Month: September 2016

There is a lot of truth in the Word of God. Some of that truth we never read. Some of that truth we ignore. (AND…..insert pregnant pause) SOME truth, we hold others to a level of expectation that we don’t follow through with. James 5:16 (AMP) states the following:

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another [your false steps, your offenses], and pray for one another, that you may be healed and restored. The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) can accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God – it is dynamic and can have tremendous power].”

Sounds amazing when you are the one needing to confess. You want to call that confidant or prayer partner, or for some of us – the person who will listen most of the time, and lay your heart on their proverbial therapy couch. I would interject that you add some discernment to the person you choose to air out to. Proverbs 27:17 says iron sharpens iron, not aluminum sharpens iron. You’ll get that in your lunch time meditation. Let it develop….

Furthermore, when it is our turn to be the intercessor, some of us don’t conveniently have any time, even if you agree to pray for that person as they ask. Let’s do a heart check, we all fall short. This verse reminds us of a couple of R.N.A. (Right Now Applicables… because I love acronyms)

1. People confess to you for healing. Are you REALLY ready to be a block to that?
2. You may be confessing today, and listening tomorrow. Life happens in seconds.
3. The prayers of the RIGHTEOUS can accomplish much. Seems like this should spur us to want to be righteous. THOSE believers have power. THOSE believers can get a prayer through.
4. Prayer is a conversation with God. You talk AND listen.

I pray this stirs in your system as either confirmation, or correction. Be blessed!

Ivy Out

There is point in your life when you just stop making excuses

You look at things as they are without need to justify or defend

They are this way

This is not the way they will always be

My schedule will not always feel ridiculous because of school

One day it will be filled with busy good mornings

Prepped clothes and coffee mugs

It will be filled with the pitter patter of little feet

And the shuffling of slippers and dress shoes

One day… my day will be filled with family

So I will stop, now, complaining about a schedule that

Accepts no apologies

I will stop now, wondering when it will change

Because NOW, I have to manage even my time better

Now I have to make nights count

Because wife and mother are twenty four hours every day

Now I will control nutritional craves

Because I will have to teach by example

Now I will straighten and clean

Bleach and wash

Because one day, it will be up to me to steward my family

I will encourage myself

Because when he’s having a bad day, I might be having one too

But I’ll cover him anyway

Just like now, I cover him

I don’t know that I have met him

But I pray for him

Instinctively, because there is an alarm for it

I will do today what is preparation for today

Because what I do today

Blesses my tomorrow

Lord, please forgive me for complaining about blessings

That pile like burdens because sometime I mismanage time

Sometimes I mismanage emotions

But I will inhale gratitude and exhale praise

Because in the midst of all of this…

I am free to Live. Love. And write.

Ivy Out