You are not late.

 

You are not late.

You are just in time.

Sometimes I think I missed His timing.  I get so busy doing the ‘Martha’ thing, I forget I need to sit at His feet like Mary more and just simmer.

Timing is in His hands.

Have you ever tried to cook a roast quickly?  It doesn’t turn out very well.  You can cook a roast fast however it is tough to taste and isn’t very appealing.  

Now if you put a roast in the oven at 200 degrees and let it cook slowly over many hours, you will see a remarkable difference.  The meat is tender.  Cooking beef at a low roasting temperature allows the meat to gently cook through without drying out. 

We need to keep this in mind with our walk with the Lord.  I often want slow cooker results with microwave cooking in my walk.

Can you relate?

Let me give you an example.

God gives me a vision.

I am excited and lace up my sneakers and start to run.

Figuratively. (I don’t run unless chased)

God stops me and says, ‘Wait my child, that was for your future, not right now.’

‘What Lord?’ ‘I am ready NOW…’

‘No, you are not. Other things need to change first.’

Now this is where it gets interesting.  I have two choices.  I could listen to Him and wait.  OR…

We know what happens when I don’t wait.

I am not going to tell you I always wait every time. I don’t.

But when I do…

His plan is ALWAYS Better.

God wants to use you.

The enemy also jumps in when I am in my waiting period and uses it to distract me.

‘You missed your time.’ he hisses. ‘God left without you and is using someone else.’ ‘You messed up and He will not use you now.’ ‘You are too broken to be used by God.’

The enemy knows your name, but he always calls you by your sin.

God knows your sin, but He always calls you by your name.

Read that again.

He called you.

He chose you.

He set you apart.

You are set apart for such a time as this.

He wants to use you.

He wants to use me.

Don’t let this season of waiting discourage you.  Don’t let the enemy in your head while you wait on Him.

Press in and spend time with our Lord while you wait.

Keep planting seeds while you wait.

He will tell you when it is time.

Hang in there with me!

Love you guys!

'Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” '

Isaiah 6:8

'He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” '

Psalms 46:10

'I wait for the Lord , my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. '

Psalms 130:5

'I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. '

Psalms 130:6

                                                      Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

My gift to you.

 

The best compliment is to be copied 😊

Last month was my birthday and I decided to do something different.  I asked my pastor if I could hand out a gift to those who came to church on Sunday for my birthday.  I know it is an odd thing - but stay with me for a minute.

I am so blessed to have others pour into my life in many ways.  So, what I wanted to do was pass along the blessing.  I often watch inspiring reels on Facebook and share them with others.  One specific reel caught my attention earlier in the year, and I saw a project in my future.

This pastor shared with everyone how his daughter and their youth group wanted to bless their church by doing something different.  Without questioning he agreed.  The following Sunday, hundreds of little Jesus figurines showed up all over the church. 

EVERYWHERE!

The youth decided to place the little Jesuses around for everyone so they could find HIM in places they least expected HIM.  All over the church.  And in the end of the service, everyone went home with a little Jesus as a reminder that -

No Matter what you are going through…

Remember a little Jesus goes a long way!

What a great idea!

It was such a great idea that it went viral across the US and globally.

I wanted to be a part of this blessing.

So - Back in April I went on Amazon, yes Amazon has everything, and purchased a box of little Jesus figurines.  I put the box aside and waited on the Lord for the right time.

My birthday became the moment in time.  I printed out a bunch of slips of papers with a QR code and the statement…

No Matter what you are going through…

Remember a little Jesus goes a long way!

I taped one of the little Jesus figurines to the paper.

I then placed the paper in a small Ziplock bag and added my card with my contact information so I could be reached with any prayer requests.

One Sunday last month I handed out a little Jesus to everyone explaining the story behind the gift.  I kept my phone on hand so I could show each person how to use the QR code when needed and showed the video. 

Then a cool thing happened!  One by one, the excitement grew.  “Can we have another one to give to a friend, or a family member?”  Of course!  I handed the little gifts out until there was almost nothing left.

My bag of little Jesus gifts was almost empty, but my heart was FULL!  I was blessed beyond all the gifts I handed out that day.  You can't outgive God.

Many seeds were planted that day.

I continue to pass along the blessing here! 

You now have the instructions.

Go out and spread a little Jesus wherever you go!

Love you guys!

