I was enrolled in Westwood College online. I was going for my Bachelor's of Science Degree in Graphic/Web Design and had been in attendance for 3 years. . . I took a couple of terms off b/c of the passing of my precious Brother-n-law Bobby, then we had other deaths in the family and unforeseen things going on (the enemy), that really got to me. I had tried to be sooo strong for my sister and be there for her after she lost her husband, and I wanted her to be OK, so I did whatever I could to make sure it would be OK for her. We'll, I crashed and crashed BIG-time! It was just too much on me tryin to be there for her and make things as OK as I possibly could, then on top of bein' there for Charlie as we were ALL suffering from losing him, along with other family and close friends ( we lost like 5 people within a 6 month period).
It took it's tolled on me. . . that nasty lying enemy got his claws into me and tried to get me down. We'll , it worked for a time. He got me into a depressed state. So bad, that I didn't want to get out of bed in the morning. I looked forward to NOTHING! I had to DRAG myself outta bed in the morning, IF I managed to get up at all. Now yes, I have suffered with depression before, actually several times. ( ALL from satan and trying to get me down and keep me down), so bad that I have been suicidal before (something I AM not PROUD of, but something that I can't forget!) I have forgiven myself and God HAS forgiven me as I asked for HIS forgiveness. I have also suffered from panic/anxiety attacks, to the point that I thought I was havin' a heart attack on numerous occasions. NOT fun whatsoever!! I have been diagnosed with clinical depression as well as being bi-polar, with anxiety disorder and panic attacks. (By the way, I am going some place with all of this - IT'S a testimony ppl!!) I have been on medication for many years; antidepressants, anxiety meds, mood stabilizers, and the latest was pain meds for my back and neck. I was sooo medicated at one time, that I did not know what was going on hardly! Anyway, I'm here to tell you that although I am NOT completely off ALL of the meds, I am NOT taking as much as the doctor or the bottle SAYS to take, PRAISE GOD! I do NOT take an antidepressants at all! I do NOT take a mood stabilizer whatsoever! I do still take a pain med but not what the doctor prescribed, I do not need the whole amount. I do still take Kolonipin for anxiety but again, not what is prescribed. Thank YOU LORD!! And I truly believe AND envision myself totally medication free and SOON! Including the meds that I am on for high cholesterol and for my heart - the blood pressure meds that keep my heart beating regular.
Now, this is bout the time that I met my wonderful, anointed Woman of God, Jennifer Mills, whom later, I would call my mentor and my sister - who would start a ministering page for us ladies of God, called Rubies in the Sand, and also received her minister's certificate to become a Pastor! During the time that I was right in the middle of my depressive state. I knew God, but I wasn't as close to Him as I had been before and as close as I knew that I could be, should be and that He wanted me to be. I had been begging Him to help me, but you see, God is moved by faith. And although I did have a small amount of faith, I was not using my faith to receive my healing. I was talking death and curses, not life and Blessing. I did NOT Have this; Colossians 1:4
For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God’s consecrated ones), . So while I may have believe I was healed, I spoke that I was sick and depressed daily. She helped me so much, even right from the start! I met her on Facebook, where I have met so many of my friends, Sisters and Brothers. I had happened across her page (NO, You don't happen across anything - that was a God thing!) He led me to her as He knew I needed her; needed her guidance, her love, her advice and her counseling. And He was right. . . He knows what He is doing at ALL times, so don't ever let anyone tell you that He doesn't! Anyway, I was soaking up everything that I could from Sis Jenn, as much as I could with the way my memory and my concentration was at that moment anyway. She was hosting teaching sessions on God and how we needed to learn to choose and speak life and Blessing, not death and curses. How we needed to speak into existence what we wanted; healing, prosperity, happiness, joy, peace and to not be moved by what we seen or heard, or what the circumstances looked like - to keep speaking life and positive things and the Word of God over our situation. You better believe that I was EATING it ALL up like a sponge soaking up water! I SO wanted what my Sister in Christ had and I was willing to go to any lengths to get it!
