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How Do I Know When I Am Offended?
Emotional Intelligence is being able to identify when an offense has actually occurred.
Sometimes an offense was done AGAINST you, but that doesn’t make YOU offended. You know that it wasn’t right, you know that it wasn’t ok. You are not pleased with it. But you may not have actual offense in your heart.
An offended heart is bitter and holds resentment. It has not forgiven.
When an offense has been done and you are displeased with it, disappointed, you may act accordingly. You may have different boundaries and you may need to operate differently with the person/ organization.
It may even still hurt and disappointed… but there is a a difference between being wounded and offended.
Here are questions to ask yourself:
- Have I genuinely (not lying to myself) forgiven them?
- Have I taken appropriate responsibility where it is warranted? Not just looked at their part?
- Have I released them in my heart?
- Have I sat with God and identified my feelings about this?
You may have to still deal with hurt feelings, but when bitterness and resentment have set it… there is still anger directed at whomever you are offended toward.
Sometimes we don’t actually know when we are hurt because we aren’t used to identifying our pain.
In the next blog we will explore more on how to identify when you are in pain.
Scammers, Low Ballers and Bidding Ward – Oh my!
Integrity and Scams you may want to watch for.
So it has been so interesting selling our Airbnb items 😂. Here is a nice little scam I got hit with from FB Marketplace, though many have been nice.
My husband and I are HEAVY when teaching Marketplace Christianity and Integrity. We even counsel regular workers, Managers and Entrepreneurs in this area. So the following didn’t cause an emotional response from me… just a funny observation.
THE SCAMMER – I was asked to call/ text a woman. She didn’t pick up, but she texted back saying she didn’t want to be scammed and that she sent me a Google code to my phone. Then she wanted me to TELL her what the code was. Pretty sure she was trying to hack my email address. Otherwise lady if you wanted to know I was a real person, you should have picked up the phone smh.
THE LOW BALLER – Some negotiations are EXPECTED at times. But the prices I was asked were, well interesting. 😂 People have a right to ask. Nothing wrong with that! And I can decide if I am ok with it or not. But the guilt trip when I don’t accept is the true heart of a low baller 😂😂. And it doesn’t work or reflect well.
It is hard having to sell things at 50% – 75% of what you bought it for and it was gently used. Let alone a whole house. So we wanted to be fair. I have had the funniest offers. It’s cool though. But many appreciated the value they were getting, considering what we were literally giving away with a lot of items. And they sold quickly… there is no way you’d find this quality in a store especially with inflation right now.
We were trying to be a blessing. But this is something I expected. I always try to remember that the person I am buying from is a real person and try not to be just out for just myself when purchasing. Likewise those I am selling to. I try to price things that will be a win win.
THE BIDDING WAR – This was the funniest. I was low balled initially on an offer and then the offer moved to being over my asking price for something when they learned it was already sold. I said they were welcome to purchase the one available item but I was firm that I honor first come first serve on the other item and that one was spoken for.
Now…. I KNOW it is worth double or more than what I am selling it for. But I chose the price… I promised someone first rights to it because they committed firmly to getting it. If they don’t come through, then I will go back to those who offered. The person agreed and I appreciate them for trying but I didn’t flinch or even consider it. It isn’t fair… and I promised. I appreciated her though… she seems sweet.
I am saying all of this because these are examples of heart conditions we have. Separating our attitudes in dealing with money vs valuing people or even honoring God in our money and business dealings.
It is soooo important to BE a LIGHT in these situations. Like I always say… it is not ok to say… it’s just business, nothing personal. Not when you represent a Living God who sees all. He can and will give back to us much more when we have integrity when it comes to money. It’s just a few household items but I am shooting for a “Well done” in heaven.
Money ain’t worth more than PEOPLE. Ever….
When God Promises Healing
When God Promises Healing
“There was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.” – John 4:46-47
When Jesus arrived in Galilee, he met a man who came pleading for his son’s life. The man was a royal official and most likely had plenty of money and servants.
But even wealth and power don’t guarantee that a person will never face hardship or pain. So, an anxious father found himself in a crowd, begging Jesus to return with him.
“Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” (John 4:48)
Again, the man begs, asking Jesus to accompany him before his son dies from his illness. Then Jesus tells him to leave, promising that his son will live.
When he returns home, the man finds his son well. So, he calls his servants and asks what time the boy improved. He smiles when they mention the time because it was the exact hour that he was with Jesus.
There may be an illness or relationship in your life that Jesus has promised healing in. As the days pass, you may wonder why you haven’t seen it yet. Though the man had the assurance from Jesus that all would be well, he still had to travel a long distance before he would see it fulfilled.
Sometimes, healing happens long before we see it. Don’t lose faith, dear one. If God has assured you that you will experience healing, it’s a promise that He will keep.
God, thank You for Your faithfulness. I haven’t seen healing (in this area of life) yet but I know that You are working all things for my good. Let Your name be magnified through this healing work that You’re doing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Healing in Unexpected Ways
Healing in Unexpected Ways
“On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years.” – Luke 13:10-11
When Jesus was teaching in the synagogue (or church), he saw a woman crippled. Many versions of the Bible explain that the woman was doubled over, unable to straighten her spine at all.
Imagine the pain of walking hunched over for years. Suddenly even mundane tasks like grocery shopping or cooking dinner would be unbearably painful. Your joints and muscles would ache constantly from compensating for your spinal column. Your neck would be at angle, making conversations and eye contact difficult.
So when Jesus saw the woman, He was overcome with compassion. He called out, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” (Luke 13:12)
But an interesting thing happens then. As everyone else rejoices and praises God, the church leader grows angry. He says there are six days to work on and the seventh is meant to be holy. “If you want to be healed,” he says, “Come on the right day!” (Luke 13:14, paraphrased).
Jesus become angry and calls the man a hypocrite, asking, “Should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”
Healing doesn’t always present the way we would like it to. Jesus may choose to heal that woman from her violent spouse by allowing a divorce. He may choose to heal a sick man from cancer by taking him to Heaven.
It’s important as Christians that we don’t judge the healed for how they’re healed. Rather, we’re just to rejoice that Christ has done a beautiful miracle.
God, help me to rejoice with those who have been healed. I don’t want to be so caught up in what I think healing should look like that I miss it when You perform a miracle. I thank You and praise You for the healing that has happened to those around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Who Is Your Lazarus?
Who Is Your Lazarus?
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” – John 11:40
Lazarus and his sisters, Martha and Mary, were close friends of Jesus. So when their brother was ill, the sisters sent for Him, saying, “The one you love is ill.” (John 11:3)
But Jesus didn’t drop everything and leave. He waited two days before journeying to see Lazarus. As He departed he told his disciples that Lazarus was asleep and it was time to wake him.
When Jesus arrived, Martha hurried out to meet him. Her anguished cry reflects on our own during times of pain, “If You were here, this wouldn’t have happened…”
This is when Jesus reminds her of his Divinity. He says He’s the Resurrection and the Life and asks her if she believes.
“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” (John 11:27)
In times of pain—before the Lord has healed an illness or restored a relationship—it can be tempting to focus on what hasn’t happened or get trapped into an endless cycle of questions.
But Jesus encouraged Martha to focus on His identity, rather than her pain or her circumstances. Re-affirming what you believe about Jesus can be a powerful way to find peace, even in the middle of deep pain.
Jesus, I believe You are the Messiah. You came into the world to rescue and redeem me. I don’t know why it seems that You haven’t moved in my situation but I’m choosing to trust in Your character. You are good and faithful always. Amen.
LIFE – I’m Tired!!!
I am hearing this a little too much lately, so I figure more of you may be dealing with it too. Alot of you are saying that you are tired. You can’t go on and you want to quit. Let me remind you of the alternative. If you don’t fight you go back into bondage and the enemy laughs over you while you are back in his clutches. In fact HE WAS THE ONE speaking to you, telling you that you were tired. You thought it was YOU! He has been talking to you all day… and all night while you were sleeping. You wake up physically and mentally tired. You got tired of praying and tired of reading and he kept whispering to you “I’m tired… I’m tired.” Your trials may be real, but God gave you everything you need to rise above it!
