Category: Hope

God, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

God is Preparing You for Great Things

We all have seasons in our lives. Spring is great, everything is growing and turning green. Winter just sucks in my book. I am not a snowbird. I don’t like cold. Everything is buried and dormant. Winter is a hard season – both in the natural and in the spiritual.

We have seasons in our faith walk too. There are times of growth where wer feel like we are on fire, and then other times when it seems like absolutely nothing is happening. This is normal.

We can’t base our faith on how we feel.

God is faithful and He promised never to leave us or forsake us.

So guess what? God is there whether we “feel” Him or not!

I love that! My feelings are pretty fickle. They come and go and change from day to day. Some days they just don’t make sense. I mean, I know God is with me and for me, but some days I feel like I fell off the turnip truck and missed my ride.

Those are the times, the dry seaosons, that I need to read the Word more and look for myself what God really says about preparing us for great things. His plans for us are so much better than what we could have dreamed up ourselves.

faith

God’s Word for You:

  • “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” – Phillipians 1:6 NKJV
  • “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,  while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NKJV
  • “Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
    Because His compassions fail not.
     They are new every morning;
    Great is Your faithfulness.
    “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,
    “Therefore I hope in Him!”” – Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV
  • “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

God is greater

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Anxiety, Healing, Hope, Life, Mental Illness, Religion and Spirituality, teens, Uncategorized

Mom-xiety – When You Don’t Know What is Going On and You Panic

It was a normal Saturday. Our teens were out doing their thing as my husband and I focused on house stuff – well and Netflix too. A great relaxing day. Then I texted one of my kids. Just checking in, mom stuff – you know. No answer. I brushed it off, no big deal.

Four hours later, I texted again. Still no answer. Another hour later – still no answer. That’s it – that was all my imagination needed to get off to the races. My anxiety started to rise. My heartbeat increased. My mind was going a thousand miles an hour.

What it they were kidnapped?

What if someone did something to them?

What if they are hurt and can’t call me?

What if they don’t want to talk to me?

What if they got a ticket and are in jail?

What if they are dead somewhere on the side of the road and can’t call?

Yeah, you know.

“Mom-xiety – when you don’t know what is going on and you panic.” – Diana Rasmussen

I busied myself most of the day. Then went to try to go to sleep. Texted again, still no worry and faithanswer. Well that was it – I was off to the races again. I couldn’t fall asleep. The pictures in my mind kept getting worse and worse.

Why do we always think the worst?

I was up every 2 hours last night, checking my phone. Not wanting to make a big deal, I didn’t call them or their friends. I thought about it though.

I could have hunted them down like an animal. I could have gotten in my car and went and made a fool of myself, I didn’t. I stayed home and worried. Yeah I prayed – “God you take care of them, so I don’t kill them for not getting back to me.”

I woke up early Sunday morning, 5:00 am. By 5:30 am I couldn’t take it anymore. I texted their friend. Still no answer. I was pacing the floor by this point. This Mom-xiety is awful!  I hate that feeling of being out of control and not knowing what is going on. That’s the truth.

It was about 7 when I got a text from my child. All was well. They had gone boating and had not brought their phone. I didn’t know wheter to laugh or cry from releif! I didn’t lose it and bite their head off. They were out living life and having fun, and being responsible. I was the nutcase yesterday.

Some days I have it together, and other days I just lose it. I wish I wasn’t so up and down. Anxiety sucks. Yeah, I take meds. Yeah, I pray. But when your heart is pounding out of your chest and your brian is a tornado and you can’t breath – then what?

Do I have faith. Yes I do.  Somedays, I guess I just forget to use it.

bible verses for anxiety

 

 

Bible Study, faith, God, Healing, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality, Women

12 Things Women Give Birth To – Mother’s Day 2018

Here are 12 things woment give bith to. It is the Word God have me to share at our Women’s Luncheon this year. God bless you!

FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

Copyright 2018 Diana Rasmussen

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Gal. 5:22-26 NKJV  

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A tree doesn’t have to work to make fruit. You don’t walk outside and hear an orange tree saying, “Uggggg, Ohhhhhh, give me an orange.” You don’t walk through an apple orchard and hear, “Noooooo, Ouchhhhhhh, Oh myyyyyyyyy, give me an apple.

