Thursday, October 25, 2012

He did not let me miss it!


This morning, I’m just grateful to God for the things; the divine opportunities, the divine connections, the divine assignments He did not let me "miss".

You understand I"m sure, even in the midst of praying and seeking God, sometimes we are not quite on the mark.  We may have to many other voices trying to give direction, or, sometimes we are caught up in the busyness of life, and misread the "signs"  because our attention is focused on the wrong things.

Then, lets not forget how easy it can be to give in to our Emotions...and make decisions based on how we FEEL, at a given moment.  And then frankly, there are times when we almost miss God because of Fear.  Fear masks itself in so many forms; like Procrastination. We keep putting things off, or are simply slow to move or step out on something God is showing us.  Fear even masks itself as Wisdom!  yes, Wisdom, but not God's Wisdom...Man's Wisdom.  In other words...we are focusing on what make "sense" to us.  All of the above can keep us in God's permissive will, rather than His Perfect will.

But God.  He is soooo Good.  I see God holding doors open just a bit longer.  GLORY!  Other times,  He closes doors.  He sends us those extra signs and nudges to direct us.  Sometimes, He sends someone to get us, or to warn us...all in effort to ensure we walk along the path He has planned for us.

I say - Thank You Lord!

He says...Trust me Daughter!  

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11 (New International Version (NIV)

Thursday, October 11, 2012

A Season of Shifting

This season of SHIFTING! (Changing, Modifying, Flowing)

The last two days God has been showing me dry cracked land. This morning, what I could hear Him say concerning this, is that when the earth Shifts, it causes the land to "crack open."

What I also hear, is that we better Catch this season of Shifting, because the place where we have been standing, that we thought was "solid ground" could suddenly open up right under our feet, and we could literally "fall through the cracks." It has happened before…Numbers 16: 28-33, Psalms 106: 13-18.


Numbers 16:28-33  New American Standard Bible (NASB) 
28 Moses said, “By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not [a]my doing. 29 If these men die [b]the death of all men or [c]if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. 30 But if the Lord [d]brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallows them up with all that is theirs, and they descend alive into [e]Sheol, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.”

31 As he finished speaking all these words, the ground that was under them split open; 32 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who belonged to Korah with their possessions. 33 So they and all that belonged to them went down alive to [f]Sheol; and the earth closed over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.


Psalm 106: 16-18
6 When they became envious of Moses in the camp, And of Aaron, the holy one of the Lord,
17 The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan, And engulfed the [c]company of Abiram.
18 And a fire blazed up in their [d]company; The flame consumed the wicked. 


I believe this to mean, that if we are not in the flow of God in this season, if we are not walking in obedience to His word, we can suddenly find ourselves to be irrelevant (immaterial or unconnected), our ministries irrelevant, or even obsolete (old-fashioned, out -of-date). You think Change is uncomfortable? Believe me; you don’t want to know what it feels like to be considered Obsolete.

The SHIFT is occurring, right now! So, when God says move, People of God we have got to move! No FEAR, just Go With GOD! This is such a series time, and God is moving swiftly. We must repent more, seek God’s direction more and be obedient to His instructions. Amen.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Are you ready for a Suddenly move of God?


Most of us do not care much for waiting; waiting in line, waiting our turn, waiting for a phone call, waiting for things to change, waiting on a breakthrough, I could go on and on. Well, even though it does not always feel good, it is a fact of life that sometimes we just have to wait. However, when it’s Kingdom Business, know that waiting is not “passive” (inactive or lifeless) – but waiting is a time when we make preparation to receive and steward or oversee – that which God has in store for us.

While we wait, we must watch and pray – with great expectation, and in our waiting, we should walk Blameless. Blameless, does not mean perfect, but it means that God will find us Righteous, (upright or honorable), Virtuous (Moral), or Fautless, - where we have spoken and acted in all things with a pure heart before the Lord, with motives He would be pleased with, and daily come before Him in a spirit of Repentance, because each and every day – in thought, word, or deed – we sin and are in need of forgiveness. 

In Psalms 84:11 I found an encouraging word about waiting on the Lord.  I'd like to share it with you.
For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.   

That’s right, while you will have seasons that you must wait, know that He will not withhold any good thing from you. 

So, let not your focus be consumed by your dreams of tomorrow, but steadfastly consider your thoughts, actions, and choices each day. He is likely using them to get to you, what you need to stand under the weight of the Blessing you are waiting on. He is all seeing and all knowing – in other words, He absolutely knows what He is doing when He has you to wait. 

