Worthy Women Ministries

The Calming Aroma of Intercession

But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Isreal grumbled against Moses and Aaron, saying, “You are the ones who have caused the death of the LORD’S people!” It came about, however, when the congregation had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they turned toward the tent of meeting, and behold, the cloud covered it and the glory of the LORD appeared. Then Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting, and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, Get away from this congregation so that I may consume them instantly.” Then they fell on their faces. And Moses said to Aaron, “Take your censer and put fire in it from the altar, and place incense on it; then bring it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them, for wrath has gone out from the LORD, the plague has begun!” Then Aaron took it just as Moses had spoken, and he ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague had begun among the people. So he put on the incense and made atonement for the people. And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was brought to a halt.

Numbers 16:41-48 – NASB

Do we ever allow ourselves to sit with the presence of the Holy Spirit through His word?

I’d like to invite you to sit with me this morning as God continues to show me how grumbling makes Him feel and what an acceptable offering looks like.

Before we get into this topic, I’d like you to ask yourself this, “Have I ever considered how my behavior/actions makes God feel?”, “Have I even thought about my Almighty God having feelings?”

If we never look at God’s emotions, it can be hard for us to intimately connect with Him. Emotions create a space for deep intimacy. It is a knowing without speaking, a response out of genuine reverance. We serve a God of emotion and we are made in His image. When our emotions/feelings are submitted to God’s will, we can experience the third Heaven.

But on the next day all the congregation of the sons of Isreal grumbled...
Numbers 16:41
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In this story, we see God’s people begin to grumble about their circumstances, blaming Moses and Aaron for leading them astray.

As I looked closely, considering the story of the Isrealites up to this very scripture, I saw a people who had lost sight of what they had been delivered from. I saw a people who were left compairing what they had with Kindoms led by wicked rulers (the Egyptians). They were so blinded by comparison that they actually told Moses they wish he had just left them in captivity [Exodus 16:3]…

Wow. How many times has this been me?

As we chew on that truth, I think it is extremely important to understand that the LORD cares when we are uncomfortable. In fact, He tells us to come to Him with life’s burdens [1 Peter 5:7]. But, what is our attitude like when we come to Him? Our good Father challenges us to mature [Ephesians 4:15], coming to Him in posture of gratitude for what He has already done BEFORE asking Him to tend to more of our needs.

So, what does that look like for us? How do we know how to adjust so we can mature? I always look at the cause and effect of behaviours in order to identify areas that I need to discipline. As I look, I can see that Grumbling is evidence that we have become gluttons with a heart postured in the worship of self.

Cause
- Putting our own desires before giving God thanks for what we already have. i.e. worship of self.
- Believing we should have what everyone else around us has. i.e. comparison
Effect
- Disregarding the Sovreignty of the Lord, while demanding a solution. i.e. grumbling
- Never being satisfied with what we have and where we are. i.e. gluttony

If you think these findings seem harsh, you may reconsider as we look closer at the emotions GOD begins to express towards the continuous grumbling of His children…

… for wrath has gone out from the LORD.
Numbers 16:46
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God’s response to the Isrealites in this story was to release His wrath on them. Just like any loving Father, when children become stubborn and unrepentant for their bad behavior, He sets boundaries. If we become stubborn enough, those boundaries can look like wrath. His discipline will always match our behavior. Out of His love for us, He will do whatever it takes to stop us in our tracks in hopes that we might Look and Listen to His voice again. He knows that in our obedience to Him, we are kept safe from the plans of Satan.

If you find yourself resonating with the Isrealites in this story, there is clear instruction on what brings God’s wrath to a halt…

And he took his stand between the dead and the living, so that the plague was brought to a halt.
Numbers 16:48
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In this moment of the story, God is actively pouring out His wrath on His children. [Wrath in the Hebrew language is defined as a splinter, rage or strife, indignation. H7110] God’s emotions were so serious that His love and compassion moved Him to draw a hard line with the grumbling of His children. It couldnt have been easy for Him to watch this suffering but, the He also knew the alternative.

If God is so serious about a heart of gratitude that His love moves Him to set such clear boundaries, then I ask myself “What are the consiquences if I dont heed His warning?“

What we see next is so magnificent. Moses, anointed to lead God’s children, commanmds Aaron to intercede with him to repent on behalf of the Isrealite’s grumbling. Aaron lights a soothing incense to calm God’s wrath and runs towards the plague. Brave Aaron took a stand between the living and the dead to make atonement for the people. [Numbers 16:47]

Atonement
The reconciliation of God and humankind through Jesus Christ.

God’s children weren’t able to see it all in that moment, but when God’s wrath lifted as Aaron stood his ground, It was a forshadow of Jesus Christ making the final atonement for mankind. Jesus Christ died on the cross so anyone who repents can be reconilied into a right relationship with God, once again. After all, His discipline is only to get our attention so we will hopefully return back to Him. In the place where we are safe, provided for, and blessings overflow.

I have spent time this week repenting for being ungrateful and I have felt a shift in the atmosphere over my life. It’s so amazing how powerful obedience can be. Do you need things to shift in your life? Then I encourage you to ask yourself, “What is the Spirit asking of me, today?”

