JESUS IS MY MYSTERY… CAPTURE ME

Christ in Us

Capture the Holy Spirit

This is a story of how faith in Jesus + Surrender by obeying Christ’s will in anything and everything we do + continuous prayer = A beautiful gift of Living water through Christ Jesus. His Holy Spirit in us which results in eternal life. I give all the glory to my great and mighty God in sharing this story to bring others closer to Him. I love him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength! May all the glory go to Jesus Christ of Nazareth. May grace be with you all. Magnify His name! Amen.

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

Inspired by the Holy Spirit

In Christ,
Dori

*Added Note~ One of the most important things is that we try our best not to fall away from the Spirit.
Hebrews 4:7-11 “Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME, AS IN THE DAY OF TRIAL IN THE WILDERNESS, WHERE YOUR FATHERS TRIED ME BY TESTING ME, AND SAW MY WORKS FOR FORTY YEARS. “THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SAID, ‘THEY ALWAYS GO ASTRAY IN THERE HEART, AND THEY DID NOT KNOW MY WAYS’; AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, ‘THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST.’ ”
Provoking, sinning, and disobedience =unbelief
Hebrews 4: 16-19 “For who provoked Him when they had heard? Indeed, did not all those who came out of the land led by Moses? And with whom was He angry for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”

Holy Spirit Email (Monday 8-2-2010)

I was so BLUE EYED…

_________________________________________________________________________

I never thought the father of my child could possibly do all these things to wound me. I knew in my heart that God was calling out to me and asking me over and over, “Would you just turn to me? And have a little faith while your at it.” I decided to place myself around other brothers in Christ. I went to a church service called The Journey for my age group (25-30). I hadn’t heard from Derrek in any form or fashion for 5 days. I was so apprehensive about him and didn’t know where else to turn. This service was about letting go of the things in your life that could lead you to sin. I knew what God was telling me, but I didn’t want it to be so. He has been telling me to let go of Derrek, but it is so hard when you truly love someone with all your heart. I came home that night after service and was checking my email, hoping and praying that he at least wrote me something to let me know he was alive. I didn’t receive anything from Derrek. I was crying and praying to the Lord to just please help me understand. I continued to check my email that next couple of days and on that Sunday I was sitting in front of the computer crying and still reaching to God for answers. I still had my email wide open when a message popped up right before my eyes at 1:08 a.m Monday morning. I lost my breath and felt a strong gust of wind slam into my face. I was breathing hard and when I realized what had been sent to me I understood why. I had a message from Derrek’s email account giving me his user name and password. I knew in my heart Derrek did not send me that email. It was the Holy Spirit! It was hair-raising! I had one of the best highs I have ever felt. Then I realized what it was the Lord wanted me to do. I was supposed to look at everything Derrek had been doing so I would understand why I have to let him go. I looked, it hurt, I cried and cried. Then I listened to my God and astonishing things began to happen!

* Added note~ While I was so upset and reaching out for my Lord, others were praying also. I had called Derrek’s brother at this time crying and very upset, I believe he was praying. My mom was also praying at this time. Prayer is so important, it can completely change the outcome of a situation. How can our God help, if we don’t talk with Him and really get to know Him. It is important to always ask for His will be done in each situation.
Colossians 1:9-12 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.

Holy Spirit Phone Call (Friday 1-7-2011)

OUR new BEGINNING begins…

    I meet Jake. He was someone that the Lord knew would help keep my mind off of Derrek. He was a believer in Christ and I thought this is who the Lord wanted me to focus on right now. I do know that Jake is in my life for a reason, but I don’t think my plan and God’s were the same. You see, God’s plans for us are so much bigger than we could possibly comprehend. He doesn’t expect us to understand, he just wants us to have complete faith that everything he wants us to do will be in our best interest.

    Jake liked to drink…a lot. In my past I had a very big problem with drinking too much. It caused problems for everyone who was a part of my life at the time. Derrek was one of those people. I put him through such horrible situations. We would go out and by the end of the night I would be acting belligerent, trying to fight with someone, and trying to catch a ride with some random person. Derrek made sure I always made it home safely.

