Out of the Valley

Hi Pearls for Pigs Blog Family,

It has been a while since I’ve blogged. Not because I haven’t desired to, but because for the past year and a half I have been trying to balance my life, after losing my husband to bladder cancer in 2016.

Having fought cancer with my husband for almost every year of my seven-year marriage, I realize what it is to be in the valley. As a Christian, the term “valley” is a common one, it usually describes some kind of trial, and a word read throughout the Bible. However, no one really embraces it while in the mist of it.

Yet, if you are in the valley today, I want to encourage you that there is good news! Although things are rough now, you are in a good place because in the valley God is close!

Yes, you read that correctly. I’ll rewrite it, “in the valley, God is close!”

Even more so, you have a lot to look forward to! Why do I believe that, you ask? Because the Bible gives many examples of the benefits of the valley and the process of RESTORATION!

Yes! You, my friend, are going through to be brought into your GREATER! Look at Hosea chapter 2.

God considered Israel to be adulterous, putting all of their faith in everything, but Him. Are you guilty of that? Living the good life, and then forgetting about God until the trial comes?

God told the prophet Hosea that the Israelites were putting on their earrings and jewelry getting dressed up for their lovers, but forgetting about Him (Hosea 2:13).

Wow! How often do we do this? We give everything and everyone our time, but God. Forgetting who our source and prosperity truly comes from.

But even though the Israelites were guilty of this, God allowed them to go through a wilderness season. He called it the Valley of Achor (trouble) to restore them back to Him.

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her,
and bring her into the wilderness,
and speak tenderly to her.
And there I will give her her vineyards
and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.
And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth,
as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.”

God brought them to, not to condemn them, but to give them hope. A hope that can’t be denied, and can’t be satisfied by any other gods we put before the one and only true God.

In the valley we may lose our hope, joy, provision, and become unfruitful from all the grieve we feel, but one thing is for certain God’s mercy endures forever!

If you are in a rough place right now, God is still with you. He’s close…comforting you and trying to restore you to right relationship with Him so that you may prosper and grow from this experience.

Yes, it may be painful and almost unbearable. Believe me I know, but there should be a comfort in knowing that God has good plans for you. Plans to restore you, to help you, to give you a new joy, provide for you, and give you more than you could have ever imagined both physically and spiritually.

God is not done with you yet, and you will be the last one laughing! I look forward to encouraging you more and writing again.

With Love!

God can change your situation in seconds…

It’s been a while since I’ve written. My life has had some pretty hard turns since the last post you’ve read. For those that are familiar with my blog, you know that my husband is battling Stage 4 Bladder Cancer that has spread to his lungs, and one day before Thanksgiving we found out it spread to his liver. To say that my family was devastated is an understatement because we were expecting a good report.

We just had a CT scan which revealed that the tumors in his pelvic area were shrinking and the ones in his lungs were as well. However, they showed two dense spots on the liver that they wanted to check. Yet, they didn’t believe the cancer had spread because they said it was rare to see shrinkage in one area and growth in another area. My husband had gained all of his weight back and he looked really good. We were unprepared for a bad report.

But something amazing happened the next day….

When we woke up, my youngest boy (who is ten) said to me and my husband, “you know what I am most thankful for?” I asked, “What?” He said, “You guys’ strength!” And then all three boys began to tell us what they were thankful for. It was in that moment that I realized the power of prayer and the faithfulness that God continues to show our family. We celebrated our Thanksgiving with smiles, laughter, family, and fun.

We decided as a family that we aren’t going to allow the doctor’s report to dictate what we believe for our lives. As I sought to encourage myself, I was lead to 2 Kings 7. It is a wonderful story about God changing things in a matter of hours!

In the story, Israel was in a war and famine. The king sought Elisha for a Word. Elisha told the king that this time tomorrow food will be selling for one piece of silver (2 Kings 7:1). The king’s officer found it hard to believe because of what things looked like. He said, “That couldn’t happen even if the LORD opened the windows of heaven!” (2 Kings 7:2, NLT) Elisha reinforced that the Word will definitely come to pass, and the officer will see it, but he will not be able to eat any of it.