“It is my life’s purpose that each woman I minister to is able te receive complete healing through the power of the Holy Spirit. “

CEO & Founder

Mikhael Armao

Two-Fold Lesson on Kingdom Leadership

Jealousy is such an ugly heart posture, and if we are all honest with ourselves, we can all look back at a time when God stirred us up so He could uproot this behavior.

I have seen and felt this jealousy rise in others when it comes to ministry. It is so destructive to the body. This jealousy causes us to undercut, steal, and destroy others. We fail to recognize that we don’t get to choose who God picks and when He picks them. We think we know best because of a calling we’ve received, an anointing over our lives, or a piece of paper we earned. This is a dangerous perspective rooted in pride.

As I reflected on my short time in ministry, talking with the Lord, I was reminded of God dealing with my heart early on in 2021. It was an exciting time for me, spiritually. It was the first time I had felt such a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and I received things with clarity like I never had before. I often used the saying “divine strategy” because the Lord was pouring His purpose for my life into my spirit. He was revealing so much divine strategy into my mind to accomplish the task He had laid out.

I didn’t know that God was going to use my excitement and willingness to share with everyone to teach ME an important lesson…

His divine strategy doesn’t belong to us, and He will do with it as He wishes.
Mikhael Armao

When I received this in my spirit, there was a deeply hidden pride in my heart that was exposed and for me to be the leader God needed, He had to uproot it. It manifested on the surface as offense and jealousy. Yuck! But, looking back, it is so true.

The lesson God was teaching me was two-fold:

God’s spiritual gifts do not belong to us.
Not everyone is meant to walk with you.

Maybe you have heard in Christian leadership, “The higher God takes you, the lower you must become.”

The gospel of John says it like this:

He must increase, but I must decrease.
John 3:30

God had brought me to this beautiful place of purpose, and He was pouring out such stunning revelation through me. He was giving me my voice. A powerful and mighty voice that I had never known. The warfare in my life at this time was extremely intense. I was having weekly dreams of the adversary choking me, preventing me from saying the name of Jesus. During this same time, I did not know who was meant to walk with me and who was not. I was sharing my experiences and revelations for Worthy Women with everyone.

That was when the offense and jealousy began to rise. I can’t tell you how painful it is to go through such immense warfare to receive a revelation, to watch someone else put their stamp on it and walk away, leaving you wounded. But this, my sisters, is a part of becoming a true leader for the Kingdom of God. We will know a true called and anointed child by their ability to pick up their cross to follow Him. There is no other way.

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.”
matthew 16:24

God had to allow this to manifest so I would truly walk in His purpose for me with open hands. To this day, you might find me in church praying with open and empty hands facing upwards. It is a powerful sign between God and I, that I am willing to surrender to His plans. My life is no longer my own. I will receive whatever He wills for my life because I trust His plans are good.

As the Holy Spirit began to counsel me so I could fully receive this lesson, He gave me a vision. I was praying in my living room as I began to see myself on my knees in the middle of a busy street. People passed by, bumping into me, sometimes kicking me and elbowing me in the head. Clearly, I was disrupting their path, and not one of them stopped to say, “excuse me.” Some even spat and yelled at me for being in the middle of this busy street. In my hands were just a few pieces of small bread. I had loved ones who were hungry, yet the Lord had me holding my hands open and facing upward in the middle of this busy street.

I stared at that bread, thinking, “if I could just take it to someone hungry,” but God would not allow me to move.

It felt like an eternity…

Then, I saw two rich rulers passing by who had been on a long journey. Their servants were worried because they did not pack enough food for their king.

It was evident, even from a distance, that one of these kings was very angry. He was shouting from his chariot at his servants. Then, I noticed one of the mad king’s servants catching a glimpse of me kneeling in this crowd holding the bread. Without any thought, that servant rushed towards me and snatched the bread out of one of my hands…

It was clear that I was just a woman with no status to him, plus he was feeling pressured by his king’s anger. He emotionlessly snatched the bread as if it were his own without one word or thought of a kind gesture or “thank you.”

Tears began to roll down my face as I watched this self-righteous servant deliver the bread, the same bread that people I loved were starving for, to his angry and hungry king, who had a feast waiting on Him just a few miles ahead.

The anger and jealousy welled in me as I watched this King feed himself. Every painful emotion ran down my face into the dirt beneath me. A man of wealth and power who would survive skipping a meal while others were starving to literal death…

It was enough pain to drive a person mad.

Yet, there God had me with open hands…

As I looked through the crowd, I noticed something different about the second king. I could see gentleness in His countenance, even from a distance… He was scanning the street for a table selling food to send His servants to buy. Then He noticed me as I remained knelt, hands open, with tears rolling down my face.

He said something to His servant that I couldn’t make out and pointed in my direction. I just knew I would be scolded or worse for sitting in the street… what was I going to do with no bread to feed the hungry people? Still, I sat there, hands open, remaining obedient to God.

His servant came to me and touched my empty hand, looking over the one with the loaf of bread in it. “The King has been looking everywhere for someone selling bread, and He would like to speak with you. Would you be willing to come with me and speak to Him?”

