God is the reason not me!

The devil will do anything that he can to affect what God is doing spiritually, but the enemy cannot stop God.  Don't you know satan cannot stop GOD's words, His Holy Spirit, His power, His plans, His authority?! The Lord begin to give me visions of church services I've been in over the past couple of years and how in those services the Holy Spirit used me... but I wasn't amazed by that... though I am humbled the Holy Spirit chose to use me during those services with certain spiritual gifts. What left me in amazement was what God showed me of and reminded me of the day or two, or both, before those churches services. On those Fridays and Saturdays before those powerful services, each time I faced some challenging times, whether it was the enemy (yes the enemy... get mad at him) causing sickness, hurt, disappointment, discord, strife, hindrances, deception, distractions or just plain disturbances. God reminded me how I pushed through it all and made sure I was in church that Sunday despite how I felt. Yes, the devil can interfere with what God is trying to do spiritually but he cannot stop it. Though each of those moments were tough, God had to show me how He got me through it. Let me say I am not now, past-present-future, nor will I ever be a 'spiritual giant' (that label - term is a pet peeve of mine, it places an emphasis on the person rather than the Holy Spirit operation through the person). It has greatly bothered me anytime someone has addressed me this way or labeled me as a "spiritual giant". It is too misused. The Holy Spirit is the spiritual giant, we (I) are just the willing vessel through which He flows, speaks, moves, if we (I) will continually yield ourselves unto Him. It is always my desire for me to see others understand it has nothing to do with Kimberly Nicole McDaniel, but it has everything to do with the God I serve. I am only strong because of God's strength. I am only still here being used of God, because of His continual mercy, grace, and healing in my life. I am only a recipient of certain spiritual gifts, because the Holy Spirit chooses me for that; only after I have  completely surrendered to Him, prayed, and sought the gifts through much trial and error, persistence and growth, prayer and fasting. I have only grown spiritually (and continue to do so) because of God not giving up on me and by my desire to walk in His ways and not quit. I only win battles I go through, because God fights for me. I only have a God sword because of His Holy Word. You see the pattern here... everything goes and comes back to God. HE IS THE REASON FOR IT ALL. HE IS THE REASON I AM WHO I AM.

Holiness!

One of those words given to me in the past, that is needed. If it steps on your toes like it did mine, than it is for you too. We must minister to the broken more than we talk about all the problems of the world! HOLINESS is how we get to this point. We must live holy and sanctified, in which we learn to see through God our Father's eyes, love through God our Son's heart, and feel through God our Holy Spirit's presence. People have misconceptions about the word "holiness", thinking that it is associated with a certain denomination (e.g. Pentecostal). But the word of God says in 1 Peter 1:16 "Be ye holy; for I am holy." It doesn't say be ye holy... only if you are (insert your denomination). If we, as Christians, would get back to living our life holy, sanctified, and lined up with the Word of God, pleasing unto God (my only desire is to live this way), then we just might see the World start turning back to God.

Spiritual Tug of War!

You are the “rope” in a spiritual tug of war! On one end, satan and his demons are pulling you toward hell, using everything in their bag of tricks to keep you from walking in obedience to God. On the other end, God is working for your good to draw you to Himself, while at the same time respecting your free will. **The tug of war between God and Satan is for YOUR SOUL!** The demons, as they always do, are exploiting the fact that God has given you a free will. They stop at nothing to disrupt, discourage, distract, and deflect you away from allowing God to be the Lord of your life. Tug of war isn't an easy game, especially if you're caught in the middle. But to successfully win a tug of war game, you need the right people on your side; the Spiritually strong ones. See satan and his team can try and memic what God and His team does, but in the end God will win the tug of war. No one said being a Christian is an easy life; you continually have to pray for wisdom and knowledge to decipher if it is really God and not the devil disguising himself. Believe me, satan will set traps, and we are quick to fall right in them, then it takes what seems forever to get back up and out of the trap. [Insert: Really because of our stubborn pride, our humaness, our pity party, our desire to think it is just easier to walk around unhappy, upset, hurt, bitter, angry 24/7]. Or in the case of tug of war, up back off the ground or out of the mud pit. Everyday I continue to live this side of glory, mistakes can be made, hurt and pain comes, disappointments, etc. But the Lord is always there tugging me back to His team, but each time more stronger, wiser, joyful, forgiven and forgiving, knowing that I am on the side that will ultimately win the tug of war... in which I am taken to this verse of Scripture each time: Psalm 40:2 "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand."

Worship or Whine?

I will never forget when the Lord spoke to my spirit and ask me the question, "are you going to worship or whine?" Ouch! Being the baby of the family, the miracle child, the sheltered one, the spoiled one... it has always been my response to whine and complain, and I sure got offended when others would tell me, "stop your whining", but when the Lord tells you it is different.

