Presently Waiting

When God makes you wait, it is not because He does not desire to give you His gift, but He gives to us at the proper time and in the proper fashion.

To give too early will spoil the surprise, to give too late will be a disappointment. Like a child that waits on a birthday surprise, we should wait on God. He has promised us exceeding great and precious promises and the waiting is developing more in us than we can imagine!

Learning to wait in God is acknowledging that He has our best interest at heart and that He is even more excited to give than we are to receive. When you are the parent who is gifting your child, it is so fulfilling to give especially to a child who is deserving, patient and grateful.

~ Impatience spoils the Present. ~

By not waiting patiently on God, we defeat the purpose of allowing our good and perfect gifts to change us in our waiting. Imagine the child who expects a birthday present, but gets it the day after for the following year. What good is a gift that is given too early or too late, too immature or over-ripe? No one wants that. It's just not....right.

Perhaps you are waiting to be married,  to finish a degree, waiting to hear about a job opportunity or for the Lord to answer a specific prayer. Your wait may be for healing of something that you or a loved one has suffered from for a long time. Let patience have her perfect work. As we wait, we are being changed. Conditions are being met. Preparation is underway. Trust in the Lord. God's gifts are not always what we expect, but they are what we need.

A perfect example is pregnancy. Some view this gift as a blessing,  some as a complication to their lives. It is a gift to wait for that cannot be rushed. To deliver it too early or too late would make for complications. Sometimes we know what God has promised us, but we miscarry in the waiting period and never get that good & perfect gift. Timing is everything. We must trust God to fulfill all things when He is ready, not in our own wisdom just because we are expecting. 

Your increased faith and trust in God is built in the journey, which is its own reward!

So how do we presently wait? We work in great expectation of reward! If you never expected a paycheck from your employer,  how would that change your work ethics? Most likely,  you would be tempted to quit right? Well....when the God of the universe says that He has something good and perfect for you, how do you work while waiting then?

~They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 30:41. ~

While you wait, don't get weary of doing good. Your patience will be rewarded. Persevere in your patience. Keep hoping. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keeping asking, seeking & knocking. The doors God lead you to are sure to open. God's good and perfect gift is on the way. Are you presently waiting? Work while waiting. All will be revealed in due time! Are you presently waiting? Keep working while waiting. All will be revealed in due time!

My Master

I used to think that being a Christian meant that I no longer set goals for myself. I figured that God runs my life and He does, but we carry his name and a responsibility to always grow & developed ourselves. It is so important to clearly discern God's will for your own life.

Some people do not require a degree to do what God has called them to do while on this earth. I understand that, but sometimes God will raise you up for such a time as required. For some, earning a degree is the end of their goals. For others it is a means to an end. Like money, it is a resource, a tool for those who will use it as intended by God for His glory, unless of course, glorifying God with your life is not your true goal. If you aspire for a degree without purpose, it will be fruitful for you to have that piece of paper. If your intentions are Godly, your investment will bear much fruit not only for you but for the generations who will follow after you.

In the eyes of the world, my accomplishment should make me pat myself on the back and strut proudly for being a self-made woman. However, I consider this a Crown that I will one day lay at the foot of my Savior, the one who REALLY made this woman. My Masters is for my Master.

Marriage Investment

Marriage is a gift from God. Like anything given to us, we must steward it properly. Invest in it. Multiply your love. Cultivate your relationship. Tend to your spouse. When we stand before God, our marriages will be weighed in the balance. We long to hear the Lord say "Well done. You have been good & faithful!"

How do we make this practical in our day to day lives?

Here are a few things we do:

1. Physical affection
Sex is important, but hugs, kisses, holding hands and love pats are needed too! You don't have to get naked to show your love (although we highly suggest it on a regular basis!). We touch often, every time we think to do so. It lets your spouse know that you are thinking of them. So, especially for the ladies, make your skin "touchable". It makes a big difference! Stay clean, fresh and ready for ....whatever!

2. Spiritual nourishment
Don't keep your spiritual life to yourself. It is great to spend quality time with God alone, but God did not make man to be alone. It is one of the primary reasons why he created women. Think about that! We were created to do life together, even spending time with God together. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve they spent time with God together on a regular basis. When was the last time you prayed or read the Bible TOGETHER. Start today!

3. Emotional investments
Some people say that women need this more than men, but we disagree. Guys need to be told how amazing they are by their wives. Women need to feel secure in their relationships emotionally. So take the time to encourage, uplift and inspire your spouse. When they do well, mention it. When they do poorly, be there for them. We are emotional creatures and need to invest in each other. You are supposed to be your spouse's biggest cheerleader!

Best. News. Ever!!

BEST NEWS EVER!!!

Do you know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior? 

If not we would like to introduce you to Him! 

