Month: May 2020

Direction…

What way are you going to go?

I read recently in Jeremiah 40:4 “The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said… 4) And now look, I free you this day from the chains that were on your hand.  If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if it seems wrong for you to come with me to Babylon, remain here.  See all the land is before you; wherever it seems good and convenient for you to go, go there.”

This scripture has stayed on my heart since I read this. I’ve been thinking about the fact that because Jeremiah had spoken for God and it came to pass here is the Captain of the guard is ready to let him go. What is interesting to me is, He’s offering Jeremiah options.

Just like God provides us with options too. He frees us from chains of oppression and gives us liberty to choose. Precisely the same as Jeremiah got a choice of what direction he wanted to go.  At times we can be liberated from a bondage and we are making a choice which seems best, but we end up right back into the bondage we left. That might be because we didn’t seek God for direction, and we decide to go back to the familiar.

Jeremiah didn’t choose right away. I believe He was waiting on God for His direction. We also will have to wait on God for direction when it’s unclear which direction to go.  

“The word direction is defined as the path that someone takes, the path that must be taken to reach a specific place, the way you are facing.” Dictionary.com

I find it interesting to note that it says I free you of the chains being plural on your hand being singular. It appears only one hand had the chains on so throughout his captivity he can move around a bit. It’s the same thing for us we may be free in certain areas of our lives and then other areas there can be bondage. God desires to provide you with freedom in every area of life.

In this passage of scripture, the hand in the Hebrew Dictionary means “(the open one) [indicating power, means, direction] …”

Nebuzaradan the Captain of the Guard was providing Jeremiah freedom to go with the power to decide where he would like to go. Nebuzaradan also provided Jeremiah rations and a gift and let him go. When God liberates us, he doesn’t let you go empty handed he provides for the needs you have.

What is tying up your hand which makes you feel or believe you can’t go and do?  What chain is preventing you from going in the right direction God needs for you to go?  It’s as easy as releasing it over to God.

When we are unclear of our next step take time out and press into the Spirit in prayer and wait on God. He will reply to you. Knowing the correct way to go in life decisions may also be made easier if you line up to Gods Word. God’s word never steers us in the wrong direction.  

What may be difficult in determining what is holding the hand from doing the things that you want is fear. Fear of failure or fear of the wrong choice. Fear does not necessarily need to prevent you from making a choice. Sometimes saying to yourself if I fail at least I attempted can help you to conquer making the step, fear can look a lot like a chain on your hand, but God wants to break this chain off your hand.  

Jesus came to provide us with life abundantly and whatever is preventing you from full movement or surrender He will set you free. What ever direction you need to go God will lead you and set you free, but you must ask.

My prayer for you is: Father God, I lose the shackles of fear of failure and fear of making the wrong choice that is holding each person back from going and doing all they are called to do and I release them in Jesus mighty name to go and flourish for your Kingdom. Amen

https://insightsbydrannette.com/what-is-fear/

https://insightsbydrannette.com/decisions-and-decisions/

The Root of Shame

Sometimes when we can’t say good things about our self is due to the different unhealthy origins one being a root of shame. Roots become the same way as a stronghold it keeps you locked in.

Today we are breaking strongholds of shame. Shame of how you think that the negative of yourself it true and shame of the abuses done to you are your fault. Shame says in your thoughts “I’m bad.” It is a root formed in your thinking by initial experiences that are making you feel bad about yourself. The word shame in the dictionary as a noun means “a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. As a verb it means “(of a person, action or situation) make (someone) feel ashamed.” ‘To humiliate, mortify, embarrass.’

When we internalize a shame of something being told or done to us it turns into a shame-based mindset (root/stronghold) of thinking I’m bad, I’m flawed or I’m damaged goods. This one goes deep into the psyche as well as the mind will think I’m flawed and feel ashamed.

Shame-based system in the dysfunctional families usually establish a secrecy about the family dynamics. Family are told what happens here remains here. Abusers will pose a threat to the victim to not talk about the abuse or else… this all leads to silencing a victim and internalizing them in the shame. This secrecy is the way in which abuse is held in internally. So that not only are they abused, either (physically, sexually, emotionally, verbally) they are hostage through shame to keep it in and not talk about it.  

This all is leading to a life of shame internalized which means that it makes you think and feel ashamed of yourself. The reality is what was done to you was not your fault no matter what you have been told, a child/teen does not deserve abuse ever. it in and not talk about it.

This root goes deep-rooted and through the power of God you can be healed and set free.  You can be free of the pain of an abuse.

Adults too can be abused this is also destructive to the individual physically, emotionally and psychology creating shame usually done in secrecy as well. I’m not a specialist in domestic violence even though I did go through Life Skills International educational program twice and learned enough to say, ‘God hates violence.’

In Isaiah 54:4 “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame. For you will forget the shame of your youth…”

Through the Beauty for Ashes page we are going to look at things that are hard, but God will go through it with you.

