Journey to Israel – How did I get there?

I don’t even know where to start to talk about Israel. Finding the right words to describe my experience is difficult. I will do my best to tell you how I got to Israel.

I am forever changed by my experience there and for what happened in my life leading up to the trip.

I have been dealing with going on mission trips for some time now. Our church has missionaries who have been called to Haiti and go on mission trips there often. I wanted to go to Haiti but I knew my husband would never be okay with that. He told me that he never wanted me to go there because it can be unsafe. I had a burning for going on a trip but I tried ignoring it. I remember being in church in October of 2016 and God spoke to me and I could ignore it no longer. I said God give me confirmation that you want me to be a missionary. I don’t need a sign I want confirmation. (Judges  6:37 “Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said.”)

Doing your calling and going on mission trips were mentioned many times in the serivce. I said okay God. I’ll go to the next place someone talks about going to. My Pastor had Brother Mark Bradley talk about Israel and if you wanted to be a part of the team to see him. I said okay God I’ll go to Israel. I went to the alter and told God I’ll go wherever you call me and on the way back told Mark I needed to talk to him about Israel.

The next day I emailed the gentlemen in charge of the trip and said I wanted to go. I was told that the trip would cost around $3500. I told my boss at a job I’d been at for 1 month. I knew there may be some unpaid days but I said I have to go. My boss is a Christian man and he understood and supported it.

I never worried about the money. I knew if God wanted me to go, he would provide the funds. People found out and started giving me checks and sending money to my mission fund. I sent a letter out about a month out from going…it just never seemed to work put for me to send the letters any earlier. I needed about $1500 more when I sent the letters out. Within a week of sending the letters out, I was fully funded and then some.

I knew that this was real and I was going.

Satan knew I was going too. He used close family members to try and get me to not go. My husband was very against me going because he was worried about me. He felt that it was dangerous to go to Israel. He was afraid. I felt like I had no support at home. Several times I almost emailed the team leader and said I wasn’t going to go. I knew that God wanted me to go and that I needed to go because that is what I was called to do. (I listened to Lauren Daigle’s Trust in You a lot! I also relied on Proverbs 3:5)

I looked up songs about being called as a missionary. I found Kari Jobe’s The Cause of Christ and it was a song I listened to every day. I was worried that I might die on my trip. You hear so many lies about Israel in the media and was listening to what my husband was saying. I was willing to die for the cause of Christ if need be. I was going no matter what. I also listened to Oceans by Hillsong. Those 2 songs were MY songs for my trip.

Monday May 29, 2017

The Monday before I left on Wednesday, my Daddy got a call that my Papaw was asleep and wasn’t waking up. We were all eating and celebrating Memorial Day and celebrating before I left on my trip when he got the call. I talked to him privately and he said that Papaw wasn’t doing well and that he was dying. I cried and said I didn’t want him to die when I was gone. Daddy told me that Papaw would want me to go. I had to go no matter what. I said okay.

Tuesday May 30, 2017

I went to the nursing home on Tuesday at lunch and held my Papaw’s beautiful hands and told him I loved him. I thanked him for the Christian raising he gave my Father. I thanked him for praying for me. I told him that I was going on a mission trip and I was leaving the next day. I told him goodbye for now, but one day I’ll see you in Heaven! I kissed him and left.

Tuesday evening I began to get nervous as I packed my suitcase for my trip. Satan started in on me. I began to be afraid that the group wouldn’t like me and that I would be feel left out because they were a family and I was an “outsider”. I was worried I’d be miserable for 2 weeks. I was worried about being alone. I realized what was going on and I said not today Satan! I quickly told him to leave with those lies in the name of Jesus.

Wednesday May 31, 2017

I got up Wednesday morning and got ready to go. I went to breakfast with my husband at our favorite place, Waffle House! My nerves were on full alert! I was shaking from being nervous and being excited. My Uncle Norm sent me a text and told me to be a world changer! It gave me such strength.

