa? Yes, there is a Lisa here, but she has cancer and she's off right now for chemotherapy."

BAM.

Tears. Chills. Yelling about Jesus right there in Starbucks.

The God of the Universe. The Guy that created sharks and sailboats and sunrises and gravity took time out of His busy schedule to make sure that one of His daughters knew that He was with her in the midst of her pain.

Wow.

That's some serious LOVE, isn't it?

Going through something? God hasn't forgotten you. He sees you, He loves you and He is right by your side. 

Say out loud, based on Isaiah 41:10:

'I will not fear,  for God is with me; I will not anxiously look about,  for He is my God. God will strengthen me, surely He will help me. Surely He will uphold me with His righteous right hand.

Thank you God FOR everything!!! Most powerful prayer on the planet!

Way before I really knew Jesus or had any experience with the Holy Spirit, I was in one of those predicaments that so many women find themselves in when we rely on our own highest thought to direct our own lives.

Or lowest thought.

Against my better gut judgment, I said "yes" to moving in with a guy that I had been dating. Completely selfish and self-centered and having zero idea of Christ-like love or sacrifice, I literally drove this guy to drink. I'm not kidding. He'd come home later and later until finally one day, he didn't come home.

So there I was, crying my eyes out for what seemed like days, when a dear friend came over with some Christian tapes, lunch and a sympathetic ear.

If you ever want to make a huge impression on anyone in pain, bring them food. I'm serious. That makes an impact.

She was different and all she said about that was that she had rededicated her life to Christ.

Hmmm.

Long story short, she left me with the tapes and I started listening to one in particular called Prison to Praise.

Changed. My. Life.

The premise of the tapes was based on 1 Thessolonians 5:16-18(NIV) which says:

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,"

and Ephesians 5:20(NIV) which says,

"always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

The author, Merlin Carothers, spoke of being instructed by the Holy Spirit to give thanks not just in all things, but FOR all things, for this is the will of God for His plan for salvation.

There are stories in Prison to Praise that speak of parents thanking God that their daughter was dancing in a strip joint, praising Him that this was all part of His plan for her salvation. Soon after they started praying in this way, a believer walked into the seedy dance bar and offered her the gift of salvation. She accepted Jesus and is now serving Him in a mighty way.

Another story details a soldier who wanted to quit smoking and couldn't find the will power on his own. After praying that specific prayer, every time he started to smoke, he'd throw up violently until his desire to smoke soon disappeared.

In my own life, I've prayed that prayer over incredibly difficult circumstances within my family and I've literally seen the people involved drop their argument and come crying back to each other begging forgiveness.

I've prayed "thank you God for..." when my husband and I've had a disagreement and have seen miraculous things unfold; things that have created a newfound understanding between us where before there was nothing but argument and dissension.

All from thanking God FOR the situation.

A friend shared this story,
"My teenage son was addicted to methamphetamine and pornography and would disappear for days at a time. For years, I would pray that God would make him stop using. We sent him to rehab after rehab and nothing worked. Within days of release, he'd be back at his dealer's house getting high again. We were out of options and ready to give up. Someone suggested that we thank God for his meth addiction; that it was all part of God's plan for our son's salvation. At first, it was hard to pray that way, but we realized that God knew what He was doing. Days after we prayed and thanked God for Mike's meth addiction, we received a phone call from Mike's best childhood friend telling us that Mike was there on his couch, sobbing. Mike got on the phone with us, and between choked back tears, told us that he had been using speed and in the midst of getting high, he was suddenly struck sober. He said that all of a sudden, he was aware that he was killing himself. He said it was almost like he was watching himself destroying himself with a needle and he was horrified and disgusted. He broke the rig in half, flushed the drugs and called his friend to pick him up. Mike is now serving the Lord in our church's youth group and has been clean for two years. He loves Jesus with his whole heart and he still loves snowboarding, playing bass guitar and reading spy novels. He's still Mike, bur he's not bound by drugs and pornography anymore. It was like our thanking God for Mike's drug problem released God's power in a miraculous way."

God wants to meet our needs. We don't have to beg Him, we just have to praise Him.

Say out loud, "Thank you, God, for __________; it's all part of your divine plan for my (or someone else's) salvation."

Say What, Jesus?

