The Goodness of God's word

I've been under the weather with the influenza for the past 10 days. I've laid awake in the night absolutely thinking that I was loosing my mind because I was coughing so hard, continuously. My body literally fighting to get air into my lungs. For those of you that have dealt with H1N1 or any type of influenza, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

But sweetness truly came in the midst of those hard spells! God's word would come to my mind and I would find myself resting in Him and trusting Him. I would go over the scriptures I have learned in 2009 and I found comfort especially in one particular verse. If you have never committed to memorizing scripture, I truly would like to encourage you to make this be one of your main priorities for 2010. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!

The scripture that comforted me the most in the past week has been:

Psalm 4:8 NIV "I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety."

Father, thank You for placing this scripture on my heart several weeks ago, as YOU ALONE only would know how much it would speak to me in the dark hours of the night fighting for a breath of air this past week. THANK YOU! Father, Your word is life, encouragement, hope, and the very air that I breathe. In Christ Alone...Amen.

**I wonder, have any of you found yourselves clinging to a particular scripture this week? If so, care to share the scripture and what translation? **

By the way, I'm still fighting this, and you truly will never waste a prayer on me.

Lovingly at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Sobering and Exhilarating

On December 25th, many of you will be joining my husband and I in the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. While we truly don't know the exact day of His glorious birth, we still come together thanking God for this awesome gift, the gift of a Savior that was promised in Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." Immanuel, God with us.



Like many of you, Isaiah 9:6 is a treasure to be hold!!! "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."



I am hungry to learn the names of God this year, to really focus in and soak up ABSOLUTE TRUTHS.



There is so much joy this season and I'm so very grateful. Why? Because with LIFE comes death, and death gave me LIFE! Now isn't that a sobering thought? Especially with this week being focused on such a joyful time in our hearts? Not only is it sobering, but for those of us that have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, it is exhilarating. A sweet nugget that I came across this morning from Romans 5:6-8, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.....But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." I've only touched on certain parts of this passage and I encourage you to please read for yourself out of your own bible Romans 5:6-8.



God sent His son Jesus Christ, born in human flesh, as well as allowing Him to die on the cross, KNOWING that I would make poor choices, some HUGE in human standards, but God demonstrated His love for me through the birth of His Son and the death of His Son. At just the right time, that is providence, that is grace and mercy, that is LOVE.



Father, I come before You, with a truly humbled heart. I pray that my life and the avenue You have spoken to my heart to share my walk with others, will draw them to You. That they would allow You to demonstrate that very same love to them. Thank You for Immanuel, thank You for the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Amen and Amen!



With much love and wishing each one of you a very Merry Christmas from here at Higher Grounds,

Yolanda

***Update, I will be hosting a study on "Lord, I want to know you" by Kay Arthur on Monday mornings beginning January 4th over at "Joy Comes In The Morning.** Please know that I've never done anything like this as the facilitator IN blog land. But a few have mentioned that they have this book and I thought it would be a great thing to do together. Simply report in and share the insight you have been given from reading the chapter. May the Lord God get all the glory from our participation. ***

Reflections

As 2009 begins to draw to a close, I've been reflecting upon this past year. Have I grown to be more like Christ than I was prior to 2009? Have I lived Jesus OUT LOUD the past 12 months? When others look into my face, do they see the love of God?


In January of 2009 I felt like God was telling me that He wanted my life to be, "Living for Jesus". That has been my hunger and the deep pangs of my heart all year long. I'll be honest, there have been moments and days that I fell short. Yet, I'm pressing on instead of becoming lax and staying put. I have absolutely no desire to be a luke warm woman that didn't hunger for more. I have absolutely no desire to be a woman that didn't finish what God had for me in 2009.

I hope 2010 finds Jesus and I going DEEPER STILL, and that the fire He placed in me 10 years ago, continue to be fanned to flame. That is my prayer for myself as 2009 draws to a close.


I have a couple of friends that are really in a hard season right now. To be honest, I think when we are found walking with Jesus, then our seasons will be down right hard. (I'm thinking of the promise we have from John 16:33) Because this side of heaven is the hardest life we'll ever know and I'm so thankful that eternity in Heaven is going to be paradise. I told one particular friend just this past week, "Cling to God my precious friend in this darker season of life that you are finding yourself in, as HE is the LIGHT that penetrates that darkness."

That piece of encouragement had to have been the Holy Spirit, as it just flowed from my fingertips, I didn't pause to think what I was writing and I knew it was a word for myself as well. Perhaps, it might be a word for YOU?

Father, I'm thankful that You have penetrated my heart with love, with light, with joy, and with peace. I'm thankful for the opportunities that You gave me in 2009 to LIVE FOR JESUS. I am looking forward to 2010 as You and I draw closer to one another. Lord, I desire to never allow darkness to rule my decisions and instead to be found becoming Christ-like with my choices. I love You Lord Jesus. Amen.

Learning from Miss Daisy

This morning it is -3 without the wind-chill, mighty cold for Southwest Kansas in early December! The snow had fallen through out the day yesterday and into the night and this morning I saw something with fresh eyes. I saw something amazing about Daisy, our basset hound, as the sun glistens beautifully on the fresh snow. Do you see it as well?

In the midst of the snow fall, in the midst of the cold and bitter day and night, in the midst of the heat of the summer, in the midst of the rain and wind...she walks the same narrow path. No matter what storm is raging around her, she is on the same narrow path. She has this whole back yard to herself to walk any where, and she stays on the same path! (I wasn't able to find out why dogs do this, but I find it amazing!)

God desires that for you and I as well Girlfriends and Guy friends. To be on the straight and narrow path, not the wide path. Matthew 7:13-14 NIV "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." I added emphasis.

I quickly took a look at this from the Message "Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention."

Father, may You find each of us today not taking the shortcut but investing in the way to life, YOU. To keep to the narrow path, narrow road, the road that leads to life no matter what the storm is raging around us and with-in us. You, Father, are our road map, may we be found living by it giving it our total attention. You continue to amaze me Lord and I thank You for teaching me Your truths in such simple ways. In Christ's Name, Amen.

Lovingly at Higher Grounds,

Yolanda

Heart over flowing with thanksgiving

This past weekend, four of us from my community as well as my church, traveled to Oklahoma City for our very first "Deeper Still" event. Can I just tell you, GO! GO GO GO!

Interesting after my last posting, but simply you won't find any milk at this Women's Conference. Truly the meat of God's word.

This trip was a double blessing for me because back in March when we ordered our tickets and got our motel room, I found out that a Siesta (VALERIE) that I blog with was attending as well. Then just last week on the LPM Blog, I saw a short message from another lady (Misty) that I've met through the blog world was attending too! I also met Valerie's daughter, Kristen that she often shares with us in the blog world. Golly, can it get any better than that???

I so praise God for the friendships that I have made through the LPM Blog. Women that are real, that love Jesus and that are willing to take a few moments or even hours of driving to meet one another. A very incredible blessing to me as my passion is women's ministry and I love hearing the hearts of women.

**Misty, Yolanda, Valerie**

I would like to challenge you, as I was challenged as well, that He can and does answer our prayers.

Can't somebody feed that child?

Greetings this beautiful morning of December 1st! December! Where has the last 11 months gone? I'm nearing the ending of reading my bible this year because of course it is December, you know. ;-) 1 Peter captured my heart this morning and encouraged me so much with a call to Holy Living, something God had placed on my heart back on January 1st. Living for Jesus in 2009 was my mantra. That has been my hearts desire for so long, perhaps you feel the same way. 1 Peter encouraged me as well this morning with a lovely reminder of the call on my life as a wife, for suffering for doing good, suffering for being a Christian but what has held my attention was from Chapter 2.

"You must crave pure spiritual milk so that you can grow into the fullness of your salvation. Cry out for this nourishment as a baby cries for milk, now that you have had a taste of the Lord's kindness." Verse 2-3 New Living Translation.