This servant saw me…

The servant grabbed my hand and helped me to my feet. As I walked up to the chariot, I tried to hide my face from his king due to the tears and shame.

The King placed His open hand under my chin, lifting my face towards His. “I have ridden miles searching for someone who had bread, and you also looked like you were waiting for something…” He began to wipe my tears and continued.

“If you will spare this bread so I can have the strength to continue this important journey, I will give you work in my kingdom so you can provide for the ones you love forever. Will you come with me?”

I will never forget this vision. That King knew my tears were for the ones I loved most… who were starving… dying.

I didn’t have to explain a word. This king saw value in ALL people.

I finally realized that the bread in my hand had been given to me by God, and it was meant for that moment.

“What wasn’t mine exchanged for something I didn’t deserve.”
Mikhael Armao

But not before the discipline of obedience amid being kicked, hit in the head, yelled at, and robbed and, in return, given protection and abundance by a gentle, honorable, and loving King.

Later, I would find out that God would have me continue to serve bread to the angry King whose servants had stolen from me, and I would learn to do it with a heart of genuine kindness. These would be my anchor of humility.

During this revelation, the root of offense and jealousy was ripped out of my heart, making me fit to lead in the Kingdom. I am so thankful He kept me there to learn this lesson…

Joyce Meyer says it like this

“Until you can be happy for someone who got what you wanted, you’re never going to get yours.”
Joyce Meyer

The bread we are given to share as servants/leaders in God’s kingdom is not our own. We do not get to choose who receives the bread as we remain kneeled with our hands open and do not get to hold offenses against those who rob us.

As we wait patiently, learning lessons from both, God will send the people we are meant to work with. None of this can come from a closed fist of jealousy, resentment, or control.

God cannot work with a closed hand, and we are given free will. When our hands are closed, we may rob ourselves of the people who will see us and provide us with rest, protection, and work to support the ones we love most.

Open your hands, leader. Let God teach you and give you His blessing.

Reading the Bible in One Year

Last year our community grew far beyond what we had imagined, and we attribute that to our hunger for the word of God. We invite you to plug into the heartbeat of our community as we read through the Bible daily.

Our community pairs the “Bible in One Year” plan in the Youversion bible app with a short morning podcast meant to encourage you to lean into the counsel of the Holy Spirit. Connect with sisters through prayer, revelation, and support.

Join Our Plan

Support The Show

Be an Encourager

Share Your Revelations

Submit a revelation you’ve received throughout the week for a chance to see it in our monthly newsletter or social media platforms.

Send Encouragement

Thank You East Tennessee

Two years ago, our community was presented with an opportunity to make a difference for women in East Tennessee. Today, I stand back, amazed at the countless volunteers, donors, interns, and educators who have believed in this mission with us. We see such a high rate of women in poverty in our country, which is no exception in Knoxville. In fact, Nearly 1 in 6 women in Tennessee (15%) live in poverty (a rate higher than 40 other states), according to census research by thinktennessee.org.

As a community of women who serve an almighty God, we know that hope and restoration are available to anyone who will receive it. We also understand that poverty is far more than just a financial concern. Poverty, in its most devastating state, becomes a mindset that can influence every decision in someone’s life. We want to set women who want to succeed up for success.

So, a small group of volunteers decided to take on a considerable task to present an opportunity for change, and the outpouring of love and support from East Tennessee has truly blown us away. In two years, we have helped 25 women with supportive housing. These women come from situations where they have aged out of foster care – to elderly women needing a safe place while they apply for benefits. Referrals have come from all over the country due to the uniqueness of our approach. Our biggest goal for housing is to keep the barriers as low as possible because so many women fall through the cracks. We hope to be the net that catches them as we support the great work already being accomplished.

Learn More about Diasozo House

In the last quarter of 2022, we ended big as we invited women in business to share future success with us. We have seen such an outstanding response! This all goes to show how strong our community is together. We serve a BIG God who is chasing after women who need hope.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:3

This will be a year our community will not forget. After the countless hours of caring hands that have poured out to bring this program to life, we have ended 2022 as an official 501(c)3, recognized by the federal government as a nonprofit organization. Our success as a community has only just begun.

Sincerely,

Mikhael Armao

Founder and CEO

Binding and Loosing

I’d like to talk about the topic of binding and loosing so we as believers are aware of how the Kingdom of God comes to earth through the body of Christ. It seems as if this topic is quite controversial because there are many believers using binding and loosing out of context. Let me be clear before we enter into this topic in depth, as believers we only participate with what is already being done in the third Heaven. Through the power of God and the counsel of His Holy Spirit, we are given instructions on how to participate with God’s will. This being said, to participate in Heaven is to develop the discipline of sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus. This is one of the reasons why I feel so strongly about encouraging women to get into their Bible every morning. Those who do, see and experience these miraculous moments, and are humbled in awe because of it.