Now, knowing that God IS going to move, are you ready for a Suddenly move of God? Have you been praying and spending quality time with Him? Are you following the instructions He is giving you for the place where you are NOW? Are you paying attention to what He has told you to prepare or to put into place for your next season? This is so important. When God does move Suddenly, and your “Blessing” comes, you don’t want to go from saying “when God when” to “wait, God, wait” because you find yourself overwhelmed when you finally have in your hands, the very thing you petitioned Him for in the first place!   Have a Beautiful week in the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:3 
For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.



LADIES! Please join Queens of the Kingdom Ministries for their Monthly Women's Gathering - The Midwife Experience!

Saturday, September 15th, 2012 8:30am
Sunrise Christian Academy
126 Highway 138 SE, Riverdale, Georgia 30274-4004 


Copyright 2012 - Victoria L. Burse, Queens of the Kingdom  www.queensofthekingdom.org
Purchase your copy of Sabbath Songs today  http://queensofthekingdom.org/Online_Store.html  or get the e-book at  http://tinyurl.com/sabbathsongse-book 
 

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Empowering People

Ephesians 4:11-12 

11 Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. 12 Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.

I challenge each of you this week, to come alongside me as I purposely focus on the leadership attribute of Empowerment.

1. Make the conscious decision to Empower those around you.
2. Inquire of others so that you are aware of and understand their personal goals and dreams.
3. Commit to creating, or referring others to opportunities for training, and skill development through practice or mentorship.
 
Here’s why! As Leaders, it is our responsibility to equip God’s people. We teach, we model, we guide, we direct. As the Holy Spirit empowers us, it is our responsibility to empower others. The World English Dictionary defines the word Empowerment as follows: “the giving of an ability; enablement or permission.”
 
When we provide guidance and opportunities for growth and learning, we empower others to reach their personal goals. However, in the mist of this, not only can personal goals be met, but each individual then becomes better able to contribute to the goals of a team. You see, one of the results of empowering others, is the formation of a team. When you empower, or pour into someone else in practical and spiritual ways, a unity develops. The word of God refers to this as a “unity of Love.” As these relationships mature, the team is now well able to accomplish many things. All members walking in love, God-confidence, prosperity (far above financial wealth), creativity, and faith, this team becomes a force within the Kingdom of God. Fear, jealousy, insecurity, intimidation, and the like have no place in this team, as empowered individuals..they are secure in God, secure in themselves, secure in one another, and secure in their ability as a team to do a great work.

Who then, is a part of your team? Who are you empowering? As you lead the people God has assigned to you, are you conscious of their needs and desires to fulfill their personal goals? Have you sought God so that you might understand how all of your destinies intersect, and for His way in leading this team so that everyone’s vision is realized?

1 Kings 3 (English Standard Version)
7 And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. 9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. 11 And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14 And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”


LADIES! Please join Queens of the Kingdom Ministries for their Monthly Women's Gathering - The Midwife Experience!

Saturday, August 18th, 2012 8:30am
Sunrise Christian Academy
126 Highway 138 SE, Riverdale, Georgia 30274-4004




Sunday, July 29, 2012

The Hidden Wound of Rejection


Acts 20:1 (The Message Bible)
With things back to normal, Paul called the disciples together and encouraged them to keep up the good work in Ephesus. Then, saying his good-byes, he left for Macedonia. Traveling through the country, passing from one gathering to another, he gave constant encouragement,
 lifting their spirits and charging them with fresh hope.

     I don’t know of any one who has not faced rejection at one time or another in their lives, it is in fact a part of living in this world and in being in relationship with other human beings.  However, there those who have experienced rejection over and over again, or from key persons in their lives, such as parents, spouses, authority figures, etc…, and the end result is they have been left wounded.

     I’d like to share a bit about the Hidden Wound of Rejection on today, define a few terms, and provide some revelation on Healing as it relates to this Wound.

Rejection:  Refusal, spurning, dismissal, elimination.  To throw out as useless or worthless; discard.  Something rejected as imperfect, unsatisfactory, or useless

Here are some of the symptoms, or the “fruit” of Rejection

Anger
Doubt
Negative attitudes and spoken words
Feeling of not being loved or accepted by others
Hopelessness
Isolation


     Those dealing with the Wound of Rejection, have a tendency to reject others, so that they aren't the first one to be rejected.  They often spend an inordinate amount of time wondering whether or not a person rejects or accepts them.  They may also display an inability to be corrected or receive constructive criticism. Rejection often creates an environment where you are starved for love or just don't fit in.  Rejection can destroy our self-esteem, and attack who we are and our purpose in life.  It is a Destiny Destroyer!