I love this from writer John Shore, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Simple, simple, so profoundly challenging about none of us do it.. If you have the nerve to call yourself a follower of Christ, then have the moxie to obey what Jesus unequivocally proclaimed the most important commandment of all. Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And then go, Christian, go." 

Seriously can be one of the hardest things to do. Oh sure. It's easy to love the people that are nice to us. The ones that show up on time, the ones that give us compliments, that buy our lunch. 

But what about the folks that ignore us? That betray us? That belittle us? Are we supposed to love them too?

Uh, yes.

But how? I mean, how can God expect us to love--to extend grace to--someone who is irritating or mean? Or just plain undeserving (in our limited estimation)? 

That's where our need for Him and a huge helping of grace comes in.

I don't know about you, but I tend to take things personally. 

I know, it's not about me. Right, I get that. 

But I make it about me and then I miss the point. 

I miss the miracle.

I miss the fact that there is an opportunity to demonstrate LOVE and see the Almighty Love Machine in action. 

So what if someone is rude? It's probably because they're tired, lonely, worn out or on a mental vacation. Maybe they just got terminated, or they're terrified or just got turned down. 

Maybe, just maybe, they don't believe that God exists and it frustrates them that you call yourself a Jesus follower. 

Maybe they're waiting for you to show them otherwise.

Dare to show LOVE to at least one "undeserving" person today. Pray first and be prepared to be blown away. 

Based on Mark 12:30-31, say out loud:

God, help me to love You with all my heart and all my soul and all my mind and all my strength. Help me, God, to love my neighbor as myself. I know, Lord, that there is no commandment greater than these.

Treasure Hunt

What if your life were a map and all that you could see was your current location? What if there were amazing treasures just around the bend and you had no idea about them?

Seriously. Picture a treasure map, filled with adventure, secret treasure and the occasional hardship. Imagine a sandy beach on one side and some rocky mountains on the other. You've been given all the tools you need to navigate through the terrain--a pick ax, a shovel, plenty of water and a compass, but because you can't see five feet in front of you, you decide to throw down your tools and give up.

Isn't that what so many of us do in real life? We get scared and give up, often just a few feet away from a box full of treasure.

As a young person, I was terribly short-sighted. I couldn't see what lie ahead, so I settled for what I saw in front of me. Poor relationship choices (dating a guy whose response to "what are your interests" said one word, "Sting"..), ridiculous "career moves" (slinging reheated scrambled eggs for the breakfast crowd at Hotel Circle in San Diego), and walking away from an opportunity to go to an amazing school (Go Cal Bears!!)...all because the idea of waiting for something better, choosing wisely and going for excellence were too scary for me.

What about you? Do you have any idea about what's in front of you? Can you predict the future? Maybe what you're going through right now is temporary. Maybe there's something amazing just around the bend.

Don't miss it.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

Don't ask God to "swiffer" your life, cause He will!!

I had just asked God to root out and remove anyone that He didn't want in my life. And guess what? They stopped calling. They stopped showing up. And the loneliness was deafening. The well of pain was so deep it hurt to breathe. Literally.

It was just a few days, but those days were dark--dark like I'd imagine when the disciples thought that Jesus was gone forever. It was like climbing uphill without any energy or motivation.

Meanwhile, a dear friend called. Out of the blue. (So, God's blue?) My friend had lost both of her parents in the span of less than a year (as well as her grandmother). If that weren't enough, she had faced losing her ability to sing and minister musically as her vocal chords were cut for back surgery. She had gone through such devastating loss.

Although it had been a few years since we had seen each other, God seemed to keep the chords strong between us. The day seemed perfect to finally get together.

My friend is extraordinary. A diamond--beautiful, compassionate, exceptionally talented...with a serious love for Jesus. She, like me, has a young child (and two older kids) as well as a husband that she loves dearly. As we planned a visit, my thoughts were along the line of "God, give me words to say. Inspire me Lord. I don't know how to be there for her."

I felt God saying, "Don't treat her like a Christian music star, but like a sister in Christ." I get that. A star can do no wrong. A star is untouchable and unapproachable. A sister is reachable, touchable, relatable. Hugs and tears and laughter happen between sisters.

What a gift that day turned out to be. I didn't minister to her. I didn't encourage her. SHE MINISTERED TO ME!! She reached in and touched my soul. She grabbed my wounded heart and with God's help, gave it life. Praise God!