 

Here is the link:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/416280930850429

Here is more about the Trent Tribe and The Lighthouse Church:

https://trenttribe.com/

 

'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. '

John 3:16

'Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. '

John 14:6

'For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, '

1 Timothy 2:5

'Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” '

Acts 4:12

'If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. '

Romans 10:9

                                                      Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Things I have learned from my puppy…

We are deep into puppy training starting week three... 

Don’t chew on mommy.  Eat only your food, not Benny’s food. Your tummy can’t take his food.  Don’t pee or poop in the house.  Yes the grass is okay to do your business.  I know, the grass gets wet sometimes in the morning but it is okay to do your business there.  Okay, I will hold you after because you are cold.  No, Rocco doesn’t want to jump and play first thing in the morning.  He needs his space. Yes, your new treats are yummy, aren’t they?  No, thank you I really don’t want to share them.  Daddy is your friend too and takes you out every morning.  Yes, he is excited to see you too at the end of the day and loves your kisses too.

But what I didn’t know was God was training me too - through Gabriel…

Slow down. You don’t need to run that fast ahead of me.

Gabriel loves to run ahead of everyone.  He doesn’t know the dangers around the corner.  I am here to protect him when we are outside doing our business.  Hawks and other predators are waiting to pick up his tiny three-pound self as a morning snack.  I am his protection.  God reminded me – He is my protection.  Slow down.  Stop trying to get ahead of His Plans.  He knows what is best for me.  Even when I think I am running behind, I must remind myself, GOD is never late. He is just in time.  I need to slow down and just breathe.  Then take deliberate steps.  His steps. Not mine.

Don’t jump off that bed.  You are not superman. 

Gabriel loves to run to the end of the bed and do a Houdini and slide down between the comforter and the footboard.  He doesn’t see the danger in his action, and I have to grab him before he tries the superman feat.  He also tries to jump off the front retaining wall where Benny jumps daily, and Gabriel’s young legs are not ready just yet.  God reminded me of the many times I tried to do things I wasn’t ready for yet.  “I got this Lord!” I would say as I tried something on my own, or in my own strength.  Each time I did that, it ended – spectacularly – horribly.  God reminded me how silly I looked to Him as I played ‘superman’ on my own.  “Yes Lord…I get it.”

Take time outs.  We all need them. 

Each day we give the other puppies a break from each other and Gabriel a break time in his crate.  He wasn’t happy at all with me at that moment.  The other dogs, however, are happy with me.  They get a break from the hyperactive puppy and a little attention from mom.  Gabriel gets a nap and some quiet time.  He is refreshed after his nap and ready to play again afterwards.  Everyone is ready to play again.  God reminded me once again – we all need time outs.  Even me.  Take them.  Or He will give them to me.  I am more refreshed when I do take time for me.  I appreciate time with my Heavenly Father when I take my ‘time outs’.   I get away from the distractions of the world.  I can hear Him clearly.  I don’t miss the small things when I am being still…

Mom (Dad) knows best.  Even when we think we do.

Gabriel LOVES all the foods and treats!  He Loves his food.  He Loves Benny’s food.  He Loves Dad’s food.  ANY Food and ALL Food!  When he finishes his food in his dish, Gabriel immediately bee lines to Benny’s dish to try and sneak a bite of his food too.  I am the house monitor to guide him back to his dish as he is learning his place.  He tries again and then learns through Benny’s growl that he has overstepped his boundaries.  “I told you honey that your dish is Your dish.  You can’t share Benny’s food.”  Gabriel looks at me as if to say, “But mom, I know best.  I should get his food too.”  As much as Gabriel ‘thinks’ he knows best, we all know too much of a good thing isn’t good for him.  And taking another dog’s food is a recipe for disaster.  He learned quickly that wasn’t a good idea too.  I was there to solve the problem.  Mom knows best.

I have stepped into places I didn’t belong when I thought I ‘knew best’.  After licking my wounds, God was there to pick up the pieces and reminded me – He knows best.  I had to learn the hard way.  Don’t we all sometimes?  But the older I get… Well, I still stumble. But I am grateful for His mercy and grace. 

AND that He is there to call on daily because I am not much different that Gabriel…

 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalms 46:10

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Psalms 139:16

I wait for the Lord , my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Psalms 130:5

                                                      Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Gabriel the puppy

We were quite happy with two puppies.  They were happy with the arrangements as well.  Benny had 100% of Dad’s attention.  Rocco was comfortable with his routine.

