Refine yourself in 2009

“It is time to refine ourselves in 2009”
“Study to show yourself approved to God a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God” 2nd Timothy 2:15

While I was seeking what the Lord had to say about the direction we should take in 2009, I promise that I was not looking for a catchy slogan. It just came out that way.
2008 was truly a year of completion and new beginnings. As almost everyone in the prophetic community saw at the start of last year. But many missed that with new beginnings there is also change. Change is never easy and is also very often a painful process. But through change old things die away and make room for new growth.
There is no doubt that 2008 was a painful year in the Body of Christ. The chaff was torn away and many long hidden layers of sin were exposed. Greed, racism, arrogance, and hard heartedness were the characteristics often associated with Christians. We are to be the lights of the world and yet this is how we are viewed by the world.
The Lord wants us to refine ourselves this year, so that His light shines through us brighter than ever. So many of us look down on the “Intellectual Elite “. We as Christians should be the “Intellectual Elite”. If we truly want the world to look to God, we must be prepared to address the problems that we as a global community face. There is a very long history of the Holy Priests of the Lord advising rulers down through the ages. The Jews hold the pursuit of knowledge and the study of scripture in high esteem. If we as disciples of the Lord truly want to have an authoritative voice in our country as well as in the world, then we must prove ourselves approved by God to be able to handle the task. We can no longer be arrogant in our ignorance.

Christians took the results of 2008’s election as a sign that the country is turning away from God. The Body of Christ needs to look at this as a learning opportunity as to why the election played out the way it did. God is trying to tell you something.
People voted for change. They voted for a person they perceived was more intelligent than themselves. They voted for a person they felt would listen to them. They voted for someone they believed would take care of their problems, whether or not this was actually true. This is what people perceive about our new president. Sounds a lot like people are looking for a savior.
As Christians we know that the only one who can truly answer all our needs is Jesus. We have a wonderful opportunity in front of us to be shining lights of Christ’s love, compassion, and mercy. We must refine ourselves through study in order to supply the world with biblical solutions for the issues that face all of us.
“Study to show yourself approved to God a workman that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of God” 2nd Timothy 2:15
I pray that all of us may shine like brilliant diamonds for the Lord.
Be blessed and be a blessing,

Helen Retana

The Desires of Your Heart

In the Bible it tells us to go"Boldly Before The Throne of God". I think this is probably one of the most miss interpreted scriptures. As Christians some of us believe that this particular scripture puts us above everyone else in God's eyes and that we can ask God for anything that we want without any reverance or understanding of His will. Some of us demand things from God. Is it any wonder why the "lost" hate us so. To go boldly before the throne of God means that we should approach His throne without fear. He wants us to join Him there through praise, worship and prayer while we are here on Earth. But most importantly The Lord wants to see us in His Throne Room when we leave this spiritual plan. The Throne Room is a place to ask The Lord for the true desires of your heart. Now Jesus knows the true desires of your heart but he wants you to meditate and pray about what you truly want in life. I believe you will find that all those material things that we have a tendency to "need" will give way to what is really important to you. Through this you will learn what God's will is for your life as you pray and study His Word. And His desires for your life will become the desires of your heart. Be careful what you pray for, remember the Lord can have quite a sense of humor.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,


Helen

Tiny Worship Leader

I was at church this morning and during the worship the usual people were dancing and praising the Lord. But you could tell it was just a little restrained. In the middle of worship this tiny two-year old little girl ran amongst the worshippers and just started clapping and dancing and twirling around in her pretty little summer dress without a care in the world. Her father chased her down the aisle but instead of scooping her up and making her sit down in the pew, he let her worship the Lord to her little hearts content. One of the ladies gave her a circle with ribbons to wave and she just waved praises to the Lord. The whole atmosphere changed. This little one was dancing among the angels not the congregation. I could see them just dancing and clapping with her like anyone would dance with a two- year old. It was a sight to behold .

