Healing for the Emotionally Wounded

You know what? We truly do serve a faithful and awesome Father who is always concerned about every intimate detail of our lives. As you may know I posted on yesterday about Mental Health Awareness month and the importance of checking and knowing your mental health status. This morning when I woke up to prepare for the day, Father wanted me to post additional revelation concerning the emotional wellbeing of His children.

Some of us have recently come out of test, trials and tribulations which have tested our mind, body and spirit down to its very core. In what was designed to break and strip us in every way, the awesome grace of God rushed in like a flood to allow for us to come out of our situation. Many times when we have experienced the hardships of life, we can come out happy that we made it and that’s all that truly matters. But to be truthful how many of us have stood holding up the banner of victory not realizing that we may still have unresolved issues that we have not personally dealt with?  As we take a moment to pause and reflect on this question, let me go further into what Father would like to say on today.

In this new season of overflow and increase, there is a harvest of souls who do not know Jesus but who are awaiting the appointed time for connection with those who will minister and plant the seed of the word of God in their lives. Where we as the people of God come in on this is that we first must deal with any residue or bitterness associated with the events of this past season. Any issues where we have experienced, hurt, pain, rejection or abuse must be acknowledged and then resolved before this huge harvest begins to come forth in the earth.  The time for inner healing is now and the Holy Spirit is readily available to assist us in making sure that we are ready emotionally for this new season.

Some may ask why this is important and what does being emotionally fit and ready has to do with ministry? Well for starters, if we are still living in last season and focused so much on what happened or even who hurt us; there’s no way we can even begin to focus on what’s ahead. Additionally, if we are still dealing with the effects of anger, bitterness or hurt, it will often show up in the way that we minister and relate to others even if we don’t mean to do so intentionally.  So by checking our mental health status, we are ensuring that we are indeed emotionally fit enough to move forth freely with the ordained assignments God has called for us to complete.

The word of God states in John 8:36, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” We have been given a precious gift and were set free because of what Jesus already carried and endured on the cross for us. When Jesus rose up with all power and the keys to the kingdom in His hands, He gave us the necessary tools which would help us stand strong when we are faced with the adversities and trials of life.  Does having the necessary tools discount what we have experienced emotionally in this last season? No, not all at because we are spirit beings living in a natural body, it’s a normal process of life for us to express in a positive or negative manner that which we may be experiencing at any given moment. Even Job after losing nearly everything he had was given the opportunity to deal with any residue in his life before God blessed him with a double portion. (See Job 42:1-6)

Prayerfully now you can see how extremely important it is to always check your mental health status after coming out of a physically or spiritually draining experience. Our emotional wellbeing and how we feel in every area of our lives will effect how far we can go forth in God.  Coming out of our test or trials full of bitterness will not make us better but coming out standing in the freedom and liberty of Christ will help to propel us to that new place God has already prepared for us to go into.  Now, let us pray,

Heavenly Father, we come before you now with humbled hearts and hands lifted to give you honor and glory. We thank you for your Sovereignty and for your Holiness. You are an incredible Father and we thank you for always being concerned about every area of our lives.  We thank you for your faithfulness and unmerited favor. For without your Grace we would still be stuck in yesterday. O God thank you for what you have allowed for us to experience in this life. We thank you for the good, the bad, the bitter and the sweet. We give you praise for how you allowed for us to be tested that we may be made stronger in you. Father we bless your Holy name and adore you for being the awesome Father that you are. Thank you for choosing us as your very own. Thank you for calling us to your very heart.

May our lives be what you have created and purposed us to be in you. Help us to endure and stand in faith as we go through. Help us to focus in on your goodness and who you are. Help us to know that you will never leave us or forsake us but in all things you always make a way of escape for us. You are the Potter and we are your clay, shape us and make us into the purified vessels you can use for your honor and glory. Father forgive us this day for harboring any anger, bitterness or even jealousy in our hearts associated with what we experienced in our last season. We release all hurt, pain, shame and rejection to you now. We ask that you create in us a clean heart and renew the right spirit within us that we may go forward to declare your goodness to the nations. Father thank you for your healing virtue flowing freely though our hearts, our minds and our spirit.

