What Color Is Your Coat?

 

Genesis 37:3 Says, “Now Israel loved Joseph more than his other children, because he was the son of his old age and made him a coat of many colors.”

Awhile back,I bought myself a jacket. I liked the taupe color because it is neutral. I was leaving the house to go have lunch with a friend. I noticed that in the sunlight my coat looked more green than taupe. This made me think of a young man in the Bible by the name of Joseph. His father made him a coat of many colors. He did this because he loved his son very much. It is easy today to run to the mall and purchase a jacket for ourselves. We realize that wasn’t the case in Joseph’s time. I can picture the father working lovingly on the coat for his son. He must have worked for days, even weeks on it. I believe he took great thought into picking each color of fabric.

In my mind I  can see him choosing purple. Joseph would someday be a part of royalty. Maybe he chose a blue. He prayed his son would always walk in revelation knowledge. White could stand for a reminder to Joseph to remain pure until marriage. This story reminds me of how many times my Heavenly Father has covered me. I have walked in some hard places. I know I could not have made it without Gods love for me.

Later on in the story, Joseph’s brothers stripped him of his beloved coat. It didn’t matter. He still felt His Fathers love and presence in his life. Have there been times in your life when struggles have made you feel stripped of who you know  you are in Christ? The enemy has tried many times to convince me God wasn’t there for me in trials. Maybe at times it has seemed like God is far away. Those are the times we must remember how He has always prepared for us whatever we needed. Whatever we may face, He has us covered. There is nothing that gives us strength more than spending time with Him. The world may try to strip us. Nothing can take away the love our Father has for us. What color is your coat today? I can tell you. It is whatever you need from Him. All you have to do is ask of your Father. Remember, he has you covered.

~Connie Robinson

Image Credit @ Tammy Sanders

The Prodigal Parent

Most of us have heard the story of the prodigal son. He decided to leave his father’s house and take off on his own. It is good to know that the story ends with the son returning home. That gives hope to other families. My story is the opposite. My father left when I was a baby. I grew up with a lot of questions. I dreamed of what it would be like to be “Daddy’s little girl.” My father came to visit about once every four years.I never knew what town he was living in, or how to find him. His short visits were exciting to me. I loved my dad very much.

I will never forget the last phone call I received from him. I had not heard from him in a long time. He was usually cheerful when he phoned or visited. This time was different. He told me he had some bad news. He had cancer. The doctors said he had three months to live. Even as I write this, I can still feel the pain of that conversation.He told me where he was living. It was only an hour away. I began driving to his house every day. I held his hand. I kissed his forehead. I knew he was in pain. He tried to keep a smile on his face. Some days, he could talk more than others.

He told me about his childhood. I asked about his first love. He told me about his first car. I never asked why he left those many years ago. It didn’t matter. What mattered was that I had another day to be with him. I wish my childhood had been different. I always wanted to be “Daddy’s girl.” I was his girl for three months. The most precious visits were the ones when we talked about Heaven. We both found comfort in knowing that someday we will be together forever. I would tell adults who have been abandoned by a parent to keep an open heart. People make mistakes. Time is precious. If a prodigal parent comes home, please don’t reject them.

Maybe you are a parent who wasn’t there for your child. I urge you to contact them. Go to them. There is never an age that your child doesn’t need you. I have memories of my dad now. I know the touch of his hand. I am “Daddy’s girl.”

~Connie Robinson

Image Credit © Gokhan Okur | Dreamstime Stock Photos

The God Kind of Love

It’s been almost sixteen years since the day I had been beaten. Everything I had known for many years was suddenly jerked out from under me. Put yourself in my shoes. How would you have felt? I wanted revenge.

As I think back to that day I was sitting on the stand looking my accuser in the face, Hoping and praying the justice system would punish him for what he did to me. I remember the judge reading the charges and in my mind I could just see my accuser behind bars. The judge says, “The verdict is not guilty.”

All I can remember was this big smile coming across my face as I stepped down off the platform. Walking out of the courtroom, and as I sat down in my car, the gravity of the situation finally registered in my mind. How could they say he was not guilty I wondered? What about all the bruising, not to mention the mental anguish I had been through?