So it took me amost 32 years, (I'll turn 34 years old in April 2018) to finally learn how to stop whining and complaining excessively. I cannot explain the peace and how much happier and less stressed I am, when I choose to give the hurt to God and not live in offense. To truly please God and live for Him, and no one else. I will be the first one to admit, often my first reaction was not to worship but to whine to the Lord or complain even when I boldly stood up declaring "Lord send me, I will go, use me" until that is of course, He actually sent something my way that I was not counting on. Oh, how soon we forget what we said we would actually do if the Lord would just get us through this one time and turn things around. If He would just pleeeeeezzzzeeeee (emphasis for whining effect) get us out of this mess this last time, then we could do better. Well the truth is, God gives us many more opportunities than we realize to worship Him, instead of whining. Worship is not just during church or if the song or choir happens to move you or the service was "on fire". No, worship is an intimate personal adoration of you, with the Lord. It is HIS time with just YOU, nobody else around, just you and Him. This is NOT the time to present all your petitions to Him but simply worship Him. Love on Him, sing to Him, talk to Him, praise Him, dance for Him when no one else is looking and there is no congregation or crowd watching. It is about you and Him, one on one. So, when something unexpected comes your way, learn to lift your hands in worship to the problem solver, instead of whining. You're never told old to be delivered from bad habits.

Are You Living with Unwashed Feet?

Jesus Washes The Disciples’ Feet (READ, John 13:1-17) - Here we are at the Last Supper on the night before Jesus knew that He was going to die. He was about to be betrayed by Judas, one of His own disciples. Soon, Jesus would be beaten, made fun of, and nailed to a cross. Even though Jesus knew all these things, His disciples did not understand that He was going to die and then rise again. It’s interesting to see what Jesus did for His disciples on His very last night with them. He humbled himself down and washed their feet even knowing that He would be denied and betrayed. As the Lord was helping me to do my best to move past pain and hurt, He brought this to my remembrance... we can't see the forest for the trees, until the trees are cut down. See, we put so much time and effort into a relationship yet we can't see the betrayal that is coming. We do for others, help them in their time of need over and over... but the Lord spoke to my heart in a moment of me being very bitter and said, "Would you have been willing to do this for someone even if you knew the hurt and betrayal was coming?" As tears filled my eyes... I can honestly say now that I would have... it hurts, we are human, and have to learn lessons the hard way but I wouldn't change a thing because it has helped me to grow and the Lord showed me something else through the painful process. Another thing we can learn from Jesus washing His disciples’ feet is that we all need daily cleansing through forgiveness to have fellowship with the Lord. Unwashed feet is a picture of a believer trying to walk with the Lord, study the Word, pray, or serve Him while that person has known sin in his/her life. By this, I mean that the person knows he/she is committing a sin over and over, but is unwilling to try to stop doing that sin. I am thankful and unashamed to say that my feet are washed. Glory to God! I have truly been delivered from strongholds in my life. I have been delivered from sin that I was unwilling to stop in the past. I can't change my past but my past is in the past for a reason. I can't change the betrayal, the sin of someone else, the lies or misjudgments of others... But, I can only change my present and me so I can move forward in the future, ready for the Lord's return.

I will say this one time and one time only... the only venting you need to do is to the Lord. If you have a prayer request or encouraging word, scripture or praise report to share with me, by all means contact me. However, any garbage of negativity, backbiting, gossiping, cutting others down or venting about someone is NO longer welcomed in my life or conversation and don't get offended if those messages/text aren't answered or I hang up on you. If that is your lifestyle that you are unwilling to change than you might want to lose my number. And, I mean that in a good Christian way. We are human and we get frustrated at each other, but as a Christian, I need to take it to the Lord and that person directly. I have come too far in the Lord, and I will not participate in helping any seed of discord to grow. If anything is said about me that isn't true. I don't need to defend myself. I don't need to stress. I only need to love, pray, and let the Lord fight my battles and He will be my defender in due time. Vengeance is mine saith the Lord, not Kimberly's. I am just being real and sharing my heart with you. I am not bitter and I am not angry with anyone. I have let it go. It is the work of the enemy. I am angry at him and I refuse to be polite to him. I have shook the dust from my feet, I have washed my feet in the Lord's grace, mercy, and forgiveness and I am moving forward confident of who I am in the Lord.

Stay in Your Pea Patch and Fight!

