Category: marriage

Loving Enemies

On By mygodroomIn gratitude, marriage, obedienceLeave a comment

There is a Jesus Calling devotional in our Master Closet and the long form tabletop version of Jesus Calling is in our kitchen.

I failed to read either at home today, as Mark and I were enjoying an in-depth chat about Psalm 143 and blessing our perceived enemies with prayer. I needed to get cleaned up and get to work

Much of what my husband said is in our Smyrna shop devotional Today’s message in One Minute with God 💜✝️💜.

Today, we was like an extra sweet hug from Jesus to read this devotional.

Rather than give life to a negative thought, I praise God for giving me the answer four days ago to stand on His Word this morning. Praise, praise and more praise!

I posted about Judas yesterday. This was a second post on my Facebook page :

I woke to this response and a heavy heart as a result.

It continued with my exact response from four days ago. Reading it now, again, I am convicted He gave me the answer in advance. What else could I have said other than what He clearly gave me?

Nathalie Anne , it’s okay if we disagree as humans. Please understand I am always going to defer to the example of our Savior, Jesus. We are all broken and all need a savior. Jesus was interceding for ALL of humanity on that cross.

Reading your prayer, I had no choice except to speak up for those you seemed to exclude. I didn’t realize just how intentional the exclusion until your response. Jesus is our eternal intercessor according to Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25.

Reading your comment this morning, there isn’t a better, shorter or different response. I have no scales of bad or good people. I am grateful to know The One who owns the scales of justice. He is clear to pray for our enemies, too.

Nathalie, bad fathers are not going to begin their “good arc” without God. So, yes, I will continue to pray for ALL parents to be compelled to know better, do better and be better. I will also pray for all single people the same. I will pray for addicts to meet Jesus and to be delivered from addiction in all its forms. The list is endless and always inclusive.

Praying for all who love Jesus to reveal that love in truth and action. 💜✝️💜

I love you, too.

Thank you, Father God, for the comfort and peace today. Thank you for reminding me of big truths in small ways, too. I love seeking you in everything.

Daniel 9 is Divine

On By mygodroomIn gratitude, marriageLeave a comment

Last night, we met with our small group of nearly a decade to study Daniel 9. I am giddy. I thought we started late May, but we began on April 30. I had forgotten about a week skipped over the summer and one skipped while we were on vacation. We only meet twice each month.

The timing of the study and how impactful it has been since May 8 are undeniable. I shared a nudge with my husband as we were drifting off to sleep. I woke with the inherent need to document the intensity of the nudge and to attempt to document what He is teaching me.

I flipped to Ezra. Again. Then nudged to connect 2 Chronicles to Daniel and Ezra. All the while, I have the SHIN of Jerusalem tattooed on my heart from Daniel 9 last night.

Here is a lovely post that does a good job of connecting much of my heart here:

https://www.minimannamoments.com/i-will-put-my-name-part-2/

To me, Daniel 9 is Divine. Yes, the entire Bible is infallible and from God. Still, there was extra powerful revelation last night which means I must notate it accordingly. The way He works with me, I am to acknowledge Daniel 9 is Divine for both its prayer and prophecy, as well as the power forged through the spirit. No doubt, this entire lesson was necessary. Thank you, Lord!

Daniel’s prayer of repentance, followed by Gabriel’s prophecy of the seventy “sevens,” is unlike anything else — both a cry of the heart and a roadmap laid out with mathematical precision.

God answered with mercy — and a plan far greater than Daniel could see. Soon after, Cyrus fulfilled Jeremiah’s words (2 Chronicles 36 / Ezra 1), sending God’s people home. But Gabriel also revealed a deeper timeline pointing to the coming Messiah.

That layered fulfillment has opened my eyes. God is faithful in the immediate, and He is faithful in the eternal. What He promised through Jeremiah, answered in Daniel, fulfilled in Ezra, and completed in Christ — He is still doing in my life today.

Daniel had been reading Jeremiah’s prophecy about 70 years of exile. He knew the time was nearly complete, and so he pleaded for mercy: for forgiveness, restoration, and for God’s name to be honored again in Jerusalem. God’s answer came in two layers: yes, the 70 years of exile were ending — but His plan reached far beyond, stretching into the coming of the Messiah.

Praise God! 💜✝️💜

That’s exactly where 2 Chronicles 36:22–23 and Ezra 1:1–3 pick up. The last words of Chronicles and the opening words of Ezra declare the fulfillment: “In the first year of Cyrus… the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation…” The exiles returned, the Temple was rebuilt, Jeremiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. That was the immediate answer to Daniel’s prayer.