Let’s take a look at the scripture in Matthew…

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in Heaven.
Matthew 16:19

In this section of scripture, Jesus is talking directly to the Apostle Peter. I think it’s important to really look at who Jesus is speaking to and why. In the verse just before 19, we see Jesus speaking Peter’s purpose over him. His purpose was to build the church. Now, I have never known God to call someone to do something and not give him the tools and wisdom to complete it. We must remember that this is about the sovereignty of GOD, not the power in Peter’s words. To walk in the spiritual gifts is to understand that we do not deserve them which propels us to walk in them with humility and reverence to God. Essentially, Jesus was telling Peter that He would become a vessel to complete what was already declared in Heaven.

Now, Let’s look at binding a loosing in the context of that culture and time in the scripture.

Bind and Loose was a phrase commonly used in Jewish legal phraseology. To bind was to declare something forbidden and to loose was to declare something permissible or to allow. In the original greek, we find…

Bind | G1210 | δέω
To bind (in various applications literally or figuratively):- bind be in bonds knit tie wind.

Loose | G3089 | λύω
To loosen (literally or figuratively): – break (up) destroy dissolve (un-) loose melt put off.
Strong’s Concordance
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Now that we are equipped with a true meaning of binding and loosing, what example does this set for us today? Well, we look in the scripture and see that Jesus was giving this ability to access the Kingdom to his disciple for the purpose of building the church.

(The topic of building the church alone has so much rich truth to be uncovered. I would encourage you to discover what it means to build the church so you can receive how rich this scripture truly is. A good place to start would be in 1 Corinthians 3.)

This binding and loosing was an ability to participate with God’s will for His church. Peter did not have the authority to bend God’s will with his own words, he was only declaring what had been revealed to him through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This looks like a life surrendered to God, not a life declaring one’s own power. To bind and to loose is to listen carefully to the counsel of the Holy Spirit, not a prideful and puffed-up weapon to harm God’s children.

I think that the heart of discipleship is often missed and can get distorted in power and authority over man. The heart of discipleship says, “How can I serve you?” not, “How can I dominate you?”

So, as disciples and participating members of the body, we are all called to build in some capacity. A Kingdom divided will surely fall. It is in this truth that we can discern the will of God as we bind and loose. Its fruit will be unity because God is not seeking to come for a divided bride.

Are you binding and loosing things in your home, woman of God? Are you sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus and participating with Him in His purpose for your life as the bride of Christ? There is a war raging that we cannot see with our natural eyes. Ask God to show you how to use the keys to the Kingdom and declare over your home what is already done in Heaven.

The time to participate is now.

Crazy Enough to Believe

For we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please Him.
2 Corinthians 5:7-9

It takes the kind of courage some might call crazy to believe God is everything He says He is. But, once you’ve seen Him move, your life becomes an endless pursuit to be where He is. There is nothing like Him, and His power is the source of courage to walk in the unseen.

In May, Worthy Women Ministries had a group of volunteers till up a section of soil in the backyard of the Diasozo House. This has been significant to me over the last few months as I pray and walk with the Lord to fulfill His desire through our ministry. I am not saying that standing in the Lord’s perfect will is easy or that we (I) always get it right. In fact, that would be a devastating lie to believers who are looking for truth. It takes courage, just as Paul states in 2 Corinthians. Courage to protect, stand firm, and lead for God’s Kingdom. We have His faithful promises amidst all of the highs and lows. Seeing Him fulfill His promises gives us the courage to be “crazy” enough to believe the one and only truth in a world desperate to comfortably tuck us in with a soft blanket of fear, confusion, and complacency.

We put a notice out for a volunteer day, unsure who would come to help but determined to get the work done. We felt God’s presence on this day when a few courageous and faithful showed up to provide an opportunity for the women in our community to see produce grow in their backyard. A chance to connect with God as The One who tends the garden.

John 15:1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

Along this journey, we faced a barrier with water supply due to a broken water spigot shortly after planting the vegetables in the soil. The urgency to find a solution was heightened by a current drought the city had been experiencing. I stood back, looking at our work only a few days later, overwhelmed with frustration. We as people often have an initial response to throw up our hands when we ask for help, and all the doors continue to shut. We question our abilities and even ask if we heard God’s instructions clearly. We fail to recognize the magnitude of God’s brilliance and masterful plans. We give way to a disguised pride that tells us our shortcomings have the power to derail God’s purpose…

At that moment, all I could do was look up and ask God what He was trying to do. My heart hurt deeply, thinking our community would miss experiencing God this way. It was more significant than personal failure; it was frustration that the women He was bringing desperately needed His hope. I didn’t understand God had a plan to show me something more remarkable about His love for His daughters.

Psalm 126:6 One who goes here and there weeping, carrying his bag of seed, shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

This scripture spoke so profoundly to me in this frustration I was experiencing. You would be surprised by the roaring heart cries coming from women worldwide. Mothers are crying out for their children, daughters crying out for their parents, sisters crying out for their siblings, wives crying out for their husbands, and grandmothers crying out for their grandchildren. I have been to 2 newborn funerals this year. In desperation, we find a world settling for delusion, submitting to blindness for a chance of relief from this suffocating grief. Then there are a few desperately seeking out the promise God, ABBA Father, is speaking over them to catch a breath of air. This was when I began to look around and realize God was watering the garden at Diasozo House with the safely kept tears of His daughters.