I came home from evening church service on June 21st, 2015 and God immediately dropped a short word into my spirit. A word that God would build upon, as He sent me into a two year growth that like to have did me in, key word "like". In the middle of receiving spiritual gifts and being on what seemed a spiritual high that summer as I taught an 8 week study at church on Wed. nights on the Holy Spirit, I was blindsided by the enemy and had no idea what was coming my way. God literally knocked me off my feet the end of August that year, that left me in a boot and physical therapy for a 6 month period. My left leg will never be the same from that fall. I still find myself waking up to a limp the next day, but I would rather limp into Heaven than not walk in at all. I'm not ashamed to say, God had to shape me up. It was a painful process, that left me broken in it seemed a million pieces, but pruning hurts when the bad fruit has to be cut away. There were still vital things I needed to learn and be delivered from so that I could continue to grow spiritually, thus beginning this 2 year growth journey. I didn't realize the devil was setting me to up to try, key word "try" to strip me of my character, my anointing, my peace, my joy, my hope, my armor bearers, etc. I had no idea that through all of this I would blindly walk into a haughty spirit mentality as well, unknowingly driving away people in my life that meant a lot to me because the flesh was not crucified on a daily basis... I continued to fight my way through it, sometimes seemingly crawling with no desire to keep going, I pulled away from ministry and my church family, I shut myself out, I cried until it seemed I couldn't cry anymore, I griped and complained, moped and whined, and went thru the motions week after week at church not feeling much of anything, sometimes I hid it well. I was a depressed mess, and it seemed that the enemy had indeed destroyed me and shut my mouth from ever speak God's truth again. My family, both blood and church, and my pastor hung in there with me when they didn't have to. However, something rather someONE kept urging me to keep going, and I didn't quit. You may see me struggle, but you won't see me quit. I kept praying, kept fighting, kept praising, kept growing, kept being delivered as I will be 'til I make it to Heaven. In just the last few months of 2017, God done a great work of restoration and spiritual healing in my life. I have truly learned to love, forgive, apologize when I am wrong with the intention to NOT make that mistake again, and be tough skinned for the cause of Christ; to let go and move forward to continue the call of God on my life. The growth I've received was worth every difficult step I walked thru those 2 years. The boldness, wisdom, discernment, and humbleness that I continue to receive is what I need to keep fighting and minister in these last days. I thought the opportunity had passed me by to share this message with my church family, but God's timing is never early or late, it's always right on time. God said that I had to 'truly live it before I could give it'. So, on a Sunday night, June 25th, 2017, two years later, I delivered the message at church. I believe this message will be a great blessing to you. This is all about Him. I'm just the willing vessel & His mouthpiece.

Message notes: 

Stay in your pea patch and fight (the story of David's body guard, Shammah)

Scripture: 2 Samuel 23: 11-12 KJV "And after him was Shammah the son of Agee, the Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered together into a troop, where was a piece of ground full of lentiles, (aka pea patch) and the people fled from the Philistines. 12. but he, being Shammah, stood in the midst of the ground, and defended it, and slew the Philistines and the LORD wrought a great victory!"

The Philistines wanted a piece of land that had lentils, we would call them peas, when the Israelites saw them coming, they fled. except one of three of David's personal bodyguards, named Shammah, who defended the ground, stood right in the middle of it and defeated the Philistines. He slew them, meaning, he killed them and it even though it was shammah who risked his life to save a field of peas, and he was fighting, it was God who accomplished it and the one who made it happen... He gave shammah the strength to do this... the same strength given to David when he slew goliath. the same strength that kept daniel alive all night in the lions den, the same strength and power that kept the 3 Hebrew children alive in the fiery furnace... when you undertake a cause for God, when you take a stand for something of His heart, He is able to accomplish something thru you and your obedience. This field of peas belonged to the people for God and therefore the enemy wanted them. IS it any different for us today. I remember reading this and it leaving me puzzled because this man risked his life and everything for peas. Why was it so important to risk it all for a lens shaped seed, a type of pulse, well let me tell you it was worth risking his life because the Israelites would've starved come tomorrow. It is a great story of courage and should encourage you to take a stand and fight for what we think is important and to do it whether or not anyone else does so. Shammah defended the food. Praying over the word "Defend", and kept hearing in my spirit that you are completely surrendering yourself to fight so others can life... to fight for those things that are valuable to you... to protect your character, your mind, your family, your ministry, etc.

In this time of great CONFLICT, the enemy came during a time of harvest because the people were occupied in the business of getting the crops in. They would be busy working and they would not be prepared for the battle coming. this is the opportune time for the enemy to come. harvest time is a time of great joy, they are going to reap what they sow literally, they are working hard to get crops in the barns so they can enjoy the fruits of their labor... their focus is on that so the enemy sneaks in and catches them by surprise unprepared and easily defeated. When does the enemy come against us? often in the midst of a great blessing or victory, when we are at that spiritual high or mountaintop so to speak. the enemy is great about coming when we are involved in doing wonderful ministry for the Lord. when our minds our occupied. what a lesson for the church in these last days! how many times do we find ourselves engaged in the busy work of our lives and in the busy work of the church when we come under attack from the enemy?