Do you find yourself ever craving something so badly that you just have to have what ever it is your are craving? When I've found myself in that situation, truly nothing else satisfies me. That is exactly what Peter is saying to you and I in this passage, to be craving pure spiritual milk.

Haven't you ever been around a child that is crying so much that they are sobbing hysterically? That stinky old pacifier isn't going to satisfy the crying hungry child!! They need REAL nourishment. Peter calls you and I to cry out for the nourishment that can only come from God, to make it known that we need to be fed. Then to pick up the spoon and begin to feed ourselves. Just as a baby grows into a toddler, from just milk to needing something more substantial, that is how the soul of a Believer is as well. We are to be continually growing. When we are then Sunday morning is no longer enough, a devotion here and there is no longer enough, Bible study during the week is no longer enough. We then begin to need the nourishment of God's word DAILY.

When someone says, "Can't somebody feed that child?" God says, "Yes, I can!".

Do you have a desire for God's word? If not, I suggest that you pray and seek God asking Him to place that craving inside of you, so that you would cry out for pure spiritual food.

Father, I praise You for giving us Your word to feed upon daily. I am grateful that when I don't understand Your word, I can come to You asking for understanding and wisdom to discern what You would have for me. Lord, I thank You for spiritual milk, bread and meat. May I always have a craving for it and never be satisfied that I would be found no longer having a hunger. I hunger and thirst, Lord Jesus. Amen.

Dining on Your word here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Outside the camp

I removed this from my blog because I had received correction for what I had written prior to Thanksgiving. It was something that I needed to pray through and seek some guidance. This morning I felt like God said, share, be one of the One in a million.

When I finished reading from Hebrews earlier this week, the wording "outside the camp" just leapt off the page at me. When I think of modern day (our society today) terms for camp, I think of a gathering of people that have done so for enjoyment. Camp perhaps meaning a clique or your buddies, perhaps even family. Today camp doesn't always mean Believer's. With thinking of modern day terms, not BIBLICAL TERMS FOR CAMP, God reminded me that it is good to be "outside of the camp" when it comes to the worlds way of thinking.

Here is the scripture that I had found myself pondering over: Hebrews 13:11-14 NLT; "11 Under the old system, the high priest brought the blood of animals into the Holy Place as a sacrifice for sin, and the bodies of the animals were burned outside the camp. 12 So also Jesus suffered and died outside the city gates to make his people holy by means of his own blood. 13 So let us go out to him, outside the camp, and bear the disgrace he bore. 14 For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come."

I knew that in the scriptures "camp" meant the 12 tribes of Israel, I just didn't explain that because I was headed a different direction. To be placed outside of the camp in scripture was due to sin, to be un-clean. You can read about this in the Old Testament in the book of Exodus. I'm sorry that I didn't paint a clearer picture and for those that have read this, I pray that you will forgive me. It is never my point to add to God's Holy Word. I was trying to pen my thoughts of what I still feel that God was revealing to my heart, for my walk with Him in today's world. That there are times that He is calling me to remove myself from "camp" due to its unhealthiness, which can cause me to be tainted with sin and uncleanliness.

Father God, Thank You for the TRUTH of Your Word. The power that it provides to encourage us to be like Jesus, going outside the camp and bearing the disgrace by having done so. Because You have called us to be like You, You have called us to follow after You even when that means to move outside of the camp. Obedience is costly and yet blessedly rich. Father, equip us today, tomorrow and for eternity to be strong IN YOU looking forward to the home yet to come. With more love in my heart for You than ever before. Amen.

Written with love here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Silver

"Miss Yolanda, did you know that I have a frog and a fish at home? And we are gonna get a bigger aquarium?" I replied, "No Sweetie, I didn't. What kind of a fish do you have?" My sweet little girlfriend said, "It is a golden fish, and its name is Silver." "Sweetie, who named your goldfish, Silver?" "I DID!" she answered with a huge grin across her face.

Yep, that was the conversation that I had today with one of my little girlfriends at church that I love so much. This evening, God brought that back to my mind and I heard Him in my spirit say, "That is how I am. What the world sees and what I call you are two different things. The world wants to throw those I love away, but I see your heart and I see GOOD."

I love the purity of little ones and I love that MY GOD is PURE and He is GOOD!

Father, Thank You for beautiful reminders of You through the little children. Thank You that You see good and You see so much that the world never even catches a glimpse of as they are looking at the outside but You...You are all about the inside. I want to be like You Lord. I do. Amen.

Simple lesson that packs a punch! Lovingly, Yolanda at Higher Grounds

Faulty reception

For a couple of weeks now we have been having the strangest problem with the electrical outlet in our bathroom. The left hand side of the sink will not run my blow dryer but all other electrical appliances absolutely work in this very same outlet. Yet my blow dryer works just fine on the right side of the sink in a different receptacle. It is about to drive me crazy because both my Man and I cannot figure this out. It truly does not make sense.

This morning God reminded me of this as a visual that I personally need to make sure that I am plugged in to the correct receptacle myself. The One, God Himself, that is LIFE giving!! Not the enemy that is faulty, crafty, and looks like he is the way to go. The choice to feed into the enemies hand will only later find oneself/myself totally not plugged in and not working (living) correctly.

Perhaps you are like me in my current season of needing to make sure that I STAY plugged in to the One that gives life as well as causes me to make wiser decisions. That equips me to stand against the enemy of my soul. Then I would like to encourage you with a scripture that I fell in love with yesterday from the New Living Translation.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 "Be on guard. Stand true to what you believe. Be courageous. Be strong. And everything you do must be done with love."

The enemy desires to intimidate you and I. He shoots straight at our hearts and often times does damage because our hearts are our command or control centers. Our hearts are sensitive and is where our feelings live. Paul encouraged me deeply yesterday and on into today to be on guard, to stand true to what I believe, to be courageous and strong , as well as to do everything with love.

Father, thank You for placing a new desire with-in me this morning for intimacy with You. I am thankful for the visual of the faulty reception in my bathroom to remind me that if I'm not careful, that I too can have a faulty reception and be found eating out of the devils hands. Lord, You are my greatest joy and You alone are my hope. May I be found trusting in You alone, as well as a heart and mind for obedience to You. Father, here I am. I love You Lord and I praise You in the name of my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Desiring a strong connection with the True Receptor here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Do you ever have sad moments?

Girlfriends and Guy friends,

This morning I am having a sad moment in the midst of being so thankful and filling up on the JOY OF THE LORD. Do you ever do that as well? If so, would you be willing to share?

As I was reading in Romans chapter 11 with the subtitle being: God's Mercy Is for Everyone, I became sad and prayerful.

In my ponderings I must share that I'm so thankful His mercy is for everyone. I know that is a true statement. God has poured out lavishly upon me with His mercy and I know that the Word of God is true from beginning to end. Chapter 11 vs 25b NLT "Some of the Jews have hard hearts, but this will last only until the complete number of Gentiles comes to Christ."

Father, It saddens me so that my family as gentiles have hard hearts. I so desire that they would know the JOY OF THE LORD and rely upon Him in a very personal way. My desire for them is not RELIGION but truly a RELATIONSHIP. It isn't only about Sunday morning, or when one feels like it. Relationship and truly being a Christian is all about inhaling and exhaling Jesus Christ. I truly believe that Your desire for my family is that they know You as well, Father. I am grateful that my heart was melted and that I reached out for God's Mercy, Your Mercy Father. I ask that my family would be found doing the same. In Christ's precious Name, Amen.

Prayerfully here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Or don't you care?

"Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?" Romans 2:4 NLT from Biblegateway. In the translation I have it reads, "Or don't you care?".

Does this mean nothing to you? Hmmmm.....don't you care?

The Lord really spoke to my heart about this because He has been wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient with me. He isn't asking me about my Brothers and Sisters, He is asking me about MYSELF!