We thank you that our emotions have been completely surrendered to you. Thank you for freedom through your Son, Christ Jesus. Thank you for restoring our emotional wellbeing on this day, in Jesus name we do pray, Amen.

 

Blessings & love, 

Arnita L. Fields 

A Scribe for the Lord, a Scribe of the Lord's. 

Reference: Biblos.com

 

If you are in need of Jesus the Savior, you are welcome to pray the following prayer.

Prayer of Salvation

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days.

It’s in Jesus’ name I do pray, Amen.

If you have just prayed this prayer and want more information about beginning your new life as a Christian, please call or write us, we will be happy to send you a free booklet.

Mental Health Awareness Month

As the month of May comes to close, I would like to take some time to discuss your mental health status. Every year during the month of May counselors and professionals in the Mental Health community work to bring awareness to people about the importance of mental health care and the benefits of getting the proper treatment. Whether you suffered a loss materially, spiritually or physically, there’s no better time than the present to check to see that you are operating in emotional wholeness.

Just as you take time out to go for your yearly doctor and dental visits; it’s also extremely important to stay up to date on your current mental health status. The type of assistance you chose will be based upon the type of care you are seeking whether it is short or long termed. For instance if you are in need of counseling after the loss of a job or loved one, seeking out the services of a grief counselor would be of great benefit to you. If you find yourself dealing with the after effects and issues associated with substance, sexual or physical abuse, in order to achieve the optimal results it would be beneficial to seek out someone who specializes in this specific type of counseling.  Since the general area of counseling covers such a large base, choosing the right specialized help or counselor to meet your needs will take some research on your part as well as prayer.

In the faith based community finding a counselor is normally just a phone call away when you call your local church. There you will find and receive assistance from lay Pastoral counselors and staff who have experience with dealing with all types of issues on a daily basis. In many of these churches you may also find on staff Professional, Licensed and or certified counselors who are on hand to service the needs of the congregants and the general community.

So what do you need to know before going to see a counselor or mental health professional and what are some of signs you can look for?  Below are listed just a few signs which will help to give you some clarity. 

v     You recently suffered a major loss or death of a cherished loved one.

v     You find yourself constantly complaining or bickering with people around you or with loved ones.

v     You become irritated with issues that normally did not bother you in the past.

v     You have frequent and unexplainable bouts of crying.

v     You have frequent and unexplainable headaches/and or migraines

v     You are experiencing stress or suffering bouts of anxiety.

v     You are experiencing bouts of sadness or seem to be unhappy most of the time.

v     You began disconnecting yourself from social activities and spending more time sleeping.

v     You suffer from frequent bouts of anger or frustration.

v     You have experienced thoughts of suicide or thoughts about physically harming yourself.

v     You have recently experienced loss of sleep, extended bouts of fatigue or tiredness.

v     You have suffered from loss of appetite and or unexplained weight loss.

Although this list is not conclusive, knowing some of the above signs will help you to take a moment to honestly assess you mental health status to see if you do need to begin the process of seeking out immediate counseling/and or a mental health professional for treatment.  In this life we all have experienced struggles and faced uncertainty, but know that you don’t have to suffer in silence or alone. The Sovereign Father has birthed forth and anointed godly counselors for use within the Body of Christ. Many of these counselors have taken the necessary steps to become professionally trained to assist you along the path of your life’s journey. Click on the information links below to see that there is help, there is hope and there is a solution readily available to assist you with what you may be facing in your life today.