Why?

Because that is what is was made to produce.

The fruit is already in the tree.

God made it that way.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV

Yes, the trees need water, they need sunlight, and soil. But the important thing is – they were already made to birth fruit!

I want you to think of a birthing suite. There is a special room, special Doctors and Nurses. A special place to bring a baby into the world. God is our father. We are his inheritance, We are His children. He will birth new things from Heaven to Earth – through us. We are God’s Birthing Suite.

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As women we were made to birth new things. Yes, we birth children, but God also created us to birth new ministries, new life, and new hope into those we touch. Do you remember your mothers touch? You would be sad or upset, and she would scoop you into her arms and hug you.  That love would drive out the sadness or the anger. It washed over you like waves until all you felt was good.

There is healing in our hands. God has given us the right and the authority to heal. A woman’s touch can change world!  As mothers of children and ministries and hope we carry within us the Healer, the Redeemer, the King of Kings. Sometimes it’s just a friend that needs someone to listen. Other times it’s a family in need of desperate prayer. Either way, God hears and answers our prayers.

DEFINITION OF BIRTH

• an act or instance of being born

• the emergence of a new individual from the body of its parent

• high or noble birth

• any coming into existence; origin; beginning

 

12 Things Women Give Birth To

1. Forgiveness

God calls us his Beloved. We are already loved and accepted by what Jesus did at the cross. We are forgiven god calls us to share that forgiveness with others. I remember when my mom was passing away. I was there in the hospital with her. She started bringing up things that she regretted. I stopped her. All I said was, “Mom, I forgive you. You did the best you could with what you had. I love you. And God forgives you too.” She started crying. Forgiveness is a powerful thing we birth into others. It has the power to break down walls and years of regret. Offer it generously.

2. Love

Women know how to love. God made us that way. We will go out of our way to help someone in need. We will sacrifice every day for our children and our families. We will love the lost. We love the broken. In fact, we are the first to get out the Band-Aids and antibiotic lotion. We will bandage up the broken. Do you remember when Jesus died and was buried in the tomb? It was the women that went to the tomb to anoint Him.

3. Hope

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV

God is the author of hope. His hope is our anchor. Our hope is not in ourselves, but in God! How can we go wrong when we place our hope in the hands of the Maker of Creation? He knows all things, can do all things, and will bring life to the dead! God will use that hope to spill on over to those we meet. Your hope in the middle of this crazy world is what will draw people to you like a magnet. The entire creation, even the Earth is groaning for HOPE!

4. Children

Do you remember when God decided to enter his creation as a man? He chose a woman to give Him birth. The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she became pregnant. God chose a woman to carry Him, to hold Him, to love him when he was a baby. He knew that a woman’s touch would help him grow and thrive. As women we have the ability to bear children. We also find ourselves caring for other people’s children. Heck, we usually adopt the whole neighborhood!

5. Peace

Have you noticed how women are peacemakers? Give a woman a few kids fighting and she will instinctively jump right in the middle of it and break it up. God made us that way. We crave peace. So do those around us. God gave us peace that surpasses all understanding, and we carry to those who we touch

6. Joy

God had given us joy unspeakable. Joy that bubbles up like rivers of living water from the depths of our being. There are times we laugh out loud at the smallest thing. That is the Joy of the Lord spilling over. Joy is contagious. Have you ever laughed uncontrollably and all of a sudden so is everyone else? That is what our God does. He delights in you my Princess. You are the apple of His eye and he adores you!

7. Ministries

God has a place for women in his Body the Church. Without women, it would be pretty dry out there! We are the water for a dry and weary land. We are the light bearers who go rescue those who are lost in the darkness. We are the hands of God to a lost and dying world.

8. New life

“Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer,
And He who formed you from the womb:
“I am the Lord, who makes all things,
Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;” – Isaiah 44:24 NKJV

God will use us to bring life to dead things. Have you noticed how a woman can take a run down old house and make it a home? We are resourceful. We use what we have. We are creative. God made us that way. We bring life to the dead, just like Jesus.