Father, I pray that my life actions and thoughts display that I do care. I pray that what You have done for me and in me does mean something, it means the world to me. You Father mean the world to me. That my heart has been changed and that the change causes me to seek Your praise God, not others. That my eyes will be found on my own actions and not others. Lord, that You would say, Yes, Yolanda does care, I mean something to her. In Christ's name, Amen.

Lovingly as I desire the Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Awaken me, Lord, awaken me

From my journal this morning as of 11/2/09:

Father, I don't want to be a fake. I also do not want to be the 5 virgins that have no oil, nor the 9 lepers found not giving thanks. Lord, awaken my soul, awaken me Lord.

There are times that I can sit with my journal and my heart pours out, things get written that I had no idea was tucked inside of me. This happened to be one of those mornings. I wanted to see if there was a scripture that had the word awaken in it. I had no idea, and I almost always get blown away when I do this, because God confirms what I sense that He has spoken in my soul.

Psalm 57:7-8 Amplified:

7My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is steadfast and confident! I will sing and make melody.
8Awake, my glory (my inner self); awake, harp and lyre! I will awake right early [I will awaken the dawn]!

Instantly I said, devil out of here, you are the one placing these doubts in my head. I am a child of the King, I am CONFIDENT of this. My heart will remain STEADFAST, I WILL SING AND MAKE MELODY. My heart is fixed ON GOD. Awaken my inner self (soul), O Father, as Only YOU can do, awaken me Lord. In Jesus' beautiful name, Amen.

May our hearts be awakened and found fixed on God as we climb to Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

PS: I realized also after having written this that we sang a song yesterday that I didn't know in our services that had the word, awake in the lyrics. If I find out the name of the song, I'll post it.

Open thy mouth

Seems that God and I have been laying low. Perhaps more me than God as God has been waiting on me. He is good at that, waiting. He knows full well that I am not!

This morning I awoke after only 5 hours of sleep at 4:00 a.m. I thought to myself, if I lay here for 15 minutes and I don't fall back to sleep, then God must want me up. Just so you'll know, God won that little battle. :-)

He has given me a cool drink of refreshing water this morning. Waiting makes life so much richer and fuller. Have you come to realize that as well? Perhaps you are like me and seem to be found wanting, hungering, waiting, or perhaps even seeking more of Jesus. Our ladies CBS is working through Priscilla Shirer's, "ONE in a million" study currently. It's causing me to do some soul searching and confirming to me that He wants a deep relationship with me, not shallow. That I would be ONE in a million. This study begins with the Israelites going out into the wilderness. I feel like I may be on a wilderness travel currently myself. Therefore, I'm praying and asking God, what are You showing me? Am I not getting it? Then this morning I read Psalm 81:10 from a friends heart, and I knew that I knew that was a word for me. At 4:36 a.m., I grabbed my NIV and said, thank You Lord. I am blessed!!

Psalm 81:10 NLT "For it was I, the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things."

Father, thank You for a fresh word. Thank You for being the LORD my God. Thank You for rescuing me from Egypt and the wandering that I found myself participating in. I open my mouth wide this morning Father, knowing YOU will fill it with good things. Father, I pray that if there is one reading my heart today, that they too would be found opening thy mouth. In the precious Son's name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly reaching for Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Don't turn your back

For two days the waves have been large and strong, so strong that you really don't see many people out in the water. A friend reminded me that when you only see the locals in the water, stay out! I am in total agreement with that statement.

Yesterday there was a gentleman that turned his back on the ocean and the next thing that happened....his heart was no longer beating and he had a huge gash on his head. Instantly people came to help and someone shouted....we got a heart beat. Thank You Father, thank You.

This morning it got me to thinking about how in the good fight of faith, you and I must never ever turn our back. When we do the enemy is right there ROARING like the waves of the ocean and he will knock us down, knock us out, and he truly goes for our heart every time.

When we stand strong we are not turning our backs on God either. I found this from the Message, 2 Timothy 2:8b: "This is a sure thing: If we die with him, we'll live with him; If we stick it out with him, we'll rule with him; If we turn our backs on him, he'll turn his back on us; If we give up on him, he does not give up— for there's no way he can be false to himself.

Father, Thank You for not turning Your back on us. Thank You for continuing to place Your hand upon us to draw us to You. To not let go, but to seek You every single day, and that we will being to seek You for every moment. Lord, may today, tomorrow and always....we be found standing strong in You. I love You Lord Jesus. Amen.

Lovingly,
Yolanda at Higher Grounds

I am putting my thinking cap on

I awoke with a deep desire this morning to be more purposeful with my words, my thoughts and my actions. I want to be a woman of purpose. I desire to please my God, my Lord and Savior, and the Holy Spirit. My desire is to be found, as a woman, with a HOT heart after God.

So as sipped a cup of decaf orange tea allowing the sun to rise here on Maui, I looked up to watch my Creator, GOD Himself, delight me.



Then I came back from snapping this picture to a sweet time with my Lord in Romans 8. Verse 5-6 NIV "Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace".

So there you have it, God spoke and confirmed what the Spirit had already placed on my heart earlier when I awoke this morning.

Father God, Thank You for confirmation. Thank You for Your creation as well as the written word of God. Thank You for loving me and showing me how to become more like You. Holy and blameless. To set my mind on the things the Spirit desires. That I would allow the Spirit to be the very fibers of my thinking cap. The mind that You gave me. Thank You Abba, thank You. I love you and desire a heart that pleases You. Lovingly looking to my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

With much love here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

They will listen!

This morning I finished reading in Acts and was so encouraged. I've been needing a good dose of encouragement, and perhaps like me, you have as well.

Acts 28:26-31 NIV is where I am coming from with this post. To read it in it's entirety please click here. Where I became encouraged is the fact that I cried out this morning to God asking Him to help me become a woman that is gentle and full of grace. While hearing Paul through the writing of his words I met God. Verse 28 beats deeply with-in me this morning: "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

Lord, I thank You for speaking to each one of us right where we are at. Thank You for Your words and heart penned all those years ago that still breathe life into us. Thank You for encouraging me this morning and that I truly do desire to listen. Father, I go boldly to others because I desire to teach them what I have learned from You. To teach them that I am not bound in chains and my HOPE and FREEDOM are found in You. I pray that we all would have ears to hear and eyes to see. Thank You Lord Jesus. Amen.

Lovingly as I continue seeking Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

This is my desire

What do you add to the Body of Christ that causes another to hunger and thirst for Jesus? To not be just status quo, but for more of Jesus?

I know for myself that I hunger for a deeper and fuller sense of the fruits of the spirit. I tend to think of these fruits as delicious, tantalizing, causing me to desire more as I watch other members of the Body of Christ. More as in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control.

Antonyms of these 9 words: hate, sorrow, war (turmoil and chaos), impatient, unkindness (envy & cruelty), bad or evil, unkind or wild, infidelity, self-indulgence or bluntness.

I've spent a few days with close Girlfriends that all hunger and thirst for more of Jesus, just like myself. It is so refreshing as we encourage one another to keep seeking Him and to simply finish this life causing God to be delighted in us. I'm thankful for them and their friendship.

I returned thinking about how I tend to season a dish that I am preparing to cause enjoyment for those that will be feasting with me at my table. You and I as Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ are told to be salt and light. Matthew 5:13-14 NIV "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."

So what am I allowing God to season or add to me as He prepares me to cause enjoyment and encouragement for those that He places in my path to hunger and thirst for HIM as they come to feast with me at His table? To be a light in our very dark world?

Father God, You are Truth. You are the very essence that causes us to become salty and You alone pour light into our earthly vessels. I humbly ask Father that You would season not only myself but my Brothers and Sisters and that Your LIGHT would be evident in us to all of the human race. Lord, this is my desire. In the loving name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

With much love as we step up to Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Changing of the seasons

The first day of fall earlier this week brought moisture, cooler temperatures and JOY TO MY HEART here in Southwest Kansas. I am one that truly enjoys the changing of the four seasons. While I do have certain seasons that I enjoy more than others, I still enjoy the changing of any season in the natural realm. Some seasons are down right hard in the spiritual realm, but they are all meant to bring honor and glory to Our Father. I do believe as well that in time, they bring joy to our hearts as well simply because they are meant to draw us closer to our Father. (I say OUR for any that have accepted and believe upon the name of Jesus)

Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers and the flowers fall but the word of God stands forever.