Blessings & love,

Arnita L. Fields

Certified in Biblical, Pre-Marital and Marriage Counseling

member of American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC)

Divorce Care Group Facilitator

Light University-Diploma in Biblical Counseling

Prepare/Enrich Facilitator

Psychology & Christian Counseling Degree, Liberty University

Mental Health Links

http://www.aacc.net/resources/find-a-counselor/

http://baacc.aacc.net/about.php

http://www.findchristiancounselor.com/?gclid=CP6gqKLgqLACFUyb7QodDG8iVQ

http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/may

Untie Them: The Lord has need of them

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”

They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Mark 11:1-7

While listening to the book of Mark, Father revealed something which happens within the Body of Christ more often than we talk about or even realize. There are many of the Lord’s anointed who have not been able to operate and fully flow in the things of God because of mental, physical and spiritual ties which have been placed upon them by others.  

In the above scripture passage the two disciples were given the directive to first untie, then loose and finally to bring the colt back to Jesus. In the event someone asked what they were doing, they were to simply reply; “The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.” The question that I am directed to pose to you on today is, How many times have you stood in the way of those whom the Lord had called aside for His use?  The colt which was needed was actually going to be returned to its place of origination, but only after Jesus was able to sit upon him.  Jesus knew in advance that there would be some people in close proximity to the colt that would be unaware of his true purpose so He had to prepare the disciples with  a response to use as they needed.

How many of you know that when we seek to humble ourselves and then untie and loose our brothers and sisters to the Lord, that the anointing placed upon their very lives by the Holy Spirit will someday come back to bless us?  By allowing others to be free in Jesus we are loosing them from our own personal expectations of who we think they are. 

The colt up until the time he was used by the Lord, had not done much other than stand outside tied to a post. Now pause for a moment and ask yourself how many people connected to you have been left hanging in limbo because you still have them standing outside tied up to a mental, physical or spiritual post?  Thanks be unto God for His longsuffering towards us because He is now extending His mercy and grace by giving us and those held hostage by our thoughts a way of escape.

Know that in this you are not alone because as the first partaker of this revelation, I had to immediately reflect to see if there was anyone whom I had been holding back from the Lord’s use. And when the Holy Spirit brought several faces to mind; I quickly repented, prayed and then released each individual into the Lord’s care so they could fully be used for God’s glory and honor. Now that you have taken the time to read this word, I pray that your heart has been receptive to hearing the Father’s heart on this issue within the Body of Christ. My prayer for you is that you continue to hear the Father’s voice and obey Him by releasing anyone including those who are  family or friends into His total and complete care.  May you also be strengthened and restored in the Lord as you go through this  release process.

Blessings & Love

Arnita L. Fields

A Scribe of the Lord, a Scribe for the Lord

Reference:

http://www.biblegateway.com

If you are in need of Jesus the Savior, you are welcome to pray the following prayer.

Prayer of Salvation

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days.

It’s in Jesus’ name I do pray, Amen.

If you have just prayed this prayer and want more information about beginning your new life as a Christian, please call or write us, we will be happy to send you a free booklet.

America's Change: A Poetic View

Sweet Holy Spirit

(Spiritual Song)

Sweet Holy Spirit, o how you are welcome, o how you are welcome in this place.

Sweet Holy Spirit come fall upon us, fall upon us in this place.

Sweet Holy Spirit, lead us closer, come lead us closer in this place.

Speak forth what you hear from the throne room,

speak forth what God wants us to know.

Reveal the plans of God our Father,

reveal the way back into His loving arms.

Sweet Holy Spirit, o how you are welcome, o how you are welcome in this place.

Sweet Holy Spirit, come shower us with our Father’s grace. 

Taken from the book America's Change a Poetic View  (Published 2009 by Arnita L. Fields/Holy Poetry Publications) 

A Poetic View

When I look at America the country that I have been created and ordained to live and work in, I see many things. I see a country that is so full and rich with possibilities, that it overflows to the outside of our borders and then out into the ocean.  I see a country that was started on the principle that without God at the center of everything, we as a country would not make it, period. I see a country so full and deep with wisdom that no one could mistakenly say that God was not a part of our very foundation.  America, God has poured out His spirit in you for over two hundred years, He cares about where we are now, and where we are going as a people. God has continued to this very day to call out our name, day after day after day; America are we willing to answer His call?

