Category: Christian Empowerment

Ministry post to encourage and empower.

Everything or Nothing at all

Published on by Johnnatta GilesLeave a comment

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Tuesday night my husband and I were doing one of our favorite things. Whispering about the things of God in the night as our little ones begin to fall asleep. My husband mentioned something Dr. Tony Evans said that is so true. If we could have a do over and change the things we did or get away from the people we should have never been around, we would be farther in our relationship with God than we are now. Although I am not in the habit of thinking on “wisha couldas” I can see the wisdom here and have the humbleness to realize that our past can help change us for a better future. I also know to be true that not every mistake was meant to be made in order for me to grow. I have made many that I know for a fact I never had to go through in order to learn a lesson. I do well to remember that but I am human. Stuff happens.

I have been listening to the Tony Evans series called “Taking God Seriously”. It has confirmed everything I have been hearing the Lord speak to me about these last 5 years.  Almost 3 years ago I began walking away from everyone I knew in order to be closer to the Lord on a deeper level and fully follow Him. I am guilty of putting myself and people above God. Meaning I have ignored the scriptures telling me how important it was to be separate from those who do not follow the ways of the Lord (2 Corinthians 6:14- 18). I listened to the Church’s lies shaming me for only allowing those in Christ in my inner circle believing I was wrong instead of asking God what He had to say about it.

Until I gave up and laid all of it at His feet.

Are we really willing to lay it all down? Are we really ready to walk away from everything and give up what we think we know? Has your Abraham moment come upon you? Have you been called into a foreign land? Away from it all. Have you been spoken to of promises yet to come? Have you taken the only thing that you love more than anything on this earth and laid it on the altar? Are you ready to end it for the sake of growing closer to Him?

If  you’re in an Abraham season know that the Lord will restore, renew, redeem, provide and give you everything He has promised. While you wait on those promises to come full circle keep your eyes OPEN and listen to the voice of the spirit. Obey Him in faith and He will come through.

For those who have yet to enter into this truth.

I know it’s hard to understand at first. It’s how we are raised. It’s how the world teaches us. It’s about you and what you can do. You have the power to do great things. You have the power to change the world. Let’s get real.. I have never had the power and never have you. And I no longer want to be in control. I have learned it is not my duty to bring people to salvation not even my own children. That is all up to them and Lord. I don’t have to put myself in situations or around people who will hinder my walk with God in order for them to see the love of Christ. The word says that creation alone is evidence to His existence and love. It also prophesies that after Christ’s death, the Holy Spirit ministers to all men unbelieving and believing. My main focus is to grow closer to the Lord so He may use me for His glory through His power.

If the Lord calls me to speak to someone I do. If the Lord calls me to a place to serve I do. But if He does not I do not move. I have taken the Lord seriously. His word and His voice is the only thing I make a move on. So many people called me not a Christian because of the choices I have made in order to fully walk with the Lord. But what they don’t know is that I’ve heard that before. It was the first thing the enemy said to me the moment I decided to follow God fully at the age of 17. So that line was old news and just another cheap shot from Satan whom I have known my whole life. And who is he? He knows me not. What do you have to do with me serpent? Nothing at all. I believe this is the fear of many Christians. That when they take God seriously they will be made fun of, kicked out of the “Christian Club” then labeled as odd, weird or down right unsaved.

But lovely ones..

Did not the Lord tell you that’s exactly what will happen? “If they hated me they will hate you also.” He was talking about the world and the religious people. Why did they hate Jesus? Because He took God seriously. He refused to play politics and He refused to compromise. He refused to follow the religious leader’s doctrine and He refused to sit quietly while doing it. If you love the Lord lay down everything you think you know. As matter of fact believe that you know nothing and see what the Lord will show you.

Taking God seriously or submitting unto the Lord is the next greatest step after receiving salvation. It can be the reason why you have not seen the miracles of God in your life. It can be why you have never heard the voice of the Lord. It can be why you have not known Him as protector, provider, healer, deliverer, friend, father, savior, life-giver. You can miss out on not just a few of those things but ALL of those things and more! Submission is key. Taking Him seriously is key.