***interject here*** I think that too often, we are like the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:1-7,my pastor has been teaching on Revelation and the last days on Wednesday nights. The church of Ephesus were busy for the Lord but they did not even realize that they enemy had inflicted a mortal wound in their heart. they may have been busy doing good things that they did not see the enemy when he attacked and wounded them. they left their first love. that is why God instructs us to test those leaders who claim spiritual authority.... most of the time the enemy has swooped in and they've quickly went from that to spiritual adultery... they are caught up in fame, idols, money, pride. The enemy CAME against Israel just as he does current day Christians to inflict casualties and destroy crops (our crops is our soul, health, family, finances, etc). Let me tell you that just like the Philistines if the enemy could wound them and us, and bring us to a place of hunger they would easily be defeated and enslaved. the enemy does the same to us... he will attack and weaken us so that we will leave our first love. you get excited about doing something for the Lord that ole devil is gonna try to invade our pea patch and stomp down our crop! What the enemy found was people fleeing and there was no opposition. those philistines would march into the fields and the people of Israel, even God's chosen people would flee in terror. Sounds just like people in most churches today doesn't it? things will be going along just fine and the devil will stir up trouble... he may use someone, without even that person realizing what has happened to until after the fact, to start a ruckus, most of the time we either flee from the battle or we stir it up instead of taking a stand for what is right. churches are conforming to the world instead of the WORD and falling apart left and right because no one has the courage to stand up against the enemy and say, "BY THE GRACE OF GOD YOU WILL NOT DESTROY THIS PEA PATCH!" Church we are engaged in the greatest struggle that the world has ever known. God is working to reach the world for His name's sake and the devil is fighting every step of the way because we know his time is short. all the while, God has placed His church in the world to be a light for His glory. and many times we won't even take a stand to protect that which the Lord has given us. 

God doesn't want you to be blindsided by the enemy, so tell the devil to get out of your pea patch, in the name of Jesus! May this word encourage you: I want to tell you a story of a man in 2 Samuel, chapter 23, who dared to take a stand against overwhelming odds, to protect his pea patch from his enemies. His name was Shammah, one of David’s personal bodyguards. The Philistines had attacked the people of God, chasing them all away except for one man — Shammah. (verses 11-12). It must have been harvest time when those soldiers showed up because the Bible says the field was full of people, busy about getting their crops in. They were working and unprepared for a fight. Shammah decided, “not this time!” and positioned himself in the middle of the lentil field, stood his ground and fought for what rightfully belonged to him and his people. I think harvest time is the enemy’s favorite time to attack. For it is then that we can be caught off guard and easily defeated because our attention is focused on everything but the enemy and his antics. It’s a time when we are happy and content with that all-is-well-in-my- world mentality going on. God does not want us to be blindsided by the enemy. 1 Peter 5:8 warns us to “be sober minded, vigilant and cautious at all times, because your adversary, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour.”

Nehemiah 4:17 teaches us to keep watch while we work, holding a weapon in one hand while working with the other. Remember folks, the enemy comes but to kill, steal and destroy. That is his purpose. We must pay attention!

The Philistines knew if they could wound the Israelites and bring them to a place of hunger, they would be easily defeated. So, the Philistine soldiers would march through the lentil fields, trampling down the crops and slaughtering all who were in their way. Laughing all the while, no doubt. Folks, the devil wants to maim and weaken us so we will be subject to his will. He doesn’t mind if we go to church, sing in the choir or even pray. It’s when we tap into the power of the word of God and start getting serious about having a right relationship with the Father-God and serving Him with our whole heart that gets his attention. When we decide to take a stand for what is right — to pray fervently for others and our country, to share our faith — that’s when the devil gets his feathers ruffled and commands an attack on our pea patch. As long as we do nothing, we are no threat to the devil and certainly no help to God. You know that old saying: “If we stand for nothing, we will fall for anything.” Should the enemy show up in your pea patch, what would he find? Would he find you watchful, with a shovel in one hand and a weapon in the other, or would he strike fear in your heart, causing you to abandon your field? Folks, I believe we are in the last days. We are in the valley of decision with little time left on the clock. Do we not have the courage to stand up against the enemy, look him straight in the eye and tell him “Get out of my pea patch! You will not take that which God has given me ...?” The Bible tells us Shammah “stood.” He proposed in his heart to fight for his pea patch. He would not run away this time, but he would fight for what God had given him and defend the rights of his people. He decided his pea patch was well worth fighting for, even if it meant his life.  It's our job to cut the seeds of discord or disharmony or disunity the enemy tries to plant and not fertilize or water them to help them grow. So, for us it is church. We can just sit back and watch the enemy trample and destroy our pea patch, we can run away and hide, or we can make up our mind to stand firm in the middle of our lentil field and fight.

