ANDREA BESSLING
ANDREA BESSLING

Kids Say the Darnedest Things
One of my all time favorite shows is Kids Say the Darnedest Things starring Bill Cosby. What I love about this show is the raw and unedited reactions of the children. I remember one episode where Bill Cosby ate an onion before interviewing a child. Of course, the child expressed a very natural reaction and was turned off by his bad breath. He held his nose and let him know that his breath smelled. Then he went on about his business answering the questions! The reactions of the child demonstrated brutal honestly,
fearlessness and most of all a pure motive!
Think about the ways of a child. Children take what you tell them to heart. They believe what they hear as truth and that becomes the basis for all things. They repeat it to others in confidence because their “Mommy said so”.
Somewhere after a certain age and exposure to the ways of the world, children learn to guard their responses and the former honesty changes. It is filtered or altered. As a result, children develop alternative ways of saying things and defenses to protect themselves. Negative experiences in life alter the heart of a child and shape the heart of the adult.
Negative experiences also shape responses and influence how we receive love. For example, if a child has a negative experience, he may fear rejection. Fear is not LOVE! If such experiences continue, he may feel unloved or unwanted. He may learn to suppress his voice and become distrusting of others. Fear leads to distrust and these things are NOT LOVE. He may learn to dislike himself. He may even spend most of his adult life recovering from the series of negative experiences. He may even come to believe he is unworthy of love. Adults scarred from childhood or from a general association with this cruel world (ALL OF US!) have to start over. The opportunity for a fresh start begins in a relationship with Jesus Christ. In order to receive the good news, a person has to become like a child. Our relationship with Christ is one of blind faith, child like faith. His word has to be received as truth therefore establishing the needed child-like trust in him. This allows the root of belief to be established in the heart. God’s promise of love and eternal salvation are impossible to receive without belief or faith. The love we know is by no means comparable to the love of God therefore our former knowledge has to be thrown out and our minds have to be renewed in order to receive the gift!
The other day, my four year old walked over with big elephant tears in her eyes and said, "Sissy said she doesn't love me and she doesn't want me". I reassured her that she was loved and wanted. Fortunately, she believed me, stopped crying and went back to playing with her sister as if nothing happened. My friends, God's word is here to speak truth to us just as I did to my child in that moment. When we are rejected in this world, we have to come to God for reassurance of his love for us. God loves us so much that he gave his only son for us. You are the apple of his eye. (Psalm 17:8) You are the reason he created this world. He has good plans for your life. He wants to bless you. (Jeremiah 29:11). He favors you and adores you.
Until you believe and understand the depth of God’s love, it is impossible to love another including yourself (John 4:8). I want to encourage you to come to Jesus like a child and start speaking to yourself with the truth of Gods word even before you feel it. Why, because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Speak out loud the truth of God’s word specifically about his love for you. Tell yourself that you are wonderfully and fearfully made (Psalm 139:14). Sing children’s songs! Tell yourself that you are the head and not the tail. Tell yourself that there is no good gift that God will withhold from you whom walk uprightly. Do not let negative experiences shape your relationship with God, but let God create beautiful shapes from your negative experiences.
Prayer:
Lord, today I ask you to open my heart to understand the depths of your love. Lord although I cannot at the moment comprehend it, I state in faith that I will declare your love over me. I ask that you give me wisdom and understanding. I pray that the Holy Spirit intercede on my behalf preparing me to receive and experience your "Agape” love like never before. In Jesus name I pray! Amen!!
My friend, if you prayed this prayer, we at Inspired for You Outreach stand in agreement with you!
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LOTTIE MARIE

What does it mean to be rich?
(The Rich Man and Lazarus; Luke 16:19-31)
What does it mean to be rich? Does it mean that we have a bank account with millions and billions of dollars and worldly things, or does being rich mean being truly happy having that job that you always dreamed of, finally arriving as the world says? Let’s talk about a very rich man that was written about in the word of God, whom every day he passed by a beggar named Lazarus who laid outside the gate of his beautiful home who longed to have just the morsels of what was at the rich man’s table. Daily this rich man would cross over the beggar. Never to think wow what does he feel like? Maybe I just could give him something to eat or drink. I would venture to say this rich man was consumed with his own life, what he thought was important. As men and women of God it is imperative that we don’t get so consumed that we
don’t have compassion for each other, meaning putting ourselves in their shoes. (Luke 16:22) The scripture said that the beggar died and was carried to heaven with angels, while the rich man was buried and in hades (hell). The parable goes on to show the rich man being tormented daily and begging our great Patriarch Abraham, to ask Lazarus to just dip his finger in water to cool him in hell ( Luke 16:23). This story from the Bible is such a rude awakening some might say. But friends God has asked each of us to love one another to do unto others as we would have done unto us (Luke 6:31). As individuals I’m sure we can all think of a time were we could have shown more compassion, took more time, given a word, smile or maybe even just a cool glass of water. God does want us to be prosperous, and he loves his children to have riches, but Jesus said unto us. Until the least of these you have done it unto, you’ve done it unto me (Matthew 25:39-40). Let’s come together to make a change for the Glory of God!
Written By: Lottie Marie
POWERFUL WORD BY THE WOMAN OF GOD! Prophetess Kusi
"Coming Forth As Pure Gold"
In life we all are faced with many struggles and pains. Some struggles can knock the breath out of us and leave us hanging on to our life. In the midst of our pains we wonder will we ever recover, how can we recover? In the midst of my enduring a very challenging time I begin reading through the book of Job, and I came across (Job 23: 8-10). I found this scripture to be very profound and an answer to some of our questions about where is God in challenges? Job speaks behold I go forward (God) is not there, then I go backward and perceive him not, I look on my left hand where he works but I cannot behold him. But he knows the way that I taketh when he tried me, I shall come forth as pure Gold. Have you ever felt that way? Have you walked forward and stepped out on a limb and felt God was not there, then you went backward because of fear or uncertainty and you still did not see him. But the amazing part my friends is that God was with you all the way, he knows the way you are planning to take all the time and that is why; We shall come forth as Pure Gold!!