    So, one night Jake and I decide to go out for a couple of drinks. I had a wonderful babysitter for Mali and knew she would be in great hands. We go out and the drinks I had really start getting to me. I push Jake away because he is getting jealous of the fact that I am chatting with old friends. I ask him for my car keys and I’m wanting to drive myself home. He refuses to give them to me which makes me more angry and I am yelling and causing a scene. I am very glad he didn’t give them to me for if he did I may not be here today. I end up riding with an old friend and his roommate. They told me they would get me home safely and Jake was the last person I wanted to be around, so I went along. My old friend’s roommate ended up dropping him off first and I was left with this guy I didn’t even know. I blacked out, something must have happened. Therefore, I tried to call Derrek’s old cell phone number at 4:20 a.m Jan. 7, which has been shut off since August, over six months now. Then, that same morning, while I was still drunk, I had sent him a message saying, “It was horrible, please help me.” While I was so wasted I must have subconsciously thought about all the times in my past I allowed myself to get this way. The only person who continuously would get me out of these dangerous situations was Derrek. I was so upset about what might have happened and realized the next morning that there was a hole in my tights. This was the confirmation I needed, but I didn’t know the guy or even remember what he looked like. I also received a call from a cell phone number I didn’t recognize, so I didn’t answer. It was Derrek. I couldn’t possibly understand how he would have gotten my number because I had just recently changed it. He left me a message and continued to call my number at random times leaving messages saying he was trying to reach Dori. Derrek called my cell phone on the night of 1-11-2011 and I answered for the first time.

    Derrek was telling me how God has been working in his life and that he wants to do the right thing by turning himself in. His probation was being revoked and he wants to be here and do the right thing for his kids.  He was telling me how much he loves and misses Mali and I. This whole time I was still wondering how he could have received my cell phone number. So I asked him. He said “God gave it to me.” It was on Liz’s cell phone Jan. 7 at 4:20 am (Liz was a girl who Derrek had been staying with). I checked my phone record on my actual cell phone and it said I had called Derrek’s out of service phone at 4:20 am Jan 7. I knew once again that this was the work of the Holy Spirit because I didn’t even have Liz’s cell phone number in my phone and my phone showed me no record of calling her. I took this as a message from the Lord, telling me that Derrek is now ready to be in my life.  I knew I was not to reject him anymore and that I was to be here for him and support him. This is how my God brought the man I love with all my heart back to his family. He parted us for a small amount of time to bring us both closer to him. He wanted us to know we need him in our hearts and guiding our family at all times. The Holy Spirit is AWESOME! This is where our New Beginning begins.

*Added Note~ During this time my family was worried about me and kept calling my phone to see if I was ok. It is important to know that this night Derrek was on his knees crying and praying about us. My family was also praying at home worried about me and what might happen while I was not in the right state of mind.
James 5:13-16 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

Holy Spirit Aloe Vera Juice (Friday 1-14-2011)

Our GUIDE to HEAL…

    On Wednesday January 12, 2011 Derrek and I spent the whole day together. He tells me how much pain he has been in since he hasn’t been able to see Mali and I.  He says he believes he has a stomach ulcer. He has been in pain after eating for the past few weeks. When he mentioned this to me I thought about how my little brother’s stomach was hurting not too long ago. He ended up drinking aloe vera juice and felt much better. On Thursday, Jan. 13th, I went and bought some for Derrek to try.  He thought it actually tasted pretty delicious.

    On this same day, Derrek and I were praying together and I randomly opened the bible to 1st Samuel. I think I might have read a small amount, but we were praying mainly for guidance and wanted to see where the Lord would lead us. Little did we know that is exactly what the Holy Spirit was doing at this very moment. Not long after this Derrek’s mom called. She wanted to let him know that his father was in the hospital. He was in ICU in Granbury, TX. Derrek was upset and started mentioning that he needs to visit his dad. I knew at this point that God had a plan for me and I was to get out of my relationship with Jake. So I did.

    On Friday, Jan. 14th, Derrek and I wake up and pray. This time, Derrek randomly opens the bible to 2nd Samuel and stated, “Maybe our God wants us to study 1st and 2nd Samuel.” So we decide to do just that. Later that day my mom and Derrek reunite for the first time since well over half a year. Derrek and my mom never really got a long until this day. He held her hands and prayed with her. He said he was in tears almost everyday and would go for a walk each day. One day he came across a small black bible in his path and just started reading little bits daily. He felt that maybe one of his neighbors had seen him walking and the pain he was going through and put it in his path. He didn’t know for sure, but this is where his relationship with God began to grow. He was explaining to her how God is working in his life, and how thankful he is for Mali and I to be a part of it.  He apologized to her for the pain he caused her in the past and told her he loves her. I was so happy to see them come together in this way. All thanks to GOD’S beautiful Spirit! At the end of this wonderful day Derrek decides to read the aloe vera juice bottle to see where it was made and what all is in it. Derrek is the type of person who always likes to read the label before putting something in his body. I always admired this about him. You see, I bought this believing it would help heal and soothe Derrek’s stomach. When he read the back, the label said it was distributed in Denton, TX! The exact place Derrek needed to go to turn himself in. Derrek said, “This is the Holy Spirit telling me that my healing begins in Denton!” The place he needed to go to set his life straight. I loved hearing him talk like this. It made me so happy to know he really has grown this personal relationship with God. I could see the Spirit of Christ radiating in Derrek. When we have Christ in us, our God gives us the ability to recognize Him in others!  AMEN!