1.
Tell a God fearing friend what you are going through so you aren’t alone.
2. Under gird yourself in prayer
3. Get back up and worship
4. Get up and read the Word and declare I WILL GET MUCH OUT OF MY STUDY!
5. Once you feel a bit stronger… ATTACK! Tell the enemy he has no more hold on
you. I don’t believe your lies!
NOW
you pick up your strength and get back on assignment. Continue to believe what
God has spoken over you and not these lies that have been filling your head.
You’re Shining Baby!
Something I’ve been thinking about recently. Kind of in amusement. For years it felt really painful to feel underestimated. People may like you but not believe you are or will be great. They may not think much of you at all. Even family or those you consider family. I eventually got over it… loved them and now I rise above. It’s funny how easy it is to laugh off what used to be so painful… when you believe your vision and your worth. And if you’re REALLY over it, you don’t care if they EVER will see you rise. Or get the revelation of who God made you.
And some of us want others to see us do well… you know… those that thought less of us. We want them to see us rise as some sort of pay back, clap back, or revenge. Well that’s pride which entered because of your pain. If you’re really healed from it and they really have no power over you… why do you care? That’s how you know you’re ready to rise… you don’t look back like Lot’s Wife. You focus on what’s new.
Your vision and worth is too great to take time to mentally thumb your nose at “haters”. Why are haters a factor when there’s so much glory ahead? I’m just saying… you’re better than that.
You’re shining baby!
#ItDontMatter #TooBusyLookingAhead #ItsReallyTHATok
Soul Ties and How to Break Them (Part 2)
As a believer you’re not supposed to live your life subject to any demonic spirit or better yet… your own wrong decisions. God wants to restore you into righteousness.. or the right way (His way) of doing things. But it takes a process when you have found yourself amidst a tangled web of your own choices. God wants you to live free from being a victim of the actions of others, free from a victim mindset, and free to make the RIGHT choices for your life.
When it comes to relationships it is so difficult to gauge what is a good one and what is not. If you have sound leaders around you, it would be good to listen to those who have your best interest at heart. This will help you to see beyond emotional attachments that can form and blind you ESPECIALLY IF you are like I used to be and you had a history of making wrong choices. I assure you there’s hope on the other side because of the wisdom you will gain in doing things right. It will cause you to help others in ways you only DREAMED. You can also turn your greatest weaknesses and sorrows into a place that will truly bless the world around you… one person at a time!
So when breaking a soul tie:
1. REALIZE it’s an unhealthy, unfruitful and ungodly relationship. Acknowledge that to yourself.
2. DECLARE verbally that you renounce and break agreement/ covenant with the toxic soul tie between you and _____________. I take back my soul (intellect, will, and emotions). My soul belongs to me. I break every promise spoken and plans made in the name of Jesus. I bless them as they go.
3. ASK THE FATHER for guidance in how to maintain your deliverance. For example: Do you live with them, have kids (not adult ones) with them? Do they pay your bills? Are you socially or financially tied to them? Be determined to make some changes.
4. GET GODLY COUNSEL on how to disconnect from the ungodly system that upholds your life in the natural sense. Don’t trust your own wisdom, you have mislead yourself in this and you are coming out of deception. You need GODLY advice.
5. STOP LYING. Don’t lie to yourself or those walking with you in this season to save face. Be honest. Are you in ministry? Do you need to sit down for a season to heal, restore and regroup? Tell those with you the truth about how you are feeling and what you were and may still want to do.
6. SET BOUNDARIES. Breaking off means not entertaining this person anymore. Don’t deceive yourself into thinking that you can be around them and do things for them and not be effected. If you have a younger child and NEED to stay in contact, do so but keep it about the child. Keep it brief. Text or email when you can about things that are happening. YOU have no reason to hang out as a “family” when you KNOW it will lead you back into bondage. There is more on this but we won’t go any deeper at the moment. I suggest reading Buondaries by Townsend and Cloud.