Then came Gabriel.

Why do we need another puppy?

Benny would say, “Because I want a buddy to play with!”

Rocco would say, “We don’t Need another puppy!”

Dad said, “He is cute, but how are we going to handle three…?”

I wondered if we would be able to do it all.  However we knew Benny needed a playmate since Rocco was getting older and didn't want to play as much as before.  Benny wanted all of our attention since Rocco refused to give him any of his.  We discerned that having a new buddy for Benny would brighten his spirits and possibly bring Rocco out of his 'old man' syndrome at the same time.

That was the plan.

Then Carl named him Gabriel which means - God is my Strength.

Once he was named, I knew.

This was more than a puppy that was joining our little family.  This was a blessing over our home.  There have been a lot of things going on lately.  Health issues.  Business issues.  Ministry issues.  So many issues that my issues have issues.

Can you relate?

So, in the midst of it all, I have had a few moments.  Well, maybe more than a few.  It has been tiring to say the least.  Especially with my health.  I am used to ‘pushing through’ things and just getting the job done.  The last couple of years have not been very cooperative with my internal schedule. I had plans.  My body had other plans.  I wanted to put everything in a neat little box and make it all work and when it didn’t… I had a moment.

I am not a complainer.  I would rather talk about anything else other than myself.  It is easier to deflect to other’s prayer needs.  That gives me something else to focus on.  When I am praying for someone else, I don’t think about my problems.  It also gives me perspective.  There are so many others that have it harder than I do.  So, I don’t complain.  Until now…  I spend a lot of time in my bible and in prayer.  I just needed a new sign.  I needed hope.

I needed HIM this time. 

I needed His reassurance this time.

I needed His strength this time.

He knew.

So, we are the proud new parents of Gabriel – who will be my daily reminder that GOD IS MY STRENGTH.

Every day I see Gabriel, I will be reminded of God’s promise to us.  I will not forget.  I will not give up hope.

Don’t give up hope.  Look for the signs in the smallest things every day.  Our Heavenly Father is ready to share them with you.

Thank you for your prayers too my friend... 

 

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

                                                      Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Stones of Remembrance...

We got good news yesterday.  Actually, three things happened that made me stop and thank God each time.  One was a reprieve from the storms once they passed over our home after thunder and heavy rains.  It could have been much worse.  I was thankful.  Benny our puppy was also very thankful once they ended.  He is very afraid of thunder and storms.

The second news received was a gentle reminder from a friend who was thinking about me.  A quick text that made me smile.  It wasn’t a big text.  Just a quick reminder.  But, what a blessing. 

How often it is the little things that bless us.  (This is also your gentle reminder to reach out to someone today…)

The third blessing yesterday was much larger.  We were reminded by God that He doesn’t do things halfway.  When He makes a promise, He completes it. That one brought me to my knees, and I was thankful once again. 

When things go amazing - I need to remember what God did for me.

When things go badly – I need to remember what God did for me before.

When my husband and I get away, we spend some of our time remembering.

Remembering what GOD has done in our lives since we have been together.

Stones of remembrance.

Each stone is a reminder of what GOD did.

Each stone is a reminder of GODS faithfulness.

Each stone is a reminder of how GOD will NOT fail us in the future.

When we do this, we are reminded in our valleys that God is Faithful even when we don’t hear Him.  Even when we don’t see Him working.  He is working.

He is faithful.

He is GOD.

Set aside sometime and create yourself stones of remembrance...

Remember the things GOD has done in your life.

Then go back from time to time and reflect on the Goodness of God and what He has done.

Each time you do this, you are also doing warfare!  Remembering and Praising Him for what He has done.

Praise and worship are our weapons. 

Use them to defeat the enemy who is trying to discourage you.

Remember what GOD did for you.  Then Praise Him for who HE IS.

He will take care of the rest.

Go fellowship with our God.

Remember who wins in the end.

Remember we know how the book ends….

 'When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. '

Joshua 4:1-9

Some worship songs to get you started…

Brandon Lake – Gratitude - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQdfs5S6jyA

Brandon Lake – Count ‘Em - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Ti41hJ5fQ

 

                                                   Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Forgiveness.

 

I received an email recently from a very bitter person who has unforgiveness in his heart from something that happened many years ago.  Reading that email broke my heart.  The amount of bitterness was overwhelming.  I wanted to respond right away. 

I wanted to ‘fix’ it. 