Holy Spirit Guides to Encouraging Word (Sunday 1-16-2011)

Stay Awake…

We only had 69 dollars to our name between the both of us. Derrek and I really wanted to go somewhere to talk things out, but we weren’t sure where to go. This was the evening of Saturday, January 15th 2011.  I saw one of those big road side machines that have the blinking arrows to direct traffic. It had the number 69 on it and the arrows were pointing to the left. I didn’t question it. I just turned. This street lead us directly to a place Derrek and I had stayed together in the past. Derrek said, “I know where we’re supposed to stay.” I knew too, he didn’t even have to say it. It was a Holiday Inn and we were able to stay there cheap because the guy gave us a medical discount. He was just being kind and trying to help us out at the time. I decided to go in and ask if we could get the same rate, and of course we were able to. It is amazing how if we truly surrender and trust in God amazing things start happening.

That night the Lord put in my heart to share Hebrews chapter 10 with Derrek. Derrek said, “ Wow, where have you been? I have never seen this side of you. This is the woman I have been waiting to see, I knew she was always in there.” We had a wonderful bible study that night. He kept mentioning how he wishes we could go to church in the morning. I know this thought was continuously on his mind.

The very next morning, Sunday, January 16th 2011 Mali was pointing to my bible and saying, “Church, Church.” I have never even heard her say that word before. Derrek and I both thought it was strange, but continued on with our morning. We got all of our belongings together and headed downstairs. We were on our way out when we heard a minister speaking from one of the conference rooms. Mali was the most interested at first and kept walking up to the double doors. I was still trying to wake up and was brushing my hair when Derrek lifted Mali and walked in. About a minute later, Derrek came out with tears in his eyes and said, “Babe, come on.” So I got up and walked in. I have never seen Derrek like this before. The service was about encouragement to others, and to yourself. Derrek had his arm up with Mali in the other, tears gushing down his face. That service was alive! Amen! We knew we were meant to hear God’s message. His Spirit sent us to this hotel for this very reason. He brought His word to us. When we seek God and truly trust with prayer and confide in him, he also seeks us.  We left the hotel feeling refreshed and high! The Holy Spirit is animated, alert, and absolutely electrifying! I’ve never felt so awakened! Praise Jesus the son of God!

Holy Spirit Mission (Tue-Wed 1-17,18-2011)

Mission Accomplished…

On the night of the 16th, Derrek and I get all of Derrek’s things together and decide to stay the night at my parents. When we arrive, Derrek’s mom calls to let us know Johnny (Derrek’s dad) is in room 314. At this time, the Lord puts in my heart to read John 3:14 – As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up. Which urged me to read on to John 3:15 – So that whoever believes will in him have eternal life. When I read this I felt in my heart to read about illness. I looked in the back of my bible and it told me to turn to James 5:14 – Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, Anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. Derrek and I knew we were now on a mission for the Lord. We must anoint and pray over Johnny.

On the 17th we loaded everything and headed towards Granbury. Derrek and I also continued reading on in 1st Samuel to start off our day. We decided to take I10 towards Highway 6 because Derrek believed that is the way we were supposed to go. Now, before we set out on this journey I had specifically asked Derrek if he knew the way. Of course, being male, he said he did. He said he didn’t need a map because he remembered the way. Well, we were supposed to take 36, not highway 6. We ended up driving 11 miles past 36 and 11 miles back. The Lord has used 11:11 many times in my life to let me know everything is ok and that I am on the right track. Instead of getting frustrated, I just continued on. I knew that we were, and always will be, on God’s time not our own. We took 36, and somehow along the way we were off track again! We were still heading towards Granbury, but we were taking a longer route. By this time Mali was sick of being in the car and I was getting pretty tired myself. I really didn’t feel like driving another couple of hours to Granbury. It was almost midnight! Derrek mentioned getting a hotel in Waco since Granbury was over a 100 miles away. By this time, that seemed like an intelligent idea to me. Then I saw a road sign up ahead that said Temple 11 miles. I asked Derrek if Temple was a small or large town and that maybe we should just stay there. He agreed, at this time we were all trying our best to stay in a decent mood. Mali was trying her best also bless her little heart. She wanted out of that car seat so badly.  When we got to Temple we saw a huge sign that said Great Western Inn. We had reservations to stay at the Best Western in Granbury, so I figured they must not be much different. Boy was I wrong! Now, on the outside this looked like a pretty decent place. We pull up and I go in and ask how much. The man working at the desk told me $45. We didn’t have much money so I figured we should just stay. We get a non-smoking room since Mali is very allergic to smoke. He gave us a key to room 117. This place was disgusting! The beds weren’t made correctly, the furniture was falling apart, and there were dead roaches on the floor. To top it all off, the room reeked of cigarette smoke and cleaner. It smelled like they just dumped the cleaner out on everything! I was thinking to myself, could this really be part of God’s plan for our family when Mali is so allergic to smoke? Well, I noticed that the bible in the room was wide open on the desk. I walk over to it, and Derrek follows peering over my shoulder. It was open to 1st Chronicles Chapter 11. It was open to the part that talks about David and his mighty men. I knew in my heart that the only reason we came here was to see this specifically. The Lord lead us to his word again, although this time in a different way. Nevertheless, it was the Holy Spirit’s will for us to see and receive this message. Amen! At the time of course, we were both terribly irritable and I almost wanted to cry for picking out this hotel and bringing Mali here. We didn’t take the time to read it. We were so frustrated! Derrek decided we cannot allow Mali to stay here, so we decide to see if we can get a refund. We go back to the front desk and kindly explain to the man how allergic Mali is to smoke. He tries to explain that it is a non-smoking room. He also says there are no refunds but he can give us another room. We are so exhausted and Derrek is trying his best to hold his tongue. We end up losing our $45 dollars, and drive down the street to find a decent hotel. We get to the Fairfield Inn and as I am walking in, the woman behind the front desk is listening to the Christian radio station.  I knew I was in the right place, but was so tired and annoyed I really didn’t care. I just needed sleep! We get our room, get showers, get Mali to sleep and finally are able to relax. We are down to about $30, but thankful that we have a safe, clean place to stay that night.