My husband and I went to my parents. He and my parents were taking me to the airport. We were all in the kitchen with my Aunt Donna and Uncle Keith from Kentucky and my cousin Jeni and her little girl Rylee. My Dad got a text. My Papaw passed away about 10-15 mins before I had to leave to go to the airport.

I didn’t cry. I was shocked that he went so quickly and knew I had to be strong and go.

My parents and my husband went into the airport with me. They went with me as far as they could and watched me go through security and then waved goodbye. As soon as they couldn’t see me I cried. I was so emotional. I was sad, scared and overjoyed all at once. I composed myself and took my bookbag and carry on and walked to the terminal.

I found my terminal and took a seat. I watched a family say goodbye to a youngman going into the service. His parents, sister and grandparents were all there saying goodbye to him. I watched as they said goodbye and hugged and cried. After he go on the plane the entire family went to the window and watched the plane leave. They went to the other window and watched it take off. It reminded me how important family is and I knew that no matter how alone and scared I felt at that moment that I couldn’t let fear dictate my life. My favorite childhood verse, the first verse I ever memorized, came flooding back to me. Pslams 56:3 “What time I am afraid I will trust in thee.”

I prayed and thanked God for the calling, the opportunity and for giving me strength. I thanked him for my Papaw and my family who was praying for me.

I was flying to Chicago by myself. They called for my flight to board and I boarded the plane. I found my seat and found myself smiling from ear to ear. I was actually doing this. I was finally not allowing fear to keep me from doing what God wanted me to do. I plugged in my earbuds as the plane took off and the song Brave by Bethel came on and I suddenly felt very brave. I knew that all the heartache and trials it took to get me to that point was worth it. Satan knew that this trip would change me and take me closer to God. He did everything in his power to try to stop me. I refused to let him.

I got to Chicago and panicked because I had no idea where the connecting flight’s terminal was. I had to compose myself in the bathroom and then I called the team leader Bill. I was actually pretty much right next to the terminal… Go figure!

I met everyone and they were so nice and welcoming! I knew it was going to be an amazing trip and that God had brought us all together for a reason. I still think of the team often and pray for them. I have such an admiration and love for the team.

We boarded the plane and took off to Toronto, Canada. We landed and didn’t have long before we boarded the flight for Tel Aviv, Israel. I grabbed a bite to eat and then it was time to go! I watched so many movies on the way to Israel and was able to get a few hours of sleep in before we landed. The plane food was really good to btw. AirCanada’s food is yummy!

Thursday June 1, 2017

We landed in Israel at around 10am. They are 7 hours ahead of Ohio. I was so excited! We went through security and had to get our passports checked since we were foreigners. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally made it through. We met Moshe and found our rental vehicle and took off to his home.

If I could tell you anything about this trip, it would be this – Obedience is better than sacrifice. Do what God has called you to do no matter who goes against you. Do what God calls you to do no matter how scared you are. Do what God calls you to do because when you actually do it… you will never find a greater joy, happiness or feel closer to God.

I will post more about the actual mission trip in Israel tomorrow. I wanted to give you the back story so you can understand where I was spiritually and mentally.

I had the most amazing experience. I want to go back. I fell in love with Israel and the people there. I loved the missionary family we stayed with and their congregation. I met some people who have left an imprint on my heart. I know this is just the beginning for me.

Love in Christ,

Iva Mae

 

Speak Life

I’ve been trying to search and study in the bible about speaking, lips and the tongue. God has been dealing with me on what I speak. Am I speaking value, hope love and life or am I speaking fear, death, slander and rubbish?

I’ve heard people say you need to speak things over you life and over your husband and children’s lives. I used to think that it was weird and dumb. What is speaking something over my life going to do? I honestly laughed when I heard people say that. I thought okay this must be something “those new churches” are teaching. I didn’t see the importance of it.

I literally had an epiphany the other night. It was like the curtain had been drawn back and I could finally see clearly. I was reading the verses again and I heard the old saying “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”. I thought, yah but words can hurt me… Then BOOM. It hit me. I. finally. got. it.

