Outlast Your Challenges

Hello All, I heard this really great message at a conference and wanted to share this with you all. The enemy has been attacking me lately and I know that he has been attacking you all! Know that when the enemy is attacking you, that means the trouble he is giving you is a manifestation of what God is about to do in your life! Look at your troubles in a new way such as a hint. Believe that you are doing right because God is sending the manifestation but he is waiting for patience, trust, and a good attitude throughout the process!

Just because Jesus declared victory doesn’t mean we don't have challenges! Outlast your challenges with a mindset of victory! In order to outlast challenges you MUST have confidence! Meanwhile you’re waiting for the manifestation of the promises so you must PERSERVERE!!! Cheerfully endure the challenges and trials and be joyful while you endure!! Don't look at the future because each day has challenges of its own. Just ask God for your daily bread because that is the only thing that will get you through. You need to be at a church that is progressive and not the opposite. Find something that is teaching you! God has called you to be committed. Stay committed where God has you. If He wants you to move He will tell you CLEARLY!! If you practice confidence and perseverance, your manifestation will come and outlast your trouble. Stay persistent with God and he will be persistent with you. God keeps His promises and He will give you the confidence you need! Encounter wisdom and guidance. God will never exalt you before your enemies until you have the grace not to step on them! Think about it. God has plans for you that will blow your mind, but you must first develop your CONFIDENCE in CHRIST!!!

Know that God loves you no matter where you came from, where you went, or where you didn’t go. For your former shame God has given you beauty!!!

Love yourself Because God Loves you UNCONDITIONALLY!!!

-Amnoni

Letter To My Mom

Before, I was blind to your love. I couldn't see past all the chaos of our relationship. I see now that you have been here for me everyday, even before I was born. Only 20 years old with a little baby girl, you sacrificed more than I can even imagine. You had so much fear, but you only wanted more for me. The devil thought he could bring us down and we did give into his ways so many times. Through all of the fighting and all of the pain, the Lord was there, but I was hurting so bad I only cared about me.

But now, in this new season, the defenses and the brick walls that were between us are gone!! No more fighting each other. Instead, we are fighting together for God's glory!

The road will not always be easy, and at times we will want to give up, but there is no giving up and no going backwards! From now on we will only go forwards, day by day, one step at a time.

A year ago, I NEVER thought this is where we would be. I am in awe of our God and what he has done and is still doing in our lives! I really wanted to tell you how special you are to me and how blessed I am to be your daughter! I am thankful for every little thing that makes you, you!! I LOVE YOU MAMA!!

-Jessica

So Grateful

Today is a miracle - a day I never thought I would see but one I always dreamt would come. Today is a day God promised me when I was a little girl dreaming of a grown-up world, when my mind was reaching for a day when I would be happy and free. This is the day that was in my heart every moment that it bled uncontrollably, for my Daddy never forsakes His promises to His girl. I never realized what a journey it would take to get to this precious moment, the many dark valleys I would have to blindly maneuver through, or the more recent peaks that have brought such depth of gratitude to the God who redeems even the most hopeless.

Two years ago, I sat in the Stronger Conference at Abundant Life Church in Bradford, UK, a week into my time at Mercy. I wondered if I would ever find a life worth living. I watched a testimony on screen of a man who had overcome brokenness and found a life of hope and liberty. In the background of that piece, the song “When You Believe” played. At that very moment, I surrendered to God knowing that, one day, He would give me the desires of my heart at some unknown time in the future. He would restore all that was lost. God showed me that all things would be possible if I believed. Today is a day when something has been restored, when I am stepping into the life that I was robbed of and am now living in it completely.

This past week, I’ve been confronted with how easy it is to lose some of the passion for life that you can gain through a radical transformation. It is simple to take every day for granted and become apathetic to the wonder of life. Days flow monotonously after each other and those old fears, worries and doubts can creep in to make life something to battle rather than something to enjoy. Life becomes a case of muddling through and almost forgetting what freedom is as you get caught up in a world defined by self-image and achievement. Life is no longer about being; it’s about targets and chores. No more! I was created for a bigger purpose – to worship the God who cherishes me because I am me, and to live a bold, victorious life. Life is a blessing. Each breath that fills my lungs is a blessing, and no opportunities will be missed.

Today isn’t one that I’m going to overlook by letting fear control me. I can’t take this day for granted, nor the days that follow, because three years ago this could never have happened. I doubted I’d live to see my next birthday, let alone be able to achieve my dream of going to a university. How can I become complacent about this then? How can I allow miracles to pass me by on a momentary basis and refuse to be left in awe? Life is good. God is good. My future is good.

-Joy

It's okay, when you see me, to take a second glance...

You see me now and have to look twice to verify my appearance. What? You don't think I look the same? Oh, well, you're right, I don't look the same. Why? Because...

...I am a new creation in Christ!

My life has been completely transformed and I walk in freedom!

Yes, I have a past BUT it does not dictate my future!