7. STAY IN YOUR WORD AND… increase your worship (intimacy with God) and prayer life. Really talk to God and let Him into all the areas you’ve tried to manage on your own. It is life to you and will sustain you!!!! Increase your spiritual disciplines.
8. BEWARE OF TRICKS. The person usually ALMOST ALWAYS will try to come back. OR MAYBE that person is you. They will go between being very nice or being very angry or mean… even threatening you. They know what draws you so they will appeal to that. If you need money they will bring it, if you wanted to get married they will say let’s move in together or ok we can get married. When you know that’s not a good idea. You have to come to the end of yourself and stand with God and refuse to live in bondage! The nice/ mean tactic is what happens when someone has lost control, especially demonic control. The enemy is looking for a way back in. Don’t fall for it.
9. YOU ARE IN WARFARE AT THIS POINT. Stay on alert and keep your mindset fast in this season. Stop going back and forth between two opinions. Stay in agreement with God and fight your way out. THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE FALL. They get free, they kicked the person out. They got lose but they stopped fighting and stopped being wise to the WARFARE they are in. And THEY GO BACK! Don’t let that be you!
10. THEY COME BACK IN MANY FORMS. For me… I found other demonic souls ties to fill the voids. Never knowingly. But I hadn’t done #10 so I found myself back in crazy emotionally painful situations. It wasn’t the same person every time, but it was a similar one.. or worse one.
11. HEAL AND BE BY YOURSELF FOR A WHILE. I am not speaking about isolation. Unless you have a slew of unhealthy relationships around you and you need to purge your address book (remember those?). I mean it’s ok to not have the void filled. You need time to heal, get strong and learn to allow God to fill those places that allowed you to get into a relationship(s) like that in the first place.
Get rid of those demonic ties. Think about… who you are thinking about? Some of you right now have a person or two in mind. It might even be a bad friendship, an Ex etc.
Inbox
me if you need scriptures to help you through the process if this is something
you are going through.
Soul Ties and How to Break Them (Part 1)
I remember hearing of soul ties when I was much younger but didn’t understand much about them. Back then God spoke to me and explained what they were, how they worked and how the enemy uses them. One thing I know for sure is that the enemy doesn’t create a soul tie. WE DO! But our enemy loves to influence and infect them.
A soul tie happens through physical or emotional intimacy…. even through infatuation. It can be GREAT in a healthy marriage, friendship, parental or child relationships. Remember David and Jonathan in their covenant friendship? (See 1 Samuel 18).
But there are those relationships that are not healthy. It can feel like love or desperation for that person. Always feeling like you need their love, protection, support, company etc… it’s a relationship many times rooted in idolatry of some sort, typically unknown to the person. They may be someone you always go back to either physically or mentally.
Over the years I’ve heard many people say they “will always love them or be in love with them because this was my first this or that”. This may be a good indication that it’s an unhealthy demonic soul tie. It is a delusion that has blinded many. I was once one of those people. However, early on God taught me about them and I grew a strong conviction concerning them.
Is it always demonic? I would say no, but if it’s definitely a bondage situation then yes it can be demonic. Now if you’re married, there’s other posts for that. This blog post isn’t license to get divorced. But if you opened yourself up to an unhealthy relationship… it’s not that the enemy made you do it, he may have influenced it. By your own authority you decided to become a party to it. And if you begin to sin or fall into bondage, that’s when this becomes a demonic soul tie. You’re operating on his turf, by his rules etc. And the enemy loves to begin operating inside of things that are rooted outside of God’s will. Now that we established that, please read on. There’s more.
When I broke up from someone many many years ago it hurt sooooo bad. I heard the Lord whisper to me that it wasn’t true love that I experienced. It was a soul tie. When the tie disconnects, you can sometimes physically feel the pain of the disconnection. I kept my eyes on God and resisted calling this person. I resisted but I hurt so bad that all I could do was curl up in a ball. The Lord said that some of the pain would subside in a few days. And it did… I was still vulnerable but after a week or so I could think more clearly.