America when I look at you, I see a country that has a heart to reach out to help others when they are hurting and left without hope.  I see a country that not only raises money and offers monetary support to other countries, but also supports many less than fortunate countries with brotherly protection.

Looking deep into the heart of America, I see an assortment of people who have come from many nations seeking a place of refuge, and a place of safety from the raging storms of life.  I see a country where people are drawn like a magnet to its shores, year after year.

So what is it about this country that we call America?  What’s so different about America in comparison to any other country in the whole wide world? Well, you may say that it is because people can come and experience freedom like they have never known before. Many will speak about the endless opportunities that people can have to provide for their families, so they can enjoy the many pleasures of life. But what does God say about America? 

America, God has never let you out of His sight although you may have felt forsaken at times. God has divine plans for you. His plans are to prosper you and not to harm you but to give you a future and a hope.  America, if you truly repent and turn back from the ways of the world and direct your whole heart back to the Almighty Sovereign God, then you will see the very best of our country.  

America the beautiful, a county so full of God’s love and His grace, know that God loves you and He desires to see you become all that His hands has created and designed you to become. God has invested so much in our country since its birth over two hundred years ago. It is time to reclaim our heritage and return to our roots. America, are you ready for your change?

Taken from the book America's Change a Poetic View  (Published 2009 by Arnita L. Fields/Holy Poetry Publications)

Who Turned the Lights On?

The Father woke me up in the early pre-dawn hours to share that He was uncovering even more darkness and deception which has sat dormant in our country for many years. Beginning at the top and then working His way down into each individual and every household, everything that is false down to the very enemies of our souls can be toppled if we respond accordingly. 

I watched in a vision as the Spirit of God began to pull back the blanket of deception covering the land. Many people began to holler out in surprise and then began to pull the covers back up to their necks and go back to sleep. Next, I saw the light of the Father’s presence come to give illumination to blinded eyes and minds, but many cried out and reached over and turned out His light after shouting; who turned the lights on?

When the pureness and truth of the Father visits you, your home, job and ministry how will you respond? Will you ask who turned the lights on? Or will you shout for joy and embrace the truth which has come to set you and your future generations free?

Today, choose to hear Father’s truth.

Father, we thank you for uncovering that which has been hidden in the generational lines in our families, businesses and country. We repent for rejecting your truth in the past. We commit to tear down all that is false in our lives. Every false idol, false way and false action is broken and destroyed now in the realm of the spirit as well as in the natural. We repent for not honoring your truth in our daily lives and we ask that you restore our eyesight to see as you see. We thank you for this season to not only hear your truth but also to be held accountable to it. Thank you Father for your desire to see that we walk as sons of light. We hear and receive your wake-up call in the spirit as deep calls unto deep. Hallelujah, glory to God! Thank you Father for turning on your holy light on this day. We were once blind but now we truly can see. Amen & Amen.

If you are in need of the Savior, Jesus Christ

Prayer of Salvation

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days.

It is in Jesus’ name I do pray, Amen.

The Fear of the Lord: Honoring God His Way

I would like to share with you something the Lord helped to make clear with His wisdom on this past weekend during a time of ministry. While discussing the topic “The Fear of the LORD” from the book by John Bevere, Father revealed how sometimes we treat the presence of others with more respect and honor then we do with His holy presence.  Following is the example He allowed for me to use as an illustration. While working in the marketplace a few years ago, the Director of the department I worked for came to the floor looking for one of the managers one day.  As the Director walked from one end of the floor to the other; you could hear one surprised response after the other. Oh hi, how are you? Great, it’s good to see you! What brings you up here? Etc. etcetera. Additionally, you would began to hear the sudden and quick typing of fingers upon keyboards along with papers being shuffled upon desks as she walked by each section.  I would sit at my desk still working and smh at the sudden activity of productivity because the big boss was on the floor.

