Author: daisyrayofsunshine

Discern

First off, I want to say Happy New Year! There is something about the new year that makes everyone want to evolve from the person they were once before. Many of us Christians, when we approach the new year, our goal is to get closer to God (at least it should be). Whether it is by praying, fasting, or using your heavenly language to speak moaning and groaning that can not be uttered. There’s one strategy we must seek God for this season like never before – especially at a time like this – and that is to Discern.

Let me give you an understanding of what Discerning/Discernment is.

Discern: to recognize something visually or mentally (in our case spiritually) right/wrong.
Synonyms for the word discern are: Distinguish, to tell apart, to determine, and to observe.
The antonyms are: to overlook, ignore, doubt, and to be confused.

And let me tell you that the word confuse God already brought back to remembrance for what his word says in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not the author of confusion but of peace.” God has revealed to me why I catch myself feeling confused – because I have not really sought out to him about increasing my gift to discern.

Guys we are in a time where the world and the church is getting out of order and everyone is overlooking the strategy to discern. Especially in the church. You see many disturbing news about wolves in sheep’s clothing. We need to remember that the enemy will not come out in all red with a pitch fork and horns. It says in 2 Corinthians 11:14, “For Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” So guess what his followers are going to do. And many of us are falling for his lies. We are being led to the slaughter house because we are not seeking God about discernment.

Well Chelsie how can I get and use discernment? How is it my fault that I fall for the trick of the enemy and that he is disguised as an angel? Clearly, if he were to come at me in a dark figure I would know to flee. But how do I truly know? Let me tell you…. We may still be the lost sheep that can’t recognize God’s voice because in John 10:4-5 it says, “And when putteth before them and the sheep follow him for they know his voice. V5 and a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”

And in verse 27 Jesus clearly states that “MY sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me.”

So, the first thing to truly seek discernment is that we must fully and wholeheartedly become God’s sheep. Coming into submission under God already gives us access to have discernment.

Some it comes to easily because it’s one of their gifts/weapons for the kingdom. And others we have to increase our faith for God to give it to us.
Even David the man who is known to be a man after God’s own heart caught himself seeking God to give him discernment. Turn with me to Psalms 119:125 which states, “Give discernment to me your servant, then I will understand your laws.”

This scripture is my Prayer to God! Seriously! Re-read it again and truly seek God for it. Let this meditate in your heart.

Even David knew that he needed discernment to fully thrive In his walk for God. Because when we discern we will be more likely to obey the laws of God.

Proverbs 1:4 states, “These proverbs will give insight to the simple knowledge and discernment to the young.” Reading that it is already giving us a strategy on how to seek and apply discernment.

I sound like a broken record but I will say it again, we live in a time where there are false teachers, prophets, preachers, ect leading churches. They come using all these fancy words and using scriptures that they MISINTERPRET leading sheep to a road of destruction.

That it goes both ways we won’t be able to be manipulated by these false teachers because we recognize God’s voice and can discern if it is good or bad. Let us all seek God like never before and be like David to increase our understanding of discernment so that we may be able to obey God and his laws 🙏🏾

Let’s Minister

……With fear and trembling…..

Philippians 2:12 is one of my favorite verses. It speaks to my rule follower heart.

“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;”

My need to follow rules makes obedience fairly easy, but fear and trembling always gets me. I know I’m saved and can’t be snatched from my Father’s hand ( John 10:29 ), but have I grown complacent? Do I stay in a state of awe and reverence because the Most High God of the universe is at work in me? ( Philippians 2:13 )

There’s a reason we need to fear and tremble. A few Sundays ago my pastor, Billy Kilpatrick, said this, “Final death is separation from God without the ability to repent”. That’s scary. Final is final and separation from God for all eternity is a brutal reality.

I’m thankful that death has no victory for me, but I have friends and loved ones who have yet to accept Jesus and the security that He brings. To stay ready for opportunities to reach them I need to make sure I’m doing the things the Holy Spirit is telling me do.

I need to be studying His word for revelation. I need to behave in such a way that I shine as a light in the midst of a crooked generation ( Phil 2:15 ). I need to testify of the goodness of God at every opportunity.

None of those things “save” me, only Jesus can do that. Not doing them won’t condemn me, but I would not be walking in the good works He has prepared for me ( Ephesians 2:10 ). I want to be able to reach the people in my life. Family, friends, acquaintances, I am praying they are all a part of my good works.

Who is with me? Can we make 2022 the year we bring back some fear and trembling so that we can reach our communities for Christ? #LetsMinister

Be thankful.

“I thank God for all the times he told me no because He had a better yes.” 

Job 2:3 NLV

“Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless – a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.” 

Job 2:8-10 NLV

“Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die. But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.”

I was pulling up plants from my flower bed last week. The Lord typically speaks to me at moments I least expect it. I was mainly upset that adulting hit me hard during the quick freeze we had a few weeks back here in Southeast Tx. The thought of covering my plants.. NEVER CROSSED MY MIND.