We are both treasures out of darkness. We are both examples of God giving beauty for ashes. We are both talented, amazing, light-filled, broken, redeemed, women of God.

God used my friend to give me something that I didn't even know that I'd lost. Hope.

We've always said that we didn't know why God put us together or what He had in store for us, but it's becoming clearer and clearer now. I'm pretty sure that He wants us to remember where we come from so that we can help other women dig out from the wreckage and rubble that comes from living outside of God's will. I also know that He wants us to mention His name at every opportunity.

And why not?

He deserves all of the credit.

Do you want in on this whole Jesus thing?

I'm not sure where you are in your faith.  For that matter, I'm not even sure if you believe in God. I'm not sure what made you pick up this book and start reading. Maybe it was the title--True Grit for Teens-- the nitty gritty and not so pretty real stuff that God want you to know--that caught your attention.

Whatever the reason you're reading this book and wherever you are in your faith, you are not here by accident.

It's a divine appointment. You could be reading MAD magazine right now, but you chose this little book.

And God wanted you to pick it up. In fact, He was counting on it.

It's not because He wanted you to read my pithy chapters. It has to do with more with the fact (not the theory) that He loves you.

He loves YOU.

And He wants a relationship with you.

How do you enter in? Easy.

Think about the thief on the cross. (For details on that guy, read Luke 23:40-43 (NIV) in the Bible.)

There were two guys, criminals, who hung on two crosses on each side of Jesus during His cruxifiction.

One of the thugs challenged Jesus, saying in essence, "if you're really God, get yourself and us off these crosses." Rude, right?

The second criminal said (Monika paraphrase), "Don't talk down to Jesus, He's GOD. Aren't you freaked out to talk to God that way when you've been sentenced to die? We deserve the electric chair for our crimes, but this man hasn't done anything wrong." Then he turned to Jesus and said, "Jesus, remember me when you get to heaven."

Jesus showed tremendous compassion and love when He said, "I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise."

HOW COOL IS THAT? A total "loser" by the world's standards was instantly FORGIVEN of all of his mistakes and ASSURED ENTRY INTO PARADISE???!!!!

A low-budget con artist type with front row seats to eternity.

Notice how Jesus didn't make this guy jump through hoops or be good or act religious and wear his hair a certain way or even attend church to be ushered into heaven? All the thief had to do was BELIEVE that Jesus was WHO HE SAID HE WAS, REPENT (This guy was humbled in the presence of God and knew that he had done wrong. He was sorry and asked Jesus to remember him.  Jesus gave him much more than he'd ever asked for--serious GRACE), and then he RECEIVED salvation.

It's that simple and you can have the same privilege.  The same grace ticket. The same hope for eternity and the same joy and peace.

You're invited. Your place at the feast is assured;  all you have to do is accept the invitation.

Pray this prayer (or your version of it),

"God, I want a relationship with Jesus. I want to be set free.  I know that I have relied on my own limited thinking to get by. I've been selfish,  I've held onto resentments,  I've been  full of fear, mistrust and disbelief.  I'm ready to trade that junk in for a new life. God, I want Jesus as my Lord and my Savior. I want to experience the love that comes only from accepting Your Son, Jesus, into my life. In Jesus' name, amen."


If you just prayed that prayer, don't stop there. Get involved in a church, start praying daily, read your Bible (you might want to start with the book of John), and hang out with some other Christ followers. Your life is about to radically change. (P.S. I'd love to hear from you if you did just pray that prayer, so that I can hear your story and pray for you too.)

Really? Do you have a death wish?

Smoking is so not cool anymore.

And really, let's get real. Smoking was NEVER cool when you consider the health ramifications.

We can't plead ignorance anymore.

Smoking kills. Period.

Consider the facts: Illness related to smoking kills more people per year than deaths from HIV, alcohol use, suicides, illegal drug use, murders, and car accidents COMBINED.

Dude.

Smoking is no joke. It's like picking up a loaded 9 millimeter, aiming it at your own head, pulling the trigger and hoping that nothing happens.

If you're thinking, "Cool, I'm out of the loop because I just chew tobacco."

Sorry.

Bad news.

The nicotine in smokeless tobacco can cause sudden death because it can cause the heart to stop beating suddenly (ventricular arrhythmia) as well as being linked to all kinds of crazy cancers.