Derrek and I can finally discuss why we were sent to that hotel and we open our bible to 1st Chronicles 11 and begin to read. Derrek believes the Lord is trying to prepare him for when he turns himself in. Now we have been reading 1st Samuel together and have been learning how Saul did not put all his faith in the Lord, which resulted in his suicide. When we read about David’s mighty men it showed us how someone who really has strong Faith, follows the Lord’s will for their life, and offers themselves fully to Him through obedience in Christ, Our God will put people in their path who has their back through thick and thin. I believe this gave Derrek more strength and courage to push through this plan that the Lord has for his life. We both agreed after a while that losing the $45 was nothing compared to the message we received from our loving Father. Now, don’t get me wrong, he was also showing us how we have a choice. We can choose to have a heart pleasing to him (David) or unpleasing (Saul) to him. I just love how our God shows us the results to doing so in either situation. This makes my choice simple! I choose to follow my Father! Amen! We finally fall asleep.

We wake up the next morning and head to HEB so we can get food for sandwiches. We decide to go ahead and go to Denton since the sooner Derrek turns himself in the better. We were sitting in the car, in the parking lot, making our sandwiches when my cell phone rang. It was Derrek’s mom. She was calling to inform us that Derrek’s dad was being transferred (via care flight) to Temple. She also said he will be there today! Derrek and I looked at each other in shock! We couldn’t believe it! The Lord had told us what needed to be done, and just as we were about to leave, He decided to bring Derrek’s dad to us! Well we knew the Holy Spirit was working and talking to us. I must admit this was the most amazing feeling I have ever felt. I want to feel it all the time! I yearn for it! I want Him to talk to me daily. After everything we have experienced I knew this is what life is about. I knew it wasn’t for me and my selfish feelings, or everything that I need. It is about my relationship with the Lord and his will for my life. He has been telling me to turn to him and when I really did…wow! I have experienced the Holy Spirit talking to me, but this was my first time to share it with someone else up close and personal. I mean it was one thing after another at this point! And I yearn to continue this spiritual relationship between Christ, Derrek, Mali and I. I’m excited to learn where he is leading us! I know he has a big plan! Now we were down to about $30, but we knew we were going to need to stay in Temple another night.

