Stand Firm

I want to share the following from my friend, Gail, who has been going through a difficult time. Gail writes,

“Stand firm and rejoice in the joy of our heavenly Father. I have had a hard time this past year. It has been a real test of my faith. My husband has had lymphoma cancer, and he does not have the Lord our God in his heart and is of a negative nature, so he did not handle things well.

I was sitting in the living room one day and feeling sorry for myself and crying. The Lord said to me, ‘Be strong and believe. Everything will be all right.”

I went to bed that night and prayed and had a lovely deep sleep, and felt refreshed the next day. It is always better when you are living in the light of God. He has help me through. My husband is in remission now.

Remember, God always comes through for you.

Blessings to all, Gail.”

Ever practical

As you know if you have read this blog before, I’m no stranger to hearing the voice of the Spirit. The Spirit I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, God, Jesus, not some amorphous, woo-woo, out there in the universe spirit.

I believe in talking to God and listening for his answers. Over the years I have become better and better at hearing the voice of the Spirit. At some later post I will go into how that works in more depth, but I want to share an incident that happened to me this week.

I was in the bathroom in the morning, putting on my makeup and the words of a song were going through my mind…’when we all see Jesus, what a day of rejoicing that will be’. And I said out loud how I would love to see Jesus now, and what a thrill it would be if he just walked through that bathroom door.

Immediately, I heard him reply to my wish, “Are you kidding? The way you startle, I’d scare the pants off you.” I had to laugh but of course, he’s right. I have a nervous system that ensures that I startle very easily. My husband, bless his heart, knows not to sneak up on me and starts making noises or calling out well down the hall to warn me of his approach so as not to give me a heart attack.

My point, of course, is that Jesus has a sense of humour and it is delightful to be able to share that with him. I wish for you the same.

Love and lusciousness,

Wendy

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Be Prepared for Change

We all know that things change. Change is a constant in life. If you think you are settled forever you are wrong for when you are submitted to God, he can and may pick you up and move you when you least expect it. Don’t be surprised when things change suddenly for he has plans for those who are willing to go, to follow him anywhere.

 

No matter what you are doing, keep your focus on your real work, your real calling. Make the time to pursue it, to work on it. It is imperative that you remain focussed your real work.

 

Perhaps your time in your current business or occupation or situation is about to come to an end. Agitation you may feel in your spirit is a precursor to or a sign of the ending this phase in your life.  

 

Dedicate yourself to hearing God’s voice – obeying his commands, trusting in him. Pray to become more trusting, break down the barrier of defensiveness, soften your heart. God has great and interesting plans for you and will let you know when the time is right.

 

Please visit www.lusciousplace.com.

Stand in your conviction

You must stand against your opposition. Sometimes you must stand alone in your conviction if you are to succeed. You may have always sought support from others for your endeavours yet that support does not matter. It matters not what other people will say or think of you. Sometimes God calls his children to do things that seem strange even in the eyes of others. Yes, you will encounter opposition. You will encounter criticism. You will even encounter ridicule. But what is that in light of eternity – compared with eternal rewards for your obedience to your calling?

 

God wants to bring you into a place of obedience to him. He has called you to what he wants you to do for a reason. He needs you in this capacity and he need you to be good at it. In order to become good at it you must DO it. In order to do it you must make the time and have the freedom to do it.

 

Sometimes you must step out in faith for God’s will to come to pass in your life. You must let go of the safety handles and let yourself be carried by His spirit.

 

 

The Power

I have been talking with God this week about any final barriers to my financial success. Over the past couple of years I have removed (through The Light Method of prayer and meditation) many of the problems and issues that have held me back. So this week I have felt like I’m at the starting gate of a race, waiting in something like that apparatus used at horse races. All of the preparation has been done, everything is ready for the starting gun to go off, but there was one last small barrier before me - as in the starting chute.

So I spent some time a couple of days ago getting to the bottom of it. How I do this is part of what I teach in Turning on the Light - Finding Your Luscious Place in the Spirit (www.lusciousplace.com).

I came to realize that the problem is not really about money at all but about power - the power to make choices about my own destiny, to demand and expect better treatment, to be able to make enough to pay for my own needs or to look after myself, to get wealth, to make important decisions. I don’t mean independent of the Lord, but independent of what anyone else wants for me which might take precedence over what I want for myself or what God wants for me.

If I have the power in my own hands, that means that I can do what it takes to create the business I want to create. If I allow someone else to have power over me in any way, then I am hampered in what I can do. The power does not lie in my own hands or my own being.

This is a profound realization, and I’ve been mulling it over and seeing how it feels owning the power to get wealth. What it means is that circumstances can no longer dictate my standard of living. I have the power to change it at will. So these verses came to mind - “all power is given unto me” (Jesus), and God “gives me the power to get wealth (so that he can establish his covenant in the earth”).

If God has given me the power, then I already have it. If I already have it, then I have no business letting some other person have my power; it belongs to me because God gave it to me. If I have the power to get wealth yet I’m not using it because I allow someone else to steal it from me, then whose fault is that? Mine.

I must own my own power to get wealth and I also then have a responsibility to use that power to get wealth. If I, and others like me, are copping out on using our power to get wealth, then the covenant will have a hard time being established, won’t it?

 

Love and lusciousness,

Wendy

www.lusciousplace.com

www.wendydewarhughes.com

 

Call and God will answer

Do you know that when you call God’s name, he answers? Not only that, but he will show you great and wonderful things that you do not currently know about. When you realize this, it removes the doubt that God is very interested in you, in what you are doing and in how your future plays out.