I know Lord…

Back to my “fix it” mode. 

Instead, I sat on it.  Then I prayed.  Then I asked the Lord what to do.

What a concept - right?

What came from my prayer time was this message.

• 1.    Unforgiveness causes cancer
• 2.    Forgiveness does not always mean reconciliation 
• 3.    Forgiveness is a lifelong process  
• 4.      Forgiving yourself in in this equation  

First – Unforgiveness causes cancer in our soul.  It not only breaks us down physically, but it breaks us down spiritually.  When I am unforgiving towards someone I hurt physically.  My body aches as I carry that anger towards someone.  It hurts all the way down to my toes. 

Then it hurts me spiritually.  My relationship with God is hindered because I have unforgiveness in my heart.  It says in scripture:

And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”  Mark 11:25

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

Matthew 6:14-15

I need to forgive.  For my health, but most importantly for my relationship with my God.  My prayers are hindered if I have unforgiveness in my heart towards someone else. 

Honestly - all I really need to do is get a little perspective. 

Look what He did for me.  He sent His son to forgive my sins.  He forgave me when I was unforgivable.  He still does every time I ask.  Who am I to not forgive someone for anything they have done to me?  No matter what.  Is it easy?  NO.  Sometimes it is not.  Sometimes it takes GOD to step in and give me the strength to do it. 

But all I need to do is take the first step.  He does the rest.  Yes, it is hard, but yes it can be done.  With God.

Next – Forgiveness doesn’t always mean reconciliation.  God Always calls us to forgive.  However, that command doesn’t always come with reconciliation.  The rest is up to God and that other person.  The situation may be unstable, unsafe, or otherwise.  It takes prayer and discernment to take the next steps of reconciliation… or not.  Let the Holy Spirit lead you.  Sometimes it takes time.  Time can heal the wound.  Other times, it may take an intervention of the Lord. 

Either way, we serve a BIG GOD so leave it in HIS hands.  Never give up on reconciliation. Never give up on GOD.  PRAY for that person. 

I have SEEN MIRACLES in my lifetime.  He can do it in Your life too!

Next – Forgiveness is a lifelong process.  This was a shocker for me.  I thought once I forgave someone, I would never feel those feelings of frustration again.  Wrong.  I am human.  It is an ongoing process.  It creeps up on me at times and I have to hand it over to HIM once again. 

A good word picture is holding a bag of ‘schtuff’ as I often call it.  I hand it to God and tell Him that I am giving it over to Him to fix.  I turn around to go about my business and look down.  Lo and behold, in my hands I am once again holding my bag of ‘schtuff’ again.  “How did it get there?”  I must have picked it back up without even thinking.  “Here God, I am giving it back to You, again.”  And the process continues. 

We are human.  We cling to our things.  We need to give our baggage to God.  He’s got this.  He’s got us!

And Finally – Forgive yourself.  I left this one for last on purpose.  We tend to extend grace to others easier than we do to ourselves.   My husband and I held a small group over the weekend and our topic was laughing at the foolish things we did in life.  I thought it would be a great funny topic.  Well, it backfired on me because I realized I have a hard time laughing at myself sometimes because, again, giving grace to myself is harder than to others.

What a revelation.

Forgiving myself was harder than I thought. 

Extend grace to yourself.  There is only one perfect ONE.  Don’t expect perfection in yourself.  Lean on the one who is Perfect.

 

Back to that person who sent me the email.

I will be praying for him.

I have seen miracles.  I serve a VERY BIG GOD. I believe for another one.  Will you pray with me?

Love you all!

 

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

Matthew 18:20

                                                   Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Listening for a word...

 

Each year my husband and I take a break from the daily grind of our business and get away to an event called: The KLove Fan Awards.  This is a big thing for the two of us because we go during the busiest time of our business year. 

Now we didn’t plan it that way back in 2019 when we first attended.  We had seen the awards played on television in 2018 and it caught our attention.  My husband proactively registered us for 2019 and said, “I know we are going to be busy, but the business will always be there.  We need to take time for us.”  This was a first for him, so I didn’t argue.  I was just excited to get away!

That first year was a blast!    Both of us love to listen to worship music.  What we didn’t realize is that the event was an entire weekend filled with music, events, and worship which ended in the Fan Awards at the Grand Ole Opry.   Each day morphed into a time of worship with thousands of our “best friends”.  To sit in the convention center, listen to the music and the many voices lifted up to Him was an incredible experience.