The chapter goes on to talk about four men with leprosy that were outside of Israel’s gates. They assumed that their fate was death and were waiting at the gates to die. In their eyes they had one of two choices- to starve to death or to turn themselves into the enemy who was planning a war with Israel. They decided to do the later and turn themselves in to the Aramean army, whom the city was at war with (2 King 7:4).

As they prepared to go into the enemy’s camp, God was working behind the scenes. God caused the Aramean’s to hear horses and chariots coming. Because of this, they fled for their lives and left all of their goods and belongings (2 Kings 7:6).

When the lepers arrived the camp was deserted and an abundance of food, gold, silver, and goods were left behind. They were EXCITED and began to enjoy the spoils. As they were celebrating, they realized their blessings were too good to keep to themselves so they went to share it with Israel and the King. And it just so happen that things occurred just as Elisha said it would, at that time the next day food sold for a piece of silver, and the king’s officer didn’t eat any of it because he was trampled by the stampede of people trying to get to the goods at the gate (2 Kings 7:8-17).

What’s the moral of the story?

The moral is GOD CAN CHANGE YOUR SITUATION AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT! It didn’t look as if the end was going to be well for the four lepers or Israel, but God was working behind the scenes to bring His Word to pass!

What has God spoken over your life? Has He given you a Word for your situation, but things don’t look like they’re going to work out that way? Remind Him of His Word and believe! The Word of the Lord is SURE and it MUST come to pass! Don’t be like the king’s officer and miss out on the blessing because of doubt.

Things didn’t look good for the lepers. They tried to make their own way, but God had a plan for them.

I believe that God has a plan for you too; a plan to prosper you, not to harm you, and a plan to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

God gave our family a right now Word from a prophet none of us knew. He called my husband by name (in which we never gave) and told us that God is going to do a miracle in my husband. Everything around us looks different from that Word; in fact, things get worse with every report, but we have a choice. We can believe the doctor’s report, or we can believe God’s report.

WE BELIEVE GOD! Will you?

No More Delay!

Hey Readers!

Have you ever felt like God wasn’t listening to your prayers? Well, so did Job! In Job 21, he talked with some of his very insightful, but completely off based friends, about the incredible storm he was in, and he says to them his problem is not with man, but with God!

Woe! What a thing to profess. In fact, he said in verse 5-6 that it even stunned and scared him to say such a thing. His complaint was that the wicked seemed to prosper, while he suffered enormously.

In preparing for my first sermon in a few weeks, I heard the Holy Spirit saying that many people’s hearts felt the exact same way. You wondered where was God at in your situation? Why has he not answered my prayers, while everyone who has no reference for Him seems to prosper?

God indeed has an answer! It has always been his answer. Are you ready for it? “Those who accept my commands and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and REVEAL myself to each of them.”(John 14:21, NLT)

Regardless of what you may be going through, if you have a relationship with God, He will reveal Himself to you and you are not alone!

You may be saying, that you are loosing heart because you have been waiting so long. My answer to that is, prayer is hard work for those who are broken. When the answer seems delayed, it hurts and we can lose confidence; which can cause us to question the power of our prayers.

However, prayer is powerful, and the enemies strategy is to cause you to doubt what God said is true. There is a story in the Bible that exemplifies what we must do in situations like this. BE PERSISTENT!

Parable of the Persistent Widow:

“And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:1-8, KJV)

If an unjust judge can render a just decision, than cant our caring and loving Father react to our persistent faith? God will reveal himself to those who love Him, and Yes! He WILL show up for you!

Reveal in the Greek is emphazino…. Emphazino= is a verb that means fully manifest. It is future tense, voice is active, and mood is indicative. It occurs 814 times in the New Testament (verb).

Future tense= certain occurrence of an event which has not yet happened (faith).

Active voice= represents the subject as the doer or performer of the action.

Mood indicative= simple statement of fact. If an action really occurs, has occurred, or will occur it will be rendered in that mood.

Jesus is the ultimate means through which God reveals Himself! According to the definitions above, Jesus is certain to show up, He will perform the action you ask for (you just have to give it to Him), and that is just fact!