Now, I have to admit that I was learning to speak life and Blessings and NOT the death and curses. I wanted what my Sisters in Christ had and I was doing all I could to get there, even though I was still depressed and it didn't seem like it was getting any better. I continued speaking God's Word over myself and my situation. I watched BVOV everyday. . . I tried to start my morning's out with Kenneth Copeland. I watched the Healing School that Gloria Copeland taught over and over again. I prayed for my whole, complete healing. I believed that I received my healing and I TOOK my healing. I CLAIMED my healing! I took it and claimed it AFTER I believed for it and received it - you HAVE to receive whatever you are wanting after you believe for it! Then, you have to stand. . . STAND for your healing, for whatever you are believing God for, regardless of what the situation says or the circumstances look like, or what you're body is saying or what anyone is saying - you say what the Word of God says and you keep saying it. Stand for it and speak it out of your mouth! You do this daily, hourly is necessary until you have whatever it is you have been standing and believing for. That is what I was doing. However, I started to doubt. . . I wasn't really seeing any results. You know how you want something, then you add God into the situation, knowing or believing who He is and you think that you should have the results right then, right at that moment. However, as I mentioned before, God just doesn't work that way. He is moved by Faith. Yes, there have been situation's where He moved and it was a pure case of the person either not believing because they weren't a believer or where they couldn't believe and He did His miracle. But for the most part, God moves by your faith - even if it's only the faith of a mustard seed as seen here in scripture; Matthew 17:20
Now, I have to admit that I was learning to speak life and Blessings and NOT the death and curses. I wanted what my Sisters in Christ had and I was doing all I could to get there, even though I was still depressed and it didn't seem like it was getting any better. I continued speaking God's Word over myself and my situation. I watched BVOV everyday. . . I tried to start my morning's out with Kenneth Copeland. I watched the Healing School that Gloria Copeland taught over and over again. I prayed for my whole, complete healing. I believed that I received my healing and I TOOK my healing. I CLAIMED my healing! I took it and claimed it AFTER I believed for it and received it - you HAVE to receive whatever you are wanting after you believe for it! Then, you have to stand. . . STAND for your healing, for whatever you are believing God for, regardless of what the situation says or the circumstances look like, or what you're body is saying or what anyone is saying - you say what the Word of God says and you keep saying it. Stand for it and speak it out of your mouth! You do this daily, hourly is necessary until you have whatever it is you have been standing and believing for. That is what I was doing. However, I started to doubt. . . I wasn't really seeing any results. You know how you want something, then you add God into the situation, knowing or believing who He is and you think that you should have the results right then, right at that moment. However, as I mentioned before, God just doesn't work that way. He is moved by Faith. Yes, there have been situation's where He moved and it was a pure case of the person either not believing because they weren't a believer or where they couldn't believe and He did His miracle. But for the most part, God moves by your faith - even if it's only the faith of a mustard seed as seen here in scripture; Matthew 17:20
He said to them, Because of the littleness of your faith [that is, your lack of firmly relying trust]. For truly I say to you, if you have faith [that is living] like a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, Move from here to yonder place, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.
So see, just because I didn't see those results right away or see myself getting better as fast as I thought it should happen - I mean, heck we are dealing with God himself, He should be able to do whatever He wants to right then and there. He MOVES by faith. The more faith we have and develop the more we will see Him move! I waivered though. I wasn't seeing the results I thought I should and I waivered and started to doubt. This is where the enemy steps in, or tries to. Once he gets you to doubt, by telling you lies that he is famous for, such as, "hey, you aren't healing. He isn't healing you. Are you seeing any results?" then he tries to get you to doubt more by telling you more lies and enticing you with the terrible things he has to offer. It's a trick, DO NOT listen to him and his lies. The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. He does not want you to stand in your faith and believe for your healing in that situation and will tell you whatever he has to to get you to doubt. Once he gets you to doubt, he will move in for the kill. BUT, that is when even though we may have doubted (God understands and knows that we will doubt now and then), we get our Bible and the Word of God and we speak the Word of God over ourselves and our situations - regardless of how much we may have doubted or waivered. We pick up where we left off and just hand in there, keep speaking His Word and standing on His promises for ourselves and our lives. And it will get better!