     So, how do we confront this spirit of Rejection in operation in our lives?  Well, the root of rejection lies within misplaced identity. As children of the most high God, we must never base our identity on what someone else thinks of us or anything else, other than what God's Word has to say about us. When we do, we make ourselves vulnerable to the damage of rejection.

     In my life, as I struggled to really understand who I was in Christ, and how much He loved me, I was led to the book of Ephesians.  Let me share with you how I read those scriptures then, and continue to do so from time to time.  For me, they were a great first step and led me to a place of healing that was much needed.

     First and foremost, answer the question honestly, “Do I love Myself?”  If your answer is anything but a resounding YES!!! Begin by meditating on the scripture Leviticus 19:18 (The Message Bible)

"Don't seek revenge or carry a grudge against any of your people. "Love your neighbor as yourself.   I am God.”

It is important to recognize that how you feel about yourself, affects how you feel about, relate to, and treat others in your life.  Consequently, until you have a healthy love for God and for yourself, you are unable to give or receive healthy love to/from others.  Next go to Ephesians 1:3-12, and Ephesians 2:1-8.  Read these scriptures aloud, and perform the following word replacements:

Everywhere you see the words Our, Us, We, You, or Ye, replace them with the words My, Me, or I.  In other words, make these scriptures personal.  Here is an example. Ephesians 1:3:3 would read,

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who hath blessed ME (us) with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places.”

     We must be assured of how much God Loves us, and how once saved, we have been adopted into His Kingdom family.  Fully receiving His unconditional love, means fully accepting what He says about us.  How Blessed we are, How Special we are to Him, How we are heir’s and joint heir’s alongside Jesus Christ.  You should do this often, and open yourself up to receive Gods unconditional love and acceptance.  It is like a breath of fresh air!

     Last, but not least, to those who through their words or their actions may have subjected others, or cast upon others a spirit of rejection.  I speak to you especially, because I believe that when we continually speak over others, causing pain and harm, it is because we are speaking through or out of our own unresolved pain.  If this is you, I would like to challenge you to practice something I call the Ministry of Encouragement.

  1Thessalonians 5:11 “So speak encouraging words to one another.  Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind.  I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.”

     In short, the Ministry of Encouragement is “Giving to others, the very thing that you need.”  It is realizing that a single Encouraging word has the power to change the atmosphere.  An Encouraging word can connect with the promises of God and the desires deep within our heart.  Sometimes, it is not even a word; it may just be a Warm Embrace.  You know, a Hug!  A sincere hug can turn disappointment into hope, and restore confidence and determination.

     Truly there is enough Healing in the Hem of Jesus’ garment, to bring us all to a place of wholeness and restoration.  As we complete this series of teachings on Hidden Wounds, I pray that you all have been Encouraged to confront those things that need to be confronted in your personal lives, so that you can move forward.  I know that I have been encouraged, as well as challenged over the past month or so as I have been writing them.  Yet in still, it is all about stepping out on Faith to fully receive everything that God has for us!  Amen…  We are Moving Forward!


Purchase a copy of my latest releases  Sabbath Songs or Destination Destiny at victoriaburse.com
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Follow my blog @ www.queensofthekingdom.org

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Healing Hidden Wounds: The Art of Confrontation


Greetings. I pray that you all are well today!  As promised, our teaching for this week has been written by a dear sister of mine, Ms. Candee' Winfield, owner of Suddenly Professional Counseling and Consulting
The information she has provided is priceless, I won't add anything to it, or take anything from it.
Be Blessed!  Victoria

The Art of Confrontation!
How many times have you walked away from someone saying to yourself; why didn’t I say something” “speak up”, or more correctly, honor myself. Yes, honor yourself. Speaking the truth, acknowledging your feelings, and being your own best advocate is not a bad thing. Contrary to the belief that being a “good Christian” is somehow equated with allowing people to mistreat you, to violate your boundaries, or silence you by not speaking up for yourself is a fallacy. Learning the art and skill of assertiveness and boundary setting can go a long way in having and maintaining healthy relationships. They are necessary effective communication skills.

I often hear people say I don’t like confrontation or I don’t like to argue, so rather than staying engaged in the dialogue they become silent not expressing their thoughts or feelings. This passive behavior allows the one they’re communicating with to come to their own conclusions without their input. This can easily occur if one person is more assertive or aggressive in their style of communication.

So let’s begin by identifying 4 styles of communication:

· Passive

· Aggressive

· Passive –Aggressive

· Assertive

The Passive person communicates indirectly. They usually do not address problems with others and do not speak up for themselves.

An Aggressive communicator is threatening and can be verbally or physically abusive towards others. They are often bossy, intimidating, domineering, loud and sarcastic.