"But He knoweth the way that I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold"
(Job 23:10)
Thank you so much Prophet Kusi
God bless; Bible Commentary Written By: Lottie Marie
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MESSAGE FROM A TRUE BELIVER RHONDA JONES (Author)
THIS IS HER STORY
Tarry Until God Comes
The other day I was having a conversation with a friend regarding the lack of spirituality in the church. I was telling my friend that I had spent over 20 years being a faithful member in one church or another. I participated in many groups and committees, was on the witnessing team, participated in children’s church, and was a Sunday School and Youth Group teacher. For years, I’d never miss a Sunday service and often attended mid-week service as well. Some churches became my family, others I made lots of friends. In my early days as a Christian I absorbed the word of God. It was the first 5 years of being a Christian that I memorized most of the scriptures I know.
Over the years, my relationship with church took on many facets. Over different periods I attended church to growth spirituality, other times looking for a husband, still other times desiring a social life. Then came a period that I had no desire to attend church at all. I would often find myself in the pews thinking, what in the heck am I doing here? I couldn’t wait until service was over. Church had become a ritualistic habit for me. After one disappointment over another, I decided to take a sabbatical. I had done this before, many years early but was overridden with guilt. The thought of not going to church had to mean I was backslidden and on my way to hell. But this time it was different, perhaps I was more mature. I knew my relationship with God was strong and going to Church out of habit had nothing to do with it.
Many years early I went through a period of utter despair. I had lost something very meaningful to me and it tore me right at the core of my heart. There was so much pain in my life and my routine habits of being a good Christian didn’t stop me from hurting. I did all the things I was supposed to do, but my condition didn’t improve. This was the time in my life that I entered what I we often hear as “desert.” There I was alone and forsaken. Everything stripped away. Everything but God, except my old ways of connecting with him didn’t seem to work for me anymore. This was a sign that God was requiring something deeper of me. This is when I became a seeker and at the same time I became a receiver. This is when my eyes of understanding began to open and God’s word, the scriptures, and his Voice began to animate in my life.
The old way of approaching God wasn’t good enough for me anymore. I was beginning to build a relationship with Him. I would actually sit on my couch and talk to Him aloud. His voice became so much more clearer to me. I saw new revelations in everything, especially in the scriptures. I began to desire the deep spiritual truths of God, truths that would lead to a more joyful, fruitful, and peaceful life. I wanted to be taught by the Holy Spirit. I often meditated on the scripture that said, once the Holy Spirit comes, we wouldn’t even need a teacher, because the Holy Spirit would teach us all things. I’m living proof of this, as are many others. I began to realize the Spirit of God that lives inside all of us and is waiting for us to trust Him.
Which leads me back to that question, why does the church lack spirituality? The kind of spirituality that Jesus described when he said another form of worship is coming, in which God’s worshippers will worship him in spirit and in truth, for those are the types of worshippers God desires. I believe the church lacks this type of spirituality because it puts formulas over relationship. It gives us a 10-point plan. If you do this, you will receive that. It enslaves us with rules, bylaws, and codes of conduct. It imposes the one message fits all type of instruction. It encourages us to “do” for God, but not “abide” in God. It pushes us to be a busy Martha, instead of a doting Mary; which Jesus said is far better. It often puts more importance on the words of those in authority, than on the still small voice of God speaking in our hearts. We’re not encouraged to strengthen that voice and thus it often goes unheard. To many of us know of God, but fail to truly know Him, just as Job said, I’ve heard of you, but now my eyes see you for myself. Or in the case of Moses who spent 40 days with God on Mount Sanai and the children of Israel looked at awe upon his countenance as he entered the village. We see God’s presence from afar.
But where there is a problem there is also a solution. In the book of Acts Chapter 1 after the ascension of Jesus, the disciples were told, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard Him speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The scriptures go onto say that the men came and waited together in prayer and on that day a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
In Acts 2 Chapter 17 it declares, in the last days, God says, I will pour out my spirit on all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions; your old men will dream dreams. Even on your servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above…and everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
What the Bible is speaking of in the preceding verses is the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers. The Holy Spirit can manifest himself in the Christian in countless ways. We can speak in tongues, dream dreams, have visions, heal the sick, prophesy, cast out demons, receive wisdom and discernment, and so much more. The Holy Spirit is the power house behind God’s word.
Yet, what is key to this all is that Jesus told the disciplines to “tarry” to “wait” for this manifestation. They didn’t have to strive for it. They didn’t have to look for it. They didn’t even have to pray for it. They were just instructed to wait for it; to wait on God. Isaiah 43: 31 declares … those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. Why? Because when we are filled with God’s spirit we are endowed with His power, his wisdom, and his strength. And all we need to do to receive it, is desire it and wait, waiting, linger, and abide with God.
So how can we as Christians move from “doing” to “abiding? How do we move from formulas for the Christian life to hearing directly from God for our life “alone”? How do we obtain the manifestation of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of his presence in our midst? I believe it is by being still and waiting, by tarrying until he comes to meet us. It requires the heart of a seeker. It often requires sequestering ourselves from those things that pull us away from God; even the good things like a church meeting. It requires meditating on God and entering into his presence. If the church will point us in that direction, in collective waiting, collective silence, collective presence, and collective listening, then we can learn to know God in the intricacies of our own hearts and spirits. A spirit that knows the way, but needs to be awakened. A spirit that has everything it needs, now! A spirit that realizes that, the Kingdom of God resides within us and not without.