At times, the miracle or healing does happen instantaneously, but usually we have to stand. . . standing is how we show God our Heavenly Father, that we have faith. That we have the faith to stand and we will continue standing for what He has for us, regardless of what the situation or circumstance says. If we we're given everything we wanted or everything that God promised us when we wanted it, there would be no need to have faith, now would there? Our faith and our speaking the thing into existence is what pulls the healing or miracle of what you are standing for, from the super-natural realm into the material realm. Because once you asked, believe, receive and claim whatever it is you are praying for, it is yours! It is done as soon as you ask for it - you just have to believe for it, receive it and then be ready to stand for it until it is materialized into this natural world. You do not know of what takes place in the super-natural for you to have what you have asked for. That is another reason why at times you have to stand longer than usual. You have to declare a thing (we will get more into this at a later time - as your faith grows, you learn more and are more open minded about something) Matthew 18 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be [e]what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be [f]what is already permitted in heaven. You have to pray and speak the Word of God. . . you cannot pray for something that does not line up with the Word. But healing does line up with His Word. Jesus bore all of our sicknesses and diseases so we could be healed as it is written according to Psalm 103:1-5
At times, the miracle or healing does happen instantaneously, but usually we have to stand. . . standing is how we show God our Heavenly Father, that we have faith. That we have the faith to stand and we will continue standing for what He has for us, regardless of what the situation or circumstance says. If we we're given everything we wanted or everything that God promised us when we wanted it, there would be no need to have faith, now would there? Our faith and our speaking the thing into existence is what pulls the healing or miracle of what you are standing for, from the super-natural realm into the material realm. Because once you asked, believe, receive and claim whatever it is you are praying for, it is yours! It is done as soon as you ask for it - you just have to believe for it, receive it and then be ready to stand for it until it is materialized into this natural world. You do not know of what takes place in the super-natural for you to have what you have asked for. That is another reason why at times you have to stand longer than usual. You have to declare a thing (we will get more into this at a later time - as your faith grows, you learn more and are more open minded about something) Matthew 18 18 Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be [e]what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be [f]what is already permitted in heaven. You have to pray and speak the Word of God. . . you cannot pray for something that does not line up with the Word. But healing does line up with His Word. Jesus bore all of our sicknesses and diseases so we could be healed as it is written according to Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—
3 Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;
5 Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!
Do you see these wonderful promises here! Oh glory to God! How could is possibly get any better than this!? Now to get back to my doubting. I jumped right back into His Word and I quoted and prayed these healing scriptures over myself EVERY single day and night! It did not matter if I woke up sick in the morning. I just rebuked satan and told him to take whatever he was tryin' to bring onto my body down the road to someone else, as I was NOT receiving it in Jesus' name! Now at times, you have to just buckle down and keep rebuking him, because he doesn't give up easily. . . especially if he sees that you are getting close to your breakthrough or if he sees how long you have been standing and he doesn't like that at all. I started watching every Christian channel I could and Word of Faith preachers were my favorite ones. I had everyone I knew praying for me and my wonderful Sister Jennifer Mills was praying in agreement with me. . . she even went so far as to write up a paper (I can't remember what it's called right at the moment, but will find out), but something about an agreement and oh yeah, a prayer of petition (thank you HOLY SPIRIT for bringing that to my remembrance!) She went to the trouble and all of the work to write up a prayer of petition for me, little ole me. I knew at that moment, that she REALLY cared and when she said that she loved me, I knew she meant it. It brought tears to my eyes. I found myself crying every single time that I read a message from her or talked to her on the phone, or when I wrote a message to her. After that prayer of petition was written and I had gone over it and read it and I prayed in agreement with it and her, things slowly started to change. First it was just little things; such as me not really minding if I got up or not, but it was a HUGE difference between that and absolutely NOT wanting to get up. Then in about a week, I started actually kind of wanting to get up. . . I looked forward to watching BVOV - I looked forward to something, WOW! Then I started hearing in my spirit small things. . . I had no idea what was going on, but I knew it was from God and His Holy Spirit. The more I started noticing things, the more things I started noticing. Then I watched Jerry Savelle and I loved him! He taught on the Favor of God. He said that we have to say about anything good, "That is the Favor of God!" and how the more we do it, the more it happens and the more we see it! How amazing, isn't it!? And it happened like that too. I started doing it and it worked. Now I have to admit at first, I forgot to do it all the time. But I soon learned that I have to remember things, so I wrote EVERYTHING down. I read that paper every morning. Here is a list of scriptures that I prayed and read every day over myself and my family; Psalm 103:1-5, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:4-5 are the healing scriptures. Then there are the other scriptures that I learned to pray over myself and my family for protection, Favor. I said about anything, "more grace!" I thanked God for His Great Grace and peace, I thanked Him for His Favor. I thanked Him for His Blessings; for THE BLESSING. I just thanked Him for everything. Also, whatever I was asking Him for in prayed, I thanked Him for in advance. We have to learn to thank Him for everything; whether it's what He just Blessed us with, what He has done in the past, or recent past, or if it's something we have prayed for and are believing Him for. Thankfulness is gratefulness and we must be grateful at all times - with thanksgiving, giving Him praise for everything and for everyone of His Blessings. (I know I've kinda gotten off track here, but evidently this is something that the Holy Spirit has led me to share so someone must have needed this - I will get back to what I was tryin' to say, lol, soon, I promise!)