The falling away is great. The children of God walking away and falling into the traps of lies, witchcraft and paganism is major. If this scares you it should because we are in the end. Get back to the word and stay there for your sake. There is no time to one day be close to the Lord. No time to one day follow Him fully. The time is NOW. While the Light is still here take God seriously!

You are Loved Heard Held Known and Seen.

Psalms of My Heart

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What do you do with relationships that are estranged? Will there be reconciliation? Will there ever be peace between you? What can you do when you have hurt another sister or brother in Christ? Can they forgive you? Can you forgive them? I have had my share of those situations. I look back and see how much I have changed even in the pain of it all. Walking through that fire I have learned something so profound. These situations are never easy. It takes the directing of the Holy Spirit for reconciliation. And it takes forgiveness and change in order to grow in any relationship. Some relationship doors close forever and sometimes you know right away what relationships those are. Some never close and you grow together even in pain, despite the past. Those are the refining moments for a better future. At the end of the day only the Lord can tell you what He wants for the both of you or all of you. Because He loves you all and knows what you need to grow closer to Him and become who He has made you to be.

  Let them Speak, Let them Walk

If anyone has something to say

Let them come

Let them speak

Maybe we can change

Maybe we can grow

Let me ask for forgiveness

Let us seek truth

Hope in the Future

Hope in the tomorrow

Let there be better days

Let love overcome pain

If anyone refuses the Light

Let them walk

Let the door close

There can be peace

There can be rest

Let me let them go

Let me forgive and move on

Hope in the King

Hope in a better me

Let there be freedom

Let love remain in me

May God be with you in every area of your life. May His voice guide every relationship in your present and the future. Seek His truth. There is nothing too hard for Him to do. No matter your pain, confusion, anger or guilt there is and will be healing in Him. He will restore and He will make all things New.

Life Updates

Published on by Johnnatta GilesLeave a comment

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Fall is finally here! But it still doesn’t feel like it here in Kentucky yet. Mother Earth what’s going on with you this year? I’m so confused!

How I feel about fall is exactly how I feel on the inside these days. I see what’s happening around me I can even outwardly feel it but I still don’t understand it and I don’t know how to feel about it.  I took a break by the leading of the Holy Spirit. He had something to say to me and needed me to sit still in order for me to receive it. I struggled to obey but the Spirit in me that wants nothing more than to hear from my God won over my defiant flesh. With a violent past like mine, it takes years to get on the path of deliverance and standing in the season of healing and The New. I am now standing in The New but it doesn’t feel like it. Have you ever been where I am?

Your past has always been apart of who you thought you were. You wore your pain as your identity. Thinking you would never be truly free of the demons that haunt in the night and stalk in the day. So you embraced it and told yourself “It’s just who I am.” But here you stand now on brink of freedom, in a new place and a new you. The old cannot come. It shall not enter here! But you can’t see how what you were will never be who you are becoming. It’s hard to see yourself a fully NEW creature. Your Mind just cant umderstand it but your heart knows…it knows your exactly where your supposed to be.

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Guys I tell you the truth….. I have recently stood back, looked at myself and thought who is that? I don’t know her. I have always been a person afraid of the unknown but I am realizing more than ever in this season of my life that the unknown is exactly what I want. No matter how uncomfortable it makes me. I may not understand myself like I used to or know myself like I once did but this is exactly where I want to go.

In the Freedom of The Unknown there awaits Adventure and The New.

I will forever be that curious girl with the big brown eyes venturing into the very thing that scares me just find out whats there. And it will be for the better for me. Because It’s a place my Creator designed for me to walk into.

It’s strange…. but it’s SOOO GOOD! I hope if you are where I am, you will follow the Holy Spirit’s breadcrumbs so you may be lead to the bread. The feast! The New!

My Season: Destiny

Published on by Johnnatta Giles7 Comments

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I have this thing about windows. All my life I have grown up looking out of them. Dreaming hoping and wondering about the world beyond them. They have been a place to cry, to think, to pray, to dream of my future. I remember having a very hard time envisioning my future. I had so many things I wanted to do with my life and the first was to escape the house I was in. But then what? What was the plan after I ran away? Was there more to life than just survival? All I knew was how to stay alive and I wasn’t sure if I would be able to on the streets.