I also discovered something new from that experience.  When I take the time to get away from the world and spend it with the Lord worshiping and praying with no distractions, I hear Him better.  Each day was a mountain top experience for me.  I loved the musicians, but that is not why I was there.  It was like tuning into a radio station with no interference around. 

Clear reception.

Just me and my God.

Then He could speak directly to me.  Then He could give me a word.

And He did.

I was blown away the first time.  It was just two words.  But they were very clear.  I clung to those words throughout the year after the event. He showed me what the words meant as I prayed and sought His will over the next twelve months.

That became my new habit.  Each year we would go back, and I would spend time with God in worship and prayer.  I would ask Him for direction and a word.  Each year, He would show up and direct me. 

Faithfully.

Even when I wasn’t.

He always showed up.

This year it was different.  He gave me the word the day before I left for our trip.  Then while we were away, He spend the weekend sharing with me what the word meant.

He is ALWAYS Faithful.

He is always here for us. 

We just need to step away from the world sometimes. 

Walk away from the noise. 

Be still. And listen.

You got this!

Because He’s Got You!

Love you guys!

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” 

Psalms 46:10

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 

Jeremiah 29:13

https://www.klovefanawards.com/

                                                  Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.

Picking up papers off the floor...

 

This may seem like a completely random topic but hang with me for a minute.  How many times have you walked past something in your house that fell on the floor and just left it there?

Well, most people don’t do that unless you are playing 52 card pickup and are waiting for the other person to pick up all the cards.  We used to play that with the kids when they were little.  It didn’t last long, and they didn’t play it more than twice.

 

Back to my subject on paperwork…

My husband and I recently prayed to reevaluate our priorities and came to the realization that we have been picking up papers on the floor that were not ours to pick up.  We have been picking up papers that God wanted left on the floor for someone else to pick up.  Now that was a hard lesson for me to learn.

Let me explain. 

I am a bit OCD and when I see something out of place I immediately go into ‘Fix It’ mode and want to adjust, fix, move, it.  Whatever it takes to ‘right’ the situation.

On one occasion my daughter and a friend were joking around making snacks in our kitchen when my refrigerator magnets caught his attention.  When he asked my daughter why they were so organized, she mentioned her mom’s need for order.  He took that as a challenge and immediately rearranged the magnets on the fridge.  They both thought it was funny and couldn’t wait to see my reaction when I returned to the kitchen.

I am sure you could guess I wasn’t happy at first.  But I did appreciate their sense of humor because it took a lot of effort to rearrange those magnets.  There were a lot of them.  We all laughed, they walked away, and then I immediately rearranged the magnets into their ‘correct’ order again.  All was well with the world once again.

Having those magnets in the wrong order was like the papers on the floor.

It was like having an itch in the middle of my back and I couldn’t reach it no matter how hard I tried.

But this was a lesson I needed to learn.  God often allows things to be placed at our feet, not for us to pick up, but for us to ask Him whether we should pick them up. 

You see - if I keep picking up the things at my feet that are not mine to pick up, then my hands are full of everything I think I NEED TO DO.  However, they might not be what God is CALLING ME TO DO. 

Do you understand the difference?

The papers are there.  Yes.  But they are not necessarily mine.  And if I pick them up.  I might be missing out on the blessing He has for me because my hands are too full of MY CHOICES.

I have to be honest here - the first thing I did was bargain with God when He gave me this revelation.

“The papers are right next to my big toe God!  That means I should be the one to pick them up right??” 

“This one is just a small paper God.” 

“This one won’t take long.”

“This one is just a tiny…”

I am looking down…

I am not looking up.

I am not asking His direction.

Again.

So, thankfully His Grace is Abundant.  So, I begin again. 

When my husband and I realized we were picking up papers that were not ours recently we sat down and prayed over each thing we were holding onto.   A reassessment so to speak. 
Lord, give us direction on each of these things we are holding.

Are they ours, or are they Yours?

Then lead us to the path YOU want us.

New Directions.

No more looking down at papers at my feet.

Well, at least not today.  I will fail again.  I am human.  But for today, I am doing better.

Love you guys! 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalms 46:10

'My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. '

John 10:27

'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. '

2 Corinthians 12:9

And to complete it for those who want to FIX things...  Here is something to make you smile...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4EDhdAHrOg

                                            Copyright © 2022 Peggy A. Priest. All Rights Reserved.