In the Ground She Lay

Her wings are soaked with tears

In the ground she lay

Her sorrow lasted for years

Where were the children at play

An angel with broken wings cannot fly

With the heart of a friend and the spirit of a wolf

Trying to dig out of the pit she did die

In pain and fear she was engulfed

Would she have flown higher with her babies

Would they have helped her as they have their father's

That prayer of hers is being answered I think

Would her broken heart been healed by laughter

These questions shall never be asked

The answers are only known to her Father

Always put God first children after friends last

Never sacrifice the sound of their laughter 

Do Not Take Offense and Cause Division

So many Christians leave their church because they are offended or hurt by someone in the church. Maybe they feel invisible, or feel like there's an in crowd and out crowd, or maybe they feel slighted or ostracized so they leave to find a place that they feel good at, feel like part of the family, appreciated, loved and important to the church leaders and those in the 'in' crowd. But the thing is, you are meant to be where God put you. The church is our sanctuary but it is also a battle ground. Souls are being fought for and won. Coalitions are formed and working together and praying together to break down strongholds in the community, strongholds on our children, strongholds on the leaders who have become corrupt, complacent, and sacrifice good people to meet their agenda. Right is right and wrong is wrong. There are no grey areas in God's eyes. He is no respector of persons and each and every one of his children is loved with a godly and unconditional love. Our God is just. Does he use the things we go through to help us grow, to help others grow, to drain the stagnant water and pour in fresh water - YES! He does! So don't leave. Don't doubt that you are where God has put you when he's confirmed it to you. Don't allow your feelings and emotions dictate your strength in Christ. Pray harder and dig down your heels and trust God to be your strength, your friend, your sanctuary and safe haven and your General. Win ground for God by standing your ground in adversity, trusting him, dwelling in his spirit and his word, looking for holes in your armor where darkness can creep in and cloud your vision and causing hurt, a break down in your confidence, loneliness, anger, spitefulness, or talking about others. Tell no one but God and watch him cause the people around you to grow and flourish. We are to love others with a Christ-like love. He forgave the people who beat and murdered him while he was dying. Let God's love shine through you and conquer the world around you. Let your light shine and win ground for Christ. Do not be offended but pray and love those who hurt you and watch God's love and will prevail. We are all under attack by our enemy. The powers of darkness want to beat us down and confuse us and use us being OFFENDED to break down relationships and DESTROY CHURCHES. If you're a child of God you're under spiritual attack. Your leaders, friends, family, finances, job, anything that directly impacts you can become a stumbling block for you if you fail to continuously put God first, set him above everything and everyone, and dwell in him, reading his word, singing praises, being thankful for each and every blessing, remembering his godly unconditional love and strength. Put God first and everything else will fall into place. That's a guarantee. The chips may not fall the way you want them to but rest assured, God's will be done and his kingdom magnified, you will be blessed beyond measure.

Written by Lisa C

🙏For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; and for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
Ephesians 6:12‭-‬19 KJV

Dwell in the Secret Place

My Heavenly Father is the first person that I talk to every morning. I love starting my day with him, praising him, praying to him,  reading a devotional with him, and sharing his word, love, and encouragement with others. He is my everything and everyone to me! He is the best part of life. He is the way, the truth, and the life. 

Written by Lisa C

🙏Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.14.6.KJV

Written by Lisa C

🙏Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:6 KJV

https://bible.com/bible/1/jhn.14.6.KJV

Shield of Faith

I woke up thinking about Job from the Book of Job in the Holy Bible. I have experienced so much loss but it is so little compared to what Job loss. I lost my daughter, my dad, my fur baby, and due to a car accident I have a deformed finger, and I lost a job that I loved. All of these things took place in a matter of a year. The car accident was in May, I lost my dad November 1st and my daughter November 20th. I lost my job and my fur baby within that year. But job lost all of his son's and daughters and all of his wealth on the same day. And he suffered tremendously physically from boils. He was in so much pain. His friends accused him of doing wrong in the sight of God. His wife told him to curse God and die. (Job 1:13‭-‬19 KJV And there was a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: and the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house: and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.)

But Job held tight to his Shield of Faith (Ephesians 6:16 KJV Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.) He remained faithful to God.  He did not doubt God nor blame him for everyone and everything he lost nor his physical condition. He did not curse God. He did not allow his circumstances to destroy his relationship with God. He stood strong. In the end, God blessed Job with a whole lot more then he had lost. 