Feeling safe because you're under 18 years of age? Of the 25 million people alive today that will die prematurely of smoking-related illnesses, 5 million are under 18. (check www.cdc.gov/tobacco/statistics)

That means YOU if you smoke or live with somebody who smokes.

So why bring this subject up? Because chances are that you or someone that you hang out with smokes and thinks its alright.

Maybe its not "alright."

You read the facts didn't you? 5 million kids will die of smoking related illnesses this year. Death from things like esophageal cancer and cardiac arrest and emphysema. Nasty, horrific, unimaginable diseases that no one should have to endure.

All for a short-lived buzz and maybe being 20 pounds skinnier than you would be if you didn't smoke.

There, I said it. How many women smoke to stay thin? Two bites of your burger and then a smoke and boom--you stay skinny, right? Is being thin now worth losing 15 years of your life later?

How about smoking because it "calms you down  and takes the edge off."

Does it? Sure, for a little while. But then you're back where you started once you put your cigarette out.

(By the way, I'm not trying to be a nag, I'm just hoping to make you think about what you're doing to your body. You know, the one that God formed in your mother's womb? The one that He asked us to be good stewards of--that precious gift from God??)

Obviously, cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are some of the most addictive drugs on the planet. So, aside from tons of will power, a pack of Nicorette gum and a big pile of snacks, how does one quit smoking?

Ask God for help.

Seriously. Ask Him for help to quit smoking--one day at a time. Ask Him to remove the cravings, the withdrawal symptoms, and the pleasure associated with smoking. Ask Him to give you a disgust for it. And yes, thank Him that you're addicted to cigarettes, because it's all part of His divine plan for your salvation.

And then watch out, because God will blow you away.

Say out loud, based on psalm 119:45: "I will walk about in freedom because I follow your precepts."

You can be set free in Christ from all forms of tobacco and still be cool.

Cooler in fact.

Coach Oprah??

Wouldn't be great to have a coach? Someone who was in your corner 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

I'm not talking about some loud-mouthed, overbearing guy that is constantly telling you to move faster, and pick up the pace and all of that.

I'm talking about someone to encourage you, to challenge you and to help you be your very best.

Kind of like having Oprah in your corner, but better.

Why do we need a coach?

Because we'll settle for medicore and call it good.

God wants us to move us to amazing and call it His.

Because we'll stop fifty feet from the finish line and give up.

God wants us to not only cross that finish line, but to celebrate our victory, because it's really His.

A coach is someone that has your best interest at heart. He's the guy that knows you better than you know yourself and wants you to stretch to live out your potential. He's the guy that puts up with whining and grumbling because he knows that ultimately, there will be a huge payoff.

He's on your team, your side and he's got your back.

God wants to be your coach. He's got all the rules mapped out, the playbook has been written and he's got a few drills that have been tailor made just for you. All you have to do is give Him permission to start.

Say out loud, based on Isaiah 41:10(NIV):

"I do not fear, for He is with me; I am not dismayed, for He is my God. He
will strengthen me and help me; He will uphold me with His righteous right hand."

Radical Love

Insatiable love for Jesus.

Pray to have it.

What does that mean? Do you want to find out what God really cares about? Pray this prayer. The answer may surprise you.

If you go to church, you might notice that we spend a lot of time in worship. We lift our hands up, we sing, we clap our hands, we pray. After a while, you might start to think that God is pretty self-centered and wants all of our attention.

He does, but not in the way I used to think.

Worship is for us, not for God. It's a chance for us to connect with the power and presence that is God. To forget the day, our circumstances, our worries and fears and lay them down at His feet. Worship prepares our hearts and minds to hear the Truth--the Word of God.

But what does the Lord want? What does it look like to love Him insatiably?

He wants you to love on His children; to point them out of darkness and into the light. He wants you to help rescue them from the pit--from addictions, disease, hopelessness and despair.

Pray to love God insatiably and you'll run into rape victims, alcoholics, and lonely souls. Pray to love God insatiably and you'll have a chance to jump in the trenches with your fellow man and make a difference.

Watch for opportunities.

It may not be the breast cancer walk--but it could be. It may not be finding a cure for AIDS--but it could be. It mostly likely will be one person with whom you can make a difference.