9. Faith

 “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”” – Matthew 21:21-22 NKJV

The faith we carry to those around us will open up the doors of Heaven over them. Our faith is contagious in a good way. When we bring God into the situation, we bring health, healing, hope, love, forgiveness, and new life!

10. Healing

“In that region there was an estate of the leading citizen of the island, whose name was Publius, who received us and entertained us courteously for three days. And it happened that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and dysentery. Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. So when this was done, the rest of those on the island who had diseases also came and were healed. They also honored us in many ways; and when we departed, they provided such things as were necessary.” – Act 28:7-10 NKJV.

As women of God there is healing in our hands. We carry in us this hope of Glory, Christ in us. Christ can touch people and heal them when we simply reach out and touch someone. God will do the healing. We can just lay hands on them and they shall recover, God promised!

11. Prayer

“ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6 NKJV

“Confess your trespasses[ to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” -James 5:16 NKJV

Our prayers move mountains. When we stumble and fall, there is a sister to pick us up. We carry each other’s burdens. We pray for one another. God answers our prayers.

12. Power

“For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:20-22 NKJV

God fills us with His power with the Holy Spirit. We have received a deposit. A precious deposit that guarantees our inheritance. It marks us as His.

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” – Ephesians 1;11-13 NKJV

To summarize, the fruit is already in you. God put it there.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another.” John 15:16-17 NKJV

You were give the power with Jesus to birth 12 new things into this world:

Forgiveness, Love, Hope, Children, Peace, Joy, Ministries, New Life, Faith, Healing, Prayer, and Power.

Now go on out there and share the love, and share the fruit, in Jesus Name!

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faith, God, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality, Women

God Did Not Save You to Tame You

You have passion. You have purpose. You were created for such a time as this.

‘God did not save you to take you.” – Lisa Bevere

God is the Author of passion. He is the Author is purpose. He put it in. You. Now what do you do with it?

I started reading Lisa Bevere’s book LIONESS ARISING. She has a wonderful way of opening up my eyes to the bigger picture. It’s not always about us and our little life. We were made to carry the light of God into the darkness. We are carriers of hope, and joy, and peace. We are created to bring change to our world.

What will you do with what God gave you?

I find myself asking myself the same question. Guess that’s why I’m reading the book, lol! I wish I could say I know why I am here and what I am supposed to be doing. Most days I feel like I am on autopilot doing my day to day stuff. It’s ok, but I know there has to be more than this. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for my life and my family. I am blessed. I love my life.

But there are Wind Whispers from God showing me there is more. There is a way more. I’m hungry, I’m thirsty. I want to see it!

Lord, give us a fresh revelation of your God story and how we can carry Your light and love into this fallen world.

Revelation 2:7

“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches. I’m about to call each conqueror to dinner. I’m spreading a banquet of Tree-of-Life fruit, a supper plucked from God’s orchard.”

faith, God, Hope, Music, Poetry, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

You Called My Name

It has been three years since I wrote or recorded a new song. Not sure why. Guess I just got stuck there for a while. Just working, living life, whatever. You know, life is what happens when you have other plans, lol! Anyway, the dam has burst open, and those living waters are flowing again! Here is. My latest song. Chords and melody yet to be determined. Might change it, you know, it’s a work in progress – just like me.

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” – Isaiah 49:15-16 NKJV

You Called My Name

-Copyright 2018 Diana Rasmussen-

You call me out of darkness, Into your marvelous light

Created to reflect your glory, holy, blessed and bright

You call me free and forgiven, I hear the falling chains

I thought I was dead, but now walk out of my grave

The moment you called my name

I see it on your palms engraved

My heart will never be the same since

The moment you called my name

Your anointing breaks the yoke, I’m no longer a slave to sin

With the weight of your Glory, spirit and freedom reigns

I’m not bound to this world or it’s troubles

You call me Chosen, Beloved, my King of all Kings

The moment you called my name

I see it on your palms engraved

My heart will never be the same since

The moment you called my name

You stand by my side, call me your child

Heal my heart hurts, wash off my dirt

Blessed by your Name, My life’s in Your hands

The moment you called my name

I see it on your palms engraved

My heart will never be the same since

The moment you called my name

faith, God, Hope, Music, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality, Worship

The Power of Harmony

There is power in harmony.  When everyone works together and does their part to contribute to the whole. I am blessed to be part of an amazing worship team. We have sang together for 8 years now.  It is so fun!