Interesting to note after many of these surprise visits, one or more of the employees would come to my desk which actually happened to be the first desk after the entrance of the section and say to me, “Why did you not call to tell us that she was coming back our way?” One time I simply replied, “What would it look like for me, jumping on the phone calling to alert everybody when we should always be working as unto the Lord daily anyway. My response was based on Colossians 3:22 where the word of God states; “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men-pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God.” Unfortunately, hearing the truth of God that day did hurt the feelings of my former co-worker even though I spoke it in a gentle manner. A good question to have posed on that day would be, “Should the Director of the department I worked for have asked for permission prior to visiting our section or should she have free course because she is of course the Director? Before you answer the question, let’s take it a step further.

Now imagine God and the fullness of His glory entering your home without a moment’s notice. Would you be prepared to receive His presence or would you have to shuffle things around pretending like you have been busy doing the work of the Kingdom? Following His departure would you then proceed to call your neighbors asking “Why did you not call and tell me that God was coming to our neighborhood today?” Same scenario as the first but different on so many levels because God of course is the Sovereign and Holy God and He is much more worthy of the honor and the glory. Although some may think this would be an interesting situation to find oneself in, it can very well begin to happen especially if we as the people of God continue to treat the presence of the Father as something common.

Each day as God allow for us to get up from our bed; it is then that we can make the conscience decision to serve Him and reverence Him as the Sovereign God that He is. Also as we begin to walk in the fear of the Lord on a daily basis we are ensuring that we are taking advantage of the opportunity to get to know the Father in a personal and intimate way. The word of God states in Proverbs 9:10 that the “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One understands.” These powerful words should be viewed as extremely important in the life of every Christian.  The word “Wisdom” as described in the Leadership Bible is “the ability to use the best means at the best time to accomplish the best ends. It is not merely a matter of information or knowledge, but of skillful and practical application of the truth to the ordinary facets of life.” By understanding and walking in the fear of the LORD, our obedience to God in honoring Him will help to unlock and keep open the doors to the things that are needed for us to carry out the divine will of the Father in our daily lives. Attempting to live our lives without respecting and honoring God, can only lead to the pathway of walking in the impure wisdom of the world. The wisdom of the world is definitely no match for true wisdom which can only come from relationship with the Heavenly Father.

So how can we as Christians continue to honor and reverence God His way?

1.      First, we have to search our hearts and repent for any of the times that we treated His holy presence as something common.

2.      Seek to spend more time reading and mediating upon the word of God. This will help us to know Him in a greater capacity.

3.      Taking time during the course of our day to spend quality quiet time in His presence. Doing this allows for us to know Him in a more intimate way.

4.      Opening our hearts and accepting His wisdom and instruction by making application to our daily lives.

May your life from this day forward be greatly enriched as you begin to walk in the fear of the Lord by reverencing God as the Sovereign God that He is.     

Blessings,

Arnita L. Fields

A Scribe to the Lord, a Scribe for the Lord

References:

http://biblebrowser.com/colossians/3-22.htm

http://bible.cc/proverbs/9-10.htm

Zondervan Publishing House, the Leadership Bible; NIV. Grand Rapids, Michigan.

If you desire to be forgiven of all your sins and get to know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior please pray the following: 

Prayer of Salvation

I repent of all of my sins and right now I do confess that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for the remission of my sins. I believe that Jesus died and was buried and rose again, and is now seated at the right hand of God in Heaven. I receive Him now as Lord of my life and I now commit to serve him for the rest of my days. It’s in Jesus’ name I do pray, Amen.

If you have just prayed this prayer and want more information about beginning your new life as a Christian, please call or write us, we will be happy to send you a free booklet.