What you'll find is that God cares desperately for His children. He sees pain, He sees loneliness and He sees sadness.

But He also sees the way out.

He is the way out.

Pray today, "God, help me to love You insatiably." See what happens.

Are you being TERRORIZED?

Dictionary.com defines the word terrorize in the following way: to fill or overcome with terror; to dominate or coerce by intimidation; to produce widespread fear by acts of violence, as bombings.

If you're like me, the first thing that you probably think about when you hear the verb "terrorize" is some lone ranger killing innocent people in the name of a religion, a belief or in order to cause intimidation to an opposing group or country.

What about the father who terrorizes his children with constant threats of violence and intimidation? Or the mother who constantly promises to beat her children in a very real way if they don't cooperate? How about the parent who comes home drunk and belligerent and so scary that everyone runs for cover as soon as the door opens? Isn't that a form of terrorism?

The Bible is clear on the fact that parents are not to unnecessarily aggravate their children. "Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged." Proverbs 19:11


What about being bullied on a daily basis at school or online? It's all terrorism.


Psalm 138:7 (MSG) reminds us that we can call on God (as well as teachers, authorities, our parents, or someone trustworthy), When I walk into the thick of trouble, keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand strike my foes, With your other hand save me. Finish what you started in me, God.
Your love is eternal—don't quit on me now.
If you're someone who is forced to deal with a fellow student or parent's anger and coercion and threats on a constant basis, and if as a result, your self-esteem is lower than low, please know that that kind of anger is a sin and that God has a different plan for your life. Talk to your school counselor and tell her what's going on at home. She may be able to direct you to a resource for abused children in your city. You can also talk to your pastor or a trusted parent of a friend. Let somebody know what's going on. (If your parent is the pastor, and he is being abusive, tell someone that you trust.)

 

If you're afraid of doing ANYTHING, start with prayer. God's plan does not involve you having to live in fear.

Pray something like this: "God, please shelter me with your wings. Provide a way out of this hell that I'm in. Lord, open up doors, show me who to talk to, provide refuge for my weary soul. Help me, Lord. Guide me and give me the wisdom and the direction to get help. I bind the spirit of anger that lives in this house. I release God's power for salvation. In Jesus' name. Amen."

Pray Psalm 91 out loud,

"I dwell in the shelter of the Most High
and I will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

Back in the day

A long, long time ago, before computers ruled the world and we still had to walk to school in our bare feet, up snowy hills with nothing but a kiss from mom and a huge backpack on our back, we used to regularly do something that many now might consider absolutely crazy--we played outside.

I know. Weird, right? Not only did we play outside, but we rode our bikes to the store.

At age 5.

By ourselves.

My brother and I would get on our little banana-seat Schwinn bikes and peddle off to Quik Stop with our allowance in hand (or in pocket as the case might be) and buy a couple of tootsie rolls or pop rocks and then turn around and peddle home.

No cell phone. No Facebook.

Just a sunny day and the knowledge that our parents knew where we were and when we'd be home.

Don't get me wrong. We knew not to talk to strangers and stay away from any adult that might offer us candy.

When we got home from riding our bikes to the convenience store, we would park them in the driveway and check in with mom and then head on down to the park or our friends' house.

We didn't watch TV much except on Sunday nights--Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins and The Wide World of Disney. We ate dinner together and no one ever had to be told to put away their cell phone or quit texting because those things didn't exist.

So now we've got social media. But how "social" is it? Think about it. You're sitting alone (usually), in your room, "Facebooking" with people you barely know in real life. You're eavesdropping on other people's conversations (even though they are aware of it) and you're window shopping on their lives.

But are you participating? Are you making true friends? Have you ever felt awkward when you've run into a Facebook friend in real life and you realized that you didn't really know them that well?

And never mind cyber bullying. That's an entire chapter in itself.

What about the jealousy that pops up when you see that a friend is doing something or getting something that you really want? Did it ever occur to you that most people just write about the good things that happen in their lives? That Facebook and MySpace is often a place where people present only the very best?

After all, who ever posts that their life sucks and that they can't get a date and they feel fat and ugly and all alone?

What about just going outside and playing with your friends down the street?