According to the Dictionary,

HARMONY is:

noun, plural harmonies.
1.agreement; accord; harmonious relations.
2.a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity.
3.Music.

  1. any simultaneous combination of tones.
  2. the simultaneous combination of tones, especially when blended into chords pleasing to the ear; chordal structure, as distinguished from melody and rhythm.
  3. the science of the structure, relations, and practical combination of chords.
  4. 4.an arrangement of the contents of the Gospels, either of all four or of the first three, designed to show their parallelism, mutual relations, and differences
worship 2
Our drummer Doug Anderson compiled this MP3 of some of our worship songs. Thanks Doug! We are blessed to sing four part harmony many times.
Being in a worship band is one of the best things ever. Using music to lead people in the presence of God and worship the King of Kings together. People get healed, tears fall, hearts are renewed, hope is reborn. I am so blessed to be able to sing with my husband and my friends. We are not professional musicians, we are just seekers who love to encounter a great God! It is an honor and a priviledge to lead people into the presence of God.  God inhabits the praise of all who seek Him.  Come and worship with us, no matter what country you are in!
I thought I would share with you today.  You can visit us at Janesville Apostolic Ministries in Janesville, WI. Or catch us on the web.
worship art
Source: valeriesjodin.com
JAM WORSHIP BAND
Here is an audio of us with Days of Elijah, Let God Arise, Reveation Song, You Great Name, and You Won’t Relent. Enjoy!
Bob Rasmussen – guitar and vocals
Carmen Hanson – vocals
Mike Lyle – vocals
Doug Anderson – drums and vocals
Diana Rasmussen – keyboard and vocals

JAM 4

Why We Worship

“One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
and inquire at His temple.”  (Psalm 27:4 NKJV)

We pray with one another aloud because the Bible tells us, “They lifted up their voice to God with one accord” (Acts 4:24)

We lift up our hands in worship because in the Bible it says, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.” (Psalm 134:2)

We sing because in the Bible it tells us to, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.” (Psalm 98:4)

We clap and shout unto our God because in the Bible we read, “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.” (Psalm 47:1)JAM

“Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.” (Psalm 150:4)

We play musical instruments because the Bible declares, “And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments”  (II Samuel 6:5)

We testify publicly of God’s goodness because in the Bible we read, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.” (Psalm 22:22)

JAM 3We anoint with oil for divine healing because the in the Bible we read, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:” (James 5:14)

We allow the operation of spiritual gifts because in the Bible we read, “When ye come together, everyone of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.” (I Corinthians 14:26)

(source: JAM worship page)

JAM 2

 

Bible Study, faith, God, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

Seeding Your Harvest

This study comes from my husband, Bob Rasmussen. He wrote it to share with our small group gathering.

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“Seeding Your Harvest”

Recently, we received a Word from the Lord on a Sunday, and one of those was that there is a new season upon us.

I thought about that a lot, a new season. Living in Wisconsin I naturally thought about growing season. We see fields that require tilling, planting, fertilizing, growth and harvest – – I thought how does that apply to us?

I know the Bible speaks of the harvest and the main scripture that comes to mind for me is:

Matthew 9:36-38

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. 37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; 38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

That scripture is familiar to me, but I started thinking what about the harvest in our own lives? I have always heard the “you reap what you sow” it seems like forever. To me that phrase is full of wisdom but can be negative or even scary.

If we look at the scripture in Galations 6:7-9

Galatians 6:7-9 King James Version (KJV)

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Sometimes, I like to look at translations and commentaries for others for clarity of the Word, and in doing so I found this from J.B. Phillips

The inevitability of life’s harvest

7-10 Don’t be under any illusion: you cannot make a fool of God! A man’s harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows. If he sows for his own lower nature his harvest will be the decay and death of his own nature. But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit. Let us not grow tired of doing good, for, unless we throw in our hand, the ultimate harvest is assured. Let us then do good to all men as opportunity offers, especially to those who belong to the Christian household.

