The Power of Influence

One night I was feeling extremely tired and wanted to retire for the night but could not find my satin head cloth, so I inadvertently put on my hosiery, on my head instead and without even thinking about it. The next morning, my two daughters saw it and they remarked, Mommy, how is it that you have put the hosiery on your head? I replied, O mommy could not find her scarf, so I used the next best thing. Well, to my distaste behold both of my daughters soon began doing the same thing without even bothering to look for their satin caps. My response to the LORD was, Abba, Father, what have I done? He replied, the power of influence! There is a quote written by William Ross Wallace, “The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world,” and yes, this is profoundly true but today I want to candidly speak to you on the Power of Influence. How are you influencing your children and indeed think about this? The Power of Influence affects every aspect of your life. First, let us examine how Rebecca conspired with her youngest son to steal his elder brother’s birthright because she favoured him more and she was able by the Power of Influence to successfully deceive her children’s father in blessing the younger son with his elder son’s birthright under false pretense. The Power of Influence! I was summarizing this story is found in the Book of Genesis chapter twenty-five and verse twenty-eight but as we are on the eve of celebrating Mother’s Day some, how there has been a breach and mothers are not really being celebrated and respected by their children anymore. While there are notable mothers of valor far too many mothers are being in some cases abused and disrespected by their children. This must not be because the truth must be told. The Epistle of Ephesians chapter 6:1-4 KJV sums it all up for you and me. Let us read it together from verse (1) “Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.”  (2) “Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;” (3) “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”  (4) “And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” 

There are many questions without any answers but we as mothers must take a daily inventory of our own lives and take a closer look at the way we are influencing our children, our husbands, friends, and our Neighbours. Let us examine our attitudes and behavior. Do we exercise self-control? When we become angry, do we resort to calling our children ill names? Are we respectful with our husbands? These are only a few of the many questions which need an answer. Do you realize the way we react influences how our children will respond to challenging situations and the level of respect they will exhibit for others? Sometimes if we choose the effortless way out of a situation and fail to do it the correct way, as a result, our children will become lazy. The way husbands and wives treat each other can influence their children to disrespect or respect their spouses and, in some cases, can cause them to be resentful to their spouses. Truth be known, it is quite challenging in-home life. There is a saying though that, A man’s house is his castle and that speaks volumes of his wife who is the keeper of his castle. Home life is also especially important and plays an integral part in the stability of children. We must go back to God’s standard for the home. 

Every boy and girl need their father and mother. Mothers cannot be a father to their children and fathers likewise a father cannot be a mother. Mothers, please do not deny your children the privilege of their father. Fathers do not disown your children; this is a terrible thing to do to a child and it will influence them in a negative manner. The truth is only, God, can heal a child who has been denied by their parents. If you have done this to any of your children, please it is never too late while you are still alive to say you are sorry and ask for forgiveness as this helps in the healing process. As we celebrate this Mother’s Day let us include the fathers as they come along, side the mothers. Mothers do not speak any negative words against the fathers, instead, mother, build, him up and decree and declare him to be the father of your children according to Yahweh’s Mandate for his life. When you do this and your children hear you speak so highly of their father, they too would have a correct perspective of him as their father. 

Take note, that one night in which I was feeling so tired and took that shortcut used the effortless way out and put my stockings on my head. I soon regretted it when I saw how my being lazy and failure to persevere in the search for my satin cap. This became a teachable lesson for me and caused me to realize that everything I do my children are watching and because of the influence I have on them. It is important that I influence them in a positive way in all areas of my life. The stocking cap was negative, and it influenced my two daughters so much that each time they were not able to find their satin cap they reached for the stockings to put on their heads. 

As I hasten to conclude this message. How have you and I used the Power of Influence? The Book of Proverbs comes to mind and sums it up so beautifully from chapter 31:30-31. Verse (30) “Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Verse (31) “Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates.”    The Power of Influence! 

Let us Pray: 

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Word. In the Name of Jesus move by Your Spirit and breathe upon the one who has read this message. I pray for recovery of the family relationship as we celebrate Mother’s Day. Divinely intervene in every home in this nation and across the globe. Father, rebuild the prayer altar in the home. Turn the hearts of husbands and wives to each other and restore their children to a right relationship with their parents. Let this Special Day be one long to be remembered. Give us wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to use the Power of Influence to bring about reconciliation and a loving atmosphere in our homes. In Jesus Name! 

A Reminder: Has your Brook Dried Up?

scenic view of lake in forest

Have you been experiencing a time of dryness in your life? Pause 

For a moment and read of Elijah’s account from the book of 1 Kings 

17:1-7, (1)” And Elijah the Tishbite, of the inhabitant of Gilead, said 

To Ahab, “As the LORD God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there 

Shall not be dew nor rain these years except at my word.” (2)” Then the 

Word of the LORD came to him saying.” (3)” Get away from here and turn 

Eastward, and hide by the Brooke Cherith which flows into the Jordan.” 