The Lord shared this word with me. The teacher becomes the student. The smallest of worshippers set the example for all of you. Adults believe they have to teach a child to praise and worship God, but it is the children who will teach the adults to praise and worship without hesitation and with full abandonment. The joy of the Lord is reflected in the praises from his children both the big and especially the small.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,

Helen

Reflection of Each Other

If you have ever read Proverbs 31 you will see that it is about a very accomplished woman. Just reading about her makes me tired. When I was young and single, I usually asked what did the Proverbs 31 husband do all day. As I got older and I married, I realized that the wife described in Proverbs 31 was a reflection of her husbands faith in her abilities. She is allowed to do all those things describe in those verses because her husband trusts her with those tasks. And she trusts him to represent the family in his position at the city's gate.

In my old line of work and in the ministries I serve in, I get to meet a lot people .
My dad taught me long ago that the measure of a man is evident in his wife and children.
They are a direct reflection of him. The same is true of women. You can tell where a person's priorities lie pretty quickly by meeting their family. If you are single it is how you treat your close friends and immediate family.

Husbands are reflections of their wives and visa versa. A married man is only as successful as the woman beside him and a married woman is only as productive as her husband trusts her to be. When you marry it is your duty to do everything you are capable of inorder for your spouse to be a successful servant in the Lord's Kingdom. Husbands and wives must encourage each other to use the gifts the Lord has given each of you for the glory of God.

All children of God are reflections of their Holy Father. What will people see when they met you for the very first time? Make sure they see what you hold close to your heart.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,




Helen

A Child's Outstreched Hand

Oh to be like a child, with no prejudices, no preconceived ideas, just acceptance and love. The Lord gave me a word not long ago. "Out of the mouths of babes. Unity for the church will come through a child's outstretched hand." The more I meditate on this the more I believe He is talking abut the Church universal and mankind in general. Children are not born with hate in their hearts. They do not know what doctrine or dogma mean and they really don't care. They just want to laugh, sing and play with as many friends as possible, no matter how different they may be. In fact they are so curious about people who are different that children's will sometimes ask what we adults consider inappropriate questions. But they just want to know why an individual is different from them. Not better or worse just different. Their questions help them understand that person better. Wouldn't help with all the conflicts both in our churches and frankly in our world if we did the same? The Lord knew that the children who came to Him would ask all kinds of questions that an adult would never dare ask. What would you ask Him? Jesus is willing and able to answer even your most childish question. Go ahead and ask.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,


Helen

Seeing through the eyes of a child

You can see something a hundred times and never see all the details of what your are looking at and then feel like an utter fool when you take a child to see the exact same thing. Children hearts do not have any preconceived ideas. The little minds are open to the whole experience. They truly experience everything to the fullest. This why the Lord wants us to come to him like little children. Our hearts and minds have to be fully open to all of the glories and wonders that are Christ. This is the only way we can experience all the goodness that is Jesus. I here a lot of preachers tell their congregations to come expecting wondrous signs. But sometimes I think we should just run into His arms like a child and see what happens. He is waiting for you with open arms. I can't wait to hear what you have seen when you run into them.

Be blessed and be a blessing,



Helen

Reflection of Kindness

There is an old saying about walking a mile is someone's shoes. We have all known someone who seems to blow their stack at the smallest thing. But did you ever stop and think that just could have been the straw that broke the camel's back? Next time you know someone with a short fuse look beyond their anger. Sometimes they need a kind word or just a smile or maybe a little bit of help with a menial task. I know that I could be very short with people when my father was sick. What most people did not know is that I dreaded answering the phone. I never knew when "the call" would come and my husband and I would have to pack and hi-tail it to the hospital 5 hours away. All while trying to run a business and keep seven people employed. Even though my father has gone to be with the Lord and we closed the business so I would have more time to be with my family, there were and are still times I feel very alone. I often think about the lack of kindness in the world and how we should be really practice WWJD. Because if we did so many people would see Christ through our acts of kindness, which is a reflection of His love for us. If more people saw Christ through us then they would know that they are never truly alone. Smile, wave, speak a kind word to someone today. You may be that little flicker of light calling out to them in the storm. Shine your light.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,



Helen