I never really thought there was much for me beyond just staying alive and loving God. I told God when I was a teen that if His love was all that I had that would be enough for me. If I suffered my entire life and knew He loved me I could survive. It was His love that kept me alive all those years and it would be His love that would continue to do so. But my “plan” was not His plan at all.

I may have thought I was born to suffer but I always knew I was meant to do something powerful one day. I just didn’t know how or what that was. And It didn’t matter at one point because I didn’t believe I could do it even if I figured it out. I could have never  known the hell I would have to walk through would be apart of that call. Honestly if I would have known back then what was coming ahead in order for me to get to the place I am now, I would have ran full speed away from that path and onto the easier option. And who knows where that would have lead me?

For 8 years I have been on a journey leading to my destiny. And I can honestly say I have not reached my full potential in my character to step fully into the Call on my life. I am in a season of  learning to submit my flesh to the Holy Spirit. To surrender my will and allow the Lord to guide me. I feel like I am going through things I already went through years ago. There are times where I get so annoyed and think “Seriously? Have I not already surrendered that to God?” In those moments I feel like I am wasting time on things that I should already have moved on from. But I am seeing that old wisdom can look different with new realities.

One of those things I’m struggling with questioning if what I am doing is God’s will when I have been told time and time again it is by Him. I have seen what happens when I give just a piece of this thing away. The Glory for Him that comes from it. It is undeniable. I worry that the Lord will get tired of my questioning and doubting. But I am so glad He is patient with me because I need a lot of pushing right now.

I am really needing reminders of why I am doing the things I am doing. And God knows exactly what I need before I do.

As I was watching my husband ‘s and I’s favorite show “The Flash” one of the Characters said something that sparked life into me. She said;

“You know what makes a great speedster? It isn’t their speed. It’s being the light that everyone needs when the world goes dark. It’s the kind of person they are. The kind of person that always wants to help. ” 

That reminded me before I even knew me He knew me. And this call was placed on the inside me. It’s apart of who I am not some thing I just picked up on the side of the road one day. I have been walking toward this for 8 years through the guiding of the Holy Spirit. So now I am in the season of praying for the courage to continue forth.

It takes courage to stand and speak when you don’t think anyone is listening. To leave everything and everyone you know in order to follow Jesus fully. It takes courage to walk where no one else is walking. It takes courage to stand in the gap and when the heavens ask “Who will go forth” you say “Here I am. I will Lord.” He is working on me even in the toughest times.

And even when I want to give up for no apparent reason He is faithful to bring people across my path to get me moving and keep me walking forward. So here I am  Lord. Arms open giving you my life so I may keep it! There is no peace without you and you are everything I will ever need. May all those who seek truth find it through me pointing them directly to You. The King of Kings and God of all. El Shaddai may YOU be glorified forever. Amen.

Do you feel the same? If so know I get it. It can be hard when you know you hold something powerful but don’t know how or when you will release it to those who need it. On the road you grow weary, confused, doubtful, fearful and insecure. But none of that will change this fact:

You were made for such a time as this and He is so much more than all of this. You were born with those gifts rather you use them or not. But He will guide all things for His Glory. All you have to do is say:

Here I am. Yes I will.

#ourdestinyhisglory

Building

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments

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Yes I know I have been absent on here. But only for a little bit.. just a little bit.  Aside from the fact I have a family to raise and Co-Lead, there have been things I have been working on that I have not talked about.. until now. As you will find out the more you get to know me I am a women that wears many many hats.  As you have read in my previous post there is so much on my heart. But I have learned the art of contentment and building. 

Building…. Yes that has been the Word for this season of my life.

The Lord and I are building on the call of my life. He, laying down the foundation, paving the way ahead, and cheering me on. And I am being faithful and obedient in placing the bricks in the areas He directs me to. So in time I may walk fully in this magnificent ministry He has designed in me to bring to the World. Many nights I have prayed for the peace of God and called upon the wisdom of rest while laying in my Fathers lap. His love washes over me and He works even as I sleep. My mornings are filled with praise for a new day ahead of me. I know that I will find every tool, every stone I need waiting for me to get to work on this beautiful thing that for now is His and mine alone.