I just broke down sobbing uncontrollably. I let it all out, and I believe that day was a turning point in my life. God was working on my love walk even then. Some people have asked me about the smile when  everything was done.  Of all times to smile! I probably looked crazy to the other people in the courtroom.  All I can say is it had to be God because in my own strength I could never have done that.

That seemingly insignificant act let me know that God was in control even if I didn’t see how any good could come from that situation. I was not even filled with Holy Ghost yet, just full of God and starting to let Him rule and reign in my life as much as I knew how. It says in God’s word He will give us what to say, and that day He also gave me the action to go with it.

Choosing not to walk in love toward my ex-husband put a ceiling on my life, and I didn’t even know it. I came to realize love is not based on a feeling. The God kind of love is unconditional. Even though I was still hurting on the inside, one day God let me see my ex-husband how he saw him. God didn’t see him as my abuser. God sees us all broken in need of a savior. As I was able to comprehend what He was showing me, it was easier for me to walk in love towards him because I remember what a mess I was before someone reached out to me. God has healed me emotionally and that has helped my ex-husband to see how much God really loved him, even if he doesn’t understand it.  God gives us chances everyday to walk in love.  We need to be willing to do the same for others.

Yes, this means we have to be willing to be hurt again. It’s also a chance to grow. The Bible says, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”

~Tammy Sanders

Image Credit © Dana Rothstein | Dreamstime Stock Photos

Using the Right Light

1Peter 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priest-hood, an holy nation, a peculiar  people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness and into his marvelous light.

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of host, in that day when I make up my jewel; and I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Malachi3:17

A friend of mine and I went into a jewelry store recently. While we were looking, the lady asked if she could clean our rings. When she returned them to us, she told my friend how beautiful her diamond was. She didn’t comment on mine. Okay, I admit it. I was a little hurt.  When we left the store and got outside, I held my ring up to the sun. It was shining beautifully. That’s when I realized what was wrong. She wasn’t looking at my ring in the same light as I was. When I look at it, I see my husband’s love. I am reminded of how he chose me. He worked many hard hours to pay for this ring. It symbolizes so much that can’t be seen under a microscope.

I am thankful that God looks at us through the refection of the “Son.” He doesn’t see our flaws. We were created to shine in the light of God’s love. We are God’s masterpiece. We are to use that same light when we look at others. They are not to be placed under our microscopes. We are to hold their lives up to his light.

My desire is to live my life allowing God’s light to shine through my life.

~Connie Robinson

Image Credit © Tammy Sanders

Intimacy

Genuine intimacy requires transparency, vulnerability, truthfulness, and commitment.

Intimacy is a process. It takes communication, time, and awareness of the other person.  A question you need to ask yourself is, “How much of God do I really want?”

God wants an intimate relationship with you. You spend intimate time with your husband or wife, and friends. God wants that intimate time too. He wants you to mediate His Word, and spends time in worship telling Him how much you love Him. Not what He can do for you, but Lord what can I do for you. God is waiting on us to want Him more than anything.

God doesn’t want a one night stand. It’s a lifetime commitment to the One who loves you. We were created to walk and talk with Him everyday. Thank Him for what He’s already done in your life. He doesn’t need you telling Him everyday what you need and want. He already knows all this.

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. Matthew 6:31 (NIV)

He knows how many hairs are on your head. He created us.

For me personally I have always had a desire to have that intimate relationship with God. I just did not know how. Now I spend that time talking to Him. Praying in tongues, and being real with Him just like I am with other people. I love it when I hear His voice and know that He is listening to little ole me. Nothing compares to His voice and that’s the way it should be.

~Tammy Sanders

Image Credit © Tammy Sanders

Comfort and Joy

What does it mean to walk in comfort and joy anyway? I have been asking myself this same question.

 

For starters, what is comfort? Comfort means to “soothe, console, or reassure; bring cheer to, to make physically comfortable, to aid; support or encourage”. So looking at the meaning, and hooking it up with scripture, then when we say “Jesus is our comforter,”we are saying that He provides relief in our afflictions (healing), and He gives us peace.