A Passive-Aggressive person does not address problems directly, but tries to get back at people in a way that will hurt them without drawing too much attention to themselves. They often use manipulation and are dishonest about their feelings. They will engage in tit-for-tat behaviors.

And finally, an Assertive person will communicate very clearly. They know their rights and are respectful of others. Their communication is direct and honest.

Of the 4 styles it’s apparent the Assertive style is the most desirable. This style allows one to take responsibility for their own feelings and not blame the other person for “making” them feel a certain way. When we blame, it shuts down effective communication. The other person usually becomes defensive, and the communication can move to being about winning rather than effectively hearing each other and coming to a mutual resolution.

So the goal is to be able to communicate how another person’s behavior or actions are affecting you without placing blame. In order to do that, there is a simple formula that can be followed. The premise-avoid using “you” statements. So following these basic steps:

Step 1
I feel_______________,

Step2
When you____________________,

Step3
I want____________________.

When you express how you feel in step 1, you are going to describe the feeling you are experiencing, i.e, happy, sad, angry, frustrated, betrayed, disappointed, etc. Be very specific and descriptive, avoid generalizations and vague unclear statements. Here are a few examples:

The wrong way 
 I feel…     Like you hate me

The right way
I feel… angry, upset and intimidated

___________________
The wrong way 
 I feel…     Like you’re trying to make me upset

The right way
I feel…  belittled and humiliated

 __________________
The wrong way 
 I feel…  Like you want me to leave

The right way
I feel…  hurt and confused

__________________                   
The wrong way 
 I feel…     Like you’re using me

The right way
I feel… unappreciated and taken advantage of

Use “I” statements rather than “you” statements. By stating your feelings out loud you are affirming and acknowledging your feelings and that you have a right to those feelings. Finish with a statement of what you would like to happen, the change you desire. When you learn to communicate assertively, you learn to set boundaries with “grace and dignity” a phrase one of my favorite mentors would often use. Be encouraged, you can make a change in this area of your life.  Remember, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1.

The Counselor,
Candee’

Friday, July 6, 2012

Join Queens of the Kingdom Ministries on Atlanta Live, TV 57 (Comcast Channel 2)
Friday Night, July 6, 2012 at 7pm.



Greetings Children of God!
I must begin by saying Thank You.  Your e-mail, comments on Facebook, and personal messages encourage me as you share your testimonies of what God is doing in your life through Queens of the Kingdom Ministries and Wisdom from the Queens Throne!  Our lives are a journey, and as long as we are alive, God gives us a chance to learn, to grow, to get some things “right” with Him.  Through this, we are equipped and perfected in Him for the work of the Kingdom of God.

I am equally grateful for the women that joined me this past Saturday for the Kick Off Meeting of Queens of the Kingdom Ministries – The Midwife Experience.  Your phone calls have let us know that each of you gained invaluable knowledge and insight that you may use as tools to move you forward on your Destiny journey.  If you missed last weeks meeting, no worries, we will come together again on July 21, 2012.  Click here, for more information.  For future reference, we will meet the third Saturday of each month.

I will be taking a break this week, and returning next week with an awesome teaching from a dear friend and sister of mine, Ms. Candee' Winfield, owner of Suddenly Professional Counseling and Consulting.  Several requests have come in from many of you desiring to learn more about appropriately "confronting" people and situations.  This past Saturday as we ministered concerning the spirit of Fear, we could not have done so adequately without teaching how to Confront it as well.   Being able to recognize something is not quite right, is only the first step.  Proper equipping, enables us then to address or confront, what is not right therefore overcoming its effects on our lives.  This information was so well received, I thought it would be good to share with everyone, and to elaborate a bit further.  Ms. Winfield, who is first and foremost a Believer, and then secondly, a Licensed Professional Counselor, will share with us some practical strategies for confronting people and/or situations.  I look forward to reading what she will share, and hearing back from many of you; your thoughts and comments.  After her message, we will continue with our 8 week study on Hidden Wounds!

Have a wonderful and safe weekend, and we will talk early next week.


Victoria L. Burse - Founder
Queens of The Kingdom Inc.
678.379.7652

Purchase a copy of my new book Destination Destiny at victoriaburse.com
Visit my website and follow my blog @ www.queensofthekingdom.org

Our Mission: Joshua 1:14 - 15
14...but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help them. 15 Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The Hidden Wound of Perversion!


Psalm 107:17 (The Message)

17-22 Some of you were sick because you'd lived a bad life, your bodies feeling the effects of your sin; You couldn't stand the sight of food, so miserable you thought you'd be better off dead. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; 
He got you out in the nick of time. He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children He loves; Offer thanksgiving sacrifices, tell the world what He's done—sing it out!