But Daniel had also been shown something greater — a second countdown. The seventy “sevens” would ultimately point to Christ, the true Anointed One, who would be “cut off” not for His own sins but for ours, bringing “everlasting righteousness” (Daniel 9:24).

For me, seeing this layered fulfillment has been profound. It reminds me that God’s Word works on more than one level: the historical, the spiritual, and the deeply personal. What Daniel prayed for, Ezra recorded and Jesus fulfilled is the same story the Holy Spirit is writing in my life.

Just as He brought Israel out of exile, He has been bringing me out of old ways of thinking and into a deeper closeness with Him.

Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve grown until the Lord opens your eyes. Last night, through Daniel’s prayer and prophecy, He opened my eyes to deeper truths.

Next, we will talk about how God can use anyone, even a Persian King, to fulfill his purposes.

Father God, thank you for all you’ve done since the beginning of time. I am beyond grateful for all you are currently doing in our lives. I am excited to see your plans unfold for our future. I shared “your song” with Mark last night. Thank you for his sweet response and for giving me a faithful husband who loves me and the kids so well.

All I need , you know. Whatever your will may be, I submit. I love you. Please keep refining me and removing the dross. In Jesus powerful and precious name, Amen.

Minute Clinic

On By mygodroomIn blessings, gratitude, marriageLeave a comment

So much has transpired and yet circumstances prevent proper documentation.

For today, I must at least note this message sent today. I sent an article to someone we love and he thanked me for sharing. This was the verbatim response:

While I pray it proves helpful, I can’t take credit for sending it in obedience. That’s the “💜✝️💜” . If I ever just send the emojis and no words- it’s because the Holy Spirit has urged a prayer outta nowhere. I don’t know why, but trust He does.

What you shared Monday about how certain friends can quote chapter and verse is still resonating for several reasons. Some new lesson is coming for me this week, courtesy of our Godversation. I can feel it in my bones.

Trusting our mutual Helper is going to translate what I am being nudged to share next.

Romans 8:26-27 was burned and etched deep into my heart many years ago. Every few years, it gets deeper and deeper, like scar tissue building up from standing in the gap and interceding. It “feels like” a spiritual muscle and I sense YOUR spiritual muscle is in a huge building season.

I see His Light on you and your beautiful family. I feel His Presence every time you come in the shop now. Father God, Jesus and The Holy Spirit are using your family to grow me in ways I may never be able to explain. The best I can do is be obedient.

I just want to encourage you to find a commentary on Romans 8 and let the Holy Spirit do what He does. In particular, focus deeply on Romans 8:26-27 before finalizing your presentation. Not sure why, just following His Direction.

Gary, not once have I quoted it verbatim that I can recall. Yet when others quote Romans 8:28 to me, as they often do, seldom do those people have a solid grasp of what His Word tells us of the Holy Spirit. There is a disconnect for many, contingent on the preaching they have heard.

It’s like He gave us an “easy button” to discern quickly how to respond. We just have to build our spiritual muscle to use the “easy button” effectively.

For me, obedience came so much easier when the full power and gift of the Holy Spirit expanded to a sacred quadrant in my heart. I am praying without ceasing for your “easy button” and peace with your Cursillo presentation. 💜✝️💜

I am also to write more about “righteous grievances”, PIE for Friends, DGM, spiritual sickness and training children. Lots of lessons this past week. As I praise Our Elohim for all of them, I pray you do, as well. Especially the parts that hurt and make us vomit.

Moosh Pot Monday

On By mygodroomIn gratitude, marriage, obedience, prayerLeave a comment

Wowza. I will come back with a memory snap for all that has been done on August 4 in years prior. I guess I can’t be surprised anymore when scripture I deep dive one day shows up the next day in memories from seven years ago. Happy tears greeted my day and it was beautiful to share them, in detail, with my husband.

The biggest message screaming off the page was about “muzzling” and how Jesus did not defend himself at Calvary.

Big Daddy Weave played on the car through my iTunes and I will need to watch some of those videos to figure out what it is I am to write down. It’s super cool to me how Jesus uses music to “dance with me”.

For now, I am being nudged to ensure this prayer gets posted before 10:30 in the morning. Hard nudge. Powerful nudge.