For the first time ever I am now going to reveal to you what I have been working on. I feel it’s time. There are hints in here but not everything will be revealed. This is what the Holy Spirit has directed me to share:

The Book is Coming

I have finally started the editing of “the book”. I have a goal to when I want the editing to be done so it can be sent in to be published. This book carries my heart, spirit and soul. Tears are still being shed as I edit.  For a while I was so afraid to send it out into the world. Afraid the wolves my rip it apart. But who are they? And this story is not my own. How can I hoard something that has never belonged to me? It would be utterly selfish. The cover is done and my heart sings every time I set my eyes on it. For the longest time I had no idea what to do about the cover. Until Rebecca came :). I am amazed at the work I have done through the Lord and how He took care of it all. My very first creation will be such a huge part of my heart. Glory to God for what He has done and what He will do through it!

I’m starting a YouTube Channel.

If any of you have followed me from my previous channel or my previous blog from blogger you know I used to have one. This one will be very different! I had no idea the Lord would call me back on there in the first place. I thought I was done. But it makes complete sense now why last year I started working on it again. The things that the Lord has done I could have never came up with myself. I am so excited for the opportunity to know even more of you out there and share with you some major parts of my life. All for the Glory of God. Because guys I was so okay with just this corner on the internet, even Instagram was His idea. But I do it for all of you. The channel itself will not be active until after the book is ready to be sent into the publishers. I hope to hear from you guys over there when it does!

Now that you know, I will be updating on these things as this year finishes up. Things are evolving in so many areas of my life each month. And with fall harvest, canning season and homeschooling starting up, I have got to get BUSY. I know the Lord will lead me as He has been. I am always amazed at the things I get done. But I know I can’t do anything apart from Him and I can do all things in Him.

Write soon. God bless you guys.

J.S

 

 

Insecure

Published on by Johnnatta Giles1 Comment

 

It’s 12:15 am Monday is now yesterday and I have some how sneaked into a brand new day without realizing it. That’s what happens when a tiny human is dependent on you for survival. But as I hold her in the football hold I am struggling in my mind. There’s a battle going on in there. Not necessarily a full-out war zone but a wrestling match. Who will win? My soul or my spirit? The one that knows truth and holds it? Or the one that eats lies and tries to sell them in my insecure moments?

Ever since I was young I wanted to become a writer. But I was not very good at writing. Not to my standards anyway. But I wrote songs and poetry and short stories called “Adventures in Neverland” with a friend for two years on and off. The stories were based off characters in Hollywood and centered around our fantasy of traveling the world with Michael Jackson. Odd no? There are stranger things. But I also wanted to write my story and share it with the world.

I have been writing this book since I was 13 years old and had no idea how I would get it out in the world. An opportunity has come across my path recently. One that I never thought would be possible at one time. But I had faith that God would bring me to completing it in His own timing. As years passed and I got closer to the final chapter of completion, it was hard for me to understand how in the world I was going to do something so out of my reach. I didn’t have the money and with each child the hours of my day was filling up. How would I get the money? How will I get the time?

Have you ever had God drop something in your heart and for years you hungered  for the day it would manifest? Wondering how and when? But when it came time you froze. You may have thought “Wait is this really happening? Can I really do this? Am I actually ready for this?”

As a daughter of the King of kings I have realized that in this life I will always have moments of insecurity. I will never be good enough or brave enough. So I had to do what I knew I needed to do. Get on my knees, tell Him my fears and allow Him to calm the storm.

“You Lord have created this story in my heart since I was 13 years old. I have grown and matured as it was forming in my heart and for years wrote on page after page. Each new year brought new clearer memories to share. And now it is time to let it go into the world and I am scared. It has become such apart of me and I do not want to send it to the wolves. But if I do not let it go it will not reach the lost children who were just like me looking for love and a way out of darkness. I trust in You, but I am afraid. Please take away my fear.”

That night the Lord spoke to me. In a vision He said to me “Your words are powerful Johnnatta. Do not be afraid. Now I command you to go forth and speak.”