I had been reading these verses about idle words and how the tongue is a weapon. I never thought about how the tongue could speak life. How it could speak hope? How it could speak love? I am going to share the verses that were most compelling to me on the power of our words.

Proverbs 10 talks about the wisdom of the righteous and what they speak.

Verse 11 is what started this spark. “The mouth of the righteous man is a well of life…”

Verse 13, “In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.”

Verse 20-21 “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.”

Verse 32 “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness (rebellion, contrariness, defiance or willfulness).

Proverbs 16:23-24 “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.”

Proverbs 18:4 “The words of a man’s mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.”

Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat thereof.”

Isiah 50:4 “The Lord God hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.”

Instead of speaking ill towards each other, let’s speak good will and hope towards one another. Let’s lift each other up. Let’s speak hope and goodness over our lives.

What verses do you think of when you think of this subject?

Listen to Toby Mac’s song! It’s great and catchy! Speak Life

Still I Will Sing

Sometimes we go through trials and the pain of those trials remain. I feel like the trial I am going through is never ending. It’s hard to explain the roller coaster emotions that I’ve gone through. Some days I am okay with not having a baby. Other days… I am not okay with it at all. I feel this emptiness and longing for something that seems like it will never come. Will I ever make my husband a father? Will I ever become a mother?

I don’t understand how most of my friends and family member have babies and I do not. Keeping the hurt of that inside is exhausting. Some days I wear my pain on my face and everyone can tell something is wrong with me. I’ve realized that talking about my pain helps.

What doesn’t work is giving up, keeping it in and doubting God. Last week at church was our youth service. Our Youth Pastor preached about Thomas – the doubter. He gave a whole new outlook on Thomas. Thomas wanted to know for himself what was the truth. He didn’t want to go off the word of others. I realized that I was actually doubting God’s ability to do something, not seeking out His will.

I have a love/hate relationship with God’s correction. I hate that feeling of conviction, but love that God speaks to me and convicts me of things.

I realized that I cannot give up on God. Just because something hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it won’t. Whether we have a baby naturally or by adoption I believe that one day we will have a baby!

In the meantime I will sing! I heard Kari Jobe’s song I will Sing from her new album The Garden this morning.It brought me to tears. My favorite line is “Your word won’t return empty”. How powerful!

I will Song by Kari Jobe

I need to see You here
I need to know You’re in control
Though my heart is torn wide open

I will trust, I will remember

I need to hear Your voice
Speaking to silence all my doubts
Your word won’t return empty
You will break through every darkness

Even when my breath is weak
I will sing, I will sing
Even in my suffering
I will sing, I will sing

I need to feel Your hope
Rising above my greatest fears
Even death has been defeated
I will trust, I will remember

Even when the shadows fall
I will sing, I will sing
Even when the night is long
I will sing, I will sing

Hallelujah
I surrender all to You
Hallelujah
You are God, You won’t be shaken
Hallelujah
I surrender all to You
Hallelujah
You are God, You won’t be shaken

I need to see You here
I need to know You’re in control
Though my heart is torn wide open
I will trust, I will remember

 

God is greater than my fear and pain. He CANNOT be shaken. I will continue praying and trusting in God. He alone can calm my fears and give me peace.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Instead of doubting God, run to him and keep praying and believing.

Love in Christ,

Iva Mae

The Roaring Lion

Image via Z3news

Recently I answered the calling to go on a mission trip. I’ve been praying that God will use me and bless this trip. I am also praying that God will make the way for me to go if it is His will.

I am big on prayer. I believe there is so much power in prayer. I also believe that when you decide to answer God and do what He wants of you, you will see Satan fight to make you quit. Satan will attack you, your family, your finances, your health and whatever else he thinks he can reek havoc on. Satan has been attacking me and my family.

1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

The bible says it plainly. “…your adversary (enemy) the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour”.

Satan wants to destroy you. He doesn’t want you to do God’s will or answer God’s calling. If you do, you will impact others’ lives. You will spread the gospel and cause others to have a seed planted. If that seed grows and leads to salvation, another soul will be going to Heaven instead of hell with him.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly

The thief is Satan. The bible tells us he is here to steal, to kill and to destroy.