As we think upon these things, I believe that every season we are in has a harvest, because we are alive, there is no winter – – He makes us alive! Even in our last season, the harvest of our life is salvation and eternal life, so every season from when we are born until we go home has a harvest!

The bible is clear there are seasons:

Ecc 3_1
from e-bay.com

Ecclesiastes 3 King James Version (KJV)

3 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. 12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life. 13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

“And enjoy the good of his labour” is what I want to focus on, specifically how it relates to Phillips “But if he sows for the Spirit he will reap the harvest of everlasting life by that Spirit.”

Circling back to the whole idea of a season being about growing, it comes down to the basics of growing. There is one requirement for any harvest of a crop – only one – seed. If there is no seed, there is no harvest. You can have sun, soil, rain, fertilizer but without seed – you have nothing.

In this new season that God has before us, I think we are tasked with planting the seed for the harvest of the season. But what does that even mean? How do we plant seeds in our lives to get a harvest? And where and how do you plant these seeds?

 

Before we go any further, what does it even mean to sow a seed?

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According to dictionary.com

SOW

  • verb (used with object), sowed, sown or sowed, sowing.
  • to scatter (seed) over land, earth, etc., for growth; plant.
  • to plant seed for: to sow a crop.
  • to scatter seed over (land, earth, etc.) for the purpose of growth.
  •  to implant, introduce, or promulgate; seek to propagate or extend; disseminate:
  • to sow distrust or dissension.
  • to strew or sprinkle with anything.

I think for us the best definition is “for the purpose of growth” – that is His plan. Jesus wants us to grow with Him, in Him, and through Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 New King James Version (NKJV)

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

However, I also think to “strew or sprinkle with anything” is something that should keep us vigilant. Like it or not, we are not the only ones that will plant seeds in our lives. We live in a fallen world, and whether it be the enemy, life in general, or more painfully, those in our own lives, they all can throw seed our way (or in our way).

Betrayal of a friendship, the death of a loved one, an untruth spoken against you, a marriage lost, health issues, or even a child lost – we did not plant these seeds. These are not good seeds – we did not put them there, but we cannot deny that they exist in ours field — which I mean is our heart. Perhaps there has been a time where we were just disappointed and that feeling we continue to carry throughout our season, and that hinders our harvest. Maybe, someone said something so hurtful or did something so painful to us that it continues to bubble up in our soul clouding our relationship with Jesus. What are we supposed to do with these seeds?

The answer that keeps coming back to me is plant more seed. Seeds of love, seeds of joy, seeds of forgiveness, seeds of God’s promises, seeds of hope. Being complacent we will not achieve victory – dwelling on that negative seed will bring harvest, but not a fruitful harvest. We need to seed our hearts with His Word, His Promises, and His Will. Ask, and He will guide us. Any seed planted by us will be greater than the seed thrown at us!

Going back to Galatians

8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

 

Application Lesson:

You will need a glass or pitcher of water, yellow and blue food coloring.

Sometimes for me, I need to see a practical example of scripture to help solidify a thought. So for a practical application I have water here representing our collective field (our heart) in our season. I would like you to add one drop of yellow food color for a seed that you have not planted – the painful or unwanted seed. You can speak it out or not. yellow.jpg

Now, speaking to the negative seed that you brought up, I would like you to add one drop of  blue food color for the seed of seed of LIFE you want to plant into your season.

blue and yellow

As you can see, that water is now green – representing a full harvest, and that seems to be what God is talking us about. That for every bad seed, the righteous and good seed that we plant is what will be what we reap – His Word declares it, so it must be true. Stand strong knowing that He has great plans for us! Be consistent and persistent in sowing the seed throughout all your seasons and He will bless all that we do – He wants us all to have great harvest.

green

Final thought

“Seeds dominate the earth. Earth does not dominate seed. You can plant seed into the earth, you can bury it in a dirt grave, but it, the seed will resurrect. The seed has dominion over the earth. It, the seed, will overcome what tries to bury it. The seed will break out, what is sown, will come forth. No matter how much dirt or fertilizer is thrown on you, it’ll just help grow your seed.” – Bev Tucker, Life Church

-Special Acknowledgement to Kevin Kringel for inspiration

harvest 3

 

daughters, Hope, Motivation, motivational, Quotes, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality, Women

15 Inspirational Quotes for Strong Women

We all know a strong woman. Someone who has stood up and fought despite all the drama and heartache that comes with life. There are women who carry eternity in their hearts and bring life to whatever they touch. I have been blessed to know many of them.