God loves you unconditionally.  His love will bring us through as we look back at the past pain, it’s the doorway to freedom. We don’t remain in the doorway we walk through it.

But God wants us to know His love is tangible, powerful and unfailing. He will go through the pain with you and fill the space of pain with His healing love. So that you remain then rooted and become grounded in His love for you!

 My prayer for you today is, that Our Heavenly Father wrap you in His loving arms and you begin to sense His unconditional love for you through Christ Jesus.  May He by His Holy Spirit quicken you to know He’s bringing you through whatever caused shame in your life and the shame is broken off of you now by the power of God in Jesus name. I pray you begin to sense freedom to love yourself and others.

For more information or to follow along with the teachings of the Beauty for Ashes support group lessons click on this link.

https://insightsbydrannette.com/beauty-for-ashes/

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Blurred Vision…

Blurred vision in the natural makes it hard to judge distances see what is near you and ahead of you. We can also get blurred vision morally, emotionally and spiritually.

Blurred vision morally makes your lines of compromise easier to step over. Any time we go beyond our line of morals it will produce in us blurred vision and then we become compromised morally.

Emotionally blurred vision to something or somebody is an attachment enthusiastically to something that isn’t good for you or others. You become attached in your heart to something or someone that isn’t yours to become attached too. This takes stepping back from it, looking at it with fresh vision, and being teachable about it. Renounce, repent and receive forgiveness of it and move on.

Blurred vision spiritually causes uncertainty in understanding what is and isn’t from God. God isn’t the author of confusion if something is confusing, we need to step back and take a better look and line it up to the Word of God.

God wants us to have clarity of vision.  It plays an important part in fulfilling a vision to keep your ‘eye on the goal.’

In Philippians 3:13 Amp “I do not consider, brethren, that I have captured and made it my own [yet]; but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]; forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead.”  the Apostle Paul instructs us to forget what is behind and to press forward.  Pressing forward takes ‘forward thinking.’ Paul was teaching us to press on to the goal, in verse 14 “I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.”  Here is where we will need forward thinking in our spiritual lives. To be kingdom minded is so that you can have forward thinking regarding the future and now in the Kingdom of God.

Anytime we spend mulling over past mistakes we lose out on now opportunities. Forward thinking movement propels us to keep moving. I have learned the best way to find your passion is to start with what you have. For example, if you love to teach volunteer to teach Sunday school or mentor a child with their schoolwork.  

I always wanted to write but with my grammar not the best I didn’t think it a possibility. Going through graduate work taught me how to improve my writing with spell and grammar check in Word Program. To start this Blog and Webpage I had to take on a step of faith invest the money and time eight months later its increasing and I’m learning more and more. God provided me with a lovely friend who has webpage and design inventiveness which I’m incredibly grateful for her help.

But it took me to decide to try and to let the Holy Spirit to inspire me in this way.  I love that God can take a girl who was not good at spelling and provide me with the tools and education I needed to fulfill His vision. Then open this door to teach around the World. Every post is producing seeds sown for the Kingdom of God. This represents the forward thinking.

My vision is clear this keep writing and posting. We’ve added the Beauty for Ashes page which is another dimension to the vison of the webpage moving forward takes steps of obedience.

Forgetting what’s behind keep moving forward. If in any area you are experiencing blurred vision (plans, purpose, direction) stop, pray, press in and make the necessary steps of change to bring clarity once again. It’s wisdom to seek help when you need it.

https://insightsbydrannette.com/do-you-need-clarity/

The All-Seeing Eye

God leads us with His eye! Have you ever heard of the stories of the Free Masonry’s eye in the middle of the pyramid? Well this is a story of the All-Seeing Eye of God.

Wikipedia states, “The eye of Providence (or the all-seeing eye of God) is a symbol, having its origin in Christian iconography, showing an eye often surrounded by rays of light or a glory and usually enclosed by a triangle.  It represents the eye of God watching over humanity (the concept of divine providence). Although in todays age the Eye of Providence is often associated with Freemasonry, although it is originally a Christian symbol.

In Psalms 32:8 states, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go, I will guide you with my eye.”

I love reading and learning God’s word, you can read and reread it and then if your open to His Spirit you’ll learn each time. I never seen it before sure I’ve read it countless times but this time it was speaking to me. God guides me with His eye.

The word eye in the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary in this passage means “sight, face, favor, presence, knowledge and humble…” when studying the Bible, I was taught to constantly read in context of the whole chapter among other things.

The first part of the Psalm talks about forgiveness and then verse nine states, “Do not be like the horse or like the mule which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with the bit and bridle. Else they will not come near you.”  Basically, listen and to abide by the guidance of God so that you don’t have to be led like a mule along with something you don’t like.

I thought God knows beforehand what’s ahead, He sees what we do not so allowing Him to guide will avoid a lot of bumps in the road. Also, He knows the plans and objectives He has for us.  His sight is more far reaching than ours.