You see, God has called you to great things. He has called you to live your life full out, to the best of your ability and without letting fear impede you. Your journey may include fame, fortune, or vast influence, or it may take you along a much simpler path. Whatever the case, don’t hang back. Your enemy (that rotten devil who whispers nasty thoughts into your ears) will try to make you believe that dire things will happen to you if you were to go full out for your dreams. But God gives you the assurance that He will protect you and as you grow he will change circumstances in your life to support you more and more.

Don’t compare yourself with others say, “But I don’t have what she has,” because what you have is for a specific purpose and a specific time and whatever you do or say will touch the lives of those whom you are meant to touch. Don’t even consider that you have something for everyone. There are others who will touch their lives. Your purpose is to touch the lives of those with whom you come into contact now.

Rise above your current situation. Rise above as though in a hot air balloon and survey the opportunities open to you.

Love and lusciousness,

Wendy

www.lusciousplace.com

Like the Sunshine

The Voice of the Spirit says:

“As the sunshine bursts through the cloud cover with a brilliant ray, so I will come. When things look most dark, turn to me for it is then I will burst on the scene with my Spirit.

Do not fear. Do not be afraid of following where I lead. I will lead you in green pastures and beside still waters for my name’s sake. Sheep wander off from inattention and before they know it, they find themselves in dangerous territory. They become vulnerable to the attack of the enemy. When you try to proceed on your own and go off in different directions without consulting with me, you often move intr unsafe territory. I will keep you safe as you stay close to me.

Though you may be a target for the enemy, he will not abe able to harm you. You will be under my protection and no evil befall you. Just as every sheep is potential prey for a wolf, only those who wander away from the protection of the shephard can be attacked. So it doesn’t matter how juicy a morsel you may seem, or how badly the enemy may way to bring you down, as long as you stay close to me - your shepherd - you will be safe.

When you stay in me and obey me, I will cause whatever difficult situation you find yourself in to completely turn around. Rest in me and trust in my word. It is a lamp unto your feet and a light for your path. “

For more inspiration see www.lusciousplace.com.

Love and lusciousness,

Wendy

Seeking First the Kingdom

This is what God said to me recently:

“In many cases my children have ceased to live holy lives. They don’t care about pleasing me, only about pleasing themselves. They want all the time - more toys, more stuff, more fun - yet they seek after things that mean nothing and will disappear like dust, end up in landfills or just cease to satisfy in no time flat.

My own children, who call themselves by my name do not seek me with their whole hearts. They seek things pertaining to me like church services, the blessing of the pastor, books, other people’s opinions but they don’t seek me. People have forgotten how, or they never knew how, to seek me for themselves, so they don’t try. They pay lip serivce to being believers but their hearts are empty and their mouths are hungry only for more goodies and treats. No one wants to consecrate himself or herself because they don’t want to look too religious. It is more important to them to look right or to have friends or to be accepted by others than to please me.

Yet did I not say that you must deny yourself, sacrifice families and homes and lands to come after me? This life is temporal. Soon everything as you know it will be gone and all those things that you lusted after will vanish like a mist. Then your hands will be empty and your hearts will be filled with ashes in the place where you first invited me to live.

What is to be done?

Turn you heart toward me. Seek me first. Seek first the kingdom of God and righteousness. Do you think I lied when I told you that everything you could ever want will be added unto you? I do not lie, neither do I violate my word. I am the Lord and I do not change.

Your first thought in the morning should be of me - what do I want you to do today? If you seek me first I will see that you are provided with everything that you need. You need not wonder how I will do that. It’s not your concern. Seek me in everything you do, every choice you must make, everything you want, need, care about. You have no idea how much easier I can make your life when you are totally submitted to me. Does that mean that life will always be fun and easy? No, that’s not what I mean. I mean that when you are submitted to me, your life is no longer yours. Your decisions are no longer yours. Obedience is your way of life. Do you think that I will not lead you into what I deem to be your best? Of course I will and I will lead you through difficulties and tribulations with joy and peace. Seek first the kingdom of God and my righteousness and everything that I know you need will be added to you.”

Can you hear God talking to you?

There are many ways that God speaks to us. First, there is the audible voice. For the sensitive heart, he almost never needs to use this because the Holy Spirit inside gives the message. Sometimes when we are in great anguish or great danger he speaks audibly since this may be the only way to get through the pain and external noise and get our attention.

Mostly he uses the internal voice. The Holy Spirit communes with your spirit within you and as long as you stay close to God and your own spirit is soft toward him, you will hear him speak to you in this way. The more that you ask for and listen for his voice, the more you will learn to recognize when he is speaking to you in your thoughts. There will be times in everyone’s life when there are so many distractions around that you can’t centre in on his still, small voice. That’s why it is important to take time to get alone and quiet with God.

God also sometimes uses other people who are sensitive to his leading to speak to you. The important thing is to rely on God, not on your own understanding. God is happy to lead us and guide us into what is is best for us.

Remember that God wants to speak to us, to help us live better, more fulfilled and happy lives. For more information, please visit www.lusciousplace.com and subscribe to the Luscious Place E-Newsletter. 

Wendy

www.lusciousplace.com.

A tragedy

If you are a person who believes and prays, please pray for my hairdresser Jacki. Her son, (Grade 2) was hit by a car a few days ago and died of his injuries. I can think of no greater tragedy than losing a child and I know the family is devastated. Please pray for comfort and solace at this painful time.

If you read this, please leave a message.

Wendy

www.lusciousplace.com