 

I don’t know about you but I have not been walking in a lot of comfort and joy. At least not until recently when I got a breakthrough. You know when you take your eyes off of the one who gives you the comfort and joy and start to focus on all of the circumstances surrounding you that comfort and joy leaves you. You may be able to put on the façade of joy but it does not last long. I should know since I had been doing that for a while.

 

It is important that when thoughts that do not line up with God’s Word are flooding your mind, that you take those thoughts captive. I went to leadership for advice for assistance and was provided a good swift kick in the rear that I needed to help me get back on track. Don’t get me wrong, God had already been dealing with me about the price and the swift kick in the rear was done in love. It was the truth and the truth will set you free if you will listen. I chose to listen, and I have felt more joy and comfort than I have felt in months!

 

My focus has shifted to where it needs to be and not on the circumstances that have tried to infiltrate my mind. Will I have to battle thoughts in the future? I  know I will.

 

Gateway leaders are here to help you overcome all circumstances that has tried to present itself in your life. You just have to be willing to take correction and to change and grow. Showing up for services and ministry opportunities is a vital role in your spiritual growth. At one time it was said that 80% of our victory is just showing up. Spending personal time in the Word for yourself, worshiping and praying are also necessary in order to overcome obstacles and circumstances in your life. Trust in Him and His Word for His Word is His Will. He sent His son to die on the cross for our salvation, healing, comfort, and joy. Embrace the comfort and joy that comes from the love of our Father.

 

Ronda Sullivan

 

Image Credit © Tammy Sanders

Seeking Time

Gateway Believer’s Fellowship is in seeking time. Last year was my first experience in joining them with this.  The phrase “seeking time” was new to me. My first time, I listened to what others were giving up and I did what they were doing.  Last year was good. I wanted this year to be even better. The dictionary said seeking means to go in search of; to strive for. I began asking myself what it was I wanted to strive for.

Since the word was seeking, I decided to do just that! I would seek the King, and find out what he would want me to give up. I was thinking it would be TV time. Maybe I would give up facebook,or all computer activity during this time. Maybe it would be my favorite food or drink. The answer I got in prayer surprised me. The Lord told me He wants me to give up hurts and grudges I have held on to. He told me I am to let go of the idea that I have a right to feel this way.

Not forgiving others hinders our prayer life. It can affect our walk with the Lord. We are to work toward laying aside these kinds of weights in our lives. We are to learn to have the fruit of the Spirit operating in our lives. This is what I am going to strive for.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.

Galatians 5:22

~ Connie Robinson

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A Rose of Beauty

I recently experienced the most wonderful, unexpected blessing. To my surprise, my rose bush bloomed. I thought the bush was dead since I neglected it for so long. Usually, if I am lucky enough, it will bloom one rose if it blooms at all. This year was different for some reason. It produced several beautiful, orange roses. They were not very big, but I was excited to see them bloom anyway. I really wanted to share their beauty with someone who needed cheering up for the day. “But, who Lord?” I spoke silently to myself. I really had no idea with whom to share it. It wasn’t long after I started to pray that the Lord gave me a name. I did not know anything about the problems this person was experiencing. However, the Lord knew her situation and the love from the rose made her cry. She later told me she felt dead inside, and it was a reminder to her that God was still alive. It was such a simple act and it changed her whole day.

The lesson I learned from that day was humility. I felt so humbled that God could use a person like me to make someone else feel special. It was inspiring to me that the little things I could do, could help change someone’s ashes to beauty. It was a lesson to remind me that even when I am feeling good, there are always others that are feeling sad. We just never know when we can make a difference in someone else’s life.

~Gay Dowdy

Image credit: ORANGE AND RED ROSE
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Spring Has Sprung

Spring has sprung and things have begun to sprout up everywhere. I am beginning to get in my gardening mode. I love watching things come to full fruition. It is an amazing cycle and comes and goes all too quickly.  One of my favorite things to do in the spring is plant the small patch of soil that I call my garden.