We had a large speaker in the back of my car and decided to find a place to pawn it. We pawned it and were able to get a room at Econo Lodge, which was 2.2 miles from the hospital Derrek’s dad was getting transferred to. When we walked into our hotel room there was pictures of ducks flying over both beds with a lamp in the middle. And yes, the Lord has told me that my ducks are under the bed before.  Now a while back, when I was going through a very tragic time in my life (that’s an entirely different story) I had a dream. It was an eerie dream and I remember walking into a dark room and seeing the bed moving strangely as if something was moving around underneath it. All of a sudden, I was swimming in a lake with an old friend and all that was on my mind was the bed and what might be under it. So I looked at my friend, and he said “The ducks are under the bed” and I just thought. OK… weird? Anyways, when I woke up I didn’t understand it. I mentioned it to my mom and she didn’t really think much of it at the time. I went on about my life and then about 3 months later my mom was on her computer looking up fruit of the Spirit. My mom clicked on a website and as she looked up and saw the url  www.d-u-c-k-s.com/fruits_of_the_spirit.htm  she noticed it said ducks. On the website she learned that D.U.C.K.S. is an acronym that stands for “Devoted Unconditionally To Christ’s Kingdom and Service.”  At this time, my mom remembered the dream that I had told her about and wondered to herself, “I wonder what ducks under the bed means?” Then a close friend of hers brought a verse to her attention. Luke 8:16 “Now no one after covering a lamp covers it with a container, or PUTS IT UNDER A BED; but he puts it on a lamp stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 17”For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” So, back to what I was getting at. The Lord was revealing to me that my ducks were under the bed. I wasn’t living by the fruit of the Spirit. I had tossed them away and hidden them. I didn’t understand all of this at the time because I was living in sin. Christ was near, but He wasn’t in me because I had pushed Him away and hidden Him. When I walked into the hotel room and saw the ducks flying over both beds it was like a breath of fresh air and gave me a wonderful feeling. I knew He was speaking to me once again and I tried to explain this to Derrek. He didn’t completely understand why it was so amazing to me because Ducks under the bed was before I met Derrek. The Lord was telling me (4 years later) that my ducks were no longer under the bed! Amen! This was very exciting for me! This shows me how much He loves me and was trying to reach me even when I was continuously turning from Him. He just knew that once He got a hold of me, I would be there forever. I am so thankful for everything Christ has done for me, and I will always be here for Him.

Derrek’s dad arrived at the hospital around 9:00 pm. Derrek, Mali, and I get there around 9:45. We all decide to go back to ICU when the nurse stops us. I only get to see a glimpse of Johnny (Derrek’s dad) and notice he isn’t conscious. The nurse tells us we need to take turns visiting because it isn’t safe for Mali to be back there when all the patients in the area are so sick. The Holy Spirit spoke to me. I knew Derrek was supposed to anoint and pray over his dad. In the meantime, Mali and I were in the waiting room and I try to call my mom from my cell. I try calling 3 different times and it wasn’t working. I knew the Lord was telling me I had a job to do and that was PRAY… so I did. Derrek’s sister Bridget was also in the room with Derrek and his dad. Derrek prayed and anointed Johnny with oil. Derrek came out of the ICU doors glowing. I knew he was feeling good, and I was proud of the man he was becoming. We had accomplished a mission for our God! Amen.

Brother In Christ (Wednesday 1-19-2011)

Seek Christ in Others…

On Wed. January 19th, Derrek wakes up feeling  refreshed and in a wonderful mood. I wasn’t exactly feeling the same way, but the way Derrek started talking reassured me and gave me comfort. He started talking about what he feels the Lord wants us to do. He said, “We need to go back to the hospital and visit my dad before we leave Temple. My friend Doug who lives in Denton keeps calling. I have been keeping in touch with him and he wants to visit with me before I turn myself in.” We go see Derrek’s dad and this time he is conscious. Derrek visits with him first while Mali and I wait, and then I go back to see him. He doesn’t talk to me, but I can tell he wants to, and he starts moving and reaching for my hand. I tell him to relax and let him know everything is going to be ok and that I just want to pray for him. He falls asleep while I am praying.

We are very low on gas and money. I believe we have some change on us. We have no idea where we will be staying the night or if I’m just going to be dropping Derrek off and driving all the way home. I had no idea where any money was going to come from. We decide to just try to make it to Denton on what we have. Now as we were driving, I remember how cruise control saves gas. I know it does in my car anyways, but mine hasn’t worked for months. I say a little prayer and push my cruise. Voila, it worked immediately! Now, right before I started my prayer Derrek and I were in deep discussion about the amazing things God has been doing in our lives, along with the things he has revealed to us. When my cruise worked Derrek said, “See, God just wants us to cruise with him and he’ll take care of everything else.” He gave me a cute little smile along with his comment. I find Derrek so much more attractive when he speaks about our Lord this way. We make it to Denton and my gas light comes on. We still need to make it to Doug’s so we decide to put our change in my car. We pull into the gas station and find close to $2. We make it to Doug’s apartment and the boys say their hellos. This is my first time to meet Doug and he is very welcoming. Before Derrek and I reunited, he and Doug had been writing each other. Doug is a brother in Christ and he would email Derrek encouraging words and words of comfort. He was there for Derrek when Derrek felt there was no one. We all sit down in the living room and before you know it Derrek and I are sharing with Doug and his roommates everything we had just experienced. It was a wonderful feeling sharing this because I saw the way it gave them encouragement and made there spirits light up. Doug said “You guys can crash here. I’d like to help you guys any way I can.” I can tell Derrek was excited to catch up with an old friend and someone who will encourage him to follow Christ’s will for his life. Doug also has an amazing testimony he shared with us! I am so glad the Lord led us there, being around others who truly seek Jesus is so comforting. It feels like home to me. Doug makes us a wonderful dinner and we stay up just talking and learning from each other’s experiences. Derrek is very blessed to have a true brother in Christ. I felt like I was following God’s will for us, and I was welcomed into a strangers house and felt 100% at home and comfortable. I was able to be myself and share my true feelings. I have never experienced this with a complete stranger before and all thanks and glory go to Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