He will try to steal your joy, kill your ministry and ultimately destroy you and your relationships.

Recently I have witnessed first hand what Satan will try to do to try to take your focus off of Christ so you will be distracted and start to sink.

He can use others to try to ruin you and your family. We recently had a situation where a family member tried to cause problems for my husband. This person wanted my husband to lose control of his anger. They wanted to see him fail.

I’ve heard the saying whenever you try to do good, evil is always present. It says it in the bible as well.

Romans 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me

This is for me as much if not more than it is for anyone else. I love when God speaks to us and puts verses on our minds to help us through.

We serve a mighty and a wonderful God.

Next time you feel like world is caving in or you are in a situation that tries and tempts you, remember that Satan wants to destroy you. Think of the above verses and let them remind you that Jesus will get you through! Remember that when you do good that evil will be present.

Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Love from above,

Iva Mae

 

Seasons

There are four seasons in a year. Depending on where you live it may seem like there are only 1 or 2. I live in Ohio and there are 4 distinct seasons, usually.

I find good in all of them but Winter is my least favorite. It is cold, you can’t do anything outside and it can be rough to drive in. To me it seems like Winter lasts forever. I’m so busy focusing on when Spring is coming that I don’t stop and take in the season I am in.

We do this often in our lives as well. We are so focused on getting out of our current life season that we can miss God in our current season. He is there with us even in the ugly. He is with us even if it seems like our season will never end. Right now I am in an ugly season. A season of pain, heartache and no understanding. I’ve been in this season for nearly a year. I don’t speak of it to anyone not even my husband. I just keep it to myself, because that is what I do. I so desperately want to move on to the next season of my life but it hasn’t happened yet.

I’ve spent so much time being upset about not being able to have a child, that I’ve missed so much. This is a time for just my husband and I. Once we have kids, there will never be a time like this again. We won’t be able to just pick up, hop in the car or on the motorcycle and go. There will be no more snuggles on the couch with just us and the dog. No more sleeping in together on Saturdays. It will be harder for us to focus on just us. It will be harder on our marriage.

I’ve been realizing this more and more here lately. The pain is still there, there’s an ache for something I very well may never have. This is a season in my life that may never pass or it may pass in a few years. I have missed God in this season too. I’ve been so focused on getting out of this, that I haven’t had my focus on God. I’ve missed God in so many things that He has done for me.

This season in my life is for a purpose! It will draw me closer to God and change me. I can use this season to help someone else. God has a plan for my life. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like it. It feels like God doesn’t understand or care about the pain we are going through.

Does Jesus even know what it feels like to have this pain or sorrow?

The answer is yes. John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” Jesus felt pain and sorrow over the death of his friend.

Does He know what is like? Does He care?

Yes! Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”

We can come boldly before the throne so we can obtain MERCY and GRACE in the time of need. It says in verse 15 Jesus knows what it is like he was tempted, yet he sinned not!

Satan will do everything he can to destroy us to keep us from having a purposeful life in Christ. He doesn’t want us to succeed. He wants us to be distracted by what may seem like failures, faults, pains, sorrows, hurts, problems, trying to get out of our current season and feelings of hopelessness. He will whisper how that God doesn’t care about your stupid problems. He will whisper lies of how no one can help you and that God doesn’t know what you’re going through. He wants to isolate you, distract you. Tranquilize you if you will so he can reek havoc.

We can miss God in every season because we are so worried about getting to that next season and next point in our lives.

My church’s Vacation Bible School was on Joseph this year. Genesis 38-48

Joseph went through many negative seasons in his life. He was loved by his father and was given a special gift, a coat of many colors. His brothers wanted to destroy him. They took his coat, threw him in a pit and sold him as a slave. They made their father believe that he was dead. They covered his coat with animal blood.

I couldn’t help but think about how that Satan tries to destroy your gift and you. He will do anything to destroy you. He will make you feel isolated from THE Father. He will attack your passion, your hope, your family, your prayer life, your health and many other things to prevent you from doing what God has called you to do. What God has created you to do.