(4)” And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded 

The ravens to feed you there.” (5)” So he went and did according to the word 

Of the LORD, for he went and stayed by the Brook Cherith, which flows into 

Jordan.” (6)” The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning, and bread 

And meat in the evening; and he drank from the brook.” (7)” And it happened after 

A while that the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land.” 

Elijah’s brook had dried up and to make matters worse, there was a severe famine 

Throughout the entire land- yet read it for yourself Yahweh’s instructions to him 

From verses 8-9 (8)” Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “(9)” Arise, 

Go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there see, I have commanded 

A widow there to provide for you.”  

In your walk with Yahweh, have you been faithful and obedient, but you are experiencing 

A drought and is it as if Abba Father are eluding you? As you ponder this question may the 

Seed of faith given to you while you were in your mother’s womb come alive as you read 

Of Elijah’s obedience from verse (10)” So he arose and went to Zarephath and when 

He came to the gate of the city; indeed, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he 

Called to her and said,” Please bring me a little water in a cup, that I may drink.” 

What is so encouraging is the level of Elijah’s faith and the obedience of the widow 

Woman! I hear it resounding again, has your brook dried up? Has every door seemingly 

Closed in your face and does your back seem to be against the wall? Does Yahweh seem 

So far away and day are dark? The Word is speaking only this time it is of abundance 

Of rain springing up a river of blessings without measure flowing into your life! While you 

Are going through these exceedingly challenging times is so important to keep hope alive. May the 

Words of this poem entitled When Days Are Dark “When days are dark and nights are long, 

And you are faltering in your faith look up there is hope from above. The Father of light is 

Calling you by your name, He sees your tears, and feels your pain- help is on the way. God, 

Your Father has plans of hope and a bright future for you. Keep looking up and praying to 

Your Father above, your dark days are now days of light, your faith is building stronger and 

Stronger with each passing day.”   

Has your brook dried up? Pause and calmly think about this, could it be that Abba Father 

Has allowed your brook to dry up to bring you to your place of destiny? Think about it- 

Could it be that if Yahweh had allowed the ravens to feed Elijah and the Brook to stay filled? 

With water-Do you think Elijah would have really gone to Zarephath so willingly? Is it possible that 

Would he have just stayed there the entire time of the famine? Could it be that sometimes you 

And I depend more on people and things instead of the LORD? What may seem like your worse 

Nightmare could become a well spring of life if you would remain faithful and obedient even 

When your brook dries up- Yahweh, catapulted Elijah to show Himself as Jehovah El Shaddai, 

Through the faith and obedience of a widow woman- then He took him to another dimension 

By raising the widow’s son to life all in the fore mentioned chapter. When days are dark and 

Your brook is dried up look to Him, who calls you by your name. For your days of solitary 

Confinements are over rise and walk to your place of destiny! 

Return to BETH-EL

cropland duiring night time

Definition: House of God. (The Bible Readers Encyclopedia and Concordance)

I became extremely busy with household chores, then as I walked into the back bedroom these words rang out, “Beth-el.” Immediately the Word spoke from the book of Genesis 28:10-16, (10)” Now Jacob went from Beersheba and went toward Haran.” (11)” So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set; And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep.” (12)” Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.” (13)” And behold, the LORD stood above it and said, “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants.” (14)” Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (15)” Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” (16)” Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” The Word continued on to (17)” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” (18)” Then Jacob rose early in the morning and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it.” (19)” And he called the name of that place Bethel.
This answered my pending question for the meaning of the word Beth-el, but the Word was not yet finished speaking, (20)” Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on.” (21)” So that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God.” (22)” And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
On your journey with the LORD have you had a similar experience with Yahweh as Jacob? Have you made a wow to God to go to His house in peace and give Him a tenth of all your increase? The truth is God’s house is swiftly beginning to lie in waste all around the globe. Churches are closing their doors and attendance is decreasing. Question is though who or what have you allowed to come between your relationship with Abba Father? While you are pondering on those questions; I hear it resounding, return to Beth –El! Yes, you may be hurting and may have encountered much turbulence in Beth-El, but your healing, deliverance, and blessings are all tied up in your obedience to return to the house of God; return to Beth –El!

Take Your Rightful Place

colorful cutouts of the word purpose

Trauma will do to you what a hammer does to a nail if you stand passively by and allow your circumstances to determine your altitude in Yahweh. You have the Resurrection Power of Jesus Christ over trauma and drama that comes to derail and disrupt your life. Purpose even now to take your rightful place in Christ. Sit in Christ and it is He who will stand to fight for you! 

