GET READY TO ARISE AND WALK FORWARD

Ever found yourself stuck in the cave of life's problems? have you ever gone to work or school and end up getting the worst possible news ever, throwing you into the darkness of captivity, confusion, sadness, and feelings of despair?

By Angeline M Duran Santiago

There's a story in the Bible of a town that was suffering, in the last minutes of survival, dying, ready to become extinct. People had given up and just at that last hour when most of the town had decided to lay back and die, a word from the Prophet came to tell them it was all about to change. Perhaps some doubted while some believed. To those who refused to see it as possible, they were told, "Oh, you're going to see the Lord bring this town and these people out of their desperation, their needs, their hunger and their hurt. You're going to see it too. But, because of your unbelief, you aren't going to enjoy the moment of breakthrough and joy."

Now, in the midst of this chaos and smell of nearby death, there were four lepers, of course, outside of the town, because if you know your Bible history, lepers were the outcast of the day, unwanted and unworthy to step inside the city walls. They knew the condition inside the town. They knew they were all waiting for death to just take them away. But, they didn't see their signed death warrant as their end. They looked at their difficult situation and all of a sudden, just at that last moment something happened.

They got sick and tired of being sick and tired. They got fed up with being kept on the outside. They got disgusted with the condition of their lives. They got tired of accepting their life of leprosy, disease, hunger, being signaled out, being kept away from others, and being the unwanted. They got filled with the kind of anger that is I guess, a good one. It made them become bold. It made them pull up what remained of their ragged clothing, and it made them go into a battle mentality. They decided to go forward.

Now there were four men with leprosy at the entrance of the city gate. They said to each other, "Why stay here until we die?" 2 Kings 7:3

I don't want to share the whole story because it's too long. But this I do want to share. They went forward. They began to move. In the midst of their dying spirit, their spirit came alive. They began to take small steps. They were starving, thirsty, hurting, and exhausted. But, they moved forward. 

"If we're going to die, then let's at least die trying to find a way out, to see what is up ahead, to find what we need, to never give up..." You fill in the blanks.

 

To me, God is saying, "Yes, you are in the midst of a crisis. You have become the unloved, the outcast, the hated ones. Yes, it's true, problems and situations have come upon your head and you only see despair and no way out."

To me, God is saying, "Get up! Get up and move forward! Take a new step. Move ahead. Don't stay in your coffin. Don't remain in your condition. God has promised a blessing, to release freedom and a breakthrough! God has sent His word to set you free and make you a blessing."

These men, little by little, began to walk. And, what happened? 

They arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Arameans; when they came to the outskirts of the camp of the Arameans, behold, there was no one there. 6For the Lord had caused the army of the Arameans to hear a sound of chariots and a sound of horses, even the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, "Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us." 

God used their lifeless footsteps and those in the nearby towns heard the footsteps of an army. God used each painful step forward to echo thunderously into the nearby towns causing them to flee for their lives and thus providing what these men needed. 

Can you and I get ready to move forward?
God wants to use our footsteps to loudly thunder across the cities and towns, across and into the desperation of our situation. God has made provisions but we have to get up and go for it. Can you allow God to use you even in your weakest condition? Even in your sickness? Even when you barely have enough to buy food for the week?

God's plan is a great plan! Will you believe it today? I choose to hold on to what He has promised! Lord, I know that I am like those lepers. I am in great need in so many areas of my life. Still, I rise. I get up and move forward. I choose to have faith in your promises and your ability to make a way where there is no way! I believe, regardless, if I believe alone. Use my feet, my voice, my life and thunder across the heavens with my life as I move forward believing in You, God of my breakthrough, my blessings, my life. 

EVEN IN THE DARKEST NIGHT

 By Angeline M Duran Santiago

In the darkest night, 
When not even the street lamp flickers,
As dark clouds cover the starts and the moon,
In the most hidden corner of your closet,
Love stretches out heavenly arms to embrace you,
Will you unclench your chained heart and allow
Love to unfold the layers of your darkness, 
To remove the shadows that keep you company,
And push away the hurtful grime that keeps you walking
In the abandoned alley of your despair?

In the deepest pain,
When your one and only is gone,
When that damn disease refuses to go,
As you hold on to a cold hand that will not caress your
tear stained cheek again,
Will you look up and
Allow Love to rock you into Heavenly Arms
That do understand your pain,
That Love you even when you're not very loveable,
Love you when you need it the most,
Love you, when you're so angry
You shout at the heavens to go away,
Yet, Love
God's perfect Love,
Refuses to run!
Refuses to hide!
Refuses to stay silent!

Love, perfect Love, God's love,
Bends down from the heaven's and reaches out
Into your darkest hiding place
and stands, waiting, 
Will you let Love heal you and restore you,
Or will you continue to be angry,
Hateful, depressed, afraid,
and never know the joy of
Abandoning yourself, free fall,
Into the eternal Love
Of A Heavenly Father,
God Almighty,
Love.

By Angeline M Santiago Duran

THE VALLEY OF DECISION

 By Angeline M Santiago Duran

There are decisions we make or have to make each day. Some are easy, like, "I'm going to have a cup of coffee." while others take complete heart searching and careful planning, like moving from one job to the next, starting a new relationship or moving to a new home.

It's never easy. I find myself often questioning the Lord and asking God, "How do I know this is the right move or the correct steps to take for this moment." Sometimes the answer comes quickly, but usually, it seems to linger, slowly, as if allowing me to live each moment, gradually stepping up into the next level. I find myself either climbing a mountain in the midst of stormy conditions, or alone in a boat on the shore watching the clouds forming above me. 
These moments have pushed me to no other place than my knees, humbling my heart to His will, bending my desires and hungering to follow after God's higher plan for me.

Do you, like me, find yourself in the valley of decision? Are you struggling to trust and have faith for the things you have prayed and are waiting for? Healing seems far away, doesn't it? Financial stress can be like someone that follows you around, haunting you, even in the daylight. And, yes, life seems to be filled with all kinds of difficult passage ways and tunnels. But we're going to have to make a decision in this valley we are. We are going to have to move forward and take the next steps. 

God never planned for us to stay frozen in time, fading away as we wait. No. I believe that as we learn to trust Him, surrendering our complete heart to Him, as we take each new step, His voice will guide us. "This is the way...."

Lord, we need your loving hand to guide us. Lead us with your voice as we venture out into the open into the new ideas, the new jobs, the new relationships, the restoration of things in our lives and dreams not yet fulfilled. We take our lives and place them into your care, asking you to help us with our decisions. Don't allow us to walk around confused, disturbed, fearful or without direction. You are the God of peace and you give us wisdom and understanding. Help us to make wise decisions, choices inspired by Your Spirit moving in our lives and helping us towards success. In Jesus Name. Amen.