When you're tempted to live and breathe social media, say out loud, based on Proverbs 27:17:

"I will keep friendships at the forefront because..iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

Miracle at the Rib Shack

It was totally a last minute thing. A surprise lunch birthday celebration at Wanda's favorite spot, a quaint little rib shack that sold amazing ribs, beans and cornbread. Wanda had no idea that we were planning this, so it made it all the more fun when she walked in the restaurant completely in shock.
I had invited several of her friends, and although many couldn't make it, the girls that came were beautiful, vibrant and ready to celebrate. (And like women who are somehow all connected, we all "got the memo" and wore matching sweaters!!)

Brandi arrived a little bit late and frankly, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. Where once stood a healthy, vibrant, beautiful young woman now stood a woman who seemed to be near death. It was as though something were literally sucking the life out of her.

As I listened to her tell me of what it was like to have fibro-myalgia, I sensed the Holy Spirit begin to whisper some questions for her to contemplate.

"Do you have any unforgiveness in your life? Is there any pain that you need to let go of?" It must have sounded strange to bring up something so seemingly random in the middle of cole slaw and wet napkins.

"Yes, I haven't forgiven my rapist."


I had no idea that she had been though something so soul-ripping.


With her permission, I explained that when you are physically intimate with another person, even though rape is an act of violence and the furthest thing from being close, you have become spiritually connected with that person. A soul tie has been created and even though Brandi hadn't seen her rapist in years and had done everything she could to move forward, there was still a connection with this man. I explained that with God's help, in Jesus' name, she could break that tie.

"Would you agree to say a simple prayer that will end the connection that you have with this man?"

"Yes," I could tell that Brandi was anxious to move forward.

I asked her to repeat the following prayer, "God, break the soul ties between me and xxxx, in Jesus' name." We all felt the presence of God strongly at our table. He was there.

Then I asked her if she was willing to pray to forgive her rapist. Her chin quivered as she said "Yes."

Again she repeated a prayer, "God, help me to forgive xxxx."

Angels were rejoicing!! Tears were flowing!!

"Now you're free, Brandi," I explained. Her face seemed to visibly shift in my presence.


We have cellular memory--our body relives trauma over and over again unless we ask God to set us free. I truly believe that, at the cellular level, Brandi's rapist was able to continually assault her and literally suck the life out of her years after the assault. I'm praying for complete healing for Brandi!!

If you've been a victim of assault or rape, let someone know. There is bound to be a rape crisis center in your town. Attend their classes, speak to their counselors and take time to heal. And while you're doing that, call on the name of Jesus. He'll heal you from the inside out. He'll redeem you and then He'll spoil you and bring you into the light.

Pray this prayer for healing:

Lord, in the name of Jesus, I command the spirit of sickness away from my body. I release all forms of sickness, disease, fear, fibro-myalgia, agoraphobia, unforgiveness, and dissension. Set me free. Help me to forgive the unforgivable. Help me to release those people that have hurt me from the captivity of my mind and heart. Cleanse my mind and heart from all unrighteousness. Wash me clean and let me start anew with you as my savior. Lord set me free this day. In Jesus name, amen.

Say out loud, based on Matthew 5:44:

God, help me to love my enemies, bless those who curse me, do good to those who hate me, and pray for those who spitefully use me and persecute me.

Cutting is NOT your idea

I'm so excited about this post, I can hardly stand it!!!


Are you or someone that you love and care about a cutter (into self-mutilation)? Huge news!!


For the past couple of days, I've been thinking about the whole phenomenon of cutting. Psychologists are quick to say that people cut or maim themselves because of the internal pain that they have no way of expressing or feeling. It's an outward expression of inner pain.


At first glance, that explanation makes perfect sense, right? Perhaps you're being abused or ignored or bullied and so cutting becomes a way of hurting yourself even more, therefore validating what others think of you. Some say that it's a form of low self-esteem or self-abuse.


I recently read about one teen aged girl who, after being teased and taunted at school for identifying as bisexual, returned home each day to cut herself. In her own personal "it gets better" YouTube video, she is shown holding up her arm to display the hundreds of marks on her forearm.


For most compassionate individuals, the video is heartbreaking, right? Obviously, this girl is going through her own personal hell on a daily basis (on top of the difficult and tumultuous teenage years) and then to top it off, she's inflicting great bodily pain on herself. And yes, it is heartbreaking, but for different reasons then one might intially think.