After Joseph was sold into slavery, his master’s wife accused him of rape. She tried to get him to sleep with her and he said no, so as punishment for not getting what she wanted, she accused him of rape. When he said no, he turned to run away and she grabbed his coat off of him. She used that as evidence that he was there. Poor Joseph couldn’t keep his coats on. Someone was always trying to take them off of him!

Joseph ended up in prison. He spent several years there. God used him even in this season of his life. Even in the ugly, God showed up! Joseph ended up being in prison who two of Pharaoh’s men. He interpreted a dream for them. The one promised Joseph he would remember him but he forgot about Joseph until the Pharaoh had a dream. The man remembered that Joseph could interpret dreams. They pulled Joseph out of prison and he interpreted the dream for Pharaoh. Pharaoh made Joseph second in command and put him in charge of the food storehouse.

Joseph went from being sold into slavery, put into prison for several years and finally made second in command to Pharaoh. This all allowed him to take care of his family during a horrible drought. Joseph didn’t focus on trying to get out of the season he was in to get to the next even though he was imprisoned. Satan tried to destroy Joseph. He used his family and his “owner’s” wife to try to put an end to what Joseph’s calling was.

No matter how long  the season you are in may seem. It may seem like it is never ending, know that it will be over and look for God while you wait for the next season. Know your season will serve a purpose. Use it to grow closer to God! Become a stronger Christian. Fight on your knees! Prayer is the best weapon we have.

Love from above,

Iva Mae

 

 

 

The Driver

First let me start by saying I love when God talks to me. I pray a lot and I ask God to reveal things to me and to speak to me. I think if you want God to talk to you, you need to be open to it and you need to ask him to speak to you.

When we ride the motorcycle, I pray and ask God to keep us safe. I talk to God a lot on the motorcycle. We don’t have a radio and I find myself just talking to God and praying over mine and my husband’s lives. Last night I asked God to speak to me, to give me something for this blog. He did.

My husband and I took his motorcycle out last night.I was sitting with my head directly  his and I couldn’t see what was ahead on the road. Normally I lean my head over a little to see but the wind was too much on the highway to do that. I thought well it is okay that I cannot see what is ahead I trust him. BOOM   God spoke and said this is exactly how it is supposed to be with our relationship. A born again believers we are supposed to let God be the pilot and we are to be the co-pilots. When you are a passenger on a motorcycle you cannot “fight” the driver. You lean when he leans. You sit there holding on, not pulling or pushing or trying to be in control. If you do not follow those protocols you can make the driver wreck the motorcycle.

That is also similar with our walk with God. We shouldn’t fight, we should be in sync with God and move when he moves. We don’t want our “motorcycle” to go down because we didn’t go with the driver but wanted to be in control and fought the driver.

When you are a passenger on a motorcycle, you also cannot look behind you, you can make the bike go down. That is also true with our walk with God. You cannot dwell on the past. You are moving forward. There is no reverse on a motorcycle. The driver can back up, turn around and go forward but he cannot put the bike in reverse and go backwards. We don’t want to go backwards, we want to move forward.

The enemy will try to distract you and make you dwell on your past to wreck you and keep you from moving forward. He will make you fear what is ahead because you cannot see that. Your driver (God) can see where you are going and he has planned the course. He knows what lies ahead, He can see the bumps, the potholes and the roads to take next. You’re job is to move when God moves and not to fight His will.

We may feel the future is dim and isn’t promising. It may look like the storm isn’t going to be over anytime soon. Trust your driver to take you through that storm. He will not leave you or forsake you. He will hold you and love you.

My husband will pay my hand every once in a while to see if I’m still there and if I’m doing okay. I will squeeze him to let him know I am okay and that everything is okay. It makes me feel safe and loved when he does that. God is like that too. We may not think He can see us or knows we are there then He gives us that assurance that He is there.

