YES and I AM LISTENING!

Abraham said; "YES" then he said; "I AM LISTENING" Hello  readers! I am popping in this afternoon just to remind you of the life impacting story of Abe and Issac's journey, up the grueling mountain--which actually became a reminder to the world of just how faithful God is when we are obedient. God is asking you today to lean in a little closer to hear what He is saying....... Abraham was a leader to Issac: Who's following you? Yes, Abe was Issac's daddy, and he trusted him. Who trust you to lead them to a ultimate journey of blessing? Do you feel tested in your walk? Abraham was not only tested in his faith, but he was tested in his obedience. He was asked to build a sacrifice for his son! His surroundings must have seemed pretty dim at the time. Check out your surroundings of where or what you personally might have climbed into. God will 'still' show you what He has for you, if you are willing to be obedient to his listen to HIS voice. Issac was as much affected by Abe's obedience as Abe himself. Usually what we are doing has more affect on others than even as much on us. Are you in a relationship? Are you in a friend ship? Are you raising a child? What about your co-workers? Who's following you, as you go up the grueling mountains in your life, like Abraham and Issac climbed? Only thing is, when Issac questioned Abraham and said; "Where's the lamb for the sacrifice?" Abraham's reply was this; "God will provide"--The greatest leadership is one that is totally dependent on the fact that 'we' are not doing this alone. WE have a greater witness. The Holy Spirit in us is leading us. Do you hear him speaking to you? Abraham and Issac climbed what Abe thought would be a horrific end, when in fact, God showed both of them that HE was the mountain of provision! (that 'grueling' mountain is now a land mark of a written proverb: "The Lord will provide" It's official, when God is asking you to lean in a little closer to hear him, then I believe HE must mean HE has something to say. He said; “Because you obey me and did not withhold from me, I swear by my own self.... “I will bless you richly!!” (my emphasis on the words.) I hope you make this day the best day of your life and you will remember always that HE is the 'MOUNTAIN OF PROVISION'!! Don't ever forget that OBEDIENCE, climbs and when you get to the top, it's a place of blessing! This story I am referring to is written in Genesis 22 in God's Holy Bible!

"The written Words-- to the Storm"

"Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?"

So many times we want to see and hear from God almost immediately  and so many times we just do not understand why it doesn't happen the way we would want it to. 
When a storm is rolling in, and the forecast is telling us the worst is coming.......we forget about having faith and we do not truly gravitate to Peace.
God allows a 'storm' to come up in your life to see if you will have faith in the fact that He will see you through.
In Mark 4:40 it is written that Jesus asked the question, "why do you have no faith?" and in the previous scripture vs. 39 HE rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "PEACE BE STILL".
It was not the disciples he was rebuking, but rather the wind and sea. In the midst of a storm, 'we' freak out! I freak out when I see the Kansas weather forecast and I suddenly begin to 'rebuke' the winds just like Jesus did in this scripture. It's funny though, I am rebuking the wind because my faith is being tested in the storm. My faith on the other hand is turbulent, just like the storm--I need to be rebuked! But Jesus did not rebuke the men/women, he rebuked the Wind and the Sea. His authority is to bring peace, the peace that we should grab a hold of in the midst of the storm. See, Jesus is our peace and when we see him as the authority that we need to trust in, then and only then can we weather the STORM.

Kansas was hit by a Tornado Saturday night. (April 14, 2012) Nights like that makes one aware of the power of our almighty God. He is still in control and He will allow storms to come and storms to go, but in the midst we must realize that if Jesus spoke Peace then we can receive Peace through His words.
Have FAITH not in the storm, but in the ONE who brings us PEACE.

SHARES equals CHAIRS!

While I was ministering in the country of Honduras last September, I had the opportunity to speak one night at an inner city, Friday night, on fire for the Lord youth group. The leader/Pastor of Casa de Restauracion is David Martinez. David is only in his twenties and is very much a servant and natural born leader. When I was privileged to speak in Tegucigalpa, they were meeting in a small upper room above a Bed and Breakfast which held around 80 comfortably. But they soon grew out of that space and just recently moved to another facility.

This is where the story gets a little more interesting.

Being friends on Facebook with David after sensing his determined heart while in Honduras and feeling the love of my parents mission minded spirit for the Honduran's, I feel the need to mentor this young and vibrant soul. I anxiously read all that he sends to me. We will message each other randomly and pop in and say hi and so forth, but it wasn't until I received the message on February 17th, that my heart and soul became stirred by the events that were going on in a place where I left pieces of my heart. They love Jesus and that excites me! 