I had been busy and caught up in my everyday life. So, here I was pulling up my beautiful flowers that I for some reason was able to keep thriving for several months. This included the Nephthytis I have had from my Grandparent’s since they passed. Needless to say, I was pretty hurt with that one. God laid on my heart that a lot of times us as humans thrive. We feel like we have it all together when we’re just going from day to day. He reminded me that those are the times that people typically say yes to me. They say yes when it’s comfortable, yes when it follows in with their everyday routine. They even say yes when it may make their life a little more fun, a little more brighter. 

Then one day they get caught up in their everyday life. Drifting away from church. They stop plugging into community. Perhaps they are fully on fire for Christ, and then the path changes. They have a new normal. They stop listening for me and the coldness of this world and reality we live in hit. Breaking them – just like it does to plants. The “yes” doesn’t seem all that comforting anymore. Perhaps the yes even hurts.

“Job scraped his skin with a piece of broken pottery as he sat among the ashes.” This is when Satan reached out and took Job’s health. He was struck with terrible boils from head to toe. I think of Job 2:8 deeper. What was really going through his mind as he sat there – scrapping his skin.

At that moment it seems as if the world that he knew was falling apart. His comfortable life of serving Christ tumbled down. I believe many of us walk this path. But once again, Job didn’t tell the Lord no. Job had to continue saying yes to Christ. Yes to serving him. Yes to being obedient. Even though it hurt. We plead to God to take our pain. We ask him to remove the confusion. 

You’ve heard the quote: 

“God answers all prayers. Yes, not right now, or no.”

There is truth to it. He hears you. He won’t always answer the way we would like all the time. Be thankful for the yes. Be thankful for the no. 

“So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than the beginning.” Job 42:12

Be Blessed

We use the word “Blessed” a lot – especially down here in the good ol’ south. In fact, I’m wearing a shirt right now that says “Blessed”. Coincidence?? I think not!

God Knows exactly what He is doing! We hear “Bless your heart!” or “Blessed and highly favored.” Or we say “I’m so blessed because of: high paying job, new boat, nice car or house, an accomplishment, good health, the list goes on. We see it used every single day. But what matters most to God is faithful obedience from the heart. Let’s look and see who Jesus says is blessed and what that means for them.

Matthew 5:3-12

Blessed are…

the poor in spirit = theirs is the kingdom of Heaven

those who mourn = they will be comforted

the humble = they will inherit the earth

those who hunger + thirst for what is right = they will be filled

the merciful = they will be shown mercy

the pure in heart = they will see God

the peacemakers = they will be called children of God

those who are persecuted because of righteousness = theirs is the kingdom of Heaven

Jesus continues on saying, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad because great is your reward in Heaven.”

Nobody wants to be sad, and it’s not natural for our flesh to want to be humble. It’s not natural to want to be a peacemaker or pure in heart all the time. We don’t usually go through hard times and persecution and immediately think, “I’m so blessed.” But we totally should! These things are HARD, and we need our savior who fulfilled all these things perfectly to help guide us.

I’m not saying it’s wrong to say that you’re blessed. There are many reasons to feel blessed! But my prayer is that when I see this word, hear this word, or use this word, I would be intentional and be reminded of the characteristics of the person Jesus says is blessed.

That’s exactly what He wants from us. For us to lay it all down and ask for help, and have that one on one relationship with Him. So go and mourn, be humble, be merciful, be a peacemaker, be pure in heart, and be Blessed.

New Habits

Did anyone else feel defeated before they even opened up that fresh, new 2022 planner?

Just me? Okayyyyyy.

For real though, the last week of December I thought about the long list of things I need to be better about doing [cough cough cooking] all while feeling the strong need to abort the mission before the mission even began.

Let me shoot straight with y’all – cooking is my least favorite adulty thing to do followed quickly by grocery shopping. Like I would rather scrub toilets. I’m just being honest.

Here’s the deal though – you can create new habits. It’s true.

You just have to do it. You have to want it more than you don’t.

How do I know? Because I’ve done it.

My entire life I was the opposite of a morning person. Ask my dad. I would hit snooze and scream five more minutes at my poor momma more than I care to admit.

But when I fell in love with God all of that changed. I knew that I needed to spend more time with Him, and I knew the quiet hours before anyone else in my house peeped their little eyes open would be my best bet.

So I prayed.

And I set my alarm early.

And I only hit snooze once.

And I got up.

And the next day I got up.

And the next day – I got up.

And now five years later I even set my alarm super early on my days off – even in the summer.

And I love every single minute of my time with God.

So I’m gonna keep praying about this cooking thing. And I’m gonna cook. And then I’m gonna cook again.

And my hope and prayer for you in this new year is that whatever that thing is that’s looming over you – telling you that you can’t – eventually becomes the thing that you can.

And I pray you fall in love with it.