Proverbs 3:5 & 6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

God wants us to trust Him. He wants us to not do things our own way because we will fail. He will lead us and direct us.

I challenge you and myself this week to ask God to help you let him be in the driver’s seat and that you can trust Him with all your heart. Pray that verse and speak it. Find a verse and cling to it. God will move mountains and He will not fail you. He loves us.

God Bless! Love from above,

Iva Mae

His Eye is On The Sparrow

His Eye is on the Sparrow by Civillia Martin

Why should I feel discouraged? And why should the shadows come? And why should my heart be lonely? And long for Heaven and home? When Jesus is my portion. My constant friend is he. His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free! His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.

Let not your heart be troubled. His tender word I hear. And resting on His goodness I lose my doubts and fears. Though by the path He leads us but one step I may see. His eye is on the sparrows and I know He watches me. And Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise,
When songs give place to sighing, when hope within me dies,
I draw the closer to Him, from care He sets me free;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free! His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me.

Whenever I am tempted. Whenever clouds arise. When songs give place to sighing. When hope within me dies, I draw closer to Him. From care He sets me free! His eye is on the sparrow and I know he watches me. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me. I sing because I’m happy! I sing because I’m free! His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

I never paid attention to the lyrics of this song. It was one of those songs I never paid attention to at all. I don’t even know how I stumbled across this song and the story. I read the lyrics. REALLY read the lyrics. Why should I feel discouraged? Why should the shadows come? Why should my heart be lonely? When Jesus IS my portion and a constant friend is He.

Those words stuck out to me. Why have I been so discouraged when Jesus is my portion. No job, no person, no wealth, no fame and no material thing can make me happy. My joy comes from the Lord. I read the story of how Mrs. Martin wrote the song. She met a sweet old couple, the Doolittles. Both the Doolittles were in bad shape. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for almost 20 years. Mr. Doolittle was wheelchair bound, an incurable cripple. They were both happy Christians even though they had it bad off. Mrs. Martin’s husband commented on the couple’s hopefulness and asked what the secret was. Mr. Doolittle said, His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. The Martins were touched by the faith and the simpleness of Mr. Doolittle’s answer. His answer inspired the song that Mrs. Martin wrote that night.

I have been feeling so alone and so discouraged. Hearing this song reminded me that I need not be discouraged. I really like the 3rd verse of the song, Whenever I am tempted. Whenever clouds arise. When songs give place to sighing. When hope within me dies, I draw closer to Him. From care He sets me free! When songs give place to sighing really really stuck out to me. I shouldn’t only sing when I am happy. I should sing through the pain, the trials, the sadness, the joy, the happy times and ALL the times because God has given me that capability to sing praises to Him. My Daddy preached a message a couple of weeks ago about this very thing. He said we can’t lose our song.He preached about how he helped me tare up some carpet and how I was singing. He said that I didn’t my song even though I had gone through so much. Our song leader sang His Eye is on the Sparrow and I was so touched. I love when God speaks to me. He speaks to us in many different ways. He speaks to us through His people, like preachers, and He speaks to us through songs. Songs have always spoken to me. I love lyrics. I read them and I try to study them and think about their meanings.

Psalms 100:1 &2 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

I am always singing around the house and in my car. I challenge you to really read the lyrics of your favorite song and to think about the meaning. It will really bless you!

 

Love from above,

Iva Mae

Battle Plan

Satan is a thief and a liar. He steals things from us. He lies to us. He wants to destroy us.

He is here to steal, kill & destroy. His ultimate goal is to destroy you and keep you from your purpose. He loves when he trips us up. He knows exactly where to hit us, how to hit us and what weapon to use that will cause the most damage. That is why it is important to have a battle plan. We are at war. We are in a spiritual war.

We are at war with principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places.

Anyone going into battle, has a plan. A battle plan, a strategy to defeat the enemy. Ephesians 6:11-18

Do not stress or worry! There is good news! The enemy will lose the war! Jesus wins in the end! He died for us. He bore the weight of our sins. He has the keys to death, hell and the grave. (Revelation 1:18)

Ephesians 6:11-18 describes the type of battle we are in and how to protect yourself.