Letting yourself to be guided by God’s Eye is practically the same as following his Presence.  Moses said in Exodus 33:15 “If your Presence does not go with us, do not bring us up from here.” He wasn’t going with out God’s Presence and the instructions and neither should we. That’s the same principle as the being guided by God’s Eye.

Nothing can be compared to the favor of God, listening to his voice so that you will know which direction to go provides assurance to take the necessary measures of faith needed in any situation.

God is not unconcerned with His individuals or their needs rest assured He guides and provides.  You can put your faith in Him.

Confidence…

What is confidence? According to google: “1) the feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something, firm trust 2) The state of feeling certain about the truth of something. 3) A feeling of self-assurance arising from one’s appreciation of one’s own abilities or qualities: Self-assurance.”

Confidence in God is beneficial, for we can place our lives and outcomes in His Hands-He is faithful. Proverbs 14:26 “In the reverent and worshipful fear of the LORD there is strong confidence, and His children shall always have a place of refuge.”

We can have confidence in the Word of God because it has proven to be true archeologically, historically and prophetically. Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Confidence as self-assurance occurs as we learn and develop in our knowledge, gifting’s, and talents. As we study in order to learn a career or position, we grow in confidence.  The ability to do anything you are unfamiliar with makes anyone anxious, but willing to try builds confidence.

 Kidshealth.org states, “Confidence means feeling sure of yourself and your abilities not in an arrogant way, but in a realistic secure way. Confidence is not about feeling superior to others, it is a quiet inner knowledge that your capable.  Confident people-feel ready for everyday challenges.” I like this statement.

We cannot build confidence when we are stagnant. However, we grow confidence while we take steps attempting new things or learning new ideas. Getting trained or teaching helps to achieve the goal of what you would like to learn or do.

Confidence is derived from the understanding in your mind you can, you will, and you will not stop.

Therefore, understanding the way you feel or think about yourself is so crucial.  If all your rehearsing in your mind remain negative statements of, “I won’t, I can’t, or I’ll never,” this just beats you down and prevents you from being confident to try. It’s time to say, “I will try, I can do it, I will do it.”

It is time to let God heal the hurt and things that drive you to put yourself down. You can be free to grow in confidence. Begin today to speak truths to yourself. You can learn and develop and build confidence within yourself.Check out the beauty for Ashes page for more information. Lesson Two Beauty for Ashes

Patience, Patience, Patience…

Don’t we all enjoy patience! Well perhaps not all of us. My definition of patience is quietly waiting without grumbling or complaining. Since that is my definition of patience where do you think you are in your definition of patience?

As I waited for my daughter’s goat Kiki to birth her babies yesterday, I looked at my daughter and she said to me, “now we wait we must have patience because they come only when their ready.”  I was thinking about the patience it takes to be a rancher. This goat had two dates, so it was a question of which date is correct and the wait began. I had never seen an animal birth, so I was thrilled to wait. Well I do not believe that Kiki wanted an audience because we left and came back later, she still didn’t birth her babies, so we came back home. She started birthing at 11ish we had been was fast asleep. But Kiki as well as her three kids are all in good health and doing great. They are super adorable.

This experience led me to thinking about patience. How essential it is to practice patience as well as what an asset it is to have. Since we must all apply patience during this pandemic, I think it’s suitable to take the time to look at patience. According to the dictionary: “Patience is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering with out getting angry or upset.”

Patience when anything is delayed. How many times has something been delayed in your life? It may not always feel good to wait on longer than anticipated although it is doable. We can withstand longer in delays by not complaining and looking at the situation in negative ways. The minute we begin complaining our endurance gets affected. Getting angry throughout a delay only affects yourself. Choose to speak the truth to yourself so your waiting will not influence your thoughts and emotions.

The Bible states, James 1:2-4 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,3-knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience, 4-But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” I may not immediately feel joy in trouble although knowing God is working in the trouble and in me is helping to refocus off the trouble. Choosing to speak truths for example is stating God will help, because his word promises to help his children. Or speaking truth may also be I am growing in maturity in this time of patience. Even if you do not feel like your growing you’re going to be growing.

Patience during trouble is also difficult if your concentrating on the trouble. Choose to speak life into the difficulties. Trouble comes in many forms big and small. Any unforeseen problem financially can be real trouble for many. I find and speak a scripture into the problem. It will help me to refocus onto the Lord and his provisions. God also provides wisdom when we ask him.

Patience during suffering may be difficult also.  Suffering comes in all shapes too. Physical, emotional and psychological suffering can all be tough times for being patient. Throughout my ankle recovery I told myself to understand I have never been through this one before and to trust God in the healing process. I knew this was going to be a longer recovery because of my bones being soft. I am still in rehabilitation for the ankle almost finished but not yet.

When we decide to be patient in delays, trouble or suffering we are increasing in maturity. Allow patience to have the full work in you so you become mature and complete.