When the fullness of this revelation hit me, I found myself standing in the rain as His lovingkindness brought me to tears of joy. My spirit cried out, “Use us, Father.” Those marvelous moments when we experience the Kingdom of God collide with earth…

Lamentations 2:11 My eyes fail from weeping, I am in torment within, my heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed, because children and infants faint in the streets of the city.

You see, I am crazy enough to believe that God loves His daughters that much. I’ve witnessed Him bring consistent rain since we planted the vegetables in our garden. There is no doubt in my mind that He is watching over us intently, and He has revealed to those willing to receive that He is so much more than the Gardener. He is the Provider, the Protector, the Healer. The doors we felt close were leading us to a revelation of His brilliance by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we are courageous enough to believe, we see. When we are bold enough to embrace the frustration and press forward, we receive what we could never earn or deserve. His glory is all around.

He reveals His majesty to us in all of His creation. All praise, glory, and honor be to the King of kings. The one who waters and tends the Garden of our life.

Jehovah Rapha

Time does not heal! Only Jesus heals!

I have heard all my life, time heals. Time does not heal! Only Jesus heals; only He restores what is broken and lost in us. We can search our whole lives waiting for “ time“ to do her great work, but the reality is, then you will never heal! Jesus promised to bind up the wounds of the brokenhearted, set at liberty the captive, and give us life more abundantly. If we spend our whole life lost in a cloud of hurt, distrust, wearing masks, reacting out of our trauma to the things we face today, then are we truly effective for the Kingdom of the Lord? If I am so distracted by my hurt, fear, and anxiety, will I genuinely see the pain and needs of someone else? Will I be able to intercede for their condition? The enemy would have us stay stuck in those distractions, fears, hurts, and the past. He knows if we find our freedom, we will be warriors in the Kingdom of God. If we find our voice and speak the truth of God’s Word, we silence the enemy’s voice! Then he will have lost his hold on us! Declare the reality of the Lord over your life, over your family, over your church. Speak the promises out loud every day over yourself. Declare victory with the authority Jesus has given to you and me!

I spent way too long pretending all was “fine,” being the “strong one,” “the survivor,” I believe that I started to think my worth was wrapped up in not letting anyone see that I was so hurt and wounded. I was not doing a very good job of living abundantly, and I was good at denying, pretending, and making myself forget the hurt. Somehow, my identity came from my approval for just surviving. I was afraid that if I let anyone see that I was not ok, I would be more than a failure. I wore masks, and I lived in silence and fear of the past and those things happening again. I felt abandoned and rejected; I carried those feelings and fears into every relationship I had. I would do everything I could to prove I was worthy of love to those in my life, yet I never truly felt like I mattered.

I kept and still keep most people at arm’s length; I don’t trust easily. But when the Lord sent someone that I was able to share my heart and my hurt with, I could genuinely confess those faults (things we’ve done or things done to us. Those fractured places in our hearts and minds), and things started to change. In talking and praying about those things, healing comes just as Jesus promises.

Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much.
James 5:16 NASB

Please don’t waste another day in hurt and shame. Don’t stay stuck in pain as long as I did. Ask Jesus to mend your heart to heal you. Time won’t do it; only HE will.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, Because the LORD anointed me to bring good news to the humble; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim release to the captives and freedom to prisoners.
Isaiah 61:1 NASB

Ask Him to send someone that you can confide in and trust. Believe me, He will answer. He sent just who I needed at the right time. He’s promised to send “well-timed help..” He has promised to be our help. ( Psalms 46:1)

God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

You can do the hard things. I never thought I could until this last year. Now I know it’s ok not to be ok all the time, to ask for help when I need it! I have seen that Jesus makes me enough, and He gives me strength! His grace is sufficient for each day .

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13

My dear friend and Christian counselor Pastor Charlotte told me once … “ healing may come instantly, but most often, it’s in walking out that healing journey that you find your greatest call.” Don’t be afraid to walk the journey to wholeness, friend!

We are declaring over you today!

You do not walk alone; He will hold you by your hand and walk with you!
- Isaiah 41:13 For I am the LORD your GOD who takes hold of your right hand, who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you,’

Jesus will be there every step of the way; He will not leave you as an orphan!
- John 14:18 I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.

He will restore what was stolen from you!
- Joel 2:25 Then I will compensate you for the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the creeping locust, and the gnawing locust – My great army which I sent among you.

He will give you beauty for ashes!
- Isaiah 61:3 To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The cloak of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.

Jesus is the healing for every wounded heart!
- Psalm 147:3 He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Let Him do what “time” can not do, heal every hurting part of your life.

Love,

Missie

The Power of Planting Seeds

One of the most incredible things we get to do is watch women flourish through our housing program. Sometimes interactions as simple as making the proper referral can be life-changing. Whether big or small, we understand that every encounter is a chance to plant a seed. Often, we don’t know how quickly those seeds grow, but in this case, we have seen a rapid transformation! Stellena Morelock was referred to us by a local organization after she found herself at imminent risk of becoming homeless. When a woman is at risk of becoming homeless, she may begin to make decisions out of a survival instinct which puts them at a higher risk of being trafficked.