I would bet that this girl has a huge call on her life and has no idea!! (Can you tell I'm excited?!!) She's confused about her sexuality, she's being bullied and she's cutting herself, which is contrary to our human instinct for survival. I'm guessing that she's probably suicidal too. She probably has no idea about God, let alone His plan for her life. I'm guessing that once she found out about God's amazing love for her, that she'd share that love to the ends of the earth. After all, she bothered to produce a You Tube video to encourage her fellow sufferers.


Yesterday morning, I prayed that God would give me direction as to what to read in scripture. He directed me to Mark 5. More on that in a minute.


I mentioned earlier that I've been thinking about cutting, specifically because I cut my own leg in the shower--a really deep cut. Probably the worst cut I've ever given myself. I'm talking spurting blood and massive pain. (Massive to me anyway..) Right on the ankle. I hobbled around for several days saying out loud, "I have no idea why anyone would willingly cut themselves, it hurts!!!" I guess God was listening to my whining, because of the specific direction and explanation that I found in Mark, Chapter 5.


Here's what I found in Mark 5:1-13 says from the Message version of the Bible:


They arrived on the other side of the sea in the country of the Gerasenes. As Jesus got out of the boat, a madman from the cemetery came up to him. He lived there among the tombs and graves. No one could restrain him—he couldn't be chained, couldn't be tied down. He had been tied up many times with chains and ropes, but he broke the chains, snapped the ropes. No one was strong enough to tame him. Night and day he roamed through the graves and the hills, screaming out and slashing himself with sharp stones. (DUDE!!!! This guy that lived 2000 years ago was CUTTING HIMSELF!!!)


When he saw Jesus a long way off, he ran and bowed in worship before him—then bellowed in protest, "What business do you have, Jesus, Son of the High God, messing with me? I swear to God, don't give me a hard time!" (Jesus had just commanded the tormenting evil spirit, "Out! Get out of the man!")
Jesus asked him, "Tell me your name."
He replied, "My name is Mob. I'm a rioting mob." Then he desperately begged Jesus not to banish them from the country.
A large herd of pigs was browsing and rooting on a nearby hill. The demons begged him, "Send us to the pigs so we can live in them." Jesus gave the order. But it was even worse for the pigs than for the man. Crazed, they stampeded over a cliff into the sea and drowned.


Cutting has been going on since the time of Jesus, and most likely before. Notice that when the demons were cast out, the desire to cut was gone too? Read the rest of the story to find out what happened to the man that was demon possessed (Mark 5:14-20):


Those tending the pigs, scared to death, bolted and told their story in town and country. Everyone wanted to see what had happened. They came up to Jesus and saw the madman sitting there wearing decent clothes and making sense, no longer a walking madhouse of a man. (He was NORMAL AGAIN!!!! He had been restored to sanity once the demon was cast out. NO MORE CUTTING!!)


Those who had seen it told the others what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. At first they were in awe—and then they were upset, upset over the drowned pigs. They demanded that Jesus leave and not come back.


As Jesus was getting into the boat, the demon-delivered man begged to go along, but he wouldn't let him. Jesus said, "Go home to your own people. Tell them your story—what the Master did, how he had mercy on you." The man went back and began to preach (this guy who used to cut himself and previously had no hope was now PREACHING!! He, like you or your cutting friend, had a call on his life to preach the Gospel!! If the devil is bothering you, its because he knows how special you are to God!!! Consider this a compliment--it means that God has great plans for you!!) in the Ten Towns area about what Jesus had done for him. He was the talk of the town.


Cutting is not your idea. It's a lie from the Liar (the devil). The idea to cut oneself comes from a suggestion. Something like, "Hey why don't you carve up your arm...you're a piece of crap anyway. Who cares what your arm looks like." Or, "Maybe you'll feel better if you draw some blood."


It's that same voice that says, "Why don't you just kill yourself. Nobody will miss you anyway."


Who's that voice? The devil. And yes, he exists. The bible says in John 10:10 that,

The thief (meaning the devil) does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (meaning Jesus) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.


Tempted to cut? Say out loud instead, based on Psalm 139:1-29 (NIV) (and yes, this is a long one. Go ahead and read the entire passage out loud):


You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
¹³ For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.


Please share this with as many young people as possible!! I believe that it will set people free!!