Life Lesson # 9: Run Don't Walk from Deadly Appointments

9/28/2012 Estreitta 0 Comments

Life Lesson # 9: Run Don't Walk from Deadly Appointments


You've heard about Divine Appointments, right? 

It's where the Lord orchestrates a meeting or situation with someone where their true purpose is to help bring supernatural clarity, provision, and/or direction into our lives. I've had that happen so many times in my life that this blog would a be thousand pages long. 

But I want to talk about opposite of that, what I term as Deadly appointments, it's where the enemy tries to lead or direct a meeting or situation with someone that their only role is to bring total and mass confusion, deter us off God's track of our lives and/or make us want to give up or regress to an old way of thinking and living.

Ask yourself these questions, especially, if you are struggling spiritually, emotionally, psychologically: 

  • Is there a person or a situation in my life that is preventing me from drawing closer to the Lord? 
  • Are they pulling me away from my Life, church, Godly friends and family? 
  • Is every time I'm with them I forget who I am and compromise my beliefs?
  • Do I feel bad about myself when I am with this person?
  • Do I feel like my life would be over if this person isn't in my life?  

If you answered YES TO ANY of these QUESTIONS, RUN don't walk! I believe that this person or situation is a deadly appointment meant to lead you to your destruction and demise.  


It's never too late to get out of the situation, trust me! In 1995, I dated a guy that when I got out of it, I realized that it was really a DEADLY appointment.  He was a wolf in sheep's clothing.  He at first said and did all the right things and was going to church, bible school and even worked for a Christian Ministry. 

When we started seeing each other, he appeared to be this "mighty man of God" and in the beginning I had checks in my heart, but I didn't understand cause the packaging looked good to me and even to others who had met him that i trusted their opinion.  But i should have listened to that still small voice telling me to get out of it, I actually would hear the Lord say, 'RUN don't Walk' but for some reason what my eyes saw and what the Lord was saying didn't make sense and didn't listen so I just got deeper and deeper involved with this guy,  and after a VERY short time of seeing each other, he asked me to marry him. I think I was in love with the Idea of getting married more than anything, so I had these rosey-colored glasses on so all I saw was the "good" stuff.

Then the "good stuff" started getting to be "weird stuff". He introduced me to his only friend who was a girl that had some major psychological issues. They spent a lot of time together. Every time we'd talk on the phone (he was in Texas and I was in Minnesota in College) I would cry and feel like a worthless Christian, because he said I wasn't praying enough for him and his ministry. 

Slowly, I began to feel like this DARK cloud was over shadowing me.  I began to feel like I couldn't live without this person. So much that I decided to move back to Texas on a whim, leave school and really make one of the worst decisions of my life.  There are a lot more horrible things that happened that I won't go into, but lets just say that it took me a while to finally see that this person who seemed to be so godly and claimed to be a Christian was in actuality a deadly appointment sent by the enemy.

I remember the last conversation I had with him so clearly, he was going off on me over the phone and in the midst of him yelling at me I hung up and called my pastors Paul & Perrianne Brownback. They said Come over our house right now. 
Paul & Perrianne Brownback - Senior Pastors: The Abby Church in Azle, Texas
When I got there I confessed to them every detail of the relationship and they literally took the months of destruction this person brought into my life and patiently walked me through the healing that I needed in a loving and caring way.  

This was one of the most pivotal life-changing times of my life. God is good like that, whatever the enemy means for evil in your life God will ALWAYS turn it around to bring Glory to him. One of the most powerful statements they said to me that day and I have never forgotten was this:
"Estreitta, you know how to hear from God. You know what His voice sounds like.  You know His word. It's been written on your heart and it has always been there since you were a little girl. The Lord never intended you to go through this, but at the same time, this has taught you to never discount what the Lord is saying to you. When the Lord says, 'RUN don't Walk', you now KNOW to listen"
It was about a year-long process of healing and I wouldn't want anyone to ever go through what I went through. So PLEASE if you have any even a tiny inkling that the person in your life is on an assignment from the enemy and/or you hear that still small voice telling you to get out of there,  Please RUN don't walk!  This will prevent so much pain, hurt, and turmoil in your life.  Yes, God can turn it around, but if the enemy has his way it will be the death of you in every way possible!





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Life Lesson # 8: Don't Just Jump into Marriage

9/13/2012 Estreitta 0 Comments



Today I came across this blog that really struck a chord with me. It is a really powerful blog and highly encourage all Singles to it, it will change your life!