Shammah's friends deserted him, the other body guards of David's, the other harvesters...then get this... SHAMMAH TOOK HIS STAND IN THE MIDDLE FO THE FIELD... ALONE...BUT HE WASN'T ALONE... IT WAS HIM AND GOD. I read and reread that because that is what I've experienced over the last couple of years. The enemy will start a fight in the middle of a relationship, friendship, marriage, church, ministry, etc... The enemy is satan and is our choice as to whether we allow the enemy to use us or we take a stand in the middle, and with God's strength, fight for our
family, that relationship, ministry, etc.

Many times friends or family can encourage you to flee. Yet you don't just because Job's wife told him to curse and God and die didn't mean he had to do and he didn't. So Shammah took his stand in the middle of a field of defended it and struck down the Philistines (your field could be the middle of a separation, a divorce, your sickness, incurable disease, finances, work, transition, etc.) but just like the Lord brought a great victory on Shammah's behalf, He can and will do it for you. It was God's strength being manifested through man. God brought a great victory. I can just imagine Shammah exhausted from battle, came dragging into camp that evening, King David shouting out to Shammah, "My scouts came across a few hundred slain Philistines in a pea patch. Do you know anything about that Shammah?

God has called us to stand against the enemy in a battle for our spouse, our family, our job, our finances, our health, our spiritual condition... those friends you though would hve fight with you may have fled and left you in that pea patch by yourself... the odds are you against you... you've been thrown under the bus, and you believe there is NO hope left in sight. I would like to tell others who may question my stand about Shammah in the pea patch, that I too, have been called to stand against what appeard to be an unbeatable foe... my strength comes from the Living God, and He will bring about great victory just as He did with Shammah.
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The good news is Shammah defeated the enemy and saved his pea patch. Because he made the decision to fight, he enjoyed a great victory. Because he fought he prevailed. It was God who won that victory, the battle belonged to Him (verse 12). He just gave Shammah the strength and courage to stand — the power to fight, the skill to win — and the victory over his enemies. Shammah may have held the sword, but it was God who fought the battle.

Because God had one man who was willing to stand and fight, the fields were protected and the people were saved from starvation and slavery. Who or what in your life is worth fighting for? If we do not fight today, people will starve tomorrow. If the field is not protected, there will be no harvest. Don’t abandon your harvest, my friends. Don’t flee the battle. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). The fields in your life are well worth the fight. “The battle is mine,” says the Lord, “and you win!”

In the midst of satan's attack, you can still shout & proclaim that your blessing, healing, & deliverance is coming through. Don't give up on God's promises; they're yes & amen!! God doesn't want you to stay in bondage, that is why He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer & die on the cross for you, so you can be saved & set free. I can say, without hesitation, that there's no devil in hell nor demonic force strong enough to stop what God's going to do in your life! God's power triumphs & it is limitless! His Word is all truth and shall not return unto thee void. Every high thing must come down and every stronghold shall be broken and the devil's reign of terror doesn't have a hold of my life. I am no longer intimidated nor do i fear staring the enemy or anyone he uses in the face, and say with authority, 'satan get thee behind in the name of Jesus'. He can try to attack my body, my mind, my finances, in fact he has, but he can't touch my soul because the blood of Jesus has been applied and satan can't cross the bloodline, that is why God's word tells me that no weapon formed against me shall prosper!
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It may have been a great time of conflict but it was also a time of GREAT CONQUEST, sure the enemy came but guess what, glory to God the Lord followed and He already had key things in place to DEFEAT, DEFEND, DESTROYED and DELIVER. The Lord DEFEATED the enemy: He was doing it in the Old Testament days the spirit of the Lord would come up people during certain times for a temporary time to strength that person to defeat the enemy.... but glory to God after Jesus took His last breath on the cross and gave up the Ghost, defeating satan and taking the keys to death, hell, and the grave ...we now can have the spirit of the Lord upon us and it doesn't have to be temporary... God gave shammah the power to fight and He will do the same for us... shammah held the sword but God did the fighting... we have to put on the armor of God daily, that we may stand against the wiles of the devil... we have to take our God sword, back the s up and had an apostrophe and you've got GOD'S WORD and fight spiritual battles and physical too, we cannot forget that the battle is not ours it is the Lord's... he will give us just enough strength for the day... we can't worry about tomorrow for it will take care of itself... it may not come. The Lord DEFENDED the ground that DESTROYED the enemy: because God had one man willing to stand, the fields were protected and the people were saved from starvation and slavery. IF WE DO NOT TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE ENEMY, THE CHURCH BEING OUR PEA PATCH, OUR FAMILIES, AND FIGHT HE WILL TAKE IT ALL.. THINK WITH ME ON THIS A MOMENT: IF YOU LET HIM TAKE AWAY THE WORD, IF YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO SIT UNDER SUGAR COATING PREACHING AND FALSE TEACHING, WHAT ARE THOSE FOLLOWING US GOING TO EAT ON... WELL WE KNOW SUGAR ROTS YOUR TEETH SO WHY WOULDN'T YOU THINK THAT SUGAR COATING THE WORD WON'T ROT YOUR SOUL BECAUSE IT WILL. IF YOU READ THRU THE KING JAMES VERSION THERE IS NO TIME THE WORD - SUGAR - IS MENTIONED --- SWEET CANE MAYBE --- BECAUSE GOD DOESN'T DESIRE HIS WORD TO BE SUGAR COATED.  - IF WE ALLOW THE ENEMY TO TAKE AWAY OUR DESIRE TO WITNESS, WHO WILL SHARE THE GOOD NEWS OF CHRIST JESUS? IF WE ALLOW THE ENEMY TO STILL OUR WILL TO PRAY... WHO IS GOING TO STAND IN THE GAP FOR THIS WORLD AND CALL ON THE NAME OF THE WORLD. IF WE REFUSE TO STAND IN OUR PEA PATCH AND FIGHT FOR GOD AND HIS WORD, THEN PEOPLE WILL STARVE TOMORROW. IF WE DON'T PROTECT OUR FIELD NOW, THEIR WILL NO HARVEST 2 ENJOY.