Strong women inspire us and give us hope and courage. They remind us why we are here and that God isn’t finished with us yet. Strong women give us encouragement and help us look forward instead of backwards. They listen and help us heal from all the past hurts. They help us brush the dust off, shake our ‘manes’ , and get back up. I love them all – my daughters, and granddaughter, my moms, my friends, my sisters, and my fellow bloggers. You are amazing!

15 Inspirational Quotes for Strong Women

  1. “She is clothed with strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future.” – Proverbs 31:25.
  2. “Women are like teabags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  3. “Knowing what must be done does away with fear.”- Rosa Parks
  4. “Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” – Maya Angelou
  5. “I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.” – Audrey Hepburn
  6. “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall
  7. “If I stop to kick every barking dog I am not going to get where I’m going.” – Jackie Joyner-Kersee
  8. “God is within her, she will not fall.” – Psalm 46:5 img_0068-1
  9. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
  10. “When we do the best we can, we never know what miracle is wrought in our life, or in the life of another.” – Helen Keller
  11. “And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.” – Mark Anthony
  12. In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.” —Margaret Thatcher
  13. “We are not held back by the love we didn’t receive in the past, but by the love we’re not extending in the present.” – Marianne Williamson.
  14. ‘When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me’. “– Erma Bombeck.
  15. “Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her.” – Luke 1:45

faith, God, Hope, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality, Word from the Lord

Called into a New Season – A Word from the Lord

Here is a Word that God delivered to us this past month at Janesville Apostolic Ministries. It blessed us all so much I wanted to share what Papa God said, to us and to you.  If you would like to listen, here is the MP3 with my husband Bob Rasmussen delivering the Word that God gave to us all:

fear not 2

 

My Beloved, My children, My loves,

I speak to you knowing the End from the Beginning. I speak to you knowing the End from the Beginning. First I want to speak to you the End that I see. The first ending I see is a NEW SEASON for you. The beginning is closing that season my love, but it’s time to step into the NEW SEASON. You know what I have placed upon your heart. You have asked me to do this for you. Step into it, but fear not for I will be with you. I love you, I have faith in you. Have faith in me that I can get you to this new season. Step and grow in me in this new season. REJOICE, the plans I have for your are great! Greater than you could ever imagine.

My love, my dearest love, I did not create this world of sorrow. That was not my plan. I hear your cries. I feel your pain.  I have prepared a place for you. There will be no more sorrow and no more pain. But here and now there is pain. And I see the End from the Beginning. And in the end, I see JOY!  I see JOY for you. So weep now, but trust in Me knowing that in the End it is JOY – no more tears, no more sorrow, no more pain.

My Beloved, one more thing. I see the End from the Beginning. There is that other thing that I have laid on your heart. The thing that you want to let go of but just can’t seem to want to. Today I release you. The End I see is FREEDOM. The Beginning is shackles falling.  I call them off in my own NAME because there is no other Name.

I love you. I call you HEALED, I call you FREE. I call you JOYFUL. I call you into this NEW SEASON for I am the LORD your God. I love you. I am with you.

 

plans2

 

Bible Study, faith, God, Healing, Hope, Psalms, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

Frame My World with Your Word

Here is a Bible Study I wrote for our weekly gathering. We are taking turns sharing what God is showing us in our lives and I was up. I did grab a few props – gotta have an application lesson in Ms. D’s class. That’s how we remember. I went to Hobby Lobby and went to the wood department. I found them, two 8 x 10 wood frames and a box of sharpies. That’s all I needed. More to be revealed… Teaching notes in ( ).

“For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23;7 NKJV

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.“ – Romans 12:2 NKJV

romans 12_2.jpg

Think of your home and your pictures. Do you have a wall you keep them on? Or do you put them in scrapbooks? Are they in frames on tables here and there? Are they on your phone? Think of the events and how each one brings to mind a special day. A day to remember. Are they of your friends? Your family? Your children? Your parents?