The Beauty of a Thorned Rose

close up photo of a red rose

While reflecting on somethings His presence surrounded me, 
Drawing my attention to a slender thorn ed tree with hardly 
Any leaves……yet there it stood velvety crimson…. it’s radiance. 
gravitated to me….it seemed to say…… ” Do not look at my thorns, 
They help me shine more brilliantly…” it was a thorn ed rose. 
Glistening in the sun! 
Just then riveting across the skies a fight ensues……it is divine. 
Intervention for you! 
Bringing you victoriously through while you are reflecting on. 
Some things to shine like the beautiful thorn ed rose. 
 Allow God’s presence to surround you so that the beauty 
Of His countenance would be seen upon you …………like 
The Beauty of a Thorn ed Rose! 
 
  

You Have Come This Far by Faith

belief bible book business

Sometimes Yahweh has to remind us………this journey is a walk of Faith!

On Monday April 16th, 2012. I was inspired to declare these words along with a beautiful picture of my beloved husband and I. ” Abba Father’s grace and mercy will bring us VICTORIOUSLY through. ” Little did I know that hours later after publishing this, I would be put to the test. My beloved husband grew suddenly ill and had to be taken to the hospital, but I was thinking. He would be treated for the asthma attack, and we would go home together. Then the unthinkable happened the nurse beckoned me to the reception window and informed me that my beloved was not responding to the treatment. Everything began to go downhill. Immediately I knew he was fighting for his life and called for the prayer warriors to stand in the gap and pray, while the doctors did all they could do. The prayer warriors and I were allowed to go into the hospital ‘s chapel to pray. I found myself praying and weeping in travail for my beloved. I could not help but think of how life has a way of broadsiding you so to speak with some severe blows, which you did not see coming, and often times you are almost knocked out of your place. Somehow, I couldn’t seem to stop weeping in travail, and remained in this manner for almost a week. On the seventh day at about 1:30 am I was awakened by the most comforting voice….” You have come this far by faith.” It was Abba Father. He began to turn the pages of my life reminding me of how my oldest son. When he was a little by grew gravely ill. He had collapsed suddenly after vomiting excessively. While in his unconscious state he suffered severe seizures. He was diagnosed with meningitis. He was given a spinal tap which left him looking deformed, and each time I would visit him just the sight of him I would cry uncontrollably. Abba Father reminded me of how my beloved husband would say to me….” Margaret. Pray “! Back then I did not know how to pray and cried helplessly. I am so thankful he prayed. Abba Father was showing me there is a difference between just crying and crying in travail. He revealed that I was actually petitioning for my beloved! Today as I am writing about this my beloved is out of the hospital, and I believe he is healed in the name of Jesus! You too have come this far by faith. Yet in your marriage you are suffering many things. You have been faithful and obedient to Abba Father. You have prayed and you have fasted. Yet your spouse is so selfish and demanding. You may have reached your breaking point and feel like walking away. To make matters worse Jezebel is always showing up throwing her jeers. You are wondering “Dear God, how long are you going to allow these things to continue “? STOP! Do not give up on your spouse! Do not cuss out Jezebel! Pause for a moment! Take a deep breath. Breathe in… Now breathe out! Pause and calmly think about this. When my husband grew suddenly ill as I was weeping in travail. There were moments that I could not understand what Abba Father was doing…things looked grim, and if I didn’t surrender my will and emotions to Him, I would not have survived it. So it is in your marriage, what you are going through is too devastating…It is too heavy for you alone to bear it. Allow the comforting words of Abba Father to comfort and put you back on track. When I was awakened at 1:30 am hearing Abba Father speaking so comforting to me….” You have come this far by faith brought this interpretation. Stop crying Margaret. I have brought you this far by faith. That is the difference right there. Abba Father is aware of all your spouse and Jezebel is doing to you, and He has brought you this far by faith. Salvation, Healing, Restoration, Deliverance, and Restitution is yours. Are you ready for this? Abba Father is testing your love walk! Love walks? Yes. Your love walks. In spite all that was and is being done to you. Abba Father is waiting for you to pass the love walk test. Displaying His love to your spouse and to Jezebel! You have come this far by faith. Begin and for those of you who are doing this already continue to display the love of Jesus to your spouse especially during these difficult times. If you have moved out of your bedroom. Please return. Start if you are not doing so already washing and cooking again for your spouse. Husbands and wives speak kind words to each other. Surprise one another by greasing each other scalp and then give each other a massage. Do this often. Then wives. Anoint your husband’s head with oil and pray persistently, and relentlessly for him. Right before your very eyes. You will not only see Jezebel lose her hold on him, but you will see her flee away forever! You have come this far by faith. It is time to refocus your attention on the things of Abba Father, spending more time in His presence, and in His word! You have come this far by faith, and it will take faith and obedience with a forgiving heart to love and forgive. Bringing Restoration and Sweet Communion to your marriage relationship. Question is though. Are you willing? Do you still love your spouse? Are you willing to let bygones be bygones? Pause for a moment to think about this. Every time you go back into your past…. reminding your spouse of what he or she used to do. You miss your future! Forgive and forget even about yesterday. If you have answered “Yes” to any of the fore mentioned questions. You have received your release to build a beautiful strong marriage with the understanding that you must look to Abba Father as the Master Builder. Allow His Holy Spirit to teach you daily how to love and respect each other. With Jesus Christ as your Captain, release the helm to Him and you will not suffer shipwreck in your marriage! Be encouraged and strengthened. Remember. Every marriage goes through a time of testing, whether it is sickness, hardships, financial losses, selfishness, infidelity, and abuses. This list can go on and on. Whatever you are going through in your marriage always use the key ingredient which brings heaven down to your situation. Prayer is that key ingredient which activates the display of Jesus Christ in you! 2 Corinthians 5:7 is resounding……” For we walk by faith, not by sight. ” You have come this far by faith! You have come this far by faith!