Do you see these wonderful promises here! Oh glory to God! How could is possibly get any better than this!? Now to get back to my doubting. I jumped right back into His Word and I quoted and prayed these healing scriptures over myself EVERY single day and night! It did not matter if I woke up sick in the morning. I just rebuked satan and told him to take whatever he was tryin' to bring onto my body down the road to someone else, as I was NOT receiving it in Jesus' name! Now at times, you have to just buckle down and keep rebuking him, because he doesn't give up easily. . . especially if he sees that you are getting close to your breakthrough or if he sees how long you have been standing and he doesn't like that at all. I started watching every Christian channel I could and Word of Faith preachers were my favorite ones. I had everyone I knew praying for me and my wonderful Sister Jennifer Mills was praying in agreement with me. . . she even went so far as to write up a paper (I can't remember what it's called right at the moment, but will find out), but something about an agreement and oh yeah, a prayer of petition (thank you HOLY SPIRIT for bringing that to my remembrance!) She went to the trouble and all of the work to write up a prayer of petition for me, little ole me. I knew at that moment, that she REALLY cared and when she said that she loved me, I knew she meant it. It brought tears to my eyes. I found myself crying every single time that I read a message from her or talked to her on the phone, or when I wrote a message to her. After that prayer of petition was written and I had gone over it and read it and I prayed in agreement with it and her, things slowly started to change. First it was just little things; such as me not really minding if I got up or not, but it was a HUGE difference between that and absolutely NOT wanting to get up. Then in about a week, I started actually kind of wanting to get up. . . I looked forward to watching BVOV - I looked forward to something, WOW! Then I started hearing in my spirit small things. . . I had no idea what was going on, but I knew it was from God and His Holy Spirit. The more I started noticing things, the more things I started noticing. Then I watched Jerry Savelle and I loved him! He taught on the Favor of God. He said that we have to say about anything good, "That is the Favor of God!" and how the more we do it, the more it happens and the more we see it! How amazing, isn't it!? And it happened like that too. I started doing it and it worked. Now I have to admit at first, I forgot to do it all the time. But I soon learned that I have to remember things, so I wrote EVERYTHING down. I read that paper every morning. Here is a list of scriptures that I prayed and read every day over myself and my family; Psalm 103:1-5, 1 Peter 2:24, Isaiah 53:4-5 are the healing scriptures. Then there are the other scriptures that I learned to pray over myself and my family for protection, Favor. I said about anything, "more grace!" I thanked God for His Great Grace and peace, I thanked Him for His Favor. I thanked Him for His Blessings; for THE BLESSING. I just thanked Him for everything. Also, whatever I was asking Him for in prayed, I thanked Him for in advance. We have to learn to thank Him for everything; whether it's what He just Blessed us with, what He has done in the past, or recent past, or if it's something we have prayed for and are believing Him for. Thankfulness is gratefulness and we must be grateful at all times - with thanksgiving, giving Him praise for everything and for everyone of His Blessings. (I know I've kinda gotten off track here, but evidently this is something that the Holy Spirit has led me to share so someone must have needed this - I will get back to what I was tryin' to say, lol, soon, I promise!)
"This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success." Joshua 1:8
Psalm 103
[A Psalm] of David.
1 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—
3 Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;
5 Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!
As He has done so for me, He shall also do for you! I have been healed! I AM the healed! I AM the righteousness of God, in Christ Jesus. As it is written; I am wise, I am well, I am healed, I am Blessed in the Name of Jesus Christ! He has healed me and made me whole; He has set me free! And who has been set free, is FREE indeed! I seen the changes, slowly at first, then more and more. At first I didn't pay much attention to them as they were that small in changes. But then I started noticing more and more and the more I noticed, the more things began to change more so, for the good. The more they changed, the more I praised God, sang His praises, thanked Him and continued to do what I had been doing for so long it seemed; standing on His Word and His promises of healing, prosperity, happiness, joy, peace, etc. ALL of the Blessings that are written in His Word! The more I stood in faith, the more things began to look better and be better.
