Inspire
To Love Again Ministries
Issue #27
January 2014
Content Navigating the Waters of Mentorship
Credits 4
Breakthrough is Coming 6 Contrast
8
Writers Sarah Williamson Kimberly Borst Debra Lilly
Editing Alan Porter
Photography Cover by Lindz Graham (Photographers are named if available)
Design Kimberly Borst Copyright Š To Love Again Ministries 2012, Photos Š very
To Love Again Ministries Pick of the month This month we are highlighting a sermon by Chris Hodges. Great practical steps to letting go and trusting God.
DEALING WITH STRESS by Chris Hodges
http://www.churchofthehighlands.com/media/mes sage/dealing-with-stress
Navigating the waters of Mentorship Sarah Williamson
There are a lot of people hurting all around us every single day. Sometimes I’m counted among those that are hurting, and sometimes I am doing just fine. That’s the lindsay.dee.bunny thing about life at any moment you can be so incredibly happy and content, and the next day something knocks you on your back. I’m not happy all of the time, I’m not perfect, I struggle day to day, and I don’t feel like I have it together most of the time, but I have something to offer. I love, and care deeply for junior high and high school girls. I love teenagers in general, but as this world backslides farther into the morally gray I worry about them. I felt like I waged war with the morally
gray everyday that I stepped through the threshold of my school, and even though that wasn’t too long ago, the corruption of morals has continued at a break neck pace. When I was that age I had a couple women and girls older and far wiser than I, that waged wars, armored up, and prayed hard for me. Without them I wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed in the morning back then, or even now. These women shaped me; they co-raised me, and ran beside me urging me on when nothing felt worth it. I would be a shell of a woman without the wise women that God has placed in my life.
After graduating high school, I still had all of these incredible women helping me talk through the uncertain ‘what-now’ anxiety that ensued shortly after the graduation ceremony. Something else was growing strong in my heart though, I felt this deep passion and need to help someone younger than me in the same way my wise women had. I had learned so many things from them and so many experiences from high school that I didn’t want to keep to myself. I wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for the wisdom I learned, and God’s love and patience with me. Surely younger girls had to be having the same struggles I did. One of my strengths and weaknesses is diving in without thinking things through. I found a handful of girls my younger sister’s age and just began meeting them for coffee and accepting late night calls when they needed someone. I never once questioned whether I was holy enough, or together enough, or whether I had what it took to help someone, I just jumped in (the doubting myself came later, but that is a story for a different time.) I just wanted to help with any wisdom or advice that had been handed down to me. Jesus’ disciples did not have it together all of the time and JESUS was their mentor, but they took what they learned from Jesus and they grew the faith of others by mentoring. Just like the disciples you don’t have to be perfect, or even have it together one hundred percent of the time in order to mentor
someone. You just have to have patience, grace from God, and the ability to be transparent and honest. It’s hard sometimes, occasionally it will break your heart and make you doubt yourself, but it is desperately needed today. There are so many girls out there struggling that just need some kind words, or someone to let them know that the things they are going through are more normal than they think. If you can be that someone to one young lady you are making a difference not only in her life, but in the life of all those she will meet. Set yourself up for success by not only taking someone under your wing, but by also allowing someone to take you under their wing. Mentoring is hard work, but it is so rewarding! You will laugh, cry, and most importantly, you will grow in ways you never knew you could.
Tony Hall
Break through is Coming Kimberly Borst
The last several years have been very challenging. Many of my 7 children have faced difficult challenges physically, emotionally, and or spiritually. We lost a baby and home life has been challenging. One of my parents has a serious health condition and money is tight. I have become very well aquatinted with the fraise hard pressed on every side. God has been faithful but of late the pleasure has become so intense small conflicts send me plummeting.
I know I am not alone. Many others are and have been going through hard times. In fact I really don’t know anyone who doesn’t need breakthrough in multiple areas. To me this does not take away from Gods faithfulness He has been faithful and present. I will say I am very excited to see what all this will produce. Diamonds are made with extreme pleasure and heat. Can we feel it burn? This is what the Lord has been speaking to me over the last month and a half. I believe it is for all of us who are fighting the good fight. Breakthrough is coming!