David messaged me telling me how the 'services' which they are having each week have grown so much that they are renting 3 buses to get the youth there. His urgent need was mostly for 'SHARES'--and currently, there are only 50 'SHARES' that come with the place and he needs to seat at least 280!! 

See, like you, I got a little confused as to why he was needing 'SHARES'--when in fact he was needing CHAIRS!

Bless his heart, I set the message aside and told him I needed to consider how to send him money and if I could actually get support as well for $6.00 plastic chairs or $15.00 aluminum chairs. I decided it was my 'deed' as my dad would say and therefore I PERSONALLY needed to SEED.

I started to reflect on my selfish desires and reluctantly placed them aside as I challenged my husband and remembered my 'stash' (you know, the stash you save for a rainy day which is actually a selfish stash you are going to spend on yourself?) 

I get an 'allowance' every other week from my husband in order to keep from putting too many things on credit cards, and I also do three widows hair on a weekly basis who pay me quite well, so with that in mind, I have my 'stash'......only this particular day last Thursday my husband gave me my grocery money/miscellaneous money, which was a check for $300. I cashed it and sent it to Tegucigalpa, Honduras for SHARES/CHAIRS! 

After sending the monies, plus the $11 via WESTERN UNION, I felt the release deep in my bones. I went to the restroom and while entering the stall, I heard this still small voice say to me; "Thank you for taking care of my son." I began to tear up and smile! I never told my husband what I did. I just did it by faith and determined I could stretch my dollars a little longer.

Today--I got on my computer to read through emails and within the email was a long awaited response my husband and I were waiting to hear. We 'forgot' to cancel a trip we were going to take as a gift to each other last December and therefore we were in dispute with the Insurance company who told us that we did not have a chance of getting our money back. But GOD sees and knows everything! After five months of negotiation and much heartache of the loss, we just counted it as a sorrowful mistake and learning experience. However, within the sea of my personal emails were these words; " This message is to inform you that your claim has been finalized. We are issuing a check to you in the amount of $3,312.95. You can expect it in about 7-10 business days." 

SHARES EQUALS CHAIRS! When I gave the $300.00, God gave EVERYTHING back, plus the $11 it cost to send via WU. The God I serve is a 100% giving God, when you simply SHARE because HE ask.

Oh, and you can bet ya, I told my husband about giving away my money! I give God all the praise and glory and honor HE SO RIGHTFULLY DESERVES! 

100 percent return on my SHARES!

Perception---is it truth?

Perception means this; “The process of using the senses to acquire in formation about a surrounding environment of situations.

Do we really know because we perceive? I have found in my adult life, and I have lived a little while and I can tell you this that it is not actually what you observe it to be. Trial an err has taught me the fact.

It is not until we have walked in someone else’s shoes that we should ever judge the surroundings of someone else.

I have judged/perceived and I have been judged.  In evaluation of others I have learned that NOTHING is what you might perceive it to be. Unless you live in the situation, you are not correct in what is really going on. A lesson I am learning every time I have either been judged or heard judgment of others or have judged others. Only God knows first hand the dynamics of people’s pain or life. Really, we are just suppose to love and if we think we should correct what we see, then I encourage you to hesitate before you do, as you just might find yourself facing the pain of someone’s perception on your own life and those repercussions hurt. I know.

If I have judged or perceived something about someone else, I am sorry. Since being crushed by perception, I relent in this action and only hope that I remember just how much it has hurt me.

Perception: an attitude or understanding based on what is observed or thought.

Think before you judge—it might just come back and judge you.

Point of 'VIEWS'--(viewing)

IT was Friday--January 6, 2012. Although I am retired from doing hair, I still keep my hands in 4 little ladies hair, every week, on Friday. (Wish sometimes that wasn’t so, but I am here to serve the widows.) The simple joy of doing these women is ONLY that they keep me entertained at their idiosyncrasies. They are all in their late 70’s and one of them is 81 and I have done her hair for 20 years. I got to admit, I don’t love the fact that they dominate every single Friday that I am in town, but that is my fault. When I spoil, I do it well. And they are also good to me.

Yesterday was a Friday, and I sit writing this on Saturday morning after looking down at my calendar of events since the week is over. Not sure why I am writing about these women, but it’s on my mind so I thought it was the perfect scenario seeing that I am all alone in my office and it’s too cold to walk my dog, I am reminded for whatever reason, that I had a full week with “people”. My joy, my ministry, my love and my life…..people.

A funeral was brought up in our conversation with two of the ladies who were in my “Steal Magnolia fashioned” Salon, located in my basement. One of the ladies had just been to the funeral the day prior. The other lady, who also knew the deceased, expressed her intolerance for funerals and opted to go to the viewing instead.