Verse 11 says to put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day and having done all, to stand .

What is the whole armour of God?

1. loins girt about with truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
3. feet shod with the gospel of peace
4. shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the wicked
5. helmet of salvation
6. Sword of the spirit -word of God

Verse 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

 All of the above help us in our battles. Lately my focus has been on prayer. I used to dread praying because I never knew what to say. I felt like I wasn’t giving it my all when praying. I started writing my prayers and saying them like I meant it and things have been changing. I don’t have a space that I can go in and shut the door but my laundry room is my space where I can be alone with God even if it is for a few minutes.

Prayer changes things and it is a good weapon against Satan. I’ve been  reading a book called Fervent: A Woman’s Battle Plan to Serious, Specific and Strategic Prayer by Priscilla Shirer. It has changed my perspective on prayer. I needed this book to help me see where I was lacking in prayer and to realize that my passion for prayer was gone. Each chapter has a strategy that Satan uses and how you should pray to overcome each obstacle, temptation and problem he throws at you.

I challenge any woman reading this to get a copy of this book. Being specific and having a plan of action in prayer are important!

I come from a family of pray-ers. I don’t think that is a word but it is now. My Mamaw Nickels could pray for anything or anyone. I knew God heard that woman’s prayers. I used to love being at hers and Papaw’s house when they prayed. I loved listening to their prayers. They always were so thankful and they prayed with passion and all their might. They prayed at their couch. My Dad is another praying man. I used to sneak up on the stairs when he would go upstairs to get away and pray so I could sneak a listen to him praying. I didn’t know until recently that he did the same thing to his Dad (Papaw Nickels) when he was younger. My Grandpa Wagoner would always get so choked up when praying over a meal. He was so thankful for all of the family and you could tell that he was thankful. It always made me cry. I used to sit with my Grandma Wagoner sometimes in church. She was a silent pray-er but she always cried and knelt in the pew and I felt that she was praying with all her heart. My Mom used to help me prayer as a kid. She taught me to say the prayer for food and to pray for my family. I am so grateful that she did.

I believe it is important to have good Godly examples in your life that you can look up to. People that have it and make you want to have it too. I am thankful for my family.

I am grateful for the book that I am reading (Fervent) and how it  has changed my prayer life. Reading has made a little light bulb go off in my head. It has finally clicked!

I challenge each and every one of you to make a battle plan in prayer and make sure that you wear the full armour of God.

Love from above!

Iva Mae

Waiting in the Hallway

Waiting is hard. Especially if you have been waiting for something for a long time.

I told my Mom today I don’t know why I get my hopes up for something when it is never going to happen. She said something that struck me.

She said “It’s hard to be in the hallway waiting for a window or a door to open…BUT Praise him for what you have now.”

It really is hard to wait in the hallway and see doors that look like they will open but don’t. For a moment you’re thrilled and excited and you think this is it!!!

…But it isn’t. The door doesn’t open.

This has happened to me several times in the past few years. I have been praying for God to move and it just hasn’t happened yet. I’m getting worn and impatient. It is hard to wait when you want something so badly. I’ve been angry and sad. I can’t understand why that when God knows I am unhappy and miserable that he hasn’t moved yet. I don’t think I’m supposed to understand. I’m simply just supposed to wait.

Sometimes we go through things and we don’t understand them. It is just God protecting us from something that is not His will. I’ve always prayed that His will, not mine be done. His will is best for me and I know that, sometimes I just get tired and grouchy. I become a bratty child.

I don’t know how God puts up with me sometimes! Sometimes I can’t stand to be around myself!!! Seriously!

I woke up this morning with Psalms 62 on my mind. Psalms 62:5 “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.”

How do I know that what I’ve been wanting might be the worst possible thing for me or what problems in my life it could cause. Writing this reminds me of when my husband was looking for a job a few years back. He found a position that required him to attend training sessions for the job. After the second day he told me he was never going back because they wanted him to lie to the elderly and be dishonest about problems so that the company could get more money. I was so proud of him for doing that.