A letter from Doug…

November 13, 2010 at 10:05pm
“man i just want to say hang in there and i love you. more importantly God loves you more than anyone ever will. Its a struggle and crazy life but just how you want someone to love you for who you are and not fake it and use you, God wants us to make the choice for Him. Are we goin to use Him to get what we want( which He wont allow and knows our heart and wont let it happen) or will we love Him and seek Him through thick and thin. We cant love anything or anyone more than we love Him. How can we love and know what love is if God is love and we never had Him or had true love in our own life. 1 John 4:7, read it and read John 14:6. God wants our full attention but we keep seekin and chasing other things and we are tryin to fill this emptiness in our soul with other things and people. Now that doesnt mean we need to be single, i just made the choice years ago that time and time again after drugs and girlfriends not workin out that i wont chase those things and i will love and chase God and if He is my true creator and father that He knows best for me and is the ultimate matchmaker and will provide a wife for me and that i wont use her for sex and i cant love someone if i dont know what love is and now that i have Christ i know what love is and its not selfish. I also dont know how to take care and love anyone cause it was never there for me and i dont even love myself. But now that i have Christ, He loves me and is showin me and He is providing people in the church to love me and be there for me. Derrek, i love you and wish i was there for you and i am, but at a distance for the moment, but i promise you and its not my promise its Gods and its in the bible, He loves you and i love you. He will turn you around and change your heart and mind and maybe one day Dori, but whether she wants to be with you or not, you gotta get your heart right with God and i know its hard but give it all to Him and seek Him and put Him 1st. I promise, He will change you life. and then you can be there for your daughter, Dori i dont know. But for now, Jesus Christ is the way.
I Love you, God Bless and Good Day brother.”

Christ Will Send Mighty Men (Friday 1-21-2011)

Trust in Christ…

We wake up the next morning of the 20th, and eat a little breakfast and get ready to say our goodbyes to Derrek. I had a missed call on my cell phone, and the man left a message. The message said, “This is Todd Shapiro. I have been instructed to help Derrek.” Now Todd was a good friend of the friend Derrek was staying with in Houston. She worked for a law firm in the Houston area (family owned) and was helping Derrek. Derrek called Todd back right away. Todd said he would like to meet him tomorrow morning before he turns himself in. They set an appointment for 11:00. We were happy to get to spend more time together, but Derrek was a little worried because he knew having a lawyer would help him cut his time, but he also knew it would cost him. We prayed and decided to enjoy the rest of the day, since Derrek wasn’t turning himself  in just yet.

The very next morning of the 21st, Derrek meets with Todd. Todd says his friend has sent a check and that the service is paid for! Amen! We are both excited, but I know my excitement doesn’t compare to Derrek’s. Derrek truly believes this is a blessing from God! He also knows the Lord is telling him not to back out and go through with His will. He was showing Derrek more and more that He has his back. I know this gave Derrek more strength and courage! I never in a million years thought Derrek would turn himself in. I thought that this was the last thing he would do. I have also experienced him saying that he would, once before, but never actually going through with it. The only BIG difference in before and now is he now has Christ in him. He has surrendered himself to Christ like never before. He has become obedient to the plan of the Holy Spirit. It is so awesome seeing someone first hand becoming changed through Christ! Everything about Derrek was changing right before my eyes! Now I know things do take time, but this is an amazing start! Talk about Mighty men! Christ sent Derrek a lawyer, even though Derrek had no means to his name. Our God is already sending Derrek mighty men to back him up before he is in jail! The Lord  told us He would do this in advance. The night we lost $45 at the Great Western. When we were reading about David and his mighty men. I believe this shows how our God is a God of keeping His word. Derrek obeyed the Lord by accomplishing  His mission, therefore He received a reward. I am excited to see what he does while Derrek is actually locked up! Amen!

*Added Note~ When we walked into the hotel and walked up to the bible that was open on the desk. We read…
1 Chronicles 11: 10-11 Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David, who gave him strong support in the kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. These constitute the list of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred whom he killed at one time.

Holy Spirit Encourages Us through Each Other (Sunday 1-23-2001)

Share your story…

The next morning we go to The Village, which is Doug’s church. We really enjoy ourselves and have a wonderful fellowship.  I decide to cook for the boys this evening and prepare to make my salmon patties and spinach noodles. May sound gross, but they are delicious! We go by the grocery store to pick up what we need (via food stamps) and head back to Doug’s. Doug said he invited a few people to come hang out and that they may be there shortly. I start cooking. In the meantime, Derrek and Doug decide to go make a mix. They both enjoy DJing quite a bit and they are good at it. Mali decides to follow her daddy, she loves to dance!