I awoke with a heart of strength that I did not posses before falling asleep. He has given me exactly what I needed to take the opportunity and move in it. I do not know where it will take me or where my story will journey to. But I know now with confidence that He will be the one guiding all things concerning this part of my life. After I let go of the fear and He took it, I got excited. I was able to feel the sheer joy of something I have been working towards most of my life finally coming to reality. It is another dream come true.

When you feel the fear rising up in your throat choking any bit of joy out of you remember this:

He is there. He is there waiting to take it away. He knows you are not enough but yet He chose you anyway. He is ready to give you exactly what you need to do everything He calls you to. Sometimes there may come burdens,things you may have to do to reach that goal and sometimes the burden is the call itself. But remember that burden is easy and light. (Matthew 11:28-30).  Whatever He allows you to suffer through to get there, He promises it will not win or prosper against you (Isaiah 54:17). For nothing He puts in your path is too much for you ( 1 Corinthians 10:13). But at anytime you can call for strength to get what you need to stand firm and walk forward in peace. He truly makes us brave.

This is one of my favorite verses from one of my favorite songs by Blanca Callahan that has really been a constant reminder in this season of my life. Check this whole entire album that’s titled “Who I am” and her second album “Real Love” on YouTube. They are both excellent to have in your playlist of praise and worship if you’re in the seasons of insecurity, intimidation, fear, and doubt. They have been used by God to give me the strength I need to continue in His will for me in the past 3 years.

“I’m standing on the edge of the ledge so afraid of falling.

Unsure insecure how could I be the one your calling?

But I can hear your voice,

I know you brought me here,

And I will make a choice,

To believe and not fear.

If You say go, I’m not gonna wait,

If you say move, I won’t hesitate,

Whatever it is that ya bringing me to I’m gonna trust in You”

Psalms Of My Heart

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Last year I found an old notebook with the word Journey written across it. It was small enough to fit in a purse. I opened it up and there were pages full of songs and poems. I smiled as I remember my 17-year-old heart discovering my own path to poetry. I wrote whatever was on my heart and mind. I allowed myself for the first time to be creative in my writing.

As I was holding that book I realized somewhere between all the changes in life, all the pain, all the growing up, I had forgotten about this little gift of mine. They are not for everyone. Just like Shakespeare was never for me. No matter how hard I tried to read his writings. But it’s my heart. It’s my words. My very own works of art. While reading the Psalms of David, these sprang forth in my heart. They were just being born when I shared the first 3 on my last blog. And now there are pages of these in my new journal. I am excited to once again share them with the world.

This one is quite short. But it is one of my favorites. In this moment I was full of wonder. I was learning so many new things about God’s heart. I was learning the things I thought I knew were premature. That there was more to Him. And He was revealing Himself to me in ways I never could have imagined. Whatever the pain was before I wrote this no longer existed. The morning was fresh and new. Ready to breath life in me and I walked in light that day.

You Spring forth a song in my heart Lord

With each passing day you sow joy

I am forever captivated by you

Finding new ways to draw closer to Your heart

Father I pray for the eyes that come across this psalm that they may be touched by your love as you touched my heart that day. May your presence give them a deeper desire to draw closer to You and continue in their pursuit to know You more. You are willing and ready God. It is your desire Father that all may know You truly. For You are to be known, not understood or figured out. But to be known. So be it in Jesus name.

J.S

Welcome to the New

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It has been almost a year since my last post on Blogger. And the only thing that has remained the same is I am pregnant AGAIN while starting a new blog. So crazy. There are some things that will stay the same. But I am a whole other person than I was just a year ago. I will keep this short because I have a lot of work to do! I am so excited to bring back and re-do everything that was starting on my last blog. I hope it blesses you and you enjoy every post. I hope it inspires you and gives you strength to step out into all that God made you to be. And I hope you will be bold in stepping into new things. I’m all for ya kid! I’m rooting for you behind this laptop of mine and lifting you up in prayers as you silently read on.

