Dear Sister,

Use wisdom when sharing your vision with others.  Everybody is not part of the plan.

Every smiling face is not a friend. Be mindful to protect the vision with which you have been entrusted and share it only with those the Lord leads you to share it with.  Remember, not everyone who shows up, even when they say they your kinsman in Christ, is coming for your good.  The enemy of your vision will send counterfeits who will covet, discourage, try to derail, and even steal your vision.

Rise up and be encouraged to move toward the vision knowing there is not a single strategy or person the enemy can use against you to stop what God has ordained.  Today you are yet another day closer to giving birth to the vision.

“ ^… Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.”  -Psalm 69:32

Be encouraged

angela

Dear Sister,

Just a note to remind you today that we serve a God breathes new life into dead dreams.  You may get discouraged, walk away and forget your dreams.  But, God does not forget.  Be encouraged today and draw strength from The One who planted those dreams in your heart.  He had the plan and resources to bring them to pass even before He gave them to you.

My prayer today is that you don’t lose heart and that you recognize that even now God is breathing new life into your dreams.  Just put one foot in front of the other knowing each step brings you closer to the fulfillment of what has been deposited in you.  The path is never straight or short.  It’s long, winding,  full of road blocks and detours.  Just stay the course, in faith, and WALK IT OUT.

“Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.  Be alert, be present.  I’m about to do something brand new.  It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?” –Isaiah 43:18,19

Don’t let the old things behind you cause you to miss the new things in front of you.  Stay open to God’s still quiet voice and trust His timing.

Be encouraged,

angela

More than two hundred years ago, Thomas Paine wrote a collection of articles that together comprised a book entitled “The Crisis.”  In one of those articles he made a statement that has endured over time. Paine wrote, “These are the days that try men’s souls.”  Those words are as true today as they were then.

We are living in a time when we are grappling with the psychological fallout of a recession—high unemployment, home foreclosures, the stress of meeting the same monthly financial obligations with less, loss of retirement nest eggs, and the list goes on.  We, and others around us, live with shattered dreams, broken hearts, spiritual disillusionment, and enormous struggle in ordinary existence. Our outcomes will depend on which report we choose to believe. Our natural eyes will give us a report that will cause us to stare and shudder.  Our spiritual eyes will give us a report that will move us to stand with surety that God will breathe new life into our dreams, mend our broken hearts, displace our disillusionment, and turn our struggles into victories.

“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.  They are like trees planted along a river bank, with roots that reach deep into the water.  Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought.  Their leaves stay green and they go right on producing delicious fruit”.  –Jeremiah 17:7-8

Yes, these are indeed days that are ripe for the trying of our souls.  These too are the days that are equally ripe for the testing of our spiritual metal.  I don’t know your specific trial or trials, but I do know that God is faithful and His compassionate nature will not to let us be tried beyond our ability and strength.  During these trying times, we should not lose heart or give voice to discouragement. Instead, we should lift our voices to the Lord with words of thanksgiving and praise that will usher us into His presence. Because, it is in His presence that we will find all the strength we need and encouragement for every circumstance.

Be encouraged,

angela

Dear Sister,

I have been on hiatus for a while and for a reason.  I am writing to let you know that beginning October 15, 2009, I will be blogging again at www.dearsister.org. I have not been posting very much over the last year because I made a decision to “come aside” to allow God to teach me some things and purge me of some other things. I needed to sit at His feet and learn more of Him and to receive a fresh anointing for this new season we are in.  So, I did.  It’s been a bumpy ride. I have stumbled, grumbled, cried, and “died.”  It was all for my good.

We all have dreams, desires and hopes for the present and the future.  Too often those dreams are dashed, desires delayed, and hopes falter as we get “caught up” in everyday living.  In my time away from the blogosphere, one of the things I learned was to listen.  And in tuning my ears to my environment, almost everywhere I could hear the voices of discouragement, frustration, confusion, and struggle echoing from the sisterhood.  So, Dear Sister, while remaining true to its initial purpose, will for a period of time focus solely on encouragement.

Expect some new things.  One of the things I will start in November is something called “Sister Stories” that will feature women who are over comers.  And, you are invited to participate.  All you have to do is send a photo (if one is available) and share a story and about someone you know who rose above circumstances and emerged victoriously. That woman may even be you.  I believe that sharing successes is one way we can strengthen each other. If God did it for one, he will do it for another–He is not a respecter of person.