Doug’s other roommates start to show up along with Doug’s good friend Mike. Mike walks up and gives me a hug along with a $50 bill. He says Doug shared our situation with him, and wanted to help out. He tells me to use it for gas to get home after Derrek turns himself in tomorrow. I thank him and offer him some dinner. Derrek and Doug are still messing around in the room so I decide to take a seat and relax. I take a seat next to Mike on the couch. I can hear Derrek and Doug are in deep discussion and I really didn’t want to disturb them. Manny (Doug’s roommate) comes in to get him a plate, and takes a seat on the couch.  Mike and I began to have small talk, and then he begins telling me about a friend who was addicted to porn. Mike said he deals with the same issue greatly and felt in his heart to tell his friend about Jesus at the well.

Mike begins telling me the story… John 4:7-14 There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.“ For His disciples had gone away in the city to buy food. Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” ( For Jews have no dealing with Samaritans.) Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ’Give me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” She said to Him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water? “ You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle? Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him, shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” The gift of God is eternal life. The well of water, I believe Jesus is referring to, is the Holy Spirit. Living with Christ’s Spirit in us results in eternal life. How do we receive the Holy Spirit? By building our personal relationship with Jesus. The more you surrender yourself to Him in obedience, the more we are filled with His Spirit. While Mike was speaking to me about all of this I was thinking about how Derrek and I were tempted sexually just earlier in the day, and how our real needs are spiritual. Jesus alone can satisfy all of our needs. When we turn to worldly things to help us get through the day, it’s like were saying… God is a big help, but here let me help you a little bit Lord by taking stress off my shoulders my way. That is us telling Him that He is not enough to get us through all the hard times. Now, in the middle of our discussion, Derrek walked through the living room and went to grab something from the kitchen and I guess he overheard us. He asked if Mike was telling me the story about Jesus and the woman at the well. He had a shocked look on his face and said that Doug was just sharing the same story with him.  Doug came out and joined us and we were all sharing how we thought that was pretty neat that they were sharing the same story with us, in different rooms, at the same time. We all got into deep discussion about how the Holy Spirit was working in our lives and then Derrek and I began telling our testimony from beginning to end. Derrek was standing in front of everyone and was so animated! It was awesome seeing Christ shine through him this way! I didn’t expect our story to be this amazing to others, and it felt good to see their faces light up when they heard about the things we were going through. I looked over at Mike and he had tears in his eyes. I asked him if he was ok and he just looked at me and said, “This morning I was struggling and didn’t even want to get out of bed. I wasn’t even going to come visit you guys tonight, but I decided to at least stop by. I’m so glad that I did. I feel so much better now and I know the Lord is working strongly with both of you guys. You guys sharing this with me really encourages me to want to follow Christ with all my heart, and to turn from my daily temptations. I would really like one of you to write all of this out. I would love to have a copy of this to share with others. People need to hear these kinds of stories.” This is the first time I thought about writing this whole thing out.  The Lord was planting the seed in me at that time through Mike! So here I am now, and I pray that everyone who reads this feels more encouraged spiritually after doing so. Acts 1:8 “But the Holy Spirit will come on you with power. You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and in all the world.” Amen!

Jesus Is My Mystery… Capture Me (Sunday 1-30-2011)

Capture the Holy Spirit…

The day has come! It is the morning of January 26th 2011. Derrek, Doug, Mali, and I get ready, eat some breakfast, and head out to support Derrek. When we arrive at the warrant office, Doug’s pastor’s wife is the main officer working at this time. She gives Derrek a hug and we all stand around visiting for a couple of minutes. Soon enough, an officer comes to take Derrek. It was sad and we all had tears in our eyes, but I have never been more proud of him. Doug and I drive back to his place, I drop him off, and drive all the way home.

On the morning of January 30th I was planning on going to church, but had trouble getting up. Ever since Derrek and I reunited in Christ we had not missed having fellowship on Sundays. Even though each time was in a different place. Well, on this morning I had a dream. In the dream I was in a church and the entire congregation was singing “Jesus is my mystery…capture me,” over and over. It sounded beautiful in my dream. I had visited a church called Atascocita Community Church right before I met back up with Derrek. I really enjoyed the service and people, so I decided to visit again. I knew it was where I was meant to be when our Pastor Phil started teaching about spiritual growth, fully surrendering ourselves in Christ.