This is where the conversation got cleverly awkward and tricky.

“Well, I just can’t do funerals.” One said. She continues; “I cannot even stand the thought of people starring at me, and what about all that horrible makeup “they” put on her, it was AWEFUL!”

“I didn’t think she looked that bad;” the one in my styling chair said while rolling her eyes at me in the mirror.

“She looked dark and dreary; she didn’t even look like herself, it was so bad.” the other said.

“She looked like Sherri to me.” The one in my chair said.

“Well, all I know is this; I do not want people looking at me when I die, I mean it.” she said

I thought to myself; you aren’t going to have a choice when you are dead. I almost voiced it, but kept it to myself and let them have this conversation. 

They continued talking about FUNERALS. The one sitting behind me says; “Holly, all I could think about while I was viewing Sherri, was how good you made Jo look. Remember when I went with you to do her hair and makeup for her funeral?” She asked. I nodded. 
“She looked so pretty.” She adds. “But I still don’t want people looking at me!” the opinionated  goes on to say. 

The other one says; “It’s closure for most people.”

“Well, I don’t care, I am going to tell my daughter she better not allow people to look at me, and I mean it! She better just leave the casket closed and then just bury me!” She profoundly expressed.

I finally said; “And why are we having this conversation about death?”

This went on for a few more minutes, the one sitting behind me wouldn’t stop, while I was styling the other, she just kept expressing negative and contrary comments and I cannot even form the verbiage to explain those dynamics. But I felt  it was now my turn to pipe in.

I said; “Can I tell you a story about my sister Mary Ellen, when my daddy died?” They both got quiet and the one that was in my styling chair said; “sure, go ahead.”

I looked at the one behind me, through the mirror to make sure she was done speaking. She was not sure she was done with her words, but she saw my sincerity and became still long enough to hear what I had to say. I began to talk.

I pulled away from the styling chair for a few seconds and I began to tell them that when my daddy was very sick and dying, things began to get chaotic and hectic during the end of his sickness and ultimate death. The abolishing feeling after his death was so horrific that there was little peace for my sisters and for me, although I handle death and sicknesses very differently than they do. I became strong during this time, very resilient.

I stepped back toward the chair to continue styling and said; "It was my mom and I along side daddy in his final hours. Mary Ellen could barely visit ICU. Though very reluctant she did.
I felt the last of his dying pulse and I was also there at the morgue to make sure he looked good and most of all, looked like himself, for the viewing."

Devastated at the loss of Mary Ellen’s sole employer and best friend for more than 26 years, she silently could not pull it together during this horrific time. Rhonda was a complete wreck too, and Dawne, the oldest, recluses from it all until she knew to come out. People just handle things differently. I am the youngest of us four girls and I'm different and particularly during daddy's death.

So, I was at the church for the wake/viewing, waiting for my sisters and my mom to get there. I had just walked away from the casket for the countless number of times. I just adjusted daddy's jacket and took notice of every detail while he lay there. I even re-combed his hair, one more time. I stared at our empty vessel that we all loved and adored.

There was Mary Ellen standing reluctant, at the doorway of the entrance to the church's auditorium. This venue was the place where she had spent countless hours with our preacher daddy, and she just stood there, waiting. Though I knew she would appear to be the strongest outwardly, she was completely torn up on the inside. (She is a year older than me, but I was always her confidant, as if our ages were reversed.)

I met her at the threshold. She expressed to me with fearless anxiety and with her hand up by her mouth she whispers; “I have been such a wreck and then I looked down there and saw daddy and I thought; oh, good, daddy’s here.”

Those are words I will never forget as long as I live.

The very presence of daddy's physical form was waiting to say good bye to his little girls, and waiting for us to say good-bye to him. 

Funerals are not for the dead, they are for the living. "Though our pagan ways are not always acceptable to everyone, it is profoundly a way to let go, once and for all"-- as I spoke with passion to my two ladies, who were now staring at me.

I went on to say my daddy always said; “Put me in a box and put me in the ground, because he didn’t care about all the hoopla. But the hoopla is not for the dead, but for us."

I wouldn’t ever have wanted my sister Mary Ellen to miss the opportunity to feel the peace she felt when the entire world around her as she knew it was completely catastrophic, and yet, there his peaceful body lay. It eased her."

“We’ve got to allow people to say good-bye. It might actually be the only way for others to let go.” I said.

The one in my styling chair said;"I agree"..... with subtle tears in her eyes.”

"ALL IS WELL IN 2012"

I found a prophecy written (and typed) dated October 21, 1996 by my daddy. The very first line of the verbiage says this: “For surely I am raising up a people who will stand in this generation.”