In each picture you are the same person, right? Only the time and circumstances have changed. Now take a step back, and look at the frame that it is in. Not the actual frame, but the frame of reference it was taken in. Were you younger, older? Who was with you? Why was this day important?

world.jpg

Let’s face it, times change. People change, we change. The frames in our lives change. We see ourselves differently depending on what we are looking at. Think of a old movie, frame by frame. Each frame tells a part of the whole story. Individually it may not look like much, but put them all together and it is a beautiful story.

What happens when we frame our world by our circumstances?

What happens when we frame ourselves by who is with us at the time?

What happens when we frame our worth with what others think?

What happens when we frame ourselves by what we do or don’t do?

We often frame our world with other things:

(Take frame number 1 and write all these words down in black sharpie on the frame itself)

  • School – What happens when school is over and all of a sudden you are not the popular kid anymore? Some people get stuck there, forever living in what they call the “glory days”. They close their life off to new opportunities because they are not the popular kid anymore.

 

  • Sports – What happens if you fumble the ball or lose the big game? We can’t all be the sports Heroes our whole lives. Many people just quit. Quit the game and quit trying at life.

 

  • Hobbies – What happens if you never finish that project? Many people get lost in their love of this, that, and the other thing. Living a life doing stuff, not really touching others or opening themselves up to give or receive love. Just lost in hobby land.

 

  • Work/Job/Title– What happens if you get laid off, to the company closes, or the job ends? Many people live their whole life saying I’m an XYZ. They define themselves by what they do for a living or by what Title they have. Jobs and Titles are temporary. Positions come and go.

 

  • Money – What happens if you get wiped out, of have a financial emergency? Even the best money managers run into problems. If your frame your world with money, it will crash. The love of money a root of all kinds of evil.

 

  • Appearance – What happens if you worship your body and your body doesn’t cooperate? Let’s face it, we all age here on planet Earth. Stuff happens. If we frame our world with what we look like, it will be disappointing. Aging is a part of life.

 

  • Relationships – What happens if the relationship/marriage ends? If we frame our world with our relationships it will be a bumpy ride. Relationships change, people change. We change.

 

  • Children – What happens when they grow up and move out? That empty nest syndrome is real. Many parents don’t know what to do with themselves after their kids leave the nest.

 

  • Houses, cars, stuff – What happens when catastrophe comes and you lose it? Are we really defined by what we accumulate? What the world defines as rich in this world is often poverty in the Kingdom of God. Idolatry is the worship of stuff, God doesn’t like that one bit.

 

  • Addiction – What happens if you see yourself as an XYZ forever? Didn’t God promise to deliver us and set us free? It may be hard to see yourself beyond an addiction. It may be difficult to see yourself as free. Renew our minds Lord Jesus.

 

  • Words of others – What happens when you get rejected, betrayed, or hurt? When we let others tell us who we are we give them our power. We let them play God. They are not our God. Just because someone says something doesn’t mean it’s true.

 

  • Sickness – What happens if you frame your world with sickness? When Jesus met the man at the pool He had one question, “Do you want to be well.?” There are people that like the attention that comes with illness. There are some that want a Dr. to tell them about their health and what to do next.

 

  • Past – What happens if you frame your world with your past? Can we ever move on to a new thing and let God move in our lives if we are living in yesterday? Many have become bitter instead of better. They have refused to forgive those who offended them and stay trapped living in the past. The root of bitterness grows and they wither in the Kingdom.

(Stop here, pass the frame around the room. Starting with yourself first, share with the group what you are struggling with. For me it was my past. It’s hard for me to see myself as free and strong instead of a victim.)

 What if we took those same pictures, those same circumstances, our same life and framed it with the Word of God?

(Turn frame number 1 over so it is blank again)

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.”- Hebrews 11:1-3 NKJV

 i am his

 

“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” – Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV

 

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.” – Colossians 1:15-20 NKJV

 

“For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

 As a father pities his children,

So the Lord pities those who fear Him.

For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.

 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more.