I can not recall the last day I was compelled to post something in My God Room so quickly upon opening the shop. I think it was the day my helper asked me to jot down “every nudge” and give every customer a nickname. That could have began a year ago or six months ago. Time is warped and so many messages repeat themselves like a melodic chorus. A

Apparently …I see what YOU did there, Father God.

New Tshirt yesterday

This green top was 12.99- 13 bucks. I knew it was the most cost-efficient way to give these “pear” britches a good switch up when we go on our cruise on two weeks.

Mark took all the tags off my new bras and such last night. “”APPEAR ”not “A-PEAR” is in inside joke no one else may ever understand. That’s ok. Most of what’s written here is just me sharing Godversation of various varieties. My journal, in many ways, dedicated to Jesus. It is all testimony to His Goodness.

It humbled me to ask my husband, AGAIN, to take the “missed tag” off for me. Granted, he offered and did it with joy last night. He loves taking good care of me. Without my glasses on, I have no business dealing with scissors. 🤣. The tag name was a second inside joke and I asked him to leave the tag on the counter. In fact, I posted it on FB around July 5, because it was in relation to “C&C Music Factory”.

Oddly nudged to changed my cross today. It is difficult for even Mark to put it on me. I don’t know how He works such details with my hands, but I had no issue being obedient to that call

Preparations and Inspiration

On By mygodroomIn marriageLeave a comment

So, the deal is today, all day long, every time I videoed something, music was playing. From my iTunes. Interesting choices. Todd Agnew. Nichole Norseman. And Charity Gayle, for starters.

So tonight, I shall share what the day looked like to the world. Without all the videos of me taking to Jesus.

Right when I think I can NOT possibly love My Jesus more, I do. It’s beyond humbling. It is changing me on an otherworldly level. I love you so much, Father God. I love the Holy Spirit for so many things, especially how He move so mightily and lightning fast. Then again, you created the spirit and promised us you would pour it out. Oh, boy, have you poured it out. 😍. And Jesus, well, you know. My whole heart is wide open and the fifth quadrant He gave me is working wonders on this sack of bones and flesh you have give me.

Of course, I am in awe. You deserve all the reverence. Thank you for letting my relationship with Jesus be a fifth grade vibe. It’s so joyful to be silly with your son. You know I have deep love for your Divine Humor Yada Yada. 😂😂😂.

Thank you for giving me Psalm 32:6. Thank you, too, for HOW you hm gave it to me and included my hubby. You are always perfect. I love you.

Godly Counsel

On By mygodroomIn anger, gratitude, marriage, prayerLeave a comment

Father God, I am writing the gist of what has transpired the past few days because my heart feels like it will burst if I do not write it down.

First, thank you for using me in any way to help Lyss and John in their healing.  Thank you for friendships and encouragement and for house visitors who share their time so beautifully.  Thank you for teaching me to CLIMB in more ways than one.  Thank you for showing up in spirit on Jess’ face at the climbing gym yesterday.  Thank you for humbling me in so many ways with her yesterday. Please protect her. 

You know why I am still re-reading the letter Mark gave me this morning.  While I will not write about the contents, I will acknowledge I sought Godly counsel from “PNP”.  I have no answers, only more questions.  For now, please show me what must be removed from my mind and what is to be added.  Make me more like you so I can be the wife YOU desire me to be. If it is not of you, I do not need it. Period.

The heart wrenching truth of the Ghana Romance Scams in Murfreesboro which have harmed my sweet Futina are very much sickening my heart on her behalf.   Her husband has not earned a dime in fifteen months of marriage. Her home burned down.  She got it repaired and sold it last month.  She has paid for immigration and other attorney bills for her husband, as well.  Learning the pastor, “Poppa”, is not paid a salary by the church. They pay his rent/mortgage and other bills instead. They fired the woman who moved here four years ago from Chicago for asking questions about the finances. Her job was finance. Immediate red flag, indeed.

Learning the late-night prayer action has more than worn her out, she serves her husband every meal in their bedroom and he does not engage in the household: It is all heart breaking for me.  Waking anyone, much less the elderly, to pray between 3 and 4 am feels like Brainwashing 101. Learning multiple women in her church are married to others from Ghana leads me to believe there is a criminal circle of folks involved.  For heaven’s sake, Futina doesn’t even believe the emails sent were from the man she was told to marry. I know you know all the details I am not writing. Perhaps I was to at minimum, document the outline.