The Lord DELIVERED the people from the enemy: like Shammah, are you willing to take your stand for God, regardless of consequences and fight until the victory is won. will you stay in your pea patch while others are running away? why not come before the Lord this evening and tell Him that you are willing and ready to take a stand for Him. that you will be found in the middle of the attack, as Shammah was, praying for His strength once more to make it thru... let me encourage you that if you're in the valley of decision and midst of attacks to NOT give up... to stay in your pea patch and watch and wait the Lord deliver you!

Delivery of this message-Stay in your pea patch and fight! --YouTube video link

When serving God, Obedience is Key!

It is my heart's desire to share with you what the Lord did in the evening service on January 21, 2018 at Clanton Church of God. How He graciously brought the healing, deliverance, and closure I desperately needed, while keeping me humble and in line with His Holy Spirit. I have been struggling with my purpose at church since going through an ongoing year battle of depression. I wasn't on the list to sing the solo, but the person who was couldn't due to being sick with the flu, so when I got the choir email about the special being open during the evening service, the Lord begin dealing with me about singing Jason Crabb's song "He won't leave you there", and sharing my testimony about being hospitalized for depression in 2017. I text our choir leader and she was happy that I was stepping up. The day before January 21st service, I was still struggling about wanting to go to my home church, I had been for 2 weeks. In fact, I had been wanting to visit another local Church of God church, but I was sick with severe bronchitis those 2 weeks. That Saturday, I was just a mess and didn't know what to do. I poured my heart out to someone I go to church with about how I felt, but in the end it made me feel better as if I could finally breathe again, and just like any other church situation, the enemy was only having me focus on situations I didn't like in that moment verses God is using me and I go to church for Him. So, that Saturday night I was up all night literally until about 5 am, and went to sleep and woke up about 9 am. But, yet I knew I needed to be at my home church. While the struggle was going on within myself, another church friend/sister in Christ facebook messages me at 3:20 am, unaware of my struggle, but God woke her up and she was being obedient and used specific wording I needed to read. So, when I told her that night at church I was thinking of leaving, she just got chill bumps and started crying, because it was confirmation that God was still using her, as she had too been struggling with finding her purpose. This was the message I received from that obedient sister in Christ:
"You're coming to church today aren't you? I hope so I miss you when you are not there. I love to hear you sing. And a whole lot more people do too. And, you Bless me the way you let God use you. I remember when you said God told you Clanton Church of God is your home church until He calls you home. We all love you Kimmy and miss you when you are not there."