Stellena’s story is a beautiful example of what it looks like when local organizations are equipped with the correct information, the right processes, and the right people to guide and support women in making healthy decisions. During our intake process with Stellena, we uncovered some deeper issues and helped her identify those areas as issues for herself. When presented with a list of resources that could help her recover, Stellena took a brave step towards a healthier future. She has agreed to share her story with us… Please meet Stellena Morelock.

“I found myself separating from my husband, whom I had been with for over 20 years. He was an alcoholic when I married him, and his addiction became a lot worse over the years. I chose to deal with his addiction by getting into my own addiction. I was a 54-year-old stay-at-home wife and a mom of a 19-year-old college student that was addicted to meth. I was the last person you’d ever expect to do such a horrible drug. I hid it, and I hid it well. It was a coping mechanism for tolerating a verbally and emotionally abusive alcoholic. My husband always made it easy for me not to work and stay at home. So when I decided to leave, I found myself not only addicted but without a way to support myself financially.

My name wasn’t on the bank account (for a good reason because of my addiction, I would drain it every chance I got), and I didn’t own a car. The house that we lived in was rented, so I basically had nothing. For three months I stayed with a friend. I decided to quit using while I was staying with her. I was so happy that I could put the meth down, but was left with a broken heart. Shortly after I moved in with her, my friend decided that she needed to move in with her boyfriend. With nowhere else to go, I went with her. The boyfriend she had ended up being an abusive alcoholic as well. The entire time I was going through this, I had a broken foot, making things much more difficult. I found myself trying to leave an abusive situation and ended up living with a friend, watching her go through the same thing I had left. So, going back to old habits, I bought some meth. It wasn’t long after that when my friend told me that I had a few days to move out. I made a few calls to the state looking for help and found myself at dead ends.

I was SO close to sleeping on a park bench because I was running out of options. I thought to myself… ‘A middle-aged woman that had been financially taken care of living in a middle-class neighborhood was about to find herself sleeping on a bench with nowhere else to go.’ I was mentally exhausted, and I couldn’t take care of myself anymore at this point. I had tried keeping it together for so many years and made sure I always took care of EVERYONE else. I had nothing but what I was carrying and the clothes on my back. The state worker assigned to me was finally able to get connected with Worthy Women Ministries, Diasozo House.

It was late when he dropped me and my belongings off at the Diasozo House doorstep as Shelley and Mikhael welcomed me. As they were doing my intake, I initially tried to manipulate them about my drug use. I told them my story, making myself a complete victim and taking no responsibility for any of my personal decisions as I conveniently left out the part of using meth. I was asked to take an oral drug screen during the intake process. I honestly thought I would pass because it had been four days since my last use. Well, guess what!!?? LOL, it wasn’t! I tried to convince them that it was a false positive; I wasn’t going to admit to such an awful drug! I was so ashamed… I was so lost and the furthest away from a spiritual relationship with my Maker as I had ever been.

If I had admitted to my drug use, I wouldn’t be able to stay at this beautiful home. I continued to try and get out of telling them the truth to no avail. I finally broke down and told Shelley and Mikhael that I was using meth, and the test was accurate. I was BROKEN! I mean, I was B-R-O-K-E-N!! I was done! I was so lost and had no idea what I would do with my life. Mikhael agreed to let me stay one night since it was so late and Shelley informed me that she would gather some resources overnight of places that could help me with my addiction and mental health. I was very emotional as I was walking by my few belongings and happened to look down. I saw something I didn’t own, and it was purple, so it caught my eye. I went to get it out of my bag to take a look. As I pulled this purple item out of my bag, Shelley was watching as her hands cupped her mouth like she was a kid on Christmas morning! Lol, She wanted to witness this miracle! The purple thing was a purple bible but read in the front, “Stellena, we believe in you. Follow this path, for it will light your way!” Well now… What was this!?

I was given a room for the night, and it was beautiful. I was fed and housed by these complete strangers who were the first steps and a massive part of my recovery and life today. They made arrangements for me to go to a 90-day rehab. I was not the biggest fan, but I was in no place not to go. I looked up to Shelley, often referring to her as “My Angel.” When I found my recovery process difficult, I would keep my eyes on the prize, which was nothing less than success. I didn’t want my husband ever to see me without or not living my best life. I didn’t want to live up to the horrible things he would often refer to me as. Today, I have a job, and I am a productive member of society! I have my own car and my own place to live where I pay my own rent. I don’t believe in luck; I believe in destiny. I believe in God. I believe in others. I believe in miracles because I am one! I believe I am loved by total strangers. I thank everyone who is involved with Worthy Women Ministries. You did more for me than you will ever know.”

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Worth and Identity – What’s the difference and how do they work together?

Have you ever seen a Spirit-filled, bold, and confident daughter of the King and wondered to yourself, “Where does she get all that confidence from?” Well, I can tell you this… she didn’t just wake up like that one day. There is hard work involved in walking in purpose with boldness. What you see is a woman who has surrendered her worth and her identity to God’s truth. It is critical for children of God to know how to walk with their heads held high in truth and love in today’s culture. That boldness is missing, when we were all intended to have it. We were not created or called to passively turn a blind eye to the wickedness of this world. In fact, when God has revealed to us wicked ways and we say nothing, we ourselves will be judged.