I’m excited to walk into the Newness God has for me. There may be some deep stuff in here that may make you feel some kind of way.. I hope it does. Any feeling is better than none. But mainly I want you to feel the love God and I have for each other through this blog. Because that love is real. He’s alive, He’s real.

And I will leave it at that. See you soon 🙂

J.S

When Your Betrayed

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Over 8 months ago I walked away from everyone I loved and knew my entire life. God had told me a year before that  He would call my family of 5 out and away from all we knew. But we could have never guessed He meant from everything and everyone.

It was a hard decision but a decision we made based off our faith in Him. I shut down my first blog, my YouTube channel and got rid of my Facebook. I burned the bridges of those relationships solely based off their own circumstances.  I didn’t know if I was doing what was right. I just knew there was a reason I was walking away and in order to find out what that was I had to “Come out from them.”

I have in my past had to walk away from toxic and bad influential relationships before. But that was over the course of my entire life. Friends and family came and went, but I always had someone new enter into my life or a reconciled relationship from years past. But not once have I or even heard of anyone walking away from every single human being you know. Besides the men in the Bible of course.

I took a step of faith even though I knew not why it had to come to this. Couldn’t I just talk to them Lord? Work it out? No. Can’t you protect these relationships and help them to become fruitful? No. Can’t I just act like everything they have done and are doing is okay? NO.

Sometimes when God calls you to do something, He does not give you the reasons why or an explanation. It is a test in our faith in Him in those moments. Do they really trust me? Do they really believe the way they say they do? Let’s see if they do when I tell them to do this!

This goes against everything you may have read or heard preach about the church doesn’t it? Forgive and let it go. Love and don’t judge. Be the light of Christ and love the sinner not the sin! Don’t be prideful, you’re not perfect either.

And while those things are true in a sense, they are not to be put with every circumstance and every relationship. And they only should be followed when the Spirit of God compels you to heed them. Let’s get real. Some relationships should have never began in the first place and you cannot love someone well when they continue to abuse, use, disrespect and harm you. And not one person deserves to be treated that way.

It turned out that God wanted me to know why I had to remove myself from them. The actions they committed against me that came after I left destroyed any doubt if I was doing the right thing. It was then I realized, when people have sick hearts and dead ones they show themselves right away when righteousness confronts them. No matter how long they try to control themselves in religion or self-help those things they hide in the dark will come to the light.

Luke 8:17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.

I could not believe the betrayal of these people. I had no idea the things that they were capable of and would not have even believed it if I was not taken out of those relationships. Like David said:

Psalms 55:21 His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn sword.

The word says that one of the reasons God calls us out and away is so that we can clearly see what we were surrounded by. He showed me what was really happening, what was really going on in the hearts of those people I loved and thought loved me. When I started drawing boundaries and burning bridges with them, it showed me what was really in their hearts toward me. And once they took up offense the rest was history:

And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. Matthew 24:10-13

Although I knew every move they made behind my back and in my absence, I did not say a word to them. Because I knew the purpose of this was to show me what I didn’t know and to see why God had told me to separate myself from them. Through this change also happened in me, inner sin was exposed within myself and great strength rose up that I had no idea I could ever have. Being around these people not only hindered my walk with Christ but hindered my gifts and my own understanding of who I really was. The good and the bad.

But I had faith in the love of God. And although what they had done (which I will not say at this moment) was not only disrespectful, and betrayals that could have shaken my family and separated us, I knew that God’s love was for me and that He would protect us. I also knew that no matter what, even in standing in all of that my love would increase and so would my faith.

I refused to allow the evil that was directed towards me to stop me in my tracks for what God had for me. I wouldn’t allow it to  intimidate me or change my heart so that it would become cold. No. It was the attacks made me love fiercer and stronger than ever before and drew me even closer to God.

It is amazing to see how God could take something that could have destroyed me and turn it into the very thing that created power and strength in me. But I had to let Him.  At first I was angry and I was very hurt. I cried and I was tempted to fear.  But I chose not to allow what they did to destroy me. I ran to God crying and asking for safety. I asked Him not to let it change my heart no matter what else they may do. No matter what to protect me and remind me of His big fullness and His ways, so I won’t forget who He is and what He is doing.

And He was faithful and did just that.