Don't lose sight of God's unconditional love, mercy, or grace. Keep your eyes on him through all of the hard times as well as the good. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. 

(Philippians 1:3‭-‬6 KJV I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.)

Written by: Lisa Clewis 

I Lifted My Hands in Prayer Even Then

I used to wonder why the Holy Bible states praise is a sacrifice that we make. Then I learned first hand that when you praise God even through the tough times like losing a loved one, a home, a job, or whatever the case may be, you gain strength and are filled with joy, peace and love. Have you ever heard someone say praise God until you have a break through? It really works. When you can continue to trust God and praise Him even when you're hurt, angry, confused or utterly crushed by life you are supernaturally lifted up in a way that only God can do. Even when you're sobbing so hard you can barely speak or sing, lift your hands to God and start praising him. Everything we're directed to do in the Holy Bible is for our benefit. We are God's children and like any parent he is sometimes misunderstood. He wants good things for us, not evil. So next time you're hurt, shocked, feel lost or afraid, start praising the one who can give you supernatural strength to get through it. He will never leave you. Just praise him, trust him, until you feel him. 

Last year I was in a life changing car accident no fault of my own. I have a permanent deformity. I also went through a lot with my daughter. It was a nightmare. We want so much to protect our children. I lost my daughter. She died twenty days after I lost my step dad whom I was very close to. That in itself was a horrible experience. He suffered so much. I lost a job that I loved. Even though the work stress was affecting my health, I loved what I was doing. And I lost a beloved pet which was my daughter's pet until she was old enough to leave home. She couldn't take her with her. These are just some of the main events. This isn't conclusive of everything I went through or was going  through. But through it all I learned the secret to unbelievable strength to get through anything and I learned how to tap into God's peace and joy and love and to feel his presence even though I felt completely crushed on the inside and so far away from him. I learned to praise until I had a breakthrough. God honors his word. He keeps his promises. He is not a man that he should lie. And his love is unconditional. Honor him with praise, trust him, even when you don't understand it all. He will be your refuge, your strength, your night in shining armor, and your closest friend to through it all, whatever you're going to through. When you want to give up and die, praise Him. Lift your hands to Him. Wave your hands at Him. Let him see you humbled by your heartache, and lift you up and set you on higher ground. 

Written by Lisa C.

🙏By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Hebrews 13:15‭-‬16 KJV

Daily Encouragement

Visit my Facebook page, Simple Fun & Heaven for daily inspiration and encouragement. Tap Link to join https://www.facebook.com/simplefunheaven?mibextid=ZbWKwL

Marriage

So little is taught at home or understood today about what God expects the relationship between a husband and wife to be like. It's never one sided. It's never each to his own. It's never turn your back on your parents and just be there for your spouse's every whim. It's a two become one type of relationship. Two become one in purpose, one in a heart for God, one in love towards others. They put God first and each other second, then their children, parents and so forth. They put their spouse only second to God, not second to mom or second to dad, or second to their child, or second to their job, or second to their friends. This is one reason why it's so important to be married to someone who is a believer rather then a non- Christian or someone who knows about God but chooses to live their life following after the world; drugs, alcohol, partying, selfishness and self-centeredness, anything he/she puts ahead of God, spouse, and children, etc. It's God, then your husband or wife, then your children. Friends are further down the list. 

Think of your relationships in circles. You are in the center of the circle. The next circle around you is God. The next circle is your spouse. The next circle is your children. The next circle is your combined family and so on. Do you see where I'm going with this. Keep your circles small. Hold close those that are close to your heart because when they're gone you've lost a part of you, a part of who you are, a part of your flesh and blood. 

Often I see husband's disrespect their wives and show very little compassion towards them because that's what they saw their dad do. I see wives disrespect their husbands behind their back and joke about manipulating him to do what they want him to do. This is so far off the word of God, selfish, sinful, and a shaky foundation for the marriage to say the least. Don't be like other couples. Don't be like other families. 

Know what your heart and your spouse's heart are for God and how you want to serve God together, your heart for your children and how you want to train them up to be, and your heart for others and how you want to serve others. By 'you' I mean you and your spouse. Know your spouse's heart and make a heart connection. Become one in heart and purpose. You'll be unstoppable.

Written by: Lisa C

🙏Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: for we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Ephesians 5:24‭-‬33 KJV