You know my heart, trust it, trust Me. Be wise, do not listen to the voices that would cause you to not trust Me. All is well. All will be paid, it will be paid much quicker than you can imagine. The season is changing. Spring brings hope after a long winter but not fruit. Summer and fall (A spiritual season) will bring a great harvest. Some plants produce fruit right away with the full breadth of the sun, others take time to mature. You will see fruit in this area and that but in not too much time all will flourish. 11/18/13
You will do my will. You will prosper. My good pleasure will be found in you. You will run when I run and you will rest when I rest. Listen to the beating of my heart and yours will beat in time. Humble yourself and follow me. I am yours and you are mine. Keep the faith. You will shine with my brilliance, the brilliance of my presence in your life. You will glory in me. I am washing all your sorrows away. I am renewing your heart. Trust in me. 11/22/13
(I was praising God for my son’s new job and thanking him for the beginnings of the fruit he spoke of and He gave me this word.)
Just wait, I have amazing things ahead for you. Things you cannot even fathom. Your joy will so surpass your sorrow you will rejoice for the pain. Those around you will prosper as well. There will be an overflow anointing on you. Those close to you will ride the wave of my blessings beside you and will not be overtaken. Put aside the rules and the boxes. I am doing a new thing, a deep work, with deep roots. Nothing will prevail against it. Praise me, I am coming. It is a new day! The fire of my Spirit burns bright, trust it. I will be right by your side every step of the way. 12/5/13
Brace yourself for my coming. The overtaking power of my Spirit and my blessing is upon you. Hold fast to what you know is true. I am faithful, truest Me. Step where I say to step. I will make a way. Joy comes in the morning and dawn is breaking. I will arise and I will shine. My glory is at the door. The gates of hell will not prevail to keep me out. All that is mine shall be mine. Rejoice the bride groom comes and the bride will be ready. 12/16/13
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Contrast Debra Lilly
When you are immersed under water, you can’t feel the wetness. Only by contrast can you feel wet or dry. Try it sometime – go swimming and get completely underwater. You can’t tell if you’re wet or not. Only when you are dry and put your hand or part of your body in the water, can you tell that part of you is wet or dry. This is true of other things in our lives as well. When we are immersed or totally in something, we can’t tell it because we have nothing to ‘contrast’ it with.
According to Webster’s Dictionary, the word ‘contrast’ means ‘note the differences,’ whereas the word ‘compare’ means ‘note the similarities’ (or, in some cases, inconsistencies). When a person walks in ‘darkness’, they can’t feel or sense the darkness. But when they come into the ‘light’ of Jesus (the Truth), they have something to contrast it with. We can now see and comprehend the difference - the contrast.
When a person is deceived, they don’t know it – or they wouldn’t be deceived. No one wants to be deceived. Only by contrast to the Truth, does a person realize they have been in deception.
They simply have been shown the truth in contrast to the lie and they believe the truth instead of the lie. They choose. There are many contrasts in our everyday experiences. By asking questions, we begin to ‘note the differences’ in our lives. How can we know the correct answers if we don’t know the questions?
The Bible has much to say regarding this subject. John 1:4-5 says, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men”. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
Why didn’t the darkness comprehend the Light?... because it couldn’t see the difference. The darkness is like being totally immersed in a thing. There is no contrast. But when the Light has come, you can see the difference.
Like the song says, “I was blind, but now I see”. Why were you blind and what happened that you now see? It is my belief and understanding that mankind has to recognize his blindness and want to see or know the Truth. An alcoholic doesn’t think he’s an alcoholic because he is in denial. Only as he admits to his/her problem, can he/she begin to change. Light has come.
Jesus is the Light and the Life of men. He came, He died, He completed His work upon the cross for all mankind. He then sent the Holy Spirit as our Helper to live in us. He said as He was dying on the cross, “It is finished”. What more is there? Do you think there is something more He could have or should have done?
Acts 26:18 Jesus says, “To open their eyes,
What remains to be done, to come into Deut. 30:19 says, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”
darkness every day of our lives – and in every situation. We need to know what is darkness in contrast to what is Light in every area of our lives. Only through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit, does He show us the difference in every situation, circumstance and thought we have. Pray and meditate on His Word, which is God’s daily provision for us.
John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto
Self evaluation must be done in light of
the Light and the Life, is our part. When the Light of Jesus Christ comes to you, choose it!
them, saying, “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”
John 3:19 “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil”.
and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in Me.”
We are to choose the Light over the
God’s Word – without it, we are like those who try to pull themselves up by their own bootstraps.
He draws us by His Love and instructs us by His Word. We need to choose to walk in His Light. He gives us the victory in every situation and every circumstance when we rely totally on Him.
H. Koppdelaney