I
remember how demonically influenced that relationship was and I wanted true
freedom. When you want real freedom you DON’T make excuses for yourself and you
DON’T make excuses for the other person. Each party typically was equally wrong
even if you felt like the victim. Having a relationship outside of God is
always a bad idea. But you know what is worse? A relationship that LOOKS like
it has God potential. That is the most deceptive type and again… the enemy
loves to ride along on the sin WE create. This is how it becomes even more
twisted of a soul tie. So yes a spirit of deception was there but I invited it
in. Not the other person (though they were very deceptive). I… like Eve
disobeyed the One I had covenant with…. my REAL first love… my FIRST husband…
The Father. See… we will act like this is the love of our lives when in our
heart and the back of our minds we know it is destructive but we’re hoping God
will bless it and turn it around anyway! When you ignore Him and proceed with
the relationship it’s on you to decide you no longer want to live under your
own deception.
Because it is a demonic soul tie, the demonic spirits they are subject to… you
are also. You will either be enticed or tormented by them.
This is what I decided in my early twenties. I was a Minister and realized I was under deception. I didn’t want to minister under a deceived mindset, so I called my Pastor to tell him everything and I sat myself down. My Pastor decided how long that would be. All I wanted was to truly be free and to have the man of God that GOD wanted in my life. This was about 20 years ago.
In part 2 we will discuss how to actually break a Soul Tie.
Love
you all!
—April Moore
Originally (partially) published Nov 2016
photos are from unknown sources
Spiritual Warfare
For several years my husband and I lead Intercessory Prayer at our local church. Even before that time we served on prayers teams. Over the years and even now, I am asked how does one war at home?
Questions like:
– How do I get in that mode?
– I have so much going on, people live with me and their lifestyle isn’t like mine. How do I regain spiritual control over the atmosphere of my home or workplace?
– There’s a darkness that has entered my home but I feel so weak against it.
You’d be surprised (possibly) how many times over the years. Truth is there are many ways to answer that question and typically I’d speak at length with the person. But I’ll give you a few steps to take that are simple, effective and have gotten results for me. I’ve even emailed this to several people over time to help them in warfare.
But before we dive in, there are a few things I strongly admonish you to do prior to going into warfare.
1. Repent (acknowledge to God and turn away) from any sin you are involved in.
2. If you are living with a boyfriend or girlfriend, the best warfare is to get your house in order. They need to leave. Please don’t expect to fight something you told to come in through disobedience.
3. #2 is one area of disobedience. But there are others. Identify how you may be living contrary to God’s Word.
4. Disobedience isn’t the only reason but obedience is one of the first areas to address. Obedience of all kinds.
5. Humble your heart, forgive others… really talk to God and clear some things up between you and Him.
6. In the Bible, it was customary for an army General to inquire of the Lord PRIOR to GOING to war. Meaning asking if they should go… and how to approach the enemy. So make sure you do. The Lord may tell you to be still and worship!
Or you may proceed with active engagement.
Warfare Instructions
1. Declare and command that the enemy cannot take ANYTHING from you or your family. Declare that you all shall retain and yes even increase in strength, power and anointing.
2. Declare out loud warfare scriptures. Examples: Psalm 27:1-3/ Psalm 91:5-9/ Psalm 91:10-13 All in the name of Jesus.
3. Command the enemy to completely leave you and your family and not return.
4. Declare that all doors, portals and gates that allows the enemy access to be closed and sealed with the blood of Jesus. He is not allowed access to you or your family anymore.
5. Release Angelic protection, ministry and covering in the name of Jesus.
6. Declare that you and family are cleansed by the blood of Jesus from all residue of the enemy’s attacks.
7. Declare that there is a fiery impenetrable hedge of protection around you and your family in the name of Jesus.
8. Seal the prayer by asking God to cover any other areas that you are not aware of and to cover those areas in the blood of Jesus.
Psalm 27:1-3
The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked came against me To eat up my flesh, My enemies and foes, They stumbled and fell. 3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident.
(You can read the rest of the chapter)
Psalm 91:1-16
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most-High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” 3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. 4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. 5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day, 6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday7 A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. 8 Only with your eyes shall you look and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most-High, your dwelling place, 10 No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; 11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone. 13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, the young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. 14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him.16 With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”