Everything she talked about, especially what we women (talking from experience when I was single) do and say and think before our Mr Wonderful comes in our life, was exactly how i once felt. For a long time as a single woman I thought that I couldn't fulfill the will of God for my life if i wasnt married (which is SO UNTRUE) in fact the Apostle Paul talks about how it is better to be single so you can fulfill the work of the Lord with out the cares of life that becomes when having a family. (See 1 Cor 7:25-40)


I have some pretty amazing single friends (guys & girls) that are beautiful inside and out are true followers of Jesus that also really want to have someone someday beside them doing the God stuff with them. I have had many conversations where waiting for the One to come along, can be one of the biggest struggle for them. But as the blogger said waiting doesn't bring contentment it can bring bitterness & frustration along the way. But when you make our hearts desire about making the Lord the only focus then when or if that special someone comes along they really have to ask yourself if you really want to give up what they have going with God for this person that is coming into their life.







When I was a little girl i can remember daydreaming about when I would get married. In elementary school, we would even play like we were getting married with the little boys we liked (i dont know we got those boys to do it) and sometimes I was the minister that would marry them ;) In Middle school & High school my friends and I would stay up at sleep overs and talk about "when we get married..."


Why are we so consumed with Marriage? We treat it as being this ultimate goal or some type of right of passage rather than abiding and resting in our love for Jesus and making that our only Goal!





Don't get me wrong I love being married , but when I finally laid down the idol of marriage in my life the Lord healed me, changed my perspective and brought Erik into my life. I have an awesome husband and I love doing life with him and worshipping God with him and planning our future with him. But Marriage is hard, fun, scary, adventurous, interesting, exhilarating, stressful, and did i say hard?

Melding two lives together, with different experiences, cultures, backgrounds and even sometimes varied perspectives on God, love, children, sex, money and the Pursuit of happiness can be difficult to merge together. That is why even in the church there is such a high divorce rate. In the 11 years Erik and I have been married, we know of close to 50 couples (majority believers) that have gotten divorced. I know this breaks God's heart.


I have such a burden for dating/courting, engaged and newlywed couples. I want to sit them all down, have a "come to Jesus Meeting" tell them the truth about marriage and the wonder of marriage. We have seen too many that are so focused on getting married, mostly out of loneliness that when they do get married it is a VERY RUDE awakening. It wasn't what they fantasied in their head that it would be then some eventually just go through the motions, dont cultivate the marriage, then one day begin to believe the Lie that God wants them to "Be Happy" so getting out of the marriage is the only way they will be happy. I am speaking generally here, so please don't take offense to it cause i know some people have some pretty horrible experiences: spouses just leaving the marriage, or adultery and even abuse. But on the other side of it, I don't know how many people that have gotten a divorce that told me "I knew deep down that i wasn't supposed to marry them, but i did it any way. Why didn't I listen?"


I do think that during the dating/courting & engagement process every couple needs to do their due diligence in vetting the person they considering to marry. It especially needs to be covered with prayer and biblical accountability and ALSO they must really listen to the Holy Spirit for Guidance. The other person needs to prove themselves worthy of your love.




Much like a job interview, you need to see if the person is qualified to even be a potential candidate to date and possibly even marry some day. See how they work under pressure, give them opportunities to show you their true character. You need to ask the hard questions,



What's your experience?
Have they dated alot?
Do they have the same perspective on relationships that you do?
Tell me about a bad experience and how you over came it?
If they were in previous relationships, why didn't the work out?
What was their home-life like?
Why do you think you are qualified for this position?
Are they a true Follower of Christ?
How did they come to Know God?
Do they have the same belief and expressions style?
What is their Church Background?
What are they bring to the table and why do they want this so much?
Do you have references?
Seriously, I think this is really important, this is where you can see patterns in a persons life
Do they have mentors and friends that can tell you honestly about this person?
Do they communicate with those past relationships?
Where do you see your self in 1, 5 and 10 years?
What do they want to do with their life and their future?


Far too many Christians rush into a relationship without even really knowing the other person. Just because you are physically attracted to each other and may have some common interests, is not a reason to pursue a relationship with someone. While this is somewhat comical to think about interviewing a potential date or spouse, I am very serious about this. Ask the questions early before you have given your heart away. If you have any checks you need to RUN not walk. Don't let your feelings of loneliness over shadow the purpose and will of God for your life.






Never let anyone get in the way of you Pursuing God, because trust me it is a very difficult process of getting back to where you once were. It's possible, it just takes a lot of healing, deliverance, vulnerability and discipline to no allow your feelings and emotions sweep you away and make God your single devotion once again. No earthly relationship can satisfy you like the one you have with the Lord!