If you have a story to share, would like to add someone to the email list, or have your name removed from the email list, contact me at heartsong.media@gmail.com.  I look forward to hearing from you and I hope you stick around for the other new things that will be unfolding.

angela

Dear Sister,

Pain and disappointment visits us all regardless of age, economic status, or intellect. They don’t care if you are beautiful, about where you live,  or what you drive.  When days appear darkest and you can’t even imagine light at the end of the tunnel, let alone see it, there is someone you can turn to for comfort and consolation.  I found an article that may help you if you are having a dark day or dark season.  Maybe you are alright today.  If you are, then this article may be a comforting reflection for you tomorrow, next week or next year.  Dark times just have a way of coming–no one is exempt.

The Father of All Comfort – In Touch Ministries – Dr. Charles Stanley 2009

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your sister,

Angela

Dear Sister,

You must have time in your day when you are in complete stillness and silence before God. This is the time when you can simply experience Him and who you are in Him. It’s the time when you can discover the path to the realization of divine vision for your life, and know the miracles of everyday life.

May there be miracles in your life today and every day. And, may you have the eyes to see them.

Because HE lives, I am

angela

Dear Sister,

Just a note to let you all know that I am still here. I’ve been allowing God to do some work in me so that I can come back with something fresh and powerful to speak into your lives. This has required that I be still and allow God to work on me for a while. I will see you all back here again soon. Remember me in your prayers.

angela

Dear Sister:

How many tongues do you speak in daily? The following list was taken from the table of contents of “30 Days to Taming Your Tongue” by Debra Smith Pegues.

• The Lying Tongue
• The Flattering Tongue
• The Manipulating Tongue
• The Hasty Tongue
• The Divisive Tongue
• The Argumentative Tongue
• The Boasting Tongue
• The Self-Deprecating Tongue
• The Slandering Tongue
• The Gossiping Tongue
• The Meddling Tongue
• The Betraying Tongue
• The Belittling Tongue
• The Cynical Tongue
• The Know-It-All Tongue
• The Harsh Tongue
• The Tactless Tongue
• The Intimidating Tongue
• The Rude Tongue
• The Judgmental Tongue
• The Self-Absorbed Tongue
• The Cursing Tongue
• The Complaining Tongue
• The Retaliating Tongue
• The Accusing Tongue
• The Discouraging Tongue
• The Doubting Tongue
• The Loquacious Tongue
• The Indiscreet Tongue
• The Silent Tongue

I found my tongues in the list. I didn’t realize I spoke so many languages. I decided to hone my tongues down to two—the tongues of truth and love.

angela

Dear Sister:

I have had a tumultuous past twelve months. The fact that I am still standing is a testimony unto itself that God is. Today as I sat reflecting on the events of the past year and bordering on the beginnings of a grand and glorious pity party, the Holy Spirit said to me, “Consider Job.” I picked up my Bible and took another look at this man.

Job was a man who suffered much. The bible says he was a man who possessed much. Then suddenly he lost it all and soon after that his health failed him as well. He suffered greatly. Yet, in spite of all the calamities that repeatedly visited him in rapid succession, he blessed God.

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

And naked I shall return there.

The Lord gave and the lard has taken away

Blessed be the name of the Lord. Job 1:21

What sustained Job?· He believed God – He looked not at the circumstances. Instead, he looked up claiming God’s right to rule over his life.

Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity? Job 2:10

· He looked ahead counting on God’s promises. He knew that in that future time all adversity would be removed and that those who trusted God would never be disappointed – he believed God.I know that my Redeemer lives,

And at the last. . . I shall see God. Job 19:25-26

· He did not try to explain the change in his circumstances—he trusted God.

I know that Thou canst do all things, things too wonderful (too deep) for me,which IAnd that no purpose of Thine can bethwarted. . .Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,did not know. . .I will ask Thee, and do Thou instruct me. Job 42:2-4

Job knew he couldn’t correct his situation in his own strength but he did know, believe, and trusted the One who could. He utterly trusted God’s plan and purpose for his life even in the day of adversity.

angela

Dear Sister,

What does your relationship with others, God and yourself look like? Would you be surprised to know that whatever they are, they are a reflection of you. Do you want them to change? If so, start with the woman in your mirror. First, discover how you feel about yourself. The status of every relationship in your life begins with the one you have with you. How you feel about yourself is reflected in every horizontal relationship (with others) and your vertical relationship (with God).

Grab a mirror and look into it. Grab a pen and paper, draw a line down the center and write down what you see in the mirror on the left side. Be honest. Review what you have written, ask yourself and ask God what can be done to address each one, writing the answer down on the right side of the paper.

Lay those things on the altar before God. Give them to Him with the willingness to take the corrective measures as He shows them to you no matter how uncomfortable it may feel—or whether you want to do it or not. Trust Him to know what is best. God desires for us to have right relationships with others, Himself, and ourselves. The core issue is usually self-rejection. Allow Him to deal with you and the other relationships will fall into place. Some may even fall away—but let them fall where they may—not everybody is going to be ready for the new you.

angela