| Dear
Family,
Have you ever counted the
blessings in your life and thought, I am so thankful for
this.... what more could there be? I've had my supportive
and loving husband, Jeff, in my life since I was 16; more
than 22 years and all of my adult life. I asked
God and He delivered, abundantly above all that I could
ask or think.
When we desired children,
we asked God and he delivered (with some
effort on my part!). Katie (17), Courtney (14) and Kristen
(11), abundantly above all that we could ask or think.
When I asked God for total healing of
whatever was holding me back from doing what He needed
me to do, He delivered. I was set free from fear, bondage,
and physical ailments. I remember the freedom, in the
name of Jesus Christ, that John and Wayne fought for with
me.
Four months later when I
knew something still wasn't right, as I pushed to do more
for Him, I asked God AGAIN
to help me and I again received deliverance.
During that time, my ordination occurred. I didn't ask.....
God just said so with direction. He was full of mercy
and grace to deliberately put me under the wing of 2 extraordinary
men of God. As I look back on that, I think I didn't ask
for that, but I did.......I said, "Whatever you need
me to do."
Over the past 4 years, my
life has changed in ways that I never dreamed of but yet
have been the greatest of my life. He had already provided
more than enough in every area and yet something was lacking
for me personally, something that He was waiting for me
to seek and when I edged out, even a little bit towards
Him and ASKED Him to help me so I could
help Him I was overwhelmed by His response and continue
to be.
I had no idea of the closeness
and communication He seeks and desires
from us. Relationship is vague but intimacy is defined
as very close, private and warm, affectionate personal
terms, a familiar friend, resulting from close study.
I had never seen God in that way. I saw Him with respect
and awe as we should but did not understand that He desires
the intimate relationship of a father to a child; individual
and personal to you, not as the world defines it, not
by a mold but by love and of time spent together. Our
needs and the desires of our heart are of the utmost importance
to Him. We matter not just in the big picture that He
has set forth in His Word but we matter in all the spaces
in between where life is happening.
It is my greatest desire that you and everyone
I know and meet get the opportunity to know that when
they are born again, it is more than sonship, it is relationship
on a more personal intimate level. That we are GOD
CONNECTED.... we have a tie to our father that
will never be severed; we have Holy Spirit, a supernatural
connection that gives Him and us access to each other
24/7. It's the ultimate cell phone; it's with you wherever
you go! Your cell phone is with you; wake up it's not
lost. God is with you; HE IS NOT LOST,
but sometimes we are. He seeks us and He finds us. I put
the words "God Connected" together for a teaching
in October because it made sense to me in a practical
way and gave me a vivid personal picture of me and God.
It reminds me that I have access to the most important
thing in my life, GOD. It's not an on again,
off again thing for Him; it's all the time permanent.
How I choose to respond to the connection is up to me.
If I want to ignore the ringing when God calls, I can.
If I have needs that I refuse to be honest about or ask
Him to help me with, then the ringing can be muted. It's
all about free will choice and you know what, He still
takes care of us whether we answer or not.
God is communicating with
you. He is seeking you and wanting a more intimate relationship
than what you have now and there is always MORE with God,
NOT less. He desires for us to respond to Him. He wants
us to ask things of Him. He tells us to come boldly before
His throne. He says He hears the cry of the righteous.
He says that those that are led by the spirit of God ARE
the SONS of God. That's you, that's me. When we know that
God is communicating with us without doubt or hesitation,
we can accomplish more things for Him. He did not call
us to confusion; he called us to do the works of Him that
has gone before us, Jesus Christ. His plans are greater
than anything we could think of because He sees us far
greater than we see ourselves; He knows us and still,
He loves us beyond our comprehension; nothing is too bad
for Him, ever. He has seated us in the heavenlies with
our brother, Jesus Christ and has given us the authority
and ability to preach, teach, and heal His people with
the same power. He provides us with everything we need.
When we ask, we can know with great confidence that He
delivers; not just the ordinary but the extraordinary.
* Have you asked God anything lately?
* What have you communicated with Him?
* Do you expect Him to deliver?
* Do your expect anything?
* Are you ready to live your life where God sees you?
* Are you willing to ask what He wants and not just
what YOU want?
* Do you believe that He really has plans for you?
I KNOW
He has plans for you. Plans to prosper you and bring you
health even as your soul prospers. Your are my brothers
and sisters in Christ; you are my family and we are in
the family of God with a father that favors no one above
another but has made us heirs together of the the grace
of life. It is my privilege to do whatever He asks of
me and I know with my whole heart that it is to love Him
above all else and to serve you, my family. I esteem you
more worthy than all others and I thank God for you every
day. Let's invite more people into our family so we can
love and serve God together giving Him all the praise,
glory, and thanks.
Tonia Shroyer |