 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children’s children,

 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.” – Psalm 103:11-18 NKJV

 

psalm 103

 

“For You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother’s womb.

 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Marvelous are Your works,

And that my soul knows very well.

 My frame was not hidden from You,

When I was made in secret,

And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.

And in Your book they all were written,

The days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them.

 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God!

How great is the sum of them!

 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;

When I awake, I am still with You.” – Psalm 139:13-8 NKJV

 Let us frame our world with the Word of God.

identity

(Take the first frame, turn it over. Take the second frame. Let each person pick a colored sharpie. Pass the 2nd frame around the room and ask each person to pick a word from below that will help them overcome issue they are struggling with on the first frame. Ask them to get out their phones or Bibles and share a Bible verse that goes with that word. This is the verse they will hold on to this week)

The Word of God says we are:

  • Saved
  • Forgiven
  • Free
  • Redeemed
  • Blessed
  • Accepted
  • Born again
  • New
  • Citizen of Heaven
  • Royal Priesthood
  • Anointed
  • Sealed with the Spirit
  • Co-heirs with Christ
  • Appointed
  • Christ’s Ambassadors
  • Loved
  • Called
  • Chosen
  • Holy
  • Righteous
  • Secure
  • Friend
  • Beautiful
  • Justified
  • Sanctified
  • Reconciled
  • Righteous
  • Covered in Grace
  • Protected
  • Strong
  • Unique
  • Virtuous
  • Created for purpose
  • Victorious
  • Favored
  • A Masterpiece
  • Set apart
  • More than a Conqueror
  • Delivered

 Let us renew our minds and live from this place, in Jesus Name!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

faith, God, Hope, Life, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

Stand Strong in the Storms of Life

Life can be a storm sometimes. Sometimes it seems like storms come for no good reason. Life doesn’t always make sense. I have had one of those months. I had the flu and was out of work for 4 days. One of my kids was in an accident due to the winter road conditions and my truck got totaled. They were ok, thank God. God protects His kids, that’s for sure. But not the vehicle. Total loss is what they said. The GAP insurance I thought I had didn’t carry over when we changed insurance companies. Ouch. And hey, I just got a bill for the telephone pole that was broken in half, ugh… it’s been a month.

These are the times I have to stand strong and believe that God is with me during the storm, in the waves of trouble and turbulence. Just stand Diana, God knows, God sees, and He will make a way where there seems to be no way. One of my friends made a generous offer for us to buy her deceased husband’s truck. A man I played music with for over 10 years. She is such a blessing to me. My best friend, I love her.

These are the days I have to trust God and believe what He says, even if I don’t see it yet. Guess it’s time to use this faith muscle I have and trust God. I struggle with trust. I have been betrayed, cheated on, rejected…we all have. Trust is a choice. I have chosen to trust the wrong people in my past. I was so naive. I trusted everyone and got hurt. Time and wisdom teaches you to test the spirits. Not everyone should be trusted. There are a lot of liars out there.

But what about God? Truthfully, I am still learning to trust Him. It’s new. He is faithful, that is new. He is honest, that is new. He is truthful, that is new. Yeah, kinda blows my mind sometimes! I am learning to stand on His Word, just cause He said it.

What about you? How do you learn to trust God and stand strong?

Bible Verses About Standing Strong

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.” – Ephesians 6:11

“Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” -1 Peter 5:5-11 NKJV

“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love.” 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 NJKV

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV

“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” – Philippians 4:1 NKJV

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:19-25 NKJV

“But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:31 NKJV

God, Hope, Motivation, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality

You May Think You are a Nobody, but God Made You a Somebody

You may be like me. Feeling like a grain of sand of the beach. Buried in all the other grains of sand on the beach – feeling like a Nobody. But can I tell you, that is not who you are. God made you a Somebody. You matter. You have a purpose and a plan in this life.

Enlarge your vision. Like a pebble that makes waves when it hits the water, you are making a difference in the lives of those you touch. You matter. You were born for such a time as this. Your story is not over, God is not finished with you yet.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey of becoming. Your were made to give light and love to all you meet. You carry in you the hope of glory. You are a special treasure and the apple of God’s eye. Rest in who He says you are – beloved, treasured, loved, and chosen.