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. – Hebrews 12:11-13

Jesus is Better

Jesus is better

A lot of the time when we get around to the new year we try to better ourselves. We seek the desires of the world trying to get skinnier, get richer, or get happier. But the question we need to ask ourselves in this coming year is how can we strengthen our relationship with Jesus?

In a world that is constantly letting us down we need to know that we can find our strength and hope in a Savior. We have gone through pandemics, protests, and a countless number of different things that show how fallen our world is. We can find peace in knowing the One who really knows. We may see things fall and break and disappoint us but just like Job says “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.” Job 19:25

Just like Asaph writes in Psalm 73:26, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Even though we may get let down and the world fails we find strength in God our redeemer. When we put our focus and trust in Him the world letting us down doesn’t worry us because we know that He has us in His hands.

I know that we can get caught up in trying to please ourselves and trying to impress others, and we can forget what our true purpose is. There’s no amount of money we can save, no amount of weight we can lose in this new year that will ever compare to the joy and peace we can get from a close relationship with our creator. Our Jesus is better than anything the world could ever try to give us or we could try to give ourselves.

2022

Happy 2022 🤩

I’m so excited for this New Year. I feel so much hope within my soul. I feel refreshed. I feel renewed.

Last year my word was “Focus”. This year God gave me the following words “Focus on the Mission”.

I immediately felt like I failed for a whole year because ummmm that’s the same word. My teacher’s pet self hung my head in shame until I truly listened to what God was speaking to me.

It is the same word.
But it’s not.

Same word.
Different focus.

I’ve been diving into 1 Peter 2:9 this morning has my focus verse for the year and just wow. It’s packed full of beautiful promises and a charge to proclaim those beautiful promises.

I’m excited for 2022, y’all.

Let’s open our eyes to what God has already given us, done for us, and the promises He will not break.

And let’s tell everyone.

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” 1 Peter 2:9

If you have a word or verse I would love for you to share it with me. 💛 I would love to write it in my prayer journal and pray over it and you.

Keep Going

As we look back at our 2021 resolutions slash goals slash unreachable nemesis that we will never obtain – insert whatever emoji that made you feel right here – what grade are you giving yourself?

Pass or fail?

A+ or F-?

And what is that grade based on?

Is your mindset more grumbling or more growth?

If I’m being honest I think we should all get an A for surviving this crazy Covid era – end of story. I think we should all get an A for just showing up. For not giving up. For not losing our ever loving minds through all of this mess.

I digress.

I personally do not do resolutions anymore. Reason being, about 12 years ago I decided that every single year my goal every single day would be to get over myself.

Nowadays, I think that’s what we call “an unpopular opinion”.

To get over SELF. Listen y’all, when we do that – when we are truly putting others first like Jesus did – then we will find the true joy and peace that only comes from God.

Put others first.

Put self last.

Do I fail at this?

Absolutely. 100 percent.

Do I still keep working on it?

Absolutely. 100 percent.

Another thing I do every year is choose a “word” to focus on for the next 12 months, which makes my little word loving heart so very happy. I’ll share mine tomorrow, and I hope you’ll share yours as well.

I’m all about goals, and I’m all about growth. But more importantly, I’m all about grace.

As 2021 comes to a screeching halt, maybe you’re feeling like you didn’t quite measure up to what you set out to do. Maybe you’re even feeling a little bit of that two step forward three steps back mentality.

Just remember this, as long as you’re going then you’re still growing.

Keep going, sister.

Keep going.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Jesus stays

Anyone else get the Christmas blues? I mean we’ve built this celebration up since September thanks to the Walmart and Hobby Lobby.

Christmas everywhere. Christmas explosion.

I love it. The lights, the devotionals, the poinsettias filling church sanctuaries and the Christmas hymnals that go right along with them.

Then December 26th hits and moms all

across America start losing their minds – ripping the decorations down quicker than they put them up. Raise your hand if that’s you.

But don’t let the abruptness of the Christmas crash let you feel down, sister. The celebration shouldn’t stop. The lights are coming down but the one true light will never stop shining. The poinsettias will wither, but the love Jesus has for us never will.

Let that light shine within you all year long.

Let others feel that Christmas glow radiating from every pore of your body all year long.

December comes and December goes, but Jesus stays.

“In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” – John 1:4-5

All He Wants

All He wants is your heart!

Many people feel as though God, the Creator of All things, is so far away and that He couldn’t care less about them or their needs; God has so many other “important” people to listen to. To hear their individual prayers wouldn’t be worth His time. They believe to speak to the Almighty is for people who are “worthy” and for some reason those who aren’t have to “work” to somehow be just that.

The amazing truth to break down those lies is that God so loved the world that He sent His ONLY begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting LIFE!

God loved us then, and He still loves us now! Jesus paid it all, that through His sacrifice we can have peace and oneness with God! That through His blood we are equal heirs to the kingdom of Heaven! None of us are worthy, but when we accept Jesus as our Lord then His worthiness becomes our own!

When we give our whole hearts to God then can we truly break down those lies of the enemy that have made us blind to all the goodness of God! – Faith Sanchez