Jesus is God's son. God was well pleased with His sacrifice for YOUR sins on the cross. If you accept that He took your punishment for all your sins past, present and future, then confess it with your mouth and believe it in your heart and you WILL be saved. You will be saved from sin and death FOREVER! It's simple, but true.

Let us know if you made this important decision so we can congratulate you and get you connected to others who will help you grow in your new journey as a son/daughter of God!

Ministering Together - Journey off the Map

Team Mckaney

Our preference is to always minister together. This time the Lord blessed us to minister during Vacation Bible school. We would both literally leave work and head over to the church for the meal provided for all the workers and teachers all week long. The church had classes for preschoolers through the adults! Maurice and I co-taught a class of about 20 3rd and 4th graders. Even some of them were "surprised" that we were husband and wife. We made sure to let them know! Lol!

During the course of the week, over 20 kids indicated that they had made the decision to take a journey with Jesus for the rest of their lives! All we want to do is to make disciples who make a difference. We had a blast and praise God for the opportunity!

General session before class, rec and crafts

Helping the kids remember our lesson.

Leading all the kids in our theme songs.

Having a serious discussion about Isaiah 30:21

Our usie (without Maurice)...lol

Closing session singalong

How to read the Bible basics

Maurice chats with the boys

Recreation time!!

Piecing together the puzzle  

"Holy you Are"

Right Choices

This weekend I had an opportunity to minister to a few groups of young people at the Right Choices Youth Conference hosted by the Ministry of Reconciliation in Cleveland, Ohio. 

The Teens

I shared my personal testimony about how God preserved me for marriage and encouraged the teens to be God's "selfie". If we are created in God's image then we are made to reproduce and bear much fruit. We talked about homosexuality, what husbands and wives are supposed to do and how to know if you are ready for a relationship and marriage. Many of them made the decision to wait for sex until marriage and to work on their relationships with God first. I was especially touched by one young lady who spoke to me privately after my session. She was struggling with seeing herself as good enough to be used by God. It was hard for her to give up things of the flesh. I told her to fast and pray. This will teach her how to empty herself of things that hold her back from giving herself completely to God. She had never fasted before in her life. She agreed to try it. I am hoping to get a mentor for her as well.

Bouncy houses for the little ones!

Speaking to 3-5th graders about how to study the Bible

My FUN group!

My sister Rose shares with the teenagers

Atlanta Summit - Part 4

                                                                   

                                                                              Sunday

The Lord certainly did not mean for this to be just any typical Sunday. It was the last day of the conference and God confirmed in multiple ways through multiple people that we were to go out into the city. 

After breakfast, the Lord led us to pray over the entire church building from the outside. We carried our anointing oil and as the spirit of God directed us, we were able to identify some strongholds in Atlanta in the spirit. Over the next several hours we took authority over the idolatry, prostitution, corrupt governmental systems and other sin that was identified. 

Just as the disciples were sent out to various places, as WE go, we are to also pray for God's Kingdom to come and for God's will to be done. We are Ambassadors in the spirit and we all have the ministry of reconciliation. Sometimes we may have to circle our Jericho until the walls bow down to God's rule. Discipleship is work and some things come only through prayer and fasting. 

I am expecting the Hindu temple there to come down in one way shape form or another. It will be demolished in Jesus name. Satan will not occupy a place that God says is ours. The houses and lands that God showed to us is our possession and it will not be demolished by unjust judges in Jesus name! We decreed and declared, we rebuked, claimed, anointed and took authority. We spoke, sang, prayed, whispered and hollered. 

If you have never prayer walked or spoken the word of God over a place I am here to tell you that it is a powerful thing. The enemy does not appreciate us boldly standing in opposition to what he is trying to establish in the city. God's Church cannot be afraid to battle in enemy terrritory. We are the church, God's remnant warriors. Spiritual warfare is real and a lot happens on a Sunday morning outside of the four church walls. We were not afraid to declare Jesus Christ as King of Atlanta! There were more with us than there were with our enemy. We praise God in advance for the revival to come!

                                                                             Monday

Guess what God showed me today??? I was on the plane coming home from Atlanta and I "saw" a picture in the spirit. It was two rings, but they were two eyes. One was the husband's,  the other the wife's. God spoke to my heart and said that if we lift up our eyes (become proud, haughty, independent), the sight will be off, cross-eyed, not focused. Only when a couple looks in the same direction will there be a unified vision.

We walk towards what we focus on. But if we are looking in opposite directions, there is no vision and the marriage will perish. So I pray for focus, oneness and clarity of vision in all of our marriages ladies. Two eyes, not one big "I". Two eyes headed in the same direction with the same goal & focused on Christ, our Head!

As we move as led by the Holy Spirit, we will find ourselves going places we have not been to before. Your view on marriage will change, your job, business, school and ministry will be impacted. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is a matter of tapping into your spiritual senses. I have learned so much on the trip, but my biggest takeaway is being led by the Holy Spirit and putting that into practice. Learning spiritual sight has changed my walk with Christ forever!