I've been through many trials and temptations BUT wouldn't change them for a minute because they have only made me stronger and more determined to live the life God has planned for me!

I am full of life, love, compassion, and peace! I am a servant of the Most High, and my value and worth is not based on what others think of me, say about me, or do to me!

I am redeemed! I have grasped who I am in Christ and no one can take that away from me!

I am called and equipped to bring glory and honor to His name!

I will not be labeled by any medical professional because I choose to live, not as a victim to the diagnosis put on me in the past, BUT as a victor labeled by my Heavenly Father as set apart, beloved, chosen one, daughter of the King, blessed, and forever changed!

I am no longer bound to a death wish BUT am alive in Christ!

It's okay when you see me to take a second glance because I'm not who I was when you first met me. I am now who I was called to be. I just had to choose to accept freedom and live in it!

-Lindsay

Dearest Daughter of Mine:

I am all you need. I am your breath. I am your life. I am your best friend. I am your counselor. I am your guide. I am your comfort. I am your love. I am your song. I am your joy. I am your creator. I am your purpose. I am your strength. I am your hope. I am your freedom. I am your shoulder. I am your hug. I am your smile. I am your wisdom. I am your laughter. I am your peace. I am your calm. I am your healing. I am your light. I am yours.

I am with you in the storms. I am with you in the pain. I am with you in the hurt. I am with you in the shame. I am with you in guilt. I am with you in loneliness. I am with you in rain. I am with you in weakness. I am with you in grief. I am with you in tears. I am with you in sickness. I am with you in sadness. I am with you in darkness. I am with you in corruption. I am with you in fear. I am with you in confusion. I am with you in suffering. I am with you.

You are my joy. You are my creation. You are my love. You are my hands. You are my heart. You are my smile. You are my words. You are my chosen. You are my friend. You are my fragrance. You are my light. You are my beloved. You are mine.

I don't bring the pain, but I am with you in it. I don't bring the storms, but I can show you the way to overcome them. I don't bring the sickness, but I can heal you. I don't bring the circumstances, but I am with you in all of them. I don't bring the destruction, but I can build restoration. I don't bring the tears, but I gladly wipe them away. I don't author the confusion, but I bring clarity.

You are mine. Your story belongs to me. You are my dearly loved creation, and I want nothing more than to shower you with blessings. You were created to worship and honor me in all you do. I am proud of you. I love you more than the stars. I love you more today than yesterday. I love you more every minute I see you live. I love you more every second you take a breath. I love you.

Always and forever,

Your Father and King

-Tamara

Songs of the Night

"Blessed are those whose strength is in you...As they pass through the valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs."
Ps. 84:5-6

I have been through the valley of weeping
The valley of sorrow and pain,
But the God of all comfort was with me,
At hand to uphold and sustain

As the earth needs the clouds and sunshine,
Our souls need both sorrow and joy,
So He places us oft in the furnace,
The dross from the gold to destroy.

When He leads through some valley of trouble,
His omnipotent hand we trace;
For the trials and sorrows that come our way,
Are part of His lesson in grace.

Oft we run from the purging and the pruning,
Forgetting the Gardener knows
That the deeper the cutting and trimming,
The richer the cluster that grows.

Well He knows that affliction is needed;
He has wise purpose in view,
And in the dark valley He whispers,
Soon you'll understand what I do.

As we travel through life's shadowed valley,
Fresh springs of His love ever rise,
And we learn that our sorrows and losses,
Are blessings just sent in disguise

So we'll follow wherever He leads us,
Let the path be dreary or bright;
For we've proved that our God can give comfort;
Our God can give songs in the night.

-Crystal

Yesterday Was One Year

Recently I celebrated one year since I entered Mercy Ministries of America in Nashville, Tennessee. I look at where I was a year ago, no, not where, but who I was, and I am astonished. Jesus has done so much in and for me! One year ago, I was a scared, stressed, depressed, angry, hurt little girl who felt fifty, not fifteen. The other day, my dad told me that a year ago was "the beginning of the end." It really was!

During my time at Mercy, it didn't take long for Jesus to totally convict my heart. Within two weeks, I was on my knees begging that He would help me. He did! To my complete and utter astonishment, Jesus was helping me. I started to trust Him. I started to have faith. I started to believe that freedom was possible, that even though I was damaged and bruised I could be healed. I learned to believe that I was loved, that I was worthy of healthy relationships, and that I wasn't a horrible person. After many tears and prayers, I finally believed Psalm 139.

I am now free. No longer am I tormented by the mirror, or the scars, or food. Jesus broke off the chains! Halleluiah hollaback! I fell in love. I fell completely, totally, utterly, irrevocably, heels over head, in love. I fell in love with the Bright and Morning Star, with the King of the Universe, with the Ancient of Days, with the Living God. I fell in love with Jesus, and I've never looked back.

Am I perfect? No, not at all. I am a sinner, but His grace is enough. I look at who I was and who I am now, and the only thing I can do is to look at Jesus and say thank you. He's the only reason I'm alive. He's the only thing that matters.

-Sarah