Now, I haven't sung a special in a month and barely been there for services the past few months, yet she didn't know I was wanting to leave or that I was singing that Sunday night. I did make it to church that Sunday morning but struggled and still went through the motions. Mama and daddy rode off Sunday afternoon, so I had the house to myself and much needed one-on-one time with Jesus (yes I am a single, in my mid 30s, and still live with my parents), so I was ready for that night's service. By the last choir song, the Holy Spirit was moving on me and everything after that was a blur, or as us Pentecostals call it, "A calm, Holy Ghost fog". I gave my very transparent testimony and sung the song, the whole song with my eyes closed to be exact. I hit the last note and opened my eyes and start turning the mic off, and the altar is full of people praying for each other. By this point, the music leader is crying and gives me the signal to repeat the track and sing it again. Then, after I sing it again, I keep the mic and other singers come up and we just have an ole fashioned praise and worship service and sing one song after another. At the end of the service, our pastor says that he knew God was up to something when he left the house without his glasses (hence, he wasn't going to get to preach a message during that service, because he didn't have his glasses to see well enough to read). Even when service was over people, didn't know I was struggling to stay and they all just start coming up to me and telling me that I can't get go anywhere, that they love me, that God's using me, and if I left they would come to whatever church I was and lasso and hog tie me and bring me back, I am  I really did laugh out loud at that. But all the hurt that happened is in the past, and I felt it vanish and knew that I was able to keep moving forward in that moment. I had a good conversation with the pastor after church that night. And, he confirmed things I needed to hear. I always have to keep reminding myself that it is just a building, I am the church and it is my job to minister wherever I am: whether it be through this blog, social media, youtube videos, church, nursing home, someone else's home, public place, phone call, or being transparent during that service. Other people are struggling with depression or things privately, and our very obedience can help them and give them courage to get up and go to the altar and ask for prayer or call and open up and ask for help. Never think you have lost your purpose in life when your situation becomes non ideal for you, God won't leave you there!

He Won't Leave You There -https://youtu.be/eI9oW0E_WVE
https://youtu.be/HbQsHyqpzEA

God has a purpose for your life!

As far as my internet/social media outlets, I never really focus on traffic/views in a numbers aspect, but the Lord opened my eyes in a powerful way. The enemy works overtime at lying to us, making us believe we no longer have purpose in life or God isn't using us because we aren't on the platform or in the area of ministry we think we should be in. This past weekend (January 20th, 2018), the Lord directed me to look at views across my youtube, fandalism, and blog pages and spoke this to me, "I never want to hear you say or think again that you don't still have purpose on this earth, that is a lie from the pits of hell that you need to rebuke sometimes more than once daily." Among these outlets, my videos or posts are only uplifting the name of Jesus, spreading the Gospel, enouraging others in the Lord through words, preaching, teaching, singing, music, etc... so these tens-of-thousands of viewers and readers are being ministered to, along with 2,300+ facebook friends, even when I do not know it or may never meet them this side of glory. What gave me Holy Ghost chills were the views I had from China on my blog... in an anti-Christian country, where missionaries are band/killed from/for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, He can use me to be a foreign missionary through the technology of a computer. The Lord still has purposes for our (my) life, we haven't even seen yet. As long as you are above ground God is not finished with you yet, but better than that, He can still use you to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ even after you have passed away; that's the beautiful thing. I had been struggling with my purpose at church since going through my latest battle with depression, and God saw fit to minister through me in a mighty way, during Sunday night service because of my obedience to be transparent in sharing my testimony and singing a special song, "He Won't Leave You There" (Jason Crabb). I must keep reminding myself that where I attend church is just a building, I am (we ourselves are) the church, and it is my job to minister wherever I am in that moment, whether it be through my blog, social media, youtube videos, church, singing, praying, testifying, teaching/visiting at the nursing home, at someone else's home, a public place, phone call, or just being transparent. Other people are struggling most times with the same thing you are and just need the encouragement and reminder of God's love. I write all of that to write this, I've had opportunities to minister in every area at churches, since the age of 13, but it was never about a title (a title or church job or position is not what is important to me), it was (is) the fact that I don't want to waste an opportunity to minister to others about Christ, until my last breath. Someone needs to be reminded that God is using you whether you see it or not. It is not important so much that we see it, because I believe it helps to keep us humble, but God has a purpose in everything, great or small. Also, what you're going through us never in vain, and God will use it to minister to others. If you're going through fierce storms, you are not forgotten. God has not forsaken you. You are being made ready for a royal position that will never end. God is with you in this battle even though it seems like you are alone. “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand!” (Ephesians 6:13) Know the God you serve so that you can trust Him no matter what happens. Take time to read your Bible every single day. Let God’s truth be your armor that keeps you trusting in Him despite your problems. God has not changed. His love for you will endure forever. He will not fail you. Your hope is secure because you belong to Him. Nothing in all of creation will ever be able to stop His love for you or His plan for your life. ♥ Kimmy

God is Always Here for You!

If you're going through fierce storms, you are not forgotten. God has not forsaken you. You are being made ready for a royal position that will never end. God is with you in this battle even though it seems like you are alone. “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand!” (Ephesians 6:13) Know the God you serve so that you can trust Him no matter what happens. Take time to read your Bible every single day. Let God’s truth be your armor that keeps you trusting in Him despite your problems. God has not changed. His love for you will endure forever. He will not fail you. Your hope is secure because you belong to Him. Nothing in all of creation will ever be able to stop His love for you or His plan for your life.