It is now the month of April, Derrek and I have kept in touch this entire time (via mail) and a couple of phone calls here and there. Christ has been guiding me ever since Derrek and I first reunited. This is the most intimate I have ever been in Christ. I feel in my heart Christ wants Derrek and I to continue our journey through Him, for His will, for our lives, together. When Derrek gets out in May we will be starting out with everything we need, because all we need is Jesus. We do plan on getting married as soon as our Lord speaks it into existence. Which I feel is near. He has a big plan for us if we will just continue to surrender all to Him. He has shown us so much in such a short amount of time. He has blessed us both with His beautiful gift. I have never in my entire life received any gift more precious than the gift of eternal life, but our God also blesses us with the gift of the Holy Spirit!  No matter what happens here on earth, he will always guide us, in anything and everything we do. I have felt the Holy Spirit in my life on occasion, in the past. I didn’t realize how much greater this gift can grow. In my life, my connection with the Holy Spirit has grown along with my relationship with Christ, as well as when I turn from temptation and sin. If you have never felt this connection, don’t be discouraged. This gift is for everyone who receives Christ as their Lord and Savior with all their heart. I am writing this to encourage you to seek Christ in everything you do, read his word, ask Him for His spiritual wisdom and understanding. ”Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil, that is understanding” Job 28:28. I find that going for a run (I call it my spiritual run) really helps me connect with Christ (if I am praying). As a matter of fact, before I wrote each section of this I had to run and feel that connection with the Holy Spirit. If I didn’t feel it, I didn’t write. It is amazing how the Holy Trinity works together. And how we can truly experience all three. On the Sunday morning that I had my dream I felt that the Holy Spirit was announcing, “Jesus is my mystery…capture me.” Colossians 4:2-6 “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving, praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned, that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” Colossians 1:27 “To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Ephesians 3:6 “By referring to this; when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit, to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel, of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.” These verses spoke to me greatly on how Jesus is the mystery of receiving our gift, the Holy Spirit. When we strive to live the life Jesus lived, and have a heart as close to his as humanly possible, and continue to grow in our relationship with Him, we can then experience this beautiful gift. The Holy Spirit is Christ living in us. I picture this as a transparent picture of Christ, standing within a bright light (Father), and the Holy Spirit I see as His heart, dwelling within the Father and the Son. I see this as the heart because when Christ is in us, our hearts start changing and become pleasing to Him. We then become filled with the fruit of the Spirit. They are one Almighty God, but He wants us to love all three just as much as the other. I believe He separates Himself in this way so we can comprehend all of Him and how much He loves us. Just as he states that He wants us to love Him with more than just one part of our being. Mark 12:30 “And you should love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” He is showing His love  by giving it to us through every part of His being. I think of God the Father as my creator, Jesus as my savior, and the Holy Spirit as my mentor. He loves us so much he gave us the air we breathe. He loves us so much He sacrificed Himself for us so that we have the chance to live eternally through Him. He loves us so much that He will send His Spirit upon us so that we may receive a heart pleasing in his sight and He can mold us into who He says we are, so that we can fulfill His purpose for our lives here on earth, so that we may live with Him eternally. This all begins with Jesus. “Jesus is my mystery…Capture me.” Jesus gives you living water (His Spirit in you and you in Him), so that you may never thirst again. Never thirsting for sin, because we will already be full of the Spirit. When we receive the Spirit we begin to thirst for righteousness. When I received His Spirit and really started doing what He asked of me I became someone new. My old self died, and I received a new mind, heart, soul, and life through Christ Jesus. He has shown me how never thirsting is the turning from sin. When His Spirit is in me, I do not thirst to sin. He will always show me a way to turn from evil. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life IN Christ JESUS. So if anyone wonders what my mystery is, I will stand up straight, with a huge smile on my face, and with great confidence announce, “Jesus is my mystery, capture me.” Jesus is my mystery to receiving the Holy Spirit. Now that Christ is in me I can now say to others, “Capture me.” I pray that everyone who reads this will capture the Holy Spirit intimately, and will witness His power in you through your love towards Him and love for others!   Ephesians 3:14-21 “For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend through all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

*Added Note~ Jesus provides us with living water. Jesus is the well I will be drawing from! Amen!
John 7:37-39 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ “But this he spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

His word

Acts 2:17 ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; Even on My bondslaves, both men and women, I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy.

Proverbs 7:4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” And call understanding your intimate friend.

Be Like Christ
Philippians 2:1-18 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interest, but also for the interest of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for HIS good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all. You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Genesis 1:2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.

Jesus said…

John 14:16-17  “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and will disclose Myself to him.”

Holy Spirit gifts
John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Hope
Matthew 12:21 And in His name the Gentiles will hope.
Galatians 5:5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.
Romans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer

To Live Is Christ
Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

How Derrek is Serving time…

Christ In Us

How the Lord is using Derrek to help other while serving time…

Praise God Thy Kingdom Come

Stand Firm In The Lord!

” For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

“Stand firm in the Lord.” Philippians 4:1