Romans 8:28
28 We are assured and know that [[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.
And He does work for good to and for those who love Him. Something to think about and remember at all times.
o as I was getting better, I kept quoting " that's the favor of God!" over and over every time something happened. God healed me and He is still working on me and I give Him ALL the glory honor and praise and will continue to do so. Which brings me to the main reason I am here tonight. . . His Great Grace and Favor. As I mentioned, I was in school At Westwood and had been for quite some time. . . as a matter of fact, I only needed two more terms to earning my Bachelors Degree - Bachelors of Science degree. That is when satan attacked with all that depression and health problems that God delivered me from - that Jesus died on the cross for. Anywho, I got withdrew from school for not posting in my discussion posts in two weeks because I couldn't bring myself to get outta bed. I thought, "wow, all that hard work and time, not to mention money on student loans, ALL of it just down the drain for nothing - nothing at all to show for it. We'll, I was pretty down about that and down on myself. I was about to go into default on my student loans ( you have to start paying them back six months after you are outta school). When one Saturday morning I was up early as I had started getting up and watching BVOV and the phone rang. I saw it was the school and almost didn't answer it thinking that they were reminding me about my upcoming payments. But something stepped in and told me to go ahead and talk to them. I am glad that I did (Btw, that was the Holy Spirit prompting me to do what I was supposed to do -answer that phone call). This new lady told me they had decided to call and see if I had finished school or something. She proceeded to tell me they had a new plan to have everyone get their associates degree first then go for Bachelors. Long story short, I found all I had to do was sign up for my financial aid again and get back into school and I could have my Associates in two terms! I was so excited, you just don't know! I started back to school on May 29th 2013 with the determination of I don't know what. But I do know that I had God on my side and that was all that mattered.
I had just got settled in school during the first week, and my husband comes home and says, "I don't know what we are going to do. . . this job is about done and no other job prospects in line". I told him not to worry, that something would come up. Sure enough, God heard my faith and He rewarded us with a phone call from a friend. He had a friend in Shreveport, LA where he lived that needed roofers. He was 40 jobs out and had stopped talking houses because he did not have the men or laborers to do them. An answer to our prayers! We called the guy and worked out the details; money, how many jobs, where, when and what etc. and set up a time to come down and meet with him. Long story short on this part, we are still here working these jobs with no end to them in the near future! Is God good or what!? He is just and faithful! We have been here since the 3rd of June and it's now the 16th of August. Not only did he get us jobs, but he rented us an amazing duplex that is so big and beautiful too! And he gave us a discount. So now we don't have to pay those expensive motels bills each week which saves us money. We still have our home back home, but it's been put on hold while we are here working. However, there was a price to pay by coming down here when we did and having to stay in motels for the first month. I didn't always have internet access which my school work suffered from. Again. long story short here, I ended up failing my courses because of lack of internet access and I was supposed to have passed all of my courses since I had re-entered school. Again. ALL of that hard work, money, time and my excitement down the drain for nothing. I hate to admit it, but I was pretty angry with Charles over this. . . he had promised me internet and he did not follow through on that promise. I was hurt, angry, upset all rolled into one. I didn't talk about it except the one thing I said when I first found out and he knew how I felt. I did however go to God about it. He heard my cry and plea for help and AGAIN, He lavished His Favor and Great Grace upon me! I am sooo overwhelmed, which is why I am telling you of HIS Favor and GREAT GRACE and that it can be yours too!! As I declare and decree the Favor of God over myself and my family daily, His Favor showed up yesterday. Guess what!? I am back in school. I failed all three of my classes but they are changing the rules and letting me re-take them and I will still be able to earn my degree. How's that for amazing Grace and Favor from the Good Lord!? Genesis 26:3
Dwell temporarily in this land, and I will be with you and will favor you with blessings; for to you and to your descendants I will give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.
Thank You Father for Your Great Grace and Your Favor and ALL of Your Blessings!!
Thank You Father for Your Great Grace and Your Favor and ALL of Your Blessings!!
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears and listens to and heeds My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will eat with him, and he [will eat] with Me. Revelation 3:14,20 AMP
Copyright Patti Houston - The Lighted Path August 2013
All scriptures taken from The Amplified Bible unless otherwise noted.
@www.facebook.com/patti.houston @Be Set Free
All scriptures taken from The Amplified Bible unless otherwise noted.
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