2012 National Poetry Month: Spotlight on Poet I. Renai Collins

It is our pleasure here at "A Poetic View" to honor poet, I. Renai Collins during the 2012 National Poetry Month this April. She is truly anointed to write unto the Lord and it is an honor to know such a precious vessel of God.

Renai Collins grew up in Palm Beach County, Florida where she began the journey to becoming an award winning poet. For fourteen years, she made her home in Plano, Texas and it is there that her poetry began to receive the notice that it deserves.In 1995, Ms. Collins received a Special Merit Award from the Ninth Annual Iva Mary Williams National Inspirational Poetry Program. The program, which is sponsored by Cooper House Publishing and Poet Magazine honored Renai for her poem, Can’t, Can’t Be. Renai was also heralded by the Plano Star Carrier newspaper for her outstanding poetry.

Upon her return to Palm Beach County, Renai immersed herself into the area and continued to write and perform her phenomenal poetry. She started the Junior Poets of Palm Beach County in 1997 and served as vice-president of the Poets of the Palm Beaches from 1997 to 2001. In 1998 Palm Beach Magazine named Renai’s Open Mic Poetry group one of the top 25 best things to do from Boca Raton to Vero Beach, FL. In the April 24, 2002 issue of the Palm Beach Post, columnist Linda Haas wrote of Renai’s outstanding poetry in an article titled, Poet Tries to Inspire, Plants Positive Seeds with Her Words.

In addition, Renai served as Poet Laureate and hostess of adult and children’s poetry events for Barnes & Noble, Book-A- Million, schools, libraries, Boys & Girls Clubs along with numerous churches. Renai is a member of the American Academy of Poets and the American Christian Writers Association. Her book Can't, Can't Be was released in November 2009. You will also find her poetry on Cross Way Publication www.christianpoetry.org “Proclaiming God’s Promise Through Poetry”

Martin Luther King, Jr. Coordinating Committee & Poet I. Renai Collins Presented the 1st Annual Poetry Contest January of 2011

 

Book Reviews:

All too often, we are inundated by negativity from the world around us. The stories of war, poverty, cruelty and sadness can threaten the resolve of even the most determined optimist. But I. Renai Collins’ poetry shines with a hopefulness that touches us deeply. She writes from the heart about the essence of our lives – family, beauty, and yes, love. Yet, this is not a collection of poetry that ignores the darker side of life. In “Remember Me,” the protagonist demands that her legacy be one of humanity, not perfection, and in “Colors,” Renai recounts the tale of a teenage victim of gang violence. However, even when Renai writes of pain it is covered in the grit of survival; we are left with no doubt that, although one’s past have yielded disappointments, the future offers goodness and light. In “Solid,” Renai writes: “Know my past/I do/my future/now I face/my roots are/firmly planted/I cannot/be moved.” It is this determination to be optimistic that sets Renai’s poetry apart; it is this determination that makes Can’t, Can’t Be a unique pleasure to read. - Africa Fine Author of Katrina, Becoming Maren and Looking for Lily

I continue to be amazed at the power of the word. Whether written or spoken, words can and will change your life. I. Renai Collins understands the power of the word and she has put her words to use in the form of poetry that will grab you from the very moment that you open her book. You will confront “Fear,” but you will refuse to let your “flame… be snuffed out before it is lit.” As you near the end of the book you will “transcend greed…and your eyes be opened by the truth, never to be blind again.” When you close this book after reading it the first time, although you will read it many, many times again, you will know without a doubt, that “what you dream really can come true.” Let the words change your life. - Steve White Publisher, Protective Hands Communications

Product Description - Amazon
Can't, Can't Be is a book of poetry by award winning poet, I. Renai Collins. Her poetry covers all aspects of the personal life experience. Renai takes you on a journey of your past, remembering those life changing experiences with your mother and grandmother. She explores the intimacy and the hurt of male, female relationships. She helps the reader visualize a brighter day and a better world. You will transcend the moment.