Father, thank You that Your word has been preserved and is still TRUTH from Genesis 1:1 clear through to Revelation 22:21. It will stand forever and that even though our world will wither and fall we still have the HOPE and PROMISE of eternity with You. Lord, thank You for the changing of seasons and for those that find themselves in the midst of a challenging spiritual season, I ask that You would comfort them and allow them to see Your hand upon and in their lives. That we would ALL draw closer to You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all (Rev 22:21). With much love here at Higher Grounds, Yolanda

Given a precious gift

I'm so thankful that God is not in a box. I'm so thankful that God does the extraordinary. I'm so thankful that Jesus fulfilled the calling on His earthly life!

Acts 10 and 11 cause joy to bubble up with-in the deepness of my soul and I am thankful for God's written word this morning to remind me of the precious GIFT He has given to me and to you. Will you open His GIFT of the written word of God? Will you receive His GIFT of eternal life? Will you return thanking and praising Him for the GIFT of being included in His family by having accepted The GIFT of Salvation?

Acts 10:13-15 NIV "Then a voice told him, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 'Surely not, Lord!' Peter replied. 'I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.' The voice spoke to him a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' "

Then God sends Peter to a gentile Roman army officer by the name of Cornelius. God had already spoken to Cornelius and told him where to go exactly and who to ask for by name. SIMON PETER. Why? Because God had seen the heart of Cornelius. Because Peter had already had a visit as well by God, he was obedient to travel to Caesarea, to the home of Cornelius. WHY? Because God was showing Simon Peter as well as the WORLD that Jesus died for God's Chosen People, the Jewish Nation as well as the Gentile's. FOR ALL WHO WOULD BELIEVE AND RECEIVE. Totally because of God's GRACE and His sovereignty.

Acts 10:34-35 NIV "Then Peter began to speak: 'I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.' "

Are you sitting on the edge of your seat as well, like me? Are you praising God for having paved the way that you and I could spend eternity with Him instead of with the devil?

I close with Acts 11:23 NIV "When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts."

Father, Thank You that when YOU tell me that something is acceptable, it simply is. That You made me be acceptable through the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST and the washing of Your word. Changing my impurity into cleanliness. I desire to remain true to YOU LORD with all of my heart and I desire that for each one that comes and spends time here at Higher Grounds. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Lovingly,
Yolanda

God knows our hearts

Remember Saul? Saul, who persecuted the church? Saul, who had an EMMAUS experience on the road to Damascus? Saul, who God changed his name to Paul?

Oh, what hope you and I have because of the examples God chose to give to us through Paul in HIS PRESERVED WORD!

Acts 9:26 NLT

"When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to meet with the believers, but they were all afraid of him. They thought he was only pretending to be a believer?"

I know that word well, pretending. Perhaps even as a reproach that others attached the word, pretending onto me in the beginning of my walk. Why? Because I had a 180 degree conversion due to the melting of my heart, the opening of my eyes, the understanding that ALL are sinners, and that I must repent. In the twinkling of an eye, and others thought I was only pretending. I must brag on God, because He alone was the reason behind the results. He gently worked with me to change the rotten fruit to healthy fruit. THANK YOU FATHER.

Acts 9:28 NLT

"Then the apostles accepted Saul and after that he was constantly with them in Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord."

I want to encourage each one of you, to continue in the process God has you in and come through to the other side. You will be forever grateful that you did!!!! I desire for you to remember that when the world assumes you are pretending, God alone knows. Girlfriends and Guy friends continue to step out in faith with Him and for Him.

Father God, thank You for knowing my heart. That my heart is not pretending to be something that I am not when it comes to my love for You. Thank You that others have accepted that and join with me in BOLDLY proclaiming the name of the Lord. Lord, I love You and want to please You. In my Savior's holy name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Dwell

Last week I was asked to participate in building an acrostic for the word, dwell. I began to ponder this word over the weekend and then this morning I was hit afresh. My daily reading had the word "dwelling" in it, so I knew that God was wanting me to spend a little time on this word.

Dwell from the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary: 1 : to remain for a time 2 a : to live as a resident b : exist, lie 3 a : to keep the attention directed —used with on or upon b : to speak or write insistently —used with on or upon. Then their Thesaurus had: reside, live, lodge, sojourn, stay, put up, stop.

Dwell: to remain for a time. I think of slowing down, resting, pondering/meditating, being still, to listen. Psalm 46:10 NIV is a scripture that quickly comes to my mind as I'm writing this out this morning. "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

The acrostic that I came up with for myself using the word dwell:

Drinking
Wisdom
Else
Loosing
Likeness

If I will slow down and allow myself to drink in His wisdom then I will not loose His reflection/likeness when I look in the mirror. Because when I choose to dwell with HIM, then I take on HIS like-ness. I truly do not want to loose that!

I leave you with the verse that caused my heart to further share the word dwell with each of you today as well as for myself to dig a little deeper: "However, the Most High doesn't live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Could you ever build me a temple as good as that?’ asks the Lord. ‘Could you build a dwelling place for me? Didn’t I make everything in heaven and earth?'" NLT

Father, Thank You once again for getting my attention. Thank You for the ability to have YOU dwell with-in me instead of a building or structure made by man's hands. Your temple is my body and I am humbled to KNOW that You and I will dwell with one another for eternity. I come asking that while here on earth that I be reminded to sit and dwell with You allowing the world to go right on by as we sit and drink of You. I love You Father! Amen.

Lovingly as I long to dwell with Him stepping towards Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Leaving you with a gift

Sisters and brothers, if you've spent any time here lately, by now you can tell that as I continue in my daily bible reading, that the scriptures are really speaking to me in my own time of need. You can tell that we are in a time of testing as well as having a close family member that is ill. This morning I feel extremely comforted by God's word, and I pray that what He used to comfort me, will comfort you as well.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV is what was running through my mind as I awoke this morning. I kid you not, simply amazing how the Holy Spirit works. This is a scripture that I put to memory several years ago when I was doing a Sheila Cragg study all on my own. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."

As I continue on in the book of John, God blessed me so much in verse 18 of Chapter 14, "I will not abandon you." I do not wish to take things out of context, but this leapt off the page and into my heart. He will NOT abandon me, and He WILL NOT ABANDON YOU either. BELIEVE HIM in your own hour of need!

Verse 26 "the Holy Spirit - he will teach you......and will remind you"; oh Yes He did that very thing early this morning before I ever arose out of the bed and later with my coffee and His word. THANK YOU LORD, THANK YOU!

And I close with verse 27 as I continue to be amazed after almost 10 years of closely walking with MY Lord and Savior. "I am leaving you with a gift - peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give isn't like the peace the world gives. So don't be troubled or afraid." Lord Jesus, peace of mind as well as peace of heart? OH YES! That is what I desire and my loved one as well.

Father, Thank You for the peace of mind and heart in troubling circumstances. I am thankful that while circumstances are not what we would like in the current, it is well with my soul. Father, Thank You for reminding me that You will not abandon me, nor my sweet relative as she knows You and I believe that You know her as well. Father, Thank You that You sent me a teacher and a comforter through the Holy Spirit. May the Holy Spirit lead me into ALL Truths. Father, I ask that You would comfort others that may have stopped in to read what You have laid on my heart. In the MIGHTY HEALING NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. Amen.

Lovingly from Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Glory of God

But when Jesus heard about it he said, “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” John 11:4 NLT

With so much sickness in the world around us, as well as suffering, it is a very natural thing to question why? Why Lord? Why is .... suffering with cancer? Why Lord is ..... suffering with this stroke?