I was reminded of this so that I could see that what I wanted may end up being like that. Not what you want at all and completely wrong and unethical. My husband refused to take a position that would require him to be dishonest and misleading. That was the right choice! It didn’t matter how much money they said he would make he chose to do what was right by him and by God.

Today I choose to be thankful for a prayer that hasn’t been answered. I know in God’s timing everything will work itself out and God will open up a door that no one else can. Like my Mom said, I will be thankful for what I have now. I am blessed!

On another note, I was anointed at church on Sunday for some of the health issues I’ve been dealing with and today is the first day in a long time that my stomach hasn’t hurt or bothered me. I am especially thankful for that!!! I’ve been sticking with a no dairy no meat diet for over a week. I’m prod of myself. Last night I even made some Vegan Mac n’ Cheese. It was pretty good last night but it was better today!

I encourage you to wait on God for whatever it is you’re praying for. Don’t be discouraged when he doesn’t answer right away or doesn’t give you the answer you want. Remember that God answers things in His timing. PERFECT timing and it will be better than what you imagined.

Love from above,

Iva Mae

Romans 12:1

  
Some of you may agree with me and others may not. That is okay. I’m not writing this for a debate or to cause controversy. I am simply writing what is on my heart. 

Romans 12:1 …present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you , which he have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. 

Lately I have been having some digestive health problems. I learned a few months that when I cut out dairy and meat, I didn’t have problems. I was okay with that but I struggled with it because it made me different than others. I struggle a lot with being different than everyone else. It’s dumb really. I hate sticking out or having attention being drawn on me. It freaks me out! 

I decided the other day I didn’t want to have to eat differently. I wanted to be able to order a pizza, eat it and be okay. My Mom and I were working on the finishing touches of my cousins shower invitations and we were hungry so we ordered a pizza from Papa Johns. It used to be my favorite pizza. I love their breadsticks and garlic sauce. We ordered a small and breadsticks, so we split the pizza and each ate some breadsticks. We finished the invitations and she took me home. ( I walked to her house with my dog because it’s less than a mile) 

When I got home, I got so sick! I was so sick I felt like my insides were dying. I knew why. I ate cheese. It looked so good and it tasted amazing but I knew I shouldn’t have eaten it. I knew it wasn’t good for me. The reason I became Vegan a few months back, was for ,my health. I knew better but I couldn’t resist. 

In the above verses it talks about presenting your body as a living sacrifice and that your body is a temple. I didn’t treat mine that way. I am now suffering the consequences. I am still having a lot of problems and my face has broken out so badly with deep painful pimples. This happens when I eat dairy of any kind. 

I don’t think that by doing something like eating pizza is a sin but I knew what it would do to me and I did it anyway. How many times have we done that with other aspects in life? It looks so good and we know it’s wrong but we do it anyway. Sex before marriage will cause a lot of problems. There is pleasure in sin for a season. Then you have to reap the consequences. 

I have been feeling convicted about the way I treat myself. I haven’t been taking care of myself or loving me. I have been so negative about my body image for gaining weight and have eaten poorly because I was upset about my weight. Really dumb I know.  I need to start looking at myself the way God does and loving myself enough to take care of myself. It’s not easy going Vegan. I struggled with what to eat and what to look for in ingredients. It’s not easy but in the end it will be worth it because it is what is best for me. 

By the way, labels lie. They say dairy free but when you read the ingredients, turns out it has a milk product in it. 

I know this post is very different from what I normally post but I just felt lead to share what I am currently going through  after speaking with a friend today about this. 

I am going to try to start exercising and eating healthier so that I can treat my body the way it deserves to be treated. After all our bodies are to be presented as a living sacrifice and those who are saved, are the temples of the Holy Ghost. 

I will try to be more diligent with posts. My lap top is broken and I don’t have a computer so I am using my iPad and I hate typing posts with this thing!  Hopefully one day I can replace my lap top. 

Love from above,

Iva Mae ❤