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THOUSANDS OF WOMEN GATHER ON GOOD FRIDAY AND EVE OF PASSOVER AT FEDERAL COURTHOUSE FOR COMMUNION SERVICE TO SEE THE ENDING OF ABORTION 

4/06/2012 Estreitta 0 Comments


THOUSANDS OF WOMEN GATHER ON GOOD FRIDAY AND EVE OF PASSOVER AT FEDERAL COURTHOUSE FOR COMMUNION SERVICE TO SEE THE ENDING OF ABORTION

The Esther Call begins with the 39 women who have walked 21-day, 240 mile journey for what is called the Back to Life Movement.  These 39 women walked through heat, rain, and tornado aftermath from Houston's largest Planned Parentood Clinic to the Eugene Carell Federal Building, the location where Roe vs. Wade was filed 39 years ago that lead to the legalization of  abortion in the United States. Community Leaders, Churches, Pro-life Advocates and thousands of women will join at 9am for a communion service.  The group will then move to the Dallas Convention Center for an all day prayer gathering called The Esther Call. This gathering is the first of its kind in the history of the Pro-life Movement.

For more details on the event:

  • The Call - www.thecall.com 
  • Back to Life Movement - www.backtolifemovement.com 


 Featured Articles:

  • Focus on the Family Blog: http://bit.ly/FReZ6J
  • Focus on the Family cover story: http://www.citizenlink.com/2011/12/26/walking-out-their-faith/
  • Charisma News: http://bit.ly/BTLcharisma 
  • Christ for the Nations Magazine: http://www.cfn.org/magazine/pdf/jan12.pdf 
  • Houston News: http://www.the950.com/cc-common/mainheadlines3.html?feed=121300&article=9919832 
  • Texas Observer: http://www.texasobserver.org/datelinehouston/pro-life-walkers-depart-houston-with-prayer-not-politics 
  • Her Voice Will Be Heard - Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk w/ Guests: Lou Engle, Laura Zavala Allred, Tracy Eckert, & Ann Quest http://j.mp/GEd3xZ 
  • Bound For Life blog "It’s not a parade, it’s a prophecy"  : http://bound4life.com/blog/2012/03/19/its-not-a-parade-its-a-prophecy/

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Being Pro-Life is Pro-Child

4/04/2012 Estreitta 0 Comments

Being ProLife is Pro-Child




Once we as a society we begin to value human life, specifically at conception, then we finally see the ending of then atrocities and abuse to children all over the world.
 If you ever watch the television, you will see and hear story after story of children being sexually abused by a friend or family member, a parent starving an beating their child, a child being sold into the sex trade.... unfortunately this list could go on forever of the abuse of children permeates the fabric of our society today.


The data is horrifying:

  • Estimated 54 Million abortions in the United States since the legalization of abortion in 1973
  • ChildTrendsDatabank.org reports in 2010 there were an estimated 408,000 children in foster care.
  • According to WorldOrphans.org - There are an estimated 163,000,000 orphans worldwide. Some of these orphans have lost one parent, some both, and some are "virtual" orphans that have been turned out onto the streets by their families, but all are vulnerable and in need of help. Without assistance these orphans continue in the cycle of poverty, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, prostitution and slavery that haunts developing countries. 
  • UNICEF estimates that as many as 50% of all trafficking victims worldwide are children and that as many as two thirds of those children are at some point forced into the sex trade. Two children are SOLD every minute. 
  • Children are suffering from a hidden epidemic of child abuse and neglect. Over 3 million reports of child abuse are made every year in the United States; however, those reports can include multiple children. In 2009, approximately 3.3 million child abuse reports and allegations were made involving an estimated 6 million children. 1

This has happened and will continue to happen because we as a societly have stopped valuing human life!  We have stopped caring for the ones who do not have the voice to speak...

If we are Pro-Child then we must be Pro-Family and Pro-Adoption. There are so many children who are in need of good loving homes from all around the world. We need to open our homes, our hearts, our churches and make a difference in the lives of these orphans all around the word. It is our responsibility to be Pro-Life in all of its forms.



We need to continue to shout and stand up for the ending of abortion from the rooftops and support the Pro-Life Movement in every way possible.. You can do something by getting involved in your city with a Silent Siege, Start an Adoption Awareness Group at your church,  Attend Conferences or Prayer Events,  Support a Prolife ministry like Backtolifemovement.com or even something as simple as posting Articles and blogs on your blog,  facebook and twitter...

We all have a part to Play,  what will you do?

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Speaking Out - My Voice Will Be Heard #BTL #EstherCall

2/20/2012 Estreitta 0 Comments






The Back to Life Movement is empowering the young female voice in the abortion discussion.

1. In a minute or less we want to hear your story or why you are Pro-Life.

2. End your video with this statement, " My name is (your name) and my voice will be heard.

3. Upload to BTL youtube video as a video response to the "Speaking Out" video.

It is time for our voices to be heard in America. Upload a video and tell others about it.

WWW.BACKTOLIFEMOVEMENT.COM




MY RESPONSE:

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