It happened for the glory of God, that He would receive glory from this. Isn't that the very reason behind our purpose here on earth? To bring honor and GLORY to His Name?

Exodus 9:15-17 NIV: For by now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague that would have wiped you off the earth. But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. You still set yourself against my people and will not let them go.


Please know from my heart to yours, that I honestly don't have the answers, but I know that God does and that His Word has answers. That is where I MUST place my trust and where I choose to place my trust. I'm not making light of any hurts or suffering, it surrounds us all.

Father, Not my will but YOURS. May my words and actions today and the tomorrows after that bring HONOR and GLORY to YOUR NAME. Amen.


Lovingly,
Yolanda


**I wrote this early this morning after my husband received a phone call to quickly come to the hospital. Then I placed it as an edit instead of going ahead and posting. Close to noon we decided to take a break and come home for just bit and then head back to the hospital. While being here at home my husband asked me: "Yolanda, what is the answer? What do I say when I'm being asked why God would allow something to happen?". My reply to him, "Babe, God placed something on my heart this morning, and I simply think the answer is, that through our actions and reactions, to be aware of others as much as possible and to simply bring Honor and Glory to God." God is SOVEREIGN.

Would you like to get well?

"When Jesus saw him and knew how long he had been ill, he asked him, 'Would you like to get well?'" John 5:6b-7a

And you know what the man said in response to Jesus' question to him? "I can't, sir", oh man here is the One that could truly heal him and his response is I can't. Why? Because he had his eyes on his circumstances instead of The Healer.

Girlfriends and Guy friends there is only one way to be in communion with God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. "Jesus told them, 'This is what God wants you to do: Believe in the one he has sent.'" John 6:29 When we believe and receive Jesus as Lord of our lives, there should be no room for legalism. We are to be filled with God's grace and mercy and point others to The Healer.

So I ask you, Would you like to get well? Then believe that Jesus is the Son of God, sent to earth in human form to die on the cross at Calvary for your sins, my sins and the sins of the world. He died and three days later rose from the grave. He now sits at the right hand of the father, interceding for us. BELIEVE, RECEIVE. HE IS ALIVE!

With much love here at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Sunday School

Girlfriends, don't you just love Sunday School? I'm telling you it is just like being in Church to me and for me. I get fed, I get encouraged, I get a cool drink of LIVING WATER when I come in prepared to meet My Jesus.

We talked yesterday morning about the seed of promise through Abraham, we talked about the Law being given to the children of Israel, and we just got to touch on the gift of grace through Jesus Christ as our hour was up.

The reason why I'm so excited yet this morning is I have moved into the book of John and chapter 1 verse 17 just leapt of the page this morning with new meaning and FRESHNESS. "For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ." Then chapter 3 verse 36, "And all who believe in God's Son have eternal life."

For any of us that attended the LPM Live event or Simulcast this past weekend were encouraged to sip with a straw The Living Water. Hang with me as I've sipped with my straw this morning and I just about can't contain myself to stay seated, chapter 4 of John vs 34, "My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work." The very words of Jesus in this verse, and yet I truly believe that our nourishment as we are found sipping through the straw is doing the will of God.

Father, Thank You for freshness, for new mornings, for Sunday School, for Your WORD. Thank You Father for confirmation, for the Holy Spirit, and for the beautiful gift of grace. Grace that rewards like we never could have hoped, dreamed or imagined. Father I love how Your Word is a perpetual spring, always giving to me as I come with a parched soul in need of nourishment. Praise You Father, Praise You. In the MIGHTY Saving Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly,
Yolanda at Higher Grounds

**Scriptures are from New Living Translation**

God's word is so alive!

Does God's word seem more alive to you in your current season, or is it just me? Is it due to being in His word more and more all the time? Is it from choosing a different translation to do so for my daily bible reading? Is it from walking with God almost 10 years and surrendering with out walking away from Him? I really don't know the answer, but the beauty part is that I am so hungry for God's word and what He has to tell me THIS day.



If you've been following me for any length of time then you know I'm currently in Luke. Luke 9:45 New Living Translation just blew me away this week and I really can't get it off of my mind. Jesus in verses 43b through 45 is predicting his death to his disciples when all of a sudden God shares with us that the disciples didn't understand what Jesus had told them. But they left it at that, they never asked Jesus to explain in further detail, they didn't tell Jesus that they were confused, they didn't tell Jesus to wait a minute and tell them again. WHY? The answer is in verse 45b "they were afraid to ask him about it."



Father, there are so many things that we all are working through and are finding ourselves in the midst of not understanding. I know that there are items You desire for us to not know, perhaps simply because we don't need to know. YET, LORD, may today You find us not afraid to ask You about any given situation. May our fear of You be a righteous and holy fear. But not the fear that causes us to sit back and be afraid to ask. Lord, thank You for speaking to me through Your precious and LIVING Word. In Your Son's Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.



Lovingly at Higher Grounds,

Yolanda

I'll try again

Have you ever thought, "Lord, why am I doing this?" Or perhaps, "Again?" Or even "Why do I feel like I'm not supposed to let go of this?"

I most certainly have and I saw something beautiful and felt like God gave me an answer for those very questions that I've been asking. You must know that in the midst of my asking I know He always has you and I doing "what-ever" to simply bring GLORY AND HONOR TO HIS NAME. But this afternoon I wasn't looking for an answer to my questions, I was simply reading along in Luke when...there was my answer.

"Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, we'll try again." Luke 5:5 NLT

BUT IF YOU SAY SO, MASTER, I'LL TRY AGAIN.

Later Jesus tells Simon to not be afraid as well as from now on you'll be fishing for people.

Father, MASTER, LORD OF MY LIFE, I will get up, grab Your life-line and try again. I know that You do not want me being afraid. I also know that I am compassionate and that further gives me reason to try again. Thank You Lord, for speaking to me and giving me the ears to hear and eyes to see. Thank You for not being finished with me....yet. In Christ's Name, Amen.

Lovingly clinging to my Lord and Savior as He calls me to Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

I will not leave you comfortless

This morning I awoke not really with a heaviness but more like an awareness of my surroundings and the hearts of my family/friends/acquaintances. There is so much need in our world today, and my world seems to have gotten bigger with being retired as well as where Higher Grounds has taken me. I've met some of you literally and others I hope for the chance to sit over coffee or tea this side of heaven sharing our lives. The word that just kept rolling around in my mind and in my heart for the past couple of hours is: comfort.

Then I wrote this in my journal, just letting my pen flow:

I will not leave you comfortless

So I grabbed my Strongs Concordance and there wasn't anything in there for "comfortless". So I just typed those very words into the world wide webb and found that it is part of John 14:18 KJV. Oh I love how the Holy Spirit does that, don't you? I'm a NIV woman, I'm just sayin'.

John 14:18 KJV "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."


The Holy Spirit also brought to my mind a scripture I learned a few years back:

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."


Father, I ask that You would comfort my friends and family that are hurting right now. Hurting because of saying Good-bye to a spouse for a time period due to jobs. Hurting because of un-known test results. Hurting because of illness. Hurting because they have an empty home this week due to school being in session. Hurting because of loss, all kinds of loss. Thank You Lord that You do not leave us comfortless. You are our comforter. In the saving name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

I truly pray that who-ever you are, that you are comforted today here at Higher Grounds.

Lovingly,

Yolanda

Storms of life

I awoke this morning to overcast skies and the opportunity awaits for perhaps a drink from the heaven-lies later today. OH YES LORD! But as I came for a drink from God's word I found myself soaking in Mark 4. Parables galore and many opportunities to ponder, to reflect upon what it was and still today is that Jesus desired to teach us.

This side of heaven, most of us face day to day storms in our lives. Some we know about, many we do not. Why? Often times simply because of how we choose to live out those storms, other times because we aren't secure in our relationship with our Abba due to a lacking on our part of the relationship. Trusting God or trusting in ourselves. Yet other times we do know about each others storms because we unite and ask one another for prayers.