Lord, please protect all those most vulnerable, especially the widows and orphans. James 1:27, 1 Tim 5:3-16 and Matthew 25:34-40 are all proof to me that your heart is already with them. I ask everything, especially the unspoken parts, in Jesus precious name. Amen.  

P.S. I love you.

PIE

On By mygodroomIn blessings, marriage, prayerLeave a comment

Perspective. Intention. Execution. This morning, I keep thinking of the things which God has put on my heart and how they have all played out thus far. When He gave me “PIE” studying the Fibanacci sequence and God’s fingerprint on this earth, I did not see it. Today, I see Pi (God) vs. PIE (human best). I still need to digest that little factoid.

My heart is with Sweet Lyss and her unexpected break up with her love. Lord, you know my prayers for all my kids and the “orphans” you have entrusted to me. Please may they all find their identity with YOU and see how the pieces fit back together so much more intricately. In Jesus name, amen. Thank you for humbling me with learning Miss Elizabeth spent a few days in the hospital and teaching me more about timing. Your timing, not mine.

Thank you, Lord, for that sweet confirmation from my husband last night about Matthew 18. Learning he was taking his Bible to study each day warmed my heart immeasurably more. May you join me during my study time today and draw your deeper truths to my spirit. Thank you for letting me suffer a bit these past few weeks in my crying out for his spiritual leadership. Thank you for humbling me last night to be the wife my husband deserves. So many things will not be typed into words, but I know you know every thought and prayer, regardless. I know great peace when I remember your Word and your promises. You have never left me, personally, and you never will.

I know you forgive my shortcomings completely and it is the human flesh which continues persecute me. When I am completely encased in your spirit, such things are repelled without any impact. Please, Father God, hold me tightly today and direct every step. I love you.

Hosea and Philip

On By mygodroomIn marriage, obedienceLeave a comment

For twenty years, I have been friends with a man named Philip. We met on MySpace and developed a long- lasting friendship through blogs and blog commenting. Currently, he is in a period of growth, spiritual, intellectual and physical growth. Last night, we had a long chat as I drove home from Clarksville. Bottom line, I shared the importance of Hosea to my sister (Praise God) and myself. As it turned out, he said he has been directed there several times and planned to study Hosea this week. I committed to studying the same book this week and for us to share how the Holy Spirit directs our studies.

I see what you did there.

Philip and I talked for over an hour as I drove. Arriving home after 8 pm, I prepared us a late dinner and relaxed for maybe twenty minutes. When I went upstairs to wash my face and shower, I stopped to look at my notes in “My Word” for Hosea. So many good thoughts rushed through my mind. However, by the time I was ready to go to sleep, my heart ached for how much our Father in Heaven must grieve for his children.

“Carol, ALL of you are prostituting yourselves in some way. Ask me HOW.” Asked, I did.

First image hit hard when I opened the pages to Hosea.

This morning, I was excited to get to work to read whatever was included in our Spiritual Warfare Bible at the shop.

In this moment, I am reducing all thoughts to one core understanding. I have written repeatedly how God uses ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. There are exactly three prostitutes named in the Bible. Mary Magdeline was a true friend and spiritual sister to Jesus. Rahab was King David’s grandmother. The third is Gomer, Hosea’s wife. Leaving this here for the sake of posterity.

I did not delay in fulfilling my promise to you on this topic, Lord. I love you, Jesus. 💜✝️💜

Faith and Forgiveness

On By mygodroomIn blessings, marriage, obedience, prayer, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Lord, thank you for ALL you have done, are doing and will do in our lives. I come to you with a humbled and much-slowed down heart. Please forgive me for any time my child-like wonder has been an impediment in any manner.

I know this heart you gave me is for YOUR PURPOSE and you wired me this way for reasons I may never know in this life. Thank you for infusing my heart with such genuine excitement for you and love of others! In this moment, I am very grateful for the hard lesson about when to “turn down the volume”.

Oh, Lord, I would never want to have your greatness in our lives perceived as anything other than YOUR GREATNESS. I see now, many people have never experienced you. I do not wish to be a poor messenger or example of your grace.

What I do see in this moment is how you literally slowed my heart pressure to 84/62 on February 28, just as you did seven years ago and November 26. You, like any good parent, must let your child implode from time to time. It’s not to blow up a secure life, it’s to build it back even more secure.

Foundations and Floodgates are much like roots and wings. Thank you for comforting me through the scary parts and giving me Mark as my husband. I love you most of all! I ask this forgiveness in the name of your precious son, Jesus, and every drop of his blood that was shed for humanity. Amen.