PRAY

photo of child praying

A prayerless life brings a shadow of darkness but the fervent, consistent, persistent prayerful life will dispel all darkness! Pray! Pray! Pray until your prayers begin to ring like a non-stop telephone ringing twenty-four hours a day.

Do You Dare Meddle with God?

gray and brown mountain

A mystery man appeared I could see him and, he also saw me in fact he had a private message for me but there was a white picket fence which separated us which meant neither one of us could cross the fence. He was a very tall and big man, yet I was not afraid of him and listened as he spoke, he said, “Margaret, you must go to the dentist, you know how your face is! Go.”  I awakened it was a dream which left me rather puzzled and even a bit disturbed because before retiring for the night I had broken a tooth that had a fill-in and I purposed that I would fix at a much later date but the moment I concluded that the man in my dream could be a demon, a spirit of travail came upon me to make intercessions before the LORD and revelation came that the mysterious man was God’s messenger and it was urgent that I go! 

Wherever you are on your journey you gifted and anointed and yes, even appointed by God yet lately you may have been very disobedient and complacent in your walk with God. I just stopped by to ask you this question, do you (me too) dare meddle with God? Do you take issue with God for choosing to use those whom He will because you have a problem with them? Be incredibly careful you could be meddling with God! Read about an excellent king who served before the LORD well and did mighty exploits as well, but he meddled with God. Let’s go to the book of 2 Chronicles 35:18-24 (18)”There had been no Passover kept in Israel like that since the days of Samuel the prophet; and none of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as Josiah kept, with the priest and the Levites, all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”  (19)” In the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah this Passover was kept.”  (20)” After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him.”  (21)” But he sent messengers to him, saying, “What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war; for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.”  Beware of the way you treat those whom God has chosen to do a specific work! Read on ((22)” Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So, he came to fight in the valley of Megiddo. It is bears repeating, it is a dangerous thing to fight against whom God has chosen to carry out His work! Read what happened to King Josiah who did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in the ways of his father David and even purged the land of idols but he meddled with God because he seemed to have a problem with the king of Egypt and he allowed his dislike of this king to not hear the voice of God.  (23)” And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, “Take me away, for I am severely wounded.”  (24)” His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So, he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers, and all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.”  Do you dare meddle with God? Do you not realize those whom you contending with have been set up by God? Pause and calmly think about this; in the dream I had concluded that the big man was a demon, yet he was a messenger from God and had I decided not to go to the dentist and not heeded the warning would have suffered severely for it. Take inventory of how you are treating those whom God has called and approved! Are you in any way like King Josiah in his quest to fight against Necho, the Egyptian King? Do You Dare Meddle with God? I hear the words of the messengers who brought the word of the Lord to Josiah from (21)” Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you.”  The question is though; do you still dare ignore the warning and continue to meddle with God? Take heed lest God kill you and me for meddling with Him and for failing to recognize His servants like I failed to recognize the messenger of the LORD in my dream and determined he was a demon. 

May the presence of Yahweh, the God who has redeemed you surround and protect you as you move forward in Faith and Obedience to the Word of God. Much Love! 

Nurture and Mentor

photo of woman pointing on white paper

To give birth is not the greatest achievement in life – for God is the Giver of life. Instead, the nurturing and mentoring of someone’s purpose to fulfill is the greatest of life’s achievements.