In preparation for the garden, tilling is a must.  If I did not break up the ground, the weeds and grass would choke out the plant. You get the analogy from Matthew about breaking up the fallow ground of your heart.  Well, if we do not break up the hardness of our heart then the seed, the Word of God, can not be rooted there.

Secondly, I must decide what I am to plant. I think about things that my family will eat and what I can grow in the space that I have like okra, tomatoes, cucumber, squash and bell pepper. Only then am I able to go to the hardware store and purchase my prizes. What I plant determines what I harvest.  Choosing the Word to meditate depends on what I want to reap.  If I want to reap love I must mediate love scriptures.

Next, I must decide which plants need more room and where they will grow. I stake out the area where the plants are to grow and follow the directions for planting. If I do not make room in my heart for growth and follow the manual, the Bible, then I will not be able to bear the fruit that I desire, even if I have purchased the seeds or plants and tilled my soil. I must have proper space and follow the specific directions for each particular plant. We as the Body of Christ are many membered and unique. Now for the real work.

Work! Tell me I did not hear that word.  I have heard it said from a very wise man that ministry is spelled, W-O-R-K. Before I can think about work I must assess the tools. Are my tools handy? Are the blades sharpened?  Am I ready to hear and to do the Word?  Spring is here and I am ready to till, plant and weed.  This is the only way to reap the harvest, both in the natural and spiritually.  Ready, set, grow!

~ Lisa Brannen

What are you Fighting For?

FIGHTING STANCE
© Steven Pepple | Dreamstime.com

On any given, typical day in my life, I am an easy-going, good-natured person. I am so good-natured and easy-going, that I allow myself to be the doormat for others. Then why do I feel so scrappy this week? I almost want to fight something, but I do not know what or why. I have not felt this scrappy since the time in school when some girls were beating up on my cousin and my sister. I jumped in and socked a girl twice and that was that! Who would have thought I would do something like that now…NOT ME!

So…why so scrappy? The world tells you that as you get older your body changes. You cannot do things like you used to. You cannot take things like you used to. Your body is more prone to sickness and injury. Just about everywhere I turn, I am being told things are happening to my body just because I’m getting older, and I might as well just deal with it. WHO SAID? Not GOD! My spirit is getting stronger, making me realize that I really can fight against those mindsets!

The devil will fill your head full of lies. These lies stem from the worldly point of view, not God’s point of view. The Bible tells us that the devil comes to STEAL, KILL, and DESTROY. He will enter through your mind so quietly that, before you know it, you have changed your mind to line up with the point of view of the world. You have taken what other people tell you as the truth. I have been guilty of that a lot over the years, but now I am in the process of realigning my thoughts, actions, and words to line up with what God’s Word tells me. According to the sacrifice that Jesus bore on the cross, I am ALREADY HEALED! My body may not realize it yet, but it has no choice in the matter!

So, I am finding that the scrappiness that I am feeling is more along the lines of a battle going on inside of me to line up with what the Word tells me about ME and not what the world says about me. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am mainly a quiet person unless I know you well. But lately, I’ve been wanting to come out swinging when people start talking about THEIR ailments and how this is just the lot they have drawn in life. It’s the devil that has been telling them lies, and he’s the one I’m mad at!

Am I walking in total healing? Not at this time, but I WILL! I’m doing what I need to do in the natural – hitting the gym daily, confessing healing scriptures, meditating on the good I see in me and not the negative. I try to remember to tell myself that I am created in HIS image, so I am not stupid or ugly. We have to learn to love ourselves, which is a hard thing to do at times. I feel that if we start to love ourselves more, then even when we miss it, we can move on to the next level a lot quicker in God.

Getting past ourselves is a hard thing to do. For me, that is my biggest obstacle. I have to tell myself that I love ME, and God loves me just the way I am. Let the scrappiness that is inside of you come out and fight for what is yours and give back to the devil what does not belong to you. Remember that the plans God has for you are GOOD. He wants you to prosper and be in good health and, most importantly, HE LOVES YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE!

~Ronda Sullivan