Totally committed to God!

This week has been a lot of rest, a lot of prayer, reading and studying the word, listening to God and crying it out. No one said spiritual growth was easy, with it comes a lot of hurt and a lot of revelations, but it is worth it. The word tells us that you'll know a tree by the fruit it bears, so God has done a lot of pruning with my spiritual tree and whew wee... does that not feel pleasant. Thank God that He loves me enough to grow me and show me. I have had to learn to be a big girl with growth, stop my whining, and listen to God. Sometimes we have to learn to stand on our own without anyone's approval except for God's and that is where I am. I have truly grown spiritually, and it is not something that I am boasting about, it is something that I am sharing because it is a praise report. A wise woman of God told me several months after I started attending church at Clanton Church of God (back in 2014), that I was going to have to get some tar under my feet and stay where God could plant me, mold me, grow me, and use me... I was on the fence just like every previous church, wanting to run at the first sign of adversity, discord, or opposition... I took that advice to heart and that is what I have done over these past few years. I have got some tar under my feet and took my God sword and cut through every seed of discord the enemy has thrown my way, pushed through all the opposition and adversity, and learned to stay focused on God's plans. I've prayed and praised my way through every hurt, mistake and trial, error and blunder... and I've learned from it all. I was also told that the best apology was changed behavior. So that is what I've learned and still learning, to change any of my behavior that doesn't line up with the word of God... I've been delivered from strongholds and I am excited about this year knowing it could be the year the Lord comes to take me home. It is my desire to be a part of the last great revival, to be on the sheep side, and to hear "WELL DONE thy good and faithful servant". If I stay focused on God, everything else will work out and fall into place as it should. It is my desire for the Holy Spirit to use me as He sees fit. 2018, this is the year of total commitment and growth explosion at Clanton Church of God and in my walk with God. It is all about HIM and winning souls for He told us that He is coming SOON! And might I add, I sure am glad to be a part of it and I pray we'll all be ready for HIS return!!

Hold on to God!

There has never been a time God hasn't seen me through... there has never been a time He hasn't been faithful... there has never been a time He has left me or let me down.... Hold to God's unchanging hand!

God works all things together for good!

We may want something to change before God is ready for that particular thing to change. There are many things that God knows of which we have no understanding at all. We have to accept that our little corner of the world is not the only corner that exists. God works all things together for good, not just our things. We may be frustrated because God is not doing something that we think needs to be done, but He is working on someone or something else that has to be in place before He does the thing we are asking Him to do. God has a perfect way, a perfect plan, and a perfect time. He will not be rushed. All things work together for good in due time. Think of buying a 5000 piece puzzle. You buy it because you like the picture on the box, but when you dump the box out, you feel overwhelmed. All the things going on in our lives are a bit like that puzzle before it is completed. God presents in His Word of what we may become, but will we be patient enough to see the whole puzzle put together?!

Psalm 27:14 - Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

He Won't Leave You There!

I write this message to tell you if that if you are going through fierce storms, you are not forgotten. God has not forsaken you. You are being made ready for a royal position that will never end. God is with you in this battle even though it seems like you are alone.

“Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground and after you have done everything, to stand!” (Ephesians 6:13)

Know the God you serve, so that you can trust Him no matter what happens. Take time to read your Bible every single day. Let God’s truth be your armor that keeps you trusting in Him despite your problems. God has not changed. His love for you will endure forever. He will not fail you. Your hope is secure because you belong to Him. Nothing in all of creation will ever be able to stop His love for you or His plan for your life.

Painful and Rewarding Growth!

As I was praying for peace, after receiving closure over something... God dropped this very word into my spirit: "if you aren't being criticized for being a Christian, if false accusations aren't being made against you, if you aren't misunderstood, if you don't have someone jealous or upset with you, if your inner circle isn't getting smaller, if you aren't experiencing hurt, if you aren't being labeled, if you aren't being talked about, mistreated, lied on, and things being revealed, then you aren't doing something right in your walk and relationship with me".

I thought for a minute, well Lord what are you talking about, although the past few years has very well dropped all that in my plate and more? The point He was making is with spiritual growth, with each step of progress you make... the enemy will continue to be nipping at your heels with whatever he can use and whomever he can use to try to distract, hinder, blindside, manipulate, and destroy you. We cannot control how others act, nor what they say, or how they treat us... but we can control how we act, what we say, and how we treat others ... we have to put our focus completely on God and keep moving forward and staying ready for His return, knowing He will speak for us and fight our battles... growing in the Lord can be painful at times but I have to remember what Paul said in Romans 5:3-5...

"We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials (suffering), for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."

Jesus went through everything I mentioned and more and He was victorious in the end just as we (I), as a saved Christian, will be.