If I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn the wicked from his wicked way, in order to save his life, that wicked person shall die for his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. Ezekiel 3:18

The practice of speaking the truth in love is the responsibility of every believer, and that requires the right amount of boldness and humility. So, lets look closely at out worth and identity. I want to help us see and understand the distinction between them and how they work together.

Let’s anchor in this verse…

“And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; otherwise the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins as well; but one puts new wine into fresh wineskins.”
Mark 2:22 nasb

The Lord highlighted this verse to me when I was preparing for a recent conference we were asked to lead. Naturally, we led with the core of our ministries mission – worth, identity, and purpose. As I was sitting with the Lord asking Him to reveal the distinction between worth and identity, He began to show me something very beautiful in this verse. It wasn’t quite like the typical teachings you hear from this verse. I began to see how worth and identity worked together, much like a wineskin filled with wine. Ask yourself this, “What use is an empty wineskin?” or “What use is wine if you don’t have a container to put it in?” In order to pour out, you can not have one without the other. This is the reflection of worth without identity, or identity without worth. The two work hand-in-hand, and when you have one without the other neither reach the fullness of their purpose. Go back and read that again.

Today, there are so many life-giving messages about our Identity in Christ and how to examine that. When we get saved, our identity becomes a child of God, heir to the Kingdom, daughter of the King. Our identity is not subject to change. It doesn’t matter how we think or feel, our identity never changes. It can not be earned, therefore it can not be taken away. We are sealed, marked. That is something satan knows he can not alter and he will not waste his time trying to unseal something he knows he has no access to. Being given a new identity is like being given a new, unbreakable wineskin if you will.

Wineskins are made from animal hide or bladders that are used as wine containers.

So if we see identity as the wineskin, it leads us to examine our worth in reflection of the wine. All throughout scripture we see the Lord talk about good fruit and bad fruit. We are called to produce good fruit when we are given our new identity. New wineskins meant to contain good wine.

So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:10

Christ is the vine, and we are the branches that produce grapes, bringing forth wine into this world. The wine resembling the blood of Christ as we are participants with Him and imitators of Him. If we are not connected to Him, we can not produce good grapes for good wine. [John 15:5] What this shows us is that the wine poured into our wineskin is subject to change based on the quality of grapes we produce. When we see God as the gardener in this scripture, we know He is sovreign (perfect) and if there are bad grapes or no grapes, then our wineskin remains empty and we are not serving our purpose in God’s hands. God the Father is left holding an empty wineskin.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. John 15:1-2

It is important to recognize that we can know our identity and still produce bad fruit. If there is an area where satan has a chance to gain access, he will give it everything he’s got. He can not access our identity, so he attacks our worth.

Let’s look closer and examine the characteristics of identity and worth parallel to one another.

Now, let’s apply this objective vs. subjective thinking to a situation in your life so it can become personal. Think about a situation in your life when you were hurt by someone. Maybe someone called you a name. Maybe they hit you. That moment you have in your mind didn’t make you question your age or the color of your skin because those things are your identity, objective. They are facts that don’t change based on our circumstances. What that moment did, was distort the emotional perception of your value/worth because it is subjective to that situation. The quality of your fruit.

sub·jec·tive
adjective

1. based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions.
“his views are highly subjective”

Have you ever scrolled through Instagram and thought to yourself, “I wish I looked like that” or “Why can’t I have their relationship?” This is that emotional evaluation/comparison attached to worth. What about clothes… did you grow up being picked on because you were a thrift store kid, so you vowed to make more money than you had growing up? Again, emotional drive. The world from the day we are born is constantly trying to chip away at our worth. Status, popularity, wealth, physical apperance, marriage, kids… and when we fall short or we are harmed, our fleshly nature is to condemn our worth. The emotional responses are “try harder” or “give up”. Why? Because that area of our worth is not surrendered or connected to Christ. Also, because satan knows he can not touch our election/identity/salvation but, he can render us useless by attacking the quality/value/worth of our fruit.

qual·i·ty
noun: quality; plural noun: qualities
1.
the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.

It is impossible to truly satisfy our worth in the world because we were never created to draw nutrients for good fruit from the world. Yet, we were prepared for a purpose that requires us to bare good fruit. This is why satan has created millions of distractions and circumstances to contaminate our wine. When we connect our branch to the vine of our wounds or the world, we will produce bad fruit or none at all. This is why satan attacks our worth. This is what renders the Lord’s purpose for our life useless and he wants to keep your wineskin empty in God the Fathers hands. What good is our wineskin empty in God’s hands?

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21

God is sovreign. We can not trick Him into using fruit that only appears good. For instance, sometimes that big paycheck, the “perfect marriage”, the puffy lips, the spotless house, and those well behaved kids can look like good fruit when in reality, it is sour. That is not always the case, but we can know through internal evaluation by asking ourselves,” Would I have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control without these things?” Even when we draw our worth from things that seem to be good, our fruit becomes bitter. The wine resembles the blood of Jesus, so our worth can only be found in Him. We MUST connect to the vine first. If you are blessed, you will be disconnected from anything you draw your worth from outside of Christ.