In other words…Jesus is the conduit through which God will reveal himself and He is THE PROMISE!  We can’t be deceived by what Jesus says, so if He said it, than it is fact (as mentioned above) therefore what Jesus reveals to us is the promise, and the promise is received by faith! (Romans 5:16, NLT)

God hears your cries, and He hurts just like you do. The Bible says “in all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.” (Isaiah 63:9, KJV)

The difference between that judge and our judge is that God is not annoyed by our request, nor is He waiting for someone to get on His nerves before He brings about justice.

“And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He [a]defer them and [b]delay help on their behalf?” (Luke 18:7, AMP)

You can receive the promise!

God’s promise is for you, even if you mess up sometimes. “If God’s promise is only for those who obey the law, then faith is not necessary and the promise is pointless.”(Romans 5:14,NLT)

it is our gift and only obtained by faith. “Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith.” (Romans 3:27, NLT)

Therefore, be encouraged and don’t lose faith in what you are believing God for. Faith brings joy, loosing heart brings despair. There is greater for you, and you WILL have it. Be persistent and watch God reveal His glory in your life!

It’s OK, you can sit there….

David asked, “Is there anyone still left of the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” (2 Samuel 9:11, NIV)

 

How often do you have people approach you with the desire to just do something nice for you? In today’s society, it’s rare that people want to do something good to bless another person because they can. But that’s exactly what God wants to do for us today.

So often as Christian’s we allow our insecurities to disqualify us from God’s love and gifts because we feel like He isn’t getting what he deserves in return; however, like King David, our Heavenly Father desires to show us kindness, not because of anything we’ve done, but because of his covenant agreement with us through His Son.

The story of Mephibosheth is a great example of how God wants to bless us in spite of our flaws.

In the scripture, King David had been fleeing from Saul for quite some time. He learned that his good friend Jonathan (Saul’s son) and his enemy Saul died, and he was looking for any descendants of Saul to honor his promise to Johnathan; which was that he would be kind to Jonathan’s family after he died due to Jonathan’s loyalty to him. So, he finds Mephibosheth (Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson).

There was something unique about Mephibosheth. He was crippled; lame in two feet after being dropped by his nurse as a baby. You could imagine how he felt at this time…learning that his father was dead, his grandfather was dead, and his right to the kingdom was gone. As a person with a disability, and an heir of a family that tried to harm King David, he probably felt unworthy to receive any kindness from King David.  But despite his thoughts towards himself, David saw him worthy of blessing.

King David’s favor on Mephibosheth’s life was based solely on the promise that David made to his Father, Jonathan.

When Mephibosheth came out of hiding, and answered King David’s call to come to the King’s court, he was blessed tremendously! He was given all of the land his grandfather owned for him and his son, and he was given Saul’s servant and his servant’s family (which consisted of 15 sturdy young men, and 20 servants) to help him maintain the land so that his family could eat. However, as for Him, King David said, he was to eat at His Table (the King’s Table) every day from that day forward!

David saw past what Mephibosheth’s grandfather did, he only remembered what his father, Jonathan did! And because of what his father did, he blessed him.

God, just like David, see’s past what your family (or you for that, matter has done), and He still blesses you! Not because of what you did, but because of what He has already done for you as your Father through the blood of His Son!

For nothing in return, Mephibosheth was given a seat at the King’s table and his family was provided for. He wasn’t even a part of the conversation that led him to this blessing…all he had to do was receive it all!

You may be wondering right now, how can God bless a sinner like me?

Well, the answer is simple…because He loves you! Do you think that David, or anyone, at the King’s table notices Mephibosheth’s crippled legs when he sat down daily to eat? NO! All that concerned David was that he adhered to his promise.

God has promised you, and I, a seat at the table when we accept His Son. All we have to do is receive the blessing.

 

God wants to deliver, provide, heal, and care for you and you don’t have to be this great person to receive it. He see’s taht your crippled in certain areas, but that’s not his concern. Just as King David sent Mephibosheth servants, God will send you help in those areas. All He cares about is the promise!

Won’t you receive His gift today? Jesus is the promise, and He is waiting to bring God’s blessing to you.

Trust God!

