JUST A LITTLE TESTIMONY

April 5,2014

Been reflecting back and seeing the movement of God, as He has been changing me and shaping me for His glory.

So I will begin with a word that was spoken at church approximately a year ago. In the message my pastor said "Everyone wants to see the glory of God, yet do you know what you are asking for?" I thought not really but I am fixing to find out. He went on to say "When God reveals His glory, He will reveal more of you, and He will reveal more of Himself". So I began to pray; regularly, Lord I want to see Your glory, reveal more of me and reveal more of You. Little by little He would do just that. Then approximately nine weeks ago our church began a series entitled: "From Death to Life". It has turned into a life changing series for me, and a series where God revealed His glory to me, I would see more that was in me that needed to die and to be buried, and He began to allow me the privilege of experiencing Him in a fresh and new way.

Most who know me, understand that I love the Lord very much, and know that I desire to walk in a close relationship with Him. But I still have life struggles, and everyday I struggle with just living, making an income, paying bills, etc. There are times when I think "I'm not going to make it" "It is never going to get better". As I was sharing this one evening with my pastors, my pastor looked at me an said "You are looking at your job as your provider and not Jesus". Needless to say, a little self-righteous indignation rose up inside me, and I thought (but didn't say) "I know that Jesus is my Provider". But at the same time The Holy Spirit said "He is right". I went home that night and asked for forgiveness, repented by aligning my mind with the Word, I began to study the covenant relationship I have with Jesus Christ. And I began to ask Him to let me experience Him as my Provider. Let me say that God honors your prayers, when you pray from your heart and desire to understand yourself and Him, as you journey through this life to fulfill the destiny He has for you.

Three weeks later, came a shift in my life. To get out from under a particular struggle I had with paying the rent where I was living, meant I had to break my lease and move. I began to realize that was what I needed to do because God had said in my heart "You will have victory in this, but you must obey what I say" So I spoke to the office, turned in my notice, and began to pack. Yet, I had no place to go. My church is located at the entrance to the community of Clinton and for several years I had been praying for the community. Several months ago the Lord had spoke to my spirit and said "I am placing you in the community you have been praying for". But at that time I believed it would be at a later date. To be completely honest, I have no desire to live in Clinton. I am definitely a city girl (laughing). But if God says that is where He is putting me then I am willing to go.

But there was and is no where to go. I have a budget that I must stay within and nothing at this time is available, where I am lead to go. Other possibilities have been offered, yet they are not in my price range, or not in the area I believe God says to go to. So my furniture is in storage, and I came to stay with my daughter and her family, until God opens the right door. Instinct says run out and find a place any place, just some place to have yourself and your belongings together. Yet, I have determined to not settle for my less out of fear and stay ready to receive God's best for me.

My biggest concern with staying with my daughter was that I would be in her and her family's way, that I would interfere with their life and they would interfere with mine. It has been six days, and all is well. Praying God's peace with me and them. I think for me it has been the biggest adjustment, I have lived alone for years, no noise at the house, stuff done the way I wanted it and when I wanted it. Now here I am with my daughter and her husband three kids and a dog they had a cat but he must be gone because I haven't seen or heard him. I must remember to ask what happened to the cat. Definitely different from what I am used to.

So that brings me to something else I have been praying, (I really didn't have a clear understanding of). One Sunday my pastor said "Keeping Jesus in our focus will cause us to be creative and stop reacting to life and life will begin to respond to us" I had the reacting part down pat, I knew exactly what that meant, since I did it a lot. So I began to speak and to pray "Lord teach me not to react to everything that comes my way and let life begin to respond to me". Then about a week into this I realized I didn't have a clear understanding of what it meant to have life respond to you. So I approached my pastor and asked him what did that mean, after all I was praying it. To simply put it "When I am faced with a situation either I can react to the situation or I can allow the peace of God to be released in me and the situation, and then I will see it from a different perspective and not react." Now those are not his exact words but that is how I received it to my understanding.

So where am I in this journey "From Death to Life"? Jesus is allowing me the privilege and the opportunity of experiencing Him as my Provider and my Provision. He is teaching me to listen and obey His voice. I have had several opportunities to react, yet I have chosen His peace and joy. You see God is moving me, yet the enemy has sent several distractions to me to get me off course and get my focus off of Jesus, yet I recognized his tactics. I am praying that while I am staying with my daughter that the light of Jesus will be seen in me and that I will not be the reason for another mother-in-law joke with my son-in-law. I hope that I will be a help and not a bother to my daughter. And I hope to enjoy my children and grandchildren during my stay.

What is this new life, this resurrected life look like? Let's just say that the resurrected life indwells me and has since I was born again. The anointing power that raised Jesus from the dead is in me. And as I live this life in Christ I walk in that power. This enables me to live in such a way, that Jesus is seen in me and not Linda seen, it allows my circumstances not to hold me as a hostage, binding me to them. It releases freedom in Jesus and then the chains fall off. I may still face many battles in this life, yet the battles are already won, all I have to do is keep Jesus as my focus and walk in His peace, lifting Him up, continue the upward call on my life. I have the victory already the biggest lie the enemy can convince us of is that he still has power over us. Wherever He places me the anointing of the Holy Spirit will penetrate the atmosphere and both myself and others around me will be changed not by me but by the presence of Jesus Christ in the room. A lot more to share on this subject but will wait until the bible study. This is just an update of where I am in my walk with Jesus.

Remaining steadfast on this journey.

Check out the on-line bible study and begin the journey From Death to Life at www.lindagroberts.com