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Titus 1:16

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. Matthew 7:17-19

Now, let’s think about it from a perspective that may bring about more reverance. What if you were ministering to the Lord and you had the honor of serving Him a glass of wine? What kind of wine would you want to serve Him if He were sitting at your table? Would you dare serve Him contaminated or bitter wine? My prayer is that we all would tremble at the thought.

So, what is the difference you see when you meet a woman who is bold and confident? She is a woman who is practicing daily how to serve wine to her heavenly Father that is sweet and pleasing. She sees Him smiling and hears Him say, “That’s better, now try this” and it is the joy of her heart to obey Him. She knows He comes to the vinyard early in the morning to pick the best fruit for the day.

She knows her identity as a daughter and she draws her worth only from the vine, which is Jesus Christ. She rebukes emotions that codemn her worth to Jesus, which He displayed on the cross to save her. She has allowed herself to be wrecked by how precious the power of His blood is and is awestruck that she is created to produce a resemblence. She trembles at the thought of one drop of the wine her fruit produces, which reflects the power of His blood, be rendered useless to God the Father.

Her wine and her wineskin is serving its purpose. In her purpose she is not afraid, because she knows nothing is stronger, mightier, wiser, and more loving than her Father, the Gardener.

I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2

Uprooting Shame

Shame is undeniably one of the most widely used tactics of the enemy against women. Shame tells us to isolate, and shame makes us a victim. Shame tells us we shouldn’t accept help. Shame tells us that we are unlovable. Shame tells us we are bad daughters, wives, and mothers. Shame robs us from approaching the Lord with confidence. When shame manifests and is left unaddressed, the effects are many. It quickly becomes the false identity we take on, consuming every aspect of how we view ourselves and others. The hook of shame keeps us in habitual sin as we portray only what we want the world to see.

So, What is shame exactly? Do we truly understand how it manifests? How can we silence shame from speaking to and through us?

shame/SHām/noun
a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by the consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior.

At one point in our life, most of us can think back to a time when either we ourselves were unwilling to receive help or encountered someone who needed help but refused to take it. [Proverbs 1:7] I believe it is true that anyone unwilling to receive help is incapable of helping others effectively. How can we truly understand how to lend a hand if we have never been humble enough to accept a hand lent to us? Dealing with shame is hard work that requires a tremendous amount of vulnerability and authenticity.

So when we begin to look at shame at the surface, we can see it all the way back from the beginning of man. We sinned, and we hid in shame from the Lord. [Genesis 3:8] Shame comes when we become conscious of sin or mistakes made. Shame always causes us to hide or isolate, but at the core is deeply rooted in pride. Simply put, shame is just a manifestation of underlying pride within our character. When we are living under a cloud of shame, we have fallen into the dangerous belief (intentionally or unintentionally) that God isn’t all-knowing, all-powerful, and the blood of Jesus hasn’t covered us. I know that may seem tough to admit or unpack, so let’s look at this together through God’s grace and mercy.

If we truly believe God is all-knowing – then we can accept the truth that He already knew every sin we would commit, and He still created us and loves us regardless. [Psalm 139:1-2, Psalm 139:13]

If we truly believe God is all-powerful – then we can accept that His promises to fulfill His will in our lives will come to fruition. Our mistakes are not more powerful than God’s will. [Isaiah 46:9-10]

If we truly believe the blood of Jesus has covered us – then we can accept that every sin was already overcome through the death of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. [1 John 2:2]

Who else is thankful for the word of God and how it renews our minds?! When we recognize these three truths, humiliation has no power, and shame completely loses its sting. There is nothing we ever did to deserve God’s love, protection, grace, and mercy, which cancels the thought that we could ever do anything to lose it! But, breaking free from the manifestation of shame is only half of the battle.

man·i·fest/ˈmanəˌfest/adjective
clear or obvious to the eye or mind.

Shame is easy to spot from the surface, and it is easy to identify as we interact with others. It often screams at us when offenses come and is so painful that we would rather hide it away than ever deal with the humiliation of it again. That is precisely Satan’s plan. We don’t see at the surface of shame the roots that grow deeply in pride. When we receive that we are not a victim – but a victor in Christ, we stop looking at everyone else and begin to examine ourselves truly. This empowers us to see shame for what it really is. Pride. Maybe you can hear the undertone for yourself…

Shame says: “Being right in the sight of man is more important than being right with God.”

Ask Yourself: Who are we worshipping? God or man?

Shame says: “Your inadequacies are stronger than God’s power.”

Ask Yourself: Does this sound like self-worship?

We can not walk in shame and confidence of our Mighty God simultaneously. When we choose to walk in anything other than the confidence that was bought for us, we have begun to worship at the feet of false idols. At the root of shame is the prideful worship of self and man. Shame says “me and them” vs. the only answer which is Him. Jesus Christ.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

We walk together

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