It has been a while since I’ve written. Some blog post ago, I wrote about some of the trials I have been going through with my husband battling bladder cancer. After fighting several months for a PET Scan approval, we finally got it, and they wanted to remove the bladder; AND that they found a small mass in the lungs that they wanted to biopsy, in which the CAT Scan did not pick up. 

 

Before my mind could absorb this new information, my body just began to shake, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe. My flesh was saying enough! But my spirit began to cry out to God and call on the name of Jesus. I told God, I know you never give us more than you can bear, but my flesh is saying it can’t take anymore. I began to remember that faith is trusting in God when you don’t know the outcome. 

 

I prayed and declared the doctor’s would find nothing wrong with my husband’s lungs and this battle was about to be over!

The great thing about this time is the growth you gain through adversity. It is amazing how God’s spirit will carry you and help you walk His Word out in your life. 

 

He gave us a great support system, and one of those people sent us a link to a song called “He is with Us!” by Love and the Outcome. The lyrics say this:

Remember when your hope is lost and faith is shaken
Remember when you wonder if you’re gonna make it
There’s a hand stretched out through your deepest doubt
We can’t pretend to see the ending or what’s coming up ahead
To know the story of tomorrow
But we can stay close to the One who knows

We can trust our God
He knows what He’s doing
Though it might hurt now
We won’t be ruined
It might seem there’s an ocean in between
But He’s holding on to you and me
And He’s never gonna leave, no
He is with us, He is with us
Always, always
He is with us, He is with us
Always

We believe there is purpose, there is meaning in everything
We surrender to His leading
He wants nothing more than to have us close

We can trust our God
He knows what He’s doing
Though it might hurt now
We won’t be ruined
It might seem there’s an ocean in between
But He’s holding on to you and me
And He’s never gonna leave, no
He is with us, He is with us
Always, always
He is with us, He is with us
Always

Our faith is sealed
Our hope is real
Come what may
We’re not afraid
Our faith is sealed
Our hope is real
Come what may
We’re not afraid
We’re not afraid

We can trust our God
Always, always
We can trust our God
Always, always

We can trust our God
He knows what He’s doing
Though it might hurt now
We won’t be ruined
It might seem there’s an ocean in between
But He’s holding on to you and me
And He’s never gonna leave, no
He is with us, He is with us
Always, always
He is with us, He is with us
Always, always
He is with us, He is with us
Always, always
He is with us, He is with us
Always
Our God is with us

 

I was truly encouraged by the words of this song because it reminded me of who was with me, and who ultimately is in control. 

 

I don’t know where life has taken you right now, what storms your battling, or the obstacles you have to face; but if you are going through right now, let God carry you and listen to the words of this song. 

I had to come to the point of surrendering… my will… my thoughts… my reason for His will, His thoughts, and His purpose! It all works out for the good for those who love the Lord and are according to His purpose! If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ into your heart as your Lord and savior, and live your life for Him, then that scripture holds true for you and I. 

Trust God! He is with you!

God is Mindful of You!

” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am ready to perform My word.” They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you, “says the Lord, “to deliver you.”” (Jeremiah 1:12 & 19)

It had been one of those weeks where I was being woken up out of my sleep every night for going on two weeks now. I was pleading with God asking Him why am I up. I knew in my spirit an attack was brewing. On the seventh day, I was led to Jeremiah 1:12 & 19. I would soon find out, why my spirit was troubled.

My husband had victoriously battled bladder cancer on three different occasions, and he was due for a follow-up. He had been experiencing discomfort and frequent urinating so we wanted to find out what was at the root of the issue. Originally, the doctor said that everything was clear. Then a few weeks later, he said that he saw an “irritation” on the bladder lining that he wanted to biopsy.

The devil was busy. When we went to have the biopsy done the doctor politely informed us that the “irritation” was a pretty big growth and he had other concerns.

His follow-up appointment after his biopsy Monday was today. The doctor had a worse report than before and all these bad “assumptions” of what he thought things would be; but as he spoke I rebuked and cast down his words because I don’t believe his report, I believe God’s report!

I just choose to believe God even when it looks bad! I refused to allow the enemy an ounce of room to corrupt my thoughts with his vain imaginations!

