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Women Living Life on Purpose
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Serving Wounded
| Posted on December 12, 2016 at 1:20 PM |
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Serving Wounded 8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord or about me His prisoner, but with me take your share of suffering for the gospel [continue to preach regardless of the circumstances], in accordance with the power of God [for His power is invincible], 9 for He delivered us and saved us and called us with a holy calling [a calling that leads to a consecrated life—a life set apart—a life of purpose], not because of our works [or because of any personal merit—we could do nothing to earn this], but because of His own purpose and grace [His amazing, undeserved favor] which was granted to us in Christ Jesus before the world began [eternal ages ago], In this passage Paul was reminding Timothy that with great service comes great suffering. So be careful of what you ask God for, because you will have to hold up your end of the bargain. The most important thing Paul said was "continue to preach regardless of the circumstances". You mean preach when I am struggling with believing my own message? The answer is yes. Regardless! Are you willing to serve, walk in purpose and destiny while you are wounded? If you are not, then you are not really ready to serve. Recently I lost my sister. This has to be the most single painful thing I have ever felt in my life. So many emotions, and questions plagued my mind. With all the kingdom work I had in front of me, the truth is I was wounded. I was injured. I was hurting. I was devastated. After about a week or so I heard God say "Get Up". I said God " I am Wounded". He said, "I never told you, you would serve with no injuries". With all the pain I was experiencing, and the total life changes I was experiencing as a result of taking on my sister's responsibilities, I had to still serve. Understand that it is my life's oath to care for her babies as if they were my own. I am in no way burdened by it, but blessed by it. All in all, the care and responsibility had to be done while I was bleeding myself. Care never stop being needed of me while I wiped my own tears. When you are called to service, there are times that you will have to serve wounded people, while you yourself are wounded. It is in this time that you will realize that "You Were Born For This". Despite the fact that we know God has graced us, doesn't excuse our pain. It is not until you can bandage while being bandaged yourself that you have truly passed the test of servant-hood. I know now more than ever that His grace is sufficient, and there is no way in the world I would want to move in any assignment without His grace accompanying me. What have you left on the back burner in order to attend only to yourself? Service will many times leave you lonely after pouring out so much of yourself into others. But at the end of the day God promised to never leave you, nor forsake you, and He most definitely takes care of the called and chosen. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Even when you don't understand completely, rest in knowing that "all things" work for your good. Even when all things don't feel good, they are still ultimately working for you good. Every obstacle and trial that I face. I can face knowing that I Always Win In The End! Andrea Gates www.andreagates.org |
What are you wearing?
| Posted on October 19, 2016 at 12:50 AM |
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Ephesians 6:10-18 New Living Translation
The Whole Armor of God 10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. What Are You Wearing? When the seasons change we change wardrobes in order to accommodate the atmosphere that we are about to walk into. I don't know many people that will walk outside when it is ten below zero with a two piece bathing suit on and not experience frost bite or some sickness of some kind. Unless something is wrong, they want be able to withstand that temperature for long because they are not properly clothed. If this is true in the natural then how do you expect to stand the atmosphere of the devil's attacks not properly spiritually clothed. Many of us are walking around spiritually naked and not properly spiritually clothed for what we may encounter. So many Christians experience ups and downs in their spiritual walk and constantly go through these visits to Lodebar (a low place), because they are not getting up everyday to spiritually dress themselves. It is amazing how we put so much importance on the natural, which is the thing that will fade away, instead of concentrating more on the spirit, which will live forever. If you want go outside naked everyday, then don't wake up and encounter the enemy naked. He will tare you to shreds every time because you are empty. When you are empty he has a place and space to put his devices, plans, ans plots. Don't leave an opening for him because if he can he will take over. Purpose this week that you will get up everyday and clothe yourself properly spiritually so that you can withstand every demonic distraction that will come your way. When you have a kingdom mandate distractions will come, it is the inevitable, so be prepared. The prefix pre means before. In order to successfully overthrow the enemy every time you have to do some things before he comes. If you don't strategically clothe yourself spiritually you will find yourself lashing out at people and thinking everyone is against you and having arguments and fights with others because you will be fighting the flesh instead of the spirit behind the flesh. We wrestle not against flesh and blood, so we don't fight on low ground. We fight high! Fight in and through prayer. Believe God past what you see, as often times when we purpose to pray the thing will get worst. This is the enemies attempt to make you quit. If you have ever sprayed bug spray on a bug it doesn't die instantly. It squirms and fights till the end. the enemy knows when you purpose to pray that his days are numbered in your situation, so he starts to squirm and fight and put forth his last ditch effort to make you stop. Stay on the wall ! Stay in the face of God! Keep the word before you, in you ear, and flowing from your mouth!. You are a winner! Every time you win! Andrea Gates www.andreagates.org |
Dealing with the little boy or girl in you
| Posted on October 4, 2016 at 12:04 PM |