Jesus spoke to his disciples in the boat something that this morning I found very profound. "And he asked the, 'Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?' " Mark 4:40 NLT

Father God, Thank You that in Ecclesiastes You tell me that a three cord stand cannot be broken. Thank You for Matthew 15:25 "Lord, help me!". Thank You for Jeremiah 32:17 "O Sovereign Lord!" "Nothing is too hard for you!". And thank You Father for the one that said, help me with my unbelief. Lord, May today, in the midst of the storms of life may Your lips state, ah, she/he has faith in Me. Thank You Lord, for calming me (us) in the midst of the raging waters. In Jesus Christ's Name, Amen.

Lovingly at Higher Grounds with Jesus,
Yolanda

Hope

Do you have a particular word that just means so much to you? Mine is BELIEVE. The coolest thing is that God had already stirred me to write on hope when yesterday a lady crossed my path at a coffee shop. I was sharing with her about BELIEVE when she said her word is HOPE. How about a little confirmation???!!! A few of the words I have chosen from my pocket Thesaurus for HOPE reads: look, await, yearn, hunger, thirst, pine, trust, anticipate. HOPE. We all could use a little hope right about now.



Matthew 12:20-21 NLT



"He will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory. And his name will be the hope of all the world."



JESUS is our hope! He does not quench the smallest hope meaning that He WILL NOT snuff out your hope or mine. If He doesn't, we shouldn't quench the hope of one another either. Perhaps we could offer another hope? I believe, YES, by not raining on their parade, by being salt and light, by allowing God to use us to be encouragement into each others days and hearts. Will you let God use you today?



Father, You continue to encourage me and open my eyes as I spend time with You. I'm eternally grateful for You. The hope that You have poured into me continues to blossom and grow. I thank You for those that allow themselves to be used by You to pour into my own heart. Father, thank You for the HOPE we have in the shed blood of Jesus Christ. In the saving name of Jesus Christ. Amen.



Lovingly,

Yolanda at Higher Grounds

The burden I give you is light

Do you feel that the burden you are carrying is heavy? Do you feel overwhelmed and at a loss for answers? **Have you become this way due to excessive demands of religious leaders? (**Don't stone me, that came about due to a footnote in my Life Application Bible that left me pondering as well!) Has life lately taken its toll? If you've answered yes then I'd like to invite you to come...come.

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matthew 11:28-30 The Message. (Paraphrase)

Verse 30 in other translations states that Jesus says His burden is light. And you know Girlfriends and Guy friends after walking with Jesus for almost 10 years, I see truth in that statement. When I let go of my self and allow myself to walk in obedience to God and His word and the promptings of the Holy Spirit....that burden of obedience becomes so very very light.

Father God, We desire to get away with you, to walk with You and to work with You. Father the burdens of this world cause us to become weary and heavy laden. We know first hand of sickness, unemployment, the welfare of our economy, death, abuses, divorce, rejection and betrayal. Father, teach us the unforced rhythms of grace. To lay these concerns at Your feet, to trust You with them, and to BELIEVE for Your very best. Your Will Father, Your Will not mine. We love You and ask this in Your Son's Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly as I continue seeking Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

God's own special treasure

This morning as I closed the pages of the Old Testament and opened the pages of the New Testament in my reading through the bible this year, I have been left pondering. Pondering which will I choose? Pondering do I believe all of God's word, or bits and pieces? Pondering as I look out into our yard this morning watching the wind blow at our hide away causing the trees, of all sizes, to bend and sway, yet still rooted and grounded, am I like this?

Will I choose to stand for God and His Word or will I be swayed by the world? If I believe the entirety of God's Word, then I must believe what He says about me as well. Am I still rooted in God's TRUTHS when the winds of life assault me?

I thoroughly BELIEVE GOD'S WORD. I have days that I stand so strong for God and I have moments where I buckle and I become quiet especially when it concerns touchy subjects with our families. I have strong convictions but I honestly haven't learned how to become soft with my tone and yet strong with the underlying message. So I either CUT or I become passive on the outside. If I come across your mind in the days ahead, would you pray for me?

Here is where I rest this morning and what began the pondering in my mind and heart.

Malachi 3:16-18 NLT

The Lord’s Promise of Mercy

Then those who feared the Lord spoke with each other, and the Lord listened to what they said. In his presence, a scroll of remembrance was written to record the names of those who feared him and always thought about the honor of his name. “They will be my people,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “On the day when I act in judgment, they will be my own special treasure. I will spare them as a father spares an obedient child. Then you will again see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.”

Father, Thank You that I am Your special treasure. That I hunger to serve You, to be known by You and to know You. That I BELIEVE You, Father, help me when doubt and unbelief begin to creep in. When the storms of life beat against me, may I stay rooted in You. Cause my mind to think upon You all the day long. May I honor Your name, the saving Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly as I hunger for the Higher Grounds of My Jesus,
Yolanda

PS: If you have the time, check this scripture from The Message!

What are you looking through?

It is a VERY good thing that I didn't take a picture! A VERY GOOD THING INDEED. When we built our home, I chose to not have window treatments. Our nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away, and our windows have a lovely prism type pattern in-grained in each window pane. I enjoy looking out to see the wildlife, the sunrise and sunsets. Honestly that wasn't very feasible the past couple of months. While I love to look out and see the beauty that surrounds us, I DETEST WINDOW WASHING.

Now a little insight, my sweet and precious husband enjoys window washing. Yet he has been just a tad on the busy side of life here lately, so they were in much need of a good cleansing. He generally cleans the outside and I work on the inside. A great team accomplishment when all is said and done.

Aren't you and I like that from time to time? Perhaps you are like me and need a good cleaning daily? I am so thankful for the mornings that I don't have some place to be super early that I can have that much needed alone time with God. Time to dig in His word, time to be participating in an in-depth bible study, time to journal, time to work on scripture memorization, time to simply be still and wait on God.

So, I ask again, what are you looking through? Are the eyes of your heart and soul clean and open, or has a film been placed over them to where sin doesn't stir you up to repentance? Where a change in direction can't possibly begin to take place. May I encourage you today, to allow the windows of your soul, your very eyes, to be cleansed and washed so that the radiance of Christ is able to flood in as well as be seen from others on the outside.

Ephesians 5:25-27 NIV "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless." Please look at verse 26 again: to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. Matthew 6:22-23 Message: "Your eyes are windows into your body. If you open your eyes wide in wonder and belief, your body fills up with light. If you live squinty-eyed in greed and distrust, your body is a dank cellar. If you pull the blinds on your windows, what a dark life you will have!"

Father God, Thank You for cleansing us through allowing Your Word to take root into our very belief systems. That we come to trust You by allowing a scrubbing from time to time that opens our eyes to Your TRUTHS. This in turn changes us to become holy and blameless, a beautiful sanctification process. Father, We adore You. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly through the fresh washed windows of my heart at Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

Knitting and using the tools needed

I've often been told by women that have retired before me that your time and days go so much faster when you are no longer working for a paycheck. As one that is now on the other side of the trail, they are RIGHT! One of the fun things that I am doing now is learning to knit. I've crocheted since I was 7 and still love to do so, but had worked at knitting the year after I got out of college. One year, and that my friends was many years ago!





If you are into needle work of any kind then I believe this will resonate within your hearts as it does mine.

1. To knit, one has tools. Needles, patterns, yarns, scissors, stitch keeper, charts/graphs, ruler or tape measure.

As God's children, He has given us tools as well. His word is what we are to pattern our very lives after or against. It can cut away the ugly that is in us, it can keep the good as well as being a plumb line to measure against. A great quote that I came across some time ago from Our Daily Bread: Keep your tools ready--God will find work for you. Now will you allow Him to find work for you?