As we left the office, we could have been down; but we were silently thinking on our victory in our minds, when the Holy Spirit told me to look at my phone. I had a call from a business connection I made weeks ago and I was led to return the call. When I called, he said my husband dropped in his heart heavily 30 minutes ago and that God impressed this scripture on him heavily…

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) He told my husband, I don’t know you, but God has shown me that you have been such a support and have brought hope to so many people, but now you are going to reap the rewards of the hope you have brought to others for yourself!

Then God brought him to “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” (Psalms 91:1, NIV) And he said he saw a burning, scorching, sun; but when he looked he saw nothing but shade over my husband. He said you may be walking through the fire, but you will not be burned!! He then said, God loves you and is so mindful of you!

Then he began to pray a prayer that was so AMAZING, and he prayed it to the point of tears! We were so extremely blessed by this moment that I was inspired to write and testify of God’s goodness!

Why?

Because someone needs to know that God is an on time God! Look at how He thinks towards us…to send a right now Word through a stranger at a time like this. How much more will God do for you?!?

We know God’s got this! I need you to know that He has you too, and that you are not JUST a conqueror, but you are MORE than conqueror.

God is mindful of you! He knows what you are going through, and He has gone before you. Believe Him and take Him at His Word. God is able!

Can’t see the forest for the fire?

“But the Godly will flourish like Palm trees and grow strong like the cedars of Labanon.” (Psalms 92:12, LAP)

Have you ever been at the point where it seemed like the world was on your shoulders? Where your chest is tight from anticipation and your mind is crowded from thoughts? No matter how hard you try to focus and activate your faith you just can’t see the forest from all the fires in front of you.

Well, I reached that point last week. It seemed like all of a sudden I felt the overwhelming pressures of the challenges around me. As the president of H.O.P.E, Inc., not only was it my financial responsibility to provide for my family; but it is now also my responsibility to provide for five other families depending on the financial help of H.O.P.E, Inc. to survive. Then, there is the weight of ministry, were the constant need to be in position was hovering over me like a cloud, and the responsibility of covering others in the mist of my own storm wore heavy upon me like a pile of wet towels.  And I can’t forget my duties as a wife & mother, caring for my husband as he battles cancer, being a rock for him during treatments while feeling neglected myself, and being that nurturer for my sons who look forward to mommy’s affirmation every day when I needed my spirit affirmed in the plans and purpose of God.

It had appeared that everyone around me was prospering, but I was standing still. I could not see the forest for all of the fires around me.   

But I learned something long ago as a child, I learned to pray and take my burdens to Jesus. When I was in sixth grade it was this girl that was a fair weather friend. She would choose which day of the week she wanted to be my friend (for no apparent reason at all), but me being a gullible, kind-hearted little girl wanting to please everyone; I would go home take out my pink children’s bible, that my grandmother gave me, and cry out to God. I would pray every night that she would be my “friend” again until she made up with me. God was teaching me then to P.U.S.H (pray until something happens).

“For just as sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort flows.” (2 Corinthians 1:5, LAP)

I’ve had many things spoken over my life and my purpose, but because of all the obstacles, setbacks, and tribulations my vision has been clouded many days and again…

I could not see the forest for the fire.  

Some of the fires I caused myself for getting in God’s way, and some of the fires God allowed; strengthening me to be who I am today. They were roaring & waging fires that I had to deal with in my life. When I started this blog post, I quoted Psalms 92:12.  Why? Because I read in the Life Application Bible that Palm trees are known for their long life and cedars of Lebanon grew to be 120 feet tall and 30 feet round…meaning they were “upright, strong, and unmoved!”

As believers if we are to “flourish like Palm trees and grow strong like cedars of Labanon,” we have to place our faith strongly in God, for He alone gives strength and vitality! God, Himself, is “robed in majesty and armed with strength.” (Psalms 93:1, LAP)

If God is for you, who can be against you? And if God is with you, who can stand against you! You are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus!

So, if you are blinded by disappointment and you can’t seem to see the forest for the fires in your life activate your faith and place your faith in what you know God to be capable of doing! His word says, He will not disappoint you and you will not be put to shame.

See beyond the flames because they who are in Christ Jesus will “flourish in the courts of our God!” (Psalms 92:13, LAP)