Monday night, January 2, I hosted yet another “Tribal Bible Study” in my home. The words which I kept using during my time with these 13 women was this; “Bridge the Gap between the past and the present.” What does that mean, you might ask? Well, all I can tell you is that during my preparation and time of study, I know I heard deep in my Spirit this voice which kept telling me; ENTER IN. Enter into what I thought? Enter in and bridge the gap.

There are symbolic numbers in the Bible which are defined various ways, like the number for God is 1 and the number for man is 6 and the number for Entering in is 12. I believe this ‘voice’ I heard, was not simply for me, but for you the reader. ENTER into that place that you have always talked about going, but never did and Enter into that step of faith that keeps calling you and stop listening to the doubt that has so dominated your life for so long.

Where are you supposed to go? What are you suppose to do? Only you can and will know the answer to that question. My question to you is this; “Will you fall back on that desire or challenge, or will you press forward and accomplish the very thing that has haunted you for too long?” This is 2012, a time to Enter In.

When I found the piece of paper from my daddy, written 10 years and 6 months and 15 days prior to his death (I’m not that great at math, so I could be off a little—he died May 9^th 2006) I noticed the same nudge I am challenging you with, was also challenging me. The very next line of his written prophecy was this; “A people who will be called by my name, who will stand in marriage, in the home and church, through the good times and the bad.” I thought, well that doesn’t apply to Entering In, that applies to personal ministry and personal behavior. Well then I must tell you what the very next line says; “And I am calling for a people that will be a bold witness and will tell the World that Jesus Christ is Lord in every situation!”

It applies. It applies to all who desire to be used mightily in their lives, this year.

Entering In for 2012 truly means to Enter In to the place that will bring glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. “For I say, that a covenant must be kept,” was another line of his written words. I began to feel a little more certain now, about this being applicable to my life, today. In fact, prophecy is always applicable or the Word of God is void. Isaiah the prophet is still a guide. I love to read and acknowledge his words and they are thousands and thousands of years old. This prophetic Word from my anointed preacher daddy is as vital to my life as Isaiah saying I am a sharp sword ready to be taken from Gods quiver. (Emphasis mine Isaiah 49:2) I never doubted those words almost 4 years ago when I began teaching in my home. Why would I think that the ‘nudge’ in my Spirit is any different today than the nudge I felt when I read Isaiah’s words to begin to teach and become a sharp arrow which will pierce into the hearts of many who will be brought into my home? I won’t. I will not doubt what I know the voice of my prophetic daddy will say to me, though the words are dated now sixteen years later. I won’t.
“And those who refuse to be covenant keepers will not embrace the move of My Spirit.” Wow, now those words pierced me. I want more than anything to be covenant keeper to God, as He is a greater covenant keeper to me.
Eight years ago, I found myself standing in a NEW ENTRANCE. I had just walked away from a life of surviving solely on what my natural ability was able to produce through being a hairdresser and I was three months newly married. Many of my former 23 years I wanted to change the course of my life, but knew I could not do so because the bills still had to be paid. The last 10 of those years I was single after my marriage of 9 years ended. So, here I stood at a bridge, now gapped.
All during my ‘single life’ I kept asking God to please allow me to enter into another marriage. He ultimately answered my plea, possibly when HE knew I would keep the covenant I promised. I know this to be true for me personally; I cannot speak for others who have been divorced. I know that He asked me to truly consider HIS covenant with me and this time to make it more about HIM. I have kept that promise now for eight years. (moving into 9) He is keeping his covenant with me—He always does, even when in my past I did not. “Bridge the Gap.”
At the ENTRANCE of that eight years ago threshold, I determined to live this life of marriage and ministry and covenant differently than I ever challenged myself before. I could share my accolades of various things which I have accomplished, but that would only give glory to me, not God, and bore you. But I will say this, I wrote and published two books and only God could know that was a life long desire.
Two more lines of daddy’s words said this; “For they will find that there is no one to be married to in the earth. And there is no one to be yoked with in the earth. And my example was sent from heaven unto the earth, I made a covenant with PEOPLE.” I thought to myself; you sure did, God. And then I kept reading; “I did not discriminate, I chose to take all.” And now, I am very certain He is not only talking to me, but to YOU. What is He asking you to do?
Deeper—further lines in the prophecy, still; “And you have heard it said and it is truth, it is not the words that you say, it’s the life that you live that is lasting example.” Oh, God, you really are talking to us!