2. There are no two projects alike. We generally will use a different tension each time depending upon the tension that we ourselves are holding on the inside of us. There are different colors of yarn as well as actual patterns.







As God's children there are no two of us alike. God uses a different pattern for each one of us clear down to our DNA. WE ARE DIFFERENT, God intended for us to be! That should cut you and I a lot of slack and allow us freedom to simply be...ME. YOU.



3. As we are knitting a particular project the article continues to grow until it is finished. This article can also be stretched and yet it bounces back to its original shape.



As God's children we continue to grow spiritually (mature spiritually) as well until our completion. That being WHEN Jesus comes to take us to our heavenly home. We too can be stretched but if we stay in obedience to God's word and the Holy Spirit we too will bounce back because His Word does just that. We believe Him and not the world we will bounce back to the "shape" He designed us to be.




4. Knitting is the process of moving the yarn from one needle to the other, the intention is for the process to have a gliding affect from one needle to the other. It is such a smooth craft once it has been mastered. I also have noticed this week that as I continue knitting it calms me. I've also used this opportunity to pray for those on my prayer listing. It is a sweet time for my Abba and I, together we are knitting not only in the physical but the spiritual.



As God's children when we allow Him to move us from one situation to another (trial or test), walking in obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, it has a smooth gliding affect on us as well. When we allow Him to be our guide and to knit us during the situation we too can be calm and cause one another to be calm or softer as well.





What distinguishes being God's children? “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”- John 1:12-13 NIV



Psalm 139:13-14 NIV "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.".



Father God, thank You once again for speaking truths to my heart and showing me those truths through visuals. May I today, tomorrow and forever be found allowing You the workings of the threads that knit me together as You so desire. To accomplish Your purpose and Your will. Thank You for knitting me together in my mother's womb. For the gift of physical life and the gift of eternal life. Thank You for the promise that I am Your child. I love You Father like crazy and may my actions reflect just that. In Your Son's Saving Name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Lovingly from Higher Grounds,

Yolanda

Standing

Today is a celebration in our home, a celebration ringing true of Genesis 50:20. From the NIV "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." as well as the Message "Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people."

There words were spoken from Joshua's mouth about his brothers as they truly had meant to harm him. From Yolanda's mouth it represents my flesh and having allowed myself to be used by the enemy to bring about destruction. In my life and the lives of others. With that, others then in turn have meant to harm me, to keep me in my reproach. But TODAY...I'm still standing and I'm standing on God's truths that He redeemed me from a HUGE pit. That He has intended good for me from the beginning of time. That He knew all of this yet He formed me in my mother's womb and allowed His Son to die for me. That through my testimony others are coming to know Him, love Him, serve Him and obey Him. Not because of me, but because I've allowed God to have the reigns in my daily life choices. (Hint, I still make mistakes, but they aren't thought out, deliberate wrong choices as they were before Jesus Christ and I got personal!)

Father, thank You! Simply, thank You and I love you. Amen.

I want to encourage you to BELIEVE GOD, get into the Word of God, and come forth, still standing.

Lovingly on HIGHER GROUNDS,
Yolanda

What do you and I see?

When I looked at this picture once I removed it off of my camera card, I instantly thought of God's Binoculars. It is just what my mind saw, perhaps you see something totally different. Isn't that the way it is with God's word? He speaks to each of us differently from the very same exact set of scriptures. Often times He speaks to you and I differently from one day to the next as well.
This morning I received this thought in my in-box with no credit attached so therefore I'm assuming the author is unknown: Our goal is to stay within the boundaries of God's plan for us.

• How do you and I stay within the boundaries that God has for us? By being in His word. If you have spent any time here at Higher Grounds or received them via e-mail, then you already realize how important being in God's word is to me. And how important walking in love is as well. God's Word is how God feeds me, reveals to me His plan, lavishes His love on me, and corrects me.
• One of the very things that God requires of SOLID true believers is to love as He loves. We have been given that ability the moment we accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He poured His spirit into us and with that pouring came His love. We simply have to tap into it, apply it, choose to love, and see the truth of His word.
• 1 John 4:7-12 NIV: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. "
• "Jesus did not come to make God's love possible, but to make God's love visible." Unknown
• I'm wondering, IS GOD'S LOVE EVIDENT AND VISIBLE IN ME? As you've spent time in God's word this morning, what is it that you see? What is He asking and showing you? I'm so thankful that when He looks at you and I, He sees the Blood of Jesus Christ. Thank You Father, thank You Jesus, thank You Holy Spirit.

Lovingly as I reach for His Higher Grounds that He has intended for me all along,
Yolanda

Literally from Higher Grounds

**Picture is added**

This morning at the breakfast table we prayed for God to show us favor over our day. Specifically with His creation as we had plans to travel to the top of Trinchera peak in South Eastern Colorado. The only way to this peak that sits at 13,517 feet is by foot or 4-wheeler. It was an awesome 4 1/2 hours on our 4-wheelers. We saw so much beauty surrounding us it was simply amazing.









God showed off big time! We saw several does, a prairie chicken, a partridge, an abundance of wild flowers and at the very top....I heard a sound. I thought perhaps wolves, I even stated it sounded like that instead of dogs. Lo and behold in about 10 minutes down below us, out of the trees came at least 150 elk in a herd if not 200. It was the most amazing sight! I do have pictures but I didn't bring my card reader. Perhaps you are returning to get a glimpse of His majestic creation, as these animals truly are majestic! This is just one part of the meadow & elk, so you can imagine how many there were. AWESOME!



I do have a picture to share with you as I'm literally on HIGHER GROUNDS.







God is faithful, I truly desire to give Him thanks and honor for a magnificent day today. Not only today but each and every day. I close with my last scripture reading as it speaks loud and clear. I pray that it blesses you as well.




Micah 7:18-20 NLT "Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago."

Father, thank You for delighting in showing me your unfailing love. Your favor, Your faithfulness, Your compassion. For pardoning my guilt and including me as the remnant. Thank You Abba. Amen.

Lovingly from Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

You may be in the process of bristling or shedding, which will it be?

I was very happy to have found this small piece of snake skin that had been shed in our yard. This is visual of what God had already been showing me in my mind to educate me with what He was wanting to accomplish in my heart.

The more time I spend in God's word, with God in prayer and with like-minded Believer's the more I become aware of my own convictions. A conviction is between God and me, not what some one tries to put on me. A conviction is what God and I still need to work on to accomplish in me to become more like Him. To become Holy and Blameless which today I see as a beautiful sanctification process. It is beautiful to my heart because when I cross over to the other side from that conviction with Him, I am so incredibly filled with joy. This will continue until the day He comes for me to spend eternity with Him away from this world as we know it.

The visual is that I can bristle up and have a hard heart (calloused) to His word and the promptings the Holy Spirit is giving me or I can SHED what it is that God is asking of me. Totally a choice, nothing is forced upon me. When I choose to allow the shedding process, it becomes a beautiful act of obedience.

I will admit that I am NOT a snake lover but before a snake sheds it's skin it is dull and often times very hard to see them. They almost become camouflaged. When they shed their skin they become vibrant and much more prominent in their coloring. Isn't that how we are? When we don't loose the negative stuff that isn't pleasing to God aren't we dull and isn't He hidden? But when we submit and surrender to our convictions the more vibrant HE is through us.

Matthew 13:14-16 NIV "In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Other-wise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear."

Lord, keep me teachable! Proverbs 14:6 AMP "A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands."

Lovingly from the one that is walking through a shedding,

Yolanda @ Higher Grounds

Attitude.....

I looked up "attitude" in my Merriam-Webster's Pocket Thesaurus after I had already typed that for my title and got tickled. Tickled because two of the synonyms for attitude are the perfect words that I was looking for to explain what I saw last night: Posture and Position.

I've been pondering what kind of a position or posture am I in? Do I stand for God and His Word? Or do I compromise and blend in with the rest of the world? My posture speaks volumes as well as yours to those that are watching but more importantly to JESUS CHRIST.