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1 Corinthians 13:11King James Version (KJV) 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things It is imperative that if we intend to do anything great for God that we deal with the adolescent version of ourselves. When we don't deal with things that occurred in our childhood we run the risk of being an adult operating from a child's perspective. Instead of leading and mentoring those younger than us we will find ourselves being in competition or having a spirit of jealousy towards someone we actually should be mothering or fathering spiritually. I have seen this so often. We encounter fifty year olds that are still in desperate need of validation they never received as a child, and they can't truly operate in purpose because instead of leading others in purpose they are desiring to be petted in a season in their life when they should be mature enough to nurture. There were times I felt I should be further in life or should have walked in another season, but God had to arrest me and make me deal with the little girl in me. The fear of rejection I struggled with would choke out my ministry if it was not confronted and put to death. God couldn't risk putting me on a platform and I spiritually assassinate people because I can't build effective relationships because I am in fear of someone not accepting me, or thinking someone is against me when actually I am not even on their mind. If you really want to be effective in your calling confront the childlike issues you have because if you don't you will exhaust the people around you because nothing will ever be enough. It's time for us to grow up spiritually so we can truly advance the kingdom of God. "To thine own self be true". You can't be true to anyone else until you are true to yourself first. Andrea Gates www.andreagates.org |
Accept that you are God's choice
| Posted on September 26, 2016 at 2:10 PM |
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John 15:16 (NASB) "You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you. When you understand that you are God's choice, you will become comfortable with His purpose for your life. God doesn't choose from the same aspect as man. The reason why you are struggling with accepting His plan for your life is because you are looking through your eyes. When you look through your eyes, you see failures, mistakes, and dumb decisions. You must understand that God's view is from a different perspective. His view is from an all knowing perspective. He knows His plans for your life, and your life moments didn't alter His plans. He previously prepared for your set backs. When God looks at you He doesn't see you, but He sees Jesus. Remember the cross was an act of substitution. He stood in the place where you should have been, took your punishment, and endured so that you would not be seen as your carnal self, but because you are now blood covered, you are hidden by the blood of Jesus. This is why God can choose you and not take your past into consideration. If God isn't dwellling on it, then you shouldn't. Make it your purpose this week to eliminate any thought that will try to assassinate the plan of God for your life. Speak life over yourself and begin to confess daily "Lord I thank you for choosing me". As you say that it will resonate in your spirit. Accepting God's choice means accepting YOU! |
The Power of Forgiving Yourself
| Posted on September 16, 2016 at 10:25 AM |
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The Power of Forgiving Yourself But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. He shall again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our wickedness [destroying sin’s power]. Yes, You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. I have learned that it is easier for me to grant forgiveness to others, but yet I have struggled with forgiving myself. When you have to come face to face with realizing that decisions you have made may very well be the reason you are experiencing some of the situations in your life, that is a hard pill to swallow. However, because you love God, and are called according to His purposes, things you have done in His will, and out of His will will work out in your favor (Romans 8:28). The word says "All Things Work Together For The Good". All means everything. You are not your own, but you belong to God, therefore you have relinquished authority over your life to God. That is why not forgiving yourself is a sin also. Not forgiving yourself is still walking in unforgiveness. Make a decision today that you will release yourself from all guilt and regret. Take it all as learning experiences and grow from them and move forward. To experience and not grow from it is the real tragedy. Know that you are better because of it. God has cast it in the sea of forgetfulness, but you keep throwing your net out into the sea and bringing your past back to shore. Let It Go! Let the past be the past and devote your time to building your future. You have given your past enough time, don't invest any more time into it. Sometimes you have to simply say, "I chose that, and at that time I thought I was making the right decision, but now I see that it wasn't the best thing to do". Admit it, and then release it. It is time to really set yourself free form unforgiveness. You owe yourself something better. Besides your best days are ahead, and your latter shall be greater! Blessings to you, Andrea Lynn Gates www.andreagates.org |
God Wants To Use the Authentiic You!
| Posted on September 6, 2016 at 2:35 PM |
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The Heart of A Visionary Blog Quote: You can copy the vision, but you can't duplicate the anointing! Nor the grace to finish the assignment! ~Andrea Lynn Gates Acts 19:11-20 New Living Translation (NLT) 11 God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. 12 When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled. 13 A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this.15 But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered. 17 The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. 18 Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. 19 A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars. ]20 So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect. Whatever God has called you to do, He has also equipped you to carry out the assignment. Sometimes we can see what others are doing, and the success that they are walking in and we think "I can do that too"! Yes, you probably can do it, but the question is "Were you created, or commanded to do it?" In the passage above the Sons of Sceva saw Paul walking in an anointed ministry, and they attempted to copy what they saw, not knowing the sacrifice that came with the oil that was on Paul's life, or even Paul's source, which was the Almighty God. Paul was simply a vessel yielded to the plan of God for his life. Never try to do what someone else is doing, because you don't know the cost of their assignment. Then if you attempt to do the same and the same anointing doesn't rest on your life, it could literally cost you your life. I'm sure the Sons of Sceva had a purpose, but it just wasn't the same as Paul's. God has given each of us unique assignments. There will be people He will instruct you to follow, or to be exposed to to see things done that you should be doing, or to see the excellence that they may operating in, but it is not to become a clone of that person. The Kingdom needs YOU, and what you authentically bring. I encourage you to walk in God's specific assignment He has on your life, and surround yourself with DESTINY PUSHERS who can help you arrive to where God designed for you to be. The Heart of a Visionary, Andrea Lynn Gates Founder of God's Daughters www.andreagates.org |