What is God asking you to do this year? Fourteen lines from the bottom of the prophecy of my daddy’s say this; “And I say to you, determine that you are going to keep a covenant. For a covenant is Holy in the house of God. And if you do not keep covenant in the house of God, how can you expect to receive the benefits of the covenant that the Lord your God has given unto you when you refuse the example of covenant that has been given?”
I told my husband, 8 years ago that I was supposed to do ministry for the Lord and for the sake of the call which is to declare that Jesus Christ did in fact die for me and for you. You might ask; what is the ministry or the call? It is the very thing that NUDGES you every single day that you have yet to yield to. I know you hear it. I know I heard it daily while living single and on my own. For me, marriage was the first ministry God entrusted me with and second was the church. I am faithful to both. Thirdly and definitely not last and not least, he is calling me to “be a bold witness that will tell the world that Jesus Christ is Lord in every situation.” I wonder daily what that might be comprised of, but I cannot question the details, only ENTER IN to the doors that are before me.
The last line of this prophecy is this; “and they shall walk with boldness through the earth, and they will do signs and wonders and miracles and nothing good will be withheld from them! For, they shall say that my God is Jesus and He is my Lord. Hallelujah!”
Joshua 1:6 says; Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."
I’m going, will you?

"Cashmere Christmas"

The Lord spoke to me very simple and yet complex today. I was digging through my desk and searching through books and found an old add for Cashmere cologne, which was stuck in the back of the book. Then I began to think of the word which defines Cashmere.

Cashmere is very expensive wool which is found in sweaters and also pants and jackets. I looked up the word Cashmere and what caught my attention was the fact that it is wool from a Himalayan goat. This began to penetrate into my thoughts. Himalayan goats; I thought, “what Lord?”

This is where the Holy Spirit began to speak to me and this is what I would like to share with you:

Every month I support a Nepali pastor and I have for a very long time; possibly 7 years. My sister Rhonda and brother in law David are missionaries to the 'armpit' of Nepal, which is Nepalgung, Nepal. I know that through the stories of my sister Rhonda and especially the story of her making history, by stepping foot on uncharted territory back several years ago, while in particular tribe in Nepal, my sister saw and experienced the value a goat. (A cashmere hind footed treasure--is the way I see them.)

After visiting this village and then returning a year later, Rhonda saw a little girl with mud all over her face and body and she was walking toward my sister. Because of the language barrier the little girl and her ‘cute’ little goat led my sister back around this small child's shack house. In a cage, she points to show my sister. In the cage were many more baby goats. (In Nepal this is very rare and quite a gift)

The little girl was talking to her, but only because of the interpreter she heard these words. “Every since you came for the first time and walked into our village, our goats have been giving birth to triplets!” I thought, now that is CASHMERE! (My sister along with many supporters have purchased many goats for the people of Nepalgung and various poverty stricken places in Nepal.)

We might need cologne and or want it, but the voice of the Lord will be heard many ways and I know that this morning he told me that "somebody on the other side of the World needs resources and provision, from you Holly."

With that story in my mind, I saw two things through the voice of the Lord. First of all I am not going to question God about the complexity of finding the old Cashmere cologne advertisement (which I have never bought) and simply see it as a ‘hint’ from the Lord as to what I am going to purchase for Christmas. No, I am not going to buy Cashmere Cologne which is possibly $85.00 for a 3.4 oz spray; I am going to buy a Cashmere goat.

There are many needs and desires and ideas for so many things this Christmas and I believe with my whole heart that the Lord is nudging me to keep in mind what HE sees as important. It’s the need which is important, whatever the need may be. Much like the words of my daddy; “See the need do the deed”—I hear the same voice, only this time it came through a Cashmere advertisement. I hear.

A goat is $150.00 and much like the CASHMERE wool, that is a high price, but I figured the Lord wants me to see this cashmere gift as one that will provide a family with milk and or meat for food on their table and if they are fortunate a female that can provide babies to sell which will aid in other families provision as well as just one. I am not plugging GOATS FOR NEPAL, though I am sure they would not be turned down, I am only stating the fact that if you have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying, you will hear what He is saying!

Jesus said; “Those who have ears to hear let him hear.” Mark 4:9

Keep your ears open this season and remember that though it seems “high priced” what does it actually cost you.

How much is a STARBUCKS coffee? Just give up a few coffees and see what it could buy someone else who needs possibly………a goat or even a coat…and it doesn’t have to be cashmere!

 Just food for thought as we go into Christmas! Christ is the reason for the season! You could actually make this a Cashmere Christmas--for someone else!

I look forward to sharing this Holiday season with all of you as we face many events—parties—challenges—studies—gift ideas and so much more. But, whatever is on your calendar as we finish out this year, remember you could be the deed for a very important need. Be blessed—bless others and remember you are A GIFT!