I have some tough questions floating and perhaps you may have as well. Do I love others where they are at, loving them into the kingdom instead of brow beating them? Am I coming along side another that is perhaps making a poor choice yet showing them gently God's way? Do I walk away copping an attitude that says I knew you would do that not even showing them Jesus at all?

My bible study this week has had me re-learning about shame and guilt. The word that was used is "REPROACH". I'll be honest with you, that is a tough word for me, I just didn't get it until I went to my Thesaurus. Words can be hard for me and synonyms help me so much in grasping what a word means. Reproach: rebuke, reprimand, abuse, condemn, disgrace. When we are being forced to stay in our reproach we can get a 'tude to the max. Or we can get low so low that our chin hits the floor. We don't want to be seen because of a c.o.m.p.r.o.m.i.s.e. that we allowed to happen. **I snapped this in my own back-yard**

For the sake of this writing, I'm not wanting us to think of ATTITUDE in the negative sense. I want to take a look at the posture or position we perhaps have been in lately. Today I want you and I to be found taking a position, posture or stand in and for the RIGHTEOUSNESS of Christ. When we come with our filthy rags and allow the Blood of Jesus Christ to make us white as snow, when we turn from our wicked ways 180 degrees to walk in His Righteousness, when we are *"on our way" to Holy & Blameless....then our posture will align with what God had intended for us all along. I also ask that you and I would become more aware of our Brothers & Sisters in Christ to then allow them to take a correct posture as well. We hurt so many that are right where we HAVE BEEN when we strive to keep them slinking around. His blood covers them!!! **This picture I was able to get when we were out in Colorado last week, do you think I need a new camera? :-) **

2 Peter 3:16-18 NIV is awesome....."He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." I high-lighted for you and I to be on our guard, that we have a secure position and to grow in grace!!!

Phillipians 2:4-6 NIV: Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,"

Father God, I thank You for giving us visuals to help educate us in Your Word. That we can be on our way to Holy & Blameless and that we no longer need to shrink back and not be seen. But that we can take our RIGHT standing with You and let our position be known that we love and serve the One True God. That no one is left even wondering what we are about, they simply know. Lord, I love You so much. Amen.

Seeking Higher Grounds,
Yolanda

When is revenge sweet?

Have any of you spent time in the book of Daniel lately? I'm thinking perhaps so because Daniel is full of prophecy about the end times. My cause was simply because that is where I am in my reading through the bible in a year. Please do not feel any condemnation from me or think that I am super spiritual....I'm doing so only out of obedience for what God has convicted me of for 2009.

I became tickled, almost giddy last week with God's word. It was a fresh word for me and it was a NOW word. Daniel 6 is about the Lions' Den. If you aren't aware or simply needing a refresher, stop and read from your own bible Daniel 6.

Because Daniel had proved himself to the king by his actions and ability, he was placed over all the other administrators & princes. The others then began to search for a fault in Daniel and they set him up to fail because they knew of his faithfulness towards the living GOD. As you know, Daniel did not bow to king Darius as the law had been written by these men but he continued to bow to his God three times a day. He chose and was found faithful in worshipping GOD not man. This caused Daniel to be thrown into the Lions' Den and upset king Darius because that was not his intention when he signed this decree. These men had purposely set out to have Daniel destroyed because of their jealousy.

The king said in verse 16b NLT: "May your God, whom you worship continually rescue you." And another pivot verse is 18a: "Then the king returned to his palace and spent the night fasting." This is a Mede, in Babylon following pagan gods, Friends. Yet he knew that God was the rescuer and he chose to fast. A custom found with the Israelites.

We also know that Daniel came out of the Lions' den without one single mark on his body. Why? God protected him because of Daniel's obedience, because of God's sovereignty and perhaps because of king Darius' actions as well. Daniel was not harmed.

But my joy kicked into gear when I read verse 24, oh God's revenge is sweet. My revenge is filthy, causes such a stink, does so much damage, but GOD'S brings HEALING. "Then the king gave orders to arrest the men who had maliciously accused Daniel. He had them thrown into the lions' den, along with their wives and children. The lions leaped on them and tore them apart before they even hit the floor of the den." The king then went on to give praise to God, the God of Daniel, the living God.

Father, I would imagine many of us have people in our lives that purposely set out to bring us harm. To trip us up because they are seeing first hand our obedience to You. Even the evil one is out to destroy us. I'm thankful that when I am thrown into a lions' den that You keep me protected and from harm. Thank You for giving me another reason to walk in obedience to YOU not man and to allow YOUR revenge not mine. Your word brings life and healing to my day. I am no longer in a pit, and I thank You Abba for bringing me to Higher Ground. Amen.

Lovingly.....Yolanda

Lasting relationships

I really don't even know where to begin this morning as I've witnessed first hand how much God loves me. I'm not being haughty, Friends, for He loves you just as much. He loves you and I with all that He has and is. When we align our will with His, He loves to bless us with the desires of our heart. I pray that we will find ourselves not being whiny like the Israelites as they went through the wilderness but that we will be like Daniel & David. Faithful in our hearts & actions as well as having praises flowing from our lips.

I'm not really sure when I started growing a love for photography but simply, I have. The picture that you see here I snapped on Thursday afternoon while on vacation out in Colorado. I have titled it "Fragrance and Beauty of God". God keeps pressing in to me how important it is to be emitting His fragrance, a sweet aroma. **2 Corinthians 2:14** That when we do, those that receive will recognize a beauty that can only come from Him. If I allow Him to clean the inside of my cup then the outside of my cup will be radiant as well.

In the past 7 days I have seen several of my own prayer requests answered. From finding favor for a parking spot to a Forever Friend. From the pages of my journal on July 8th: "I am so excited for today. I want this relationship to be all about You. I do believe You orchestrated this very day. I pray that this friendship will last a lifetime."

We all have had relationships that come and go. Perhaps because of where we are at in our lives and true distance has happened due to a move. Or that we recognize integrity is not important to the other person. Perhaps much jeopardizing or even manipulation has taken hold of the relationship, or perhaps it simply has grown cold. All of this takes work and if both aren't willing to invest then we have another perfect example of why the relationship won't last. I'm hungry for a lasting relationship. One that endures the test of time!

I believe that this week God has brought that type of a friend into my life. Actually He crossed our paths many months ago and over time we have learned much about what is important to the other. We have invested in one another. I pray that if you haven't found a friend that is like that, ask God to bring a lasting friend into your own life. I would also encourage you to pray as well that YOU would have the tenacity to be a lasting friend to another as well. This past Wednesday my husband and I were extremely blessed to meet Beth, Jimbo and one of their daughters, Melissa. They were traveling from the northwestern part of Colorado (after visiting their youngest daughter and family) back home to Louisiana. Several weeks ago we both mentioned that we would be in Colorado during July and found out that their travel would take them with-in 15 to 20 miles of where we were staying. Is God awesome, or what?

Bill, Yolanda, Beth, Melissa & Jimbo.

Did you know that we have a Forever Friend? One that truly does last the test of time? His name is Jesus. John 15:14-16 NIV "You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name."


I want to share one more thing with you about Beth. In January we both began the Scripture Memorization that was being encouraged on the LPM Blog. Then in March Beth Moore announced that she would be having a get together in January for those that have participated. Right away I knew I wanted to go as God has used Beth Moore mightily in my life, always pointing me to Jesus Christ for my healing. With-in just a few days of that invitation Beth Herring and I made a commitment to one another to room and be a team to recite our scriptures at this gathering. SO GOD! Investing, being real, encouraging, emitting the fragrance of Christ.


Lord, thank You for blessing me with a Forever Friend. One that loves You, is faithful in prayer, and truly invests. Thank You Lord for the gift of LIFE that You have given to Beth and myself. For the Living Water that You have poured into her and she so lovingly pours back out. Thank You Lord for splashing us with Your Love. Amen.