Perversion - To lead astray morally. To turn away from the right course. To lead into mental error or false judgment. To turn to an improper use; misapply.

Lust - Intense sexual desire or appetite. Uncontrolled or illicit sexual desire or appetite; lecherousness. A passionate or overmastering desire or craving.

Fornication - Voluntary sexual intercourse between two unmarried persons or two persons not married to each other.

Lesbianism - Sexual orientation of women to other women.

Adultery - Voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man or woman and a partner other than the legal spouse

Harlotry - A prostitute or promiscuous woman.

There are those who are reading right now and thinking, this is not me. I don’t struggle with any of these things now. Maybe not now, but what about in your past? Remember, we are talking about "Hidden Wounds"  It is so important to understand that sin has a residue, and that even after God has delivered us and strengthened us to change our ways…the continued filling of our temples with the word of God is key in washing away that residue.

I share this with you all on today, because the guilt and shame we can carry because of our past can keep us from moving in to our future. In particular, all of the terms I have listed above, when acted out, are sins against our personal bodies, our temple’s; and for women there is a special worth in our femininity and our purity. When that worth has been lost, guilt and condemnation set in, along with hopelessness, for we see no way in reclaiming what has been stolen by the works of satan. Even when we have moved on in the physical, our thought life can be plagued by the memories and impressions – thus residue, of our past.

Let me stop right here and now, and tell you what God says about the whole thing.

John 8 Amplified Bible (AMP) 
1But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning (at dawn), He came back into the temple [[a]court], and the people came to Him in crowds. He sat down and was teaching them, 3 When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They made her stand in the middle of the court and put the case before Him.

4 Teacher, they said, This woman has been caught in the very act of adultery. 5 Now Moses in the Law commanded us that such [women—offenders] shall be stoned to death. But what do You say [to do with her—what is Your sentence]? 6 This they said to try (test) Him, hoping they might find a charge on which to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger. 7 However, when they persisted with their question, He raised Himself up and said, Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.

8 Then He bent down and went on writing on the ground with His finger. 9 They listened to Him, and then they began going out, conscience-stricken, one by one, from the oldest down to the last one of them, till Jesus was left alone, with the woman standing there before Him in the center of the court. 10 When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? 11 She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more.

I believe we could insert the words Fornication, Lesbianism, Harlotry, any of those sins against the body, where God dealt with Adultery in the scripture above.  The point is this...

Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Come out of condemnation and guilt. You may have once walked after the flesh, but you are now walking after the Spirit. God can and will restore EVERYTHING that was stolen from you in your past. Receive it! Women of God, has He now Blessed you with a wonderful husband? Receive it! Has he restored your marriage? Receive it! Has He taken away the taste and desire for movies, music, or even friends, that stir up lustful desires? Receive it! Most importantly here, Guard (protect, defend, watch, secure) your heart and your thought life. How, start with daily doses of the word of God! Follow with membership in a Bible based church, and welcome the new set of friends God will send your way. Also, know that there are times when God will direct you to additional help to fully walk away from past sins of perversion. He has given a great gift to the body of Christ in the form of Pastoral and Christian Counselors, many of which who are Licensed Professional Counselors as well. Make use of this resource if you need to. Don’t let guilt or shame keep you from talking with someone when needed.

I’ll end on today by sharing just a bit of my own testimony, and I will do so poetically if you don’t mind. God Bless you, and remember, John 8:36, Whom the Son sets free, is free in deed.


What You Won’t Do, For Love


sit down and let me tell you bout this Love thang
and for Love all the things I’ve been through.
as I consider my life, some joy, some strife
it’s true, for Love
what I didn’t do.

love it blinds the eyes
and then it hypnotizes
and before you know it you’ve been compromised.
and years later you wonder, why your goin’ through?
you see for Love
what you didn’t do.

now hang with me my sista’ cause I’ve been sent here to free ya.
For in your search for true love
you’re not alone.

trying to quench a
spiritual fire
with an earthly desire,
right there, that’s where you went wrong.

you didn’t understand that you were formed in Gods hands.
fashioned in His love not to be violated by any man.
It’s His love, that our spirit really craves.
not an earthly love, but Agape.

Agape is patient and kind
not puffed up with pride.
it says truth always wins; it covers a multitude of sin.
it endures all things never once weakening.

we can’t expect any man without Christ
these things to do.
for only Gods love in us
then shared
is a love that’s true.And anything else
leaves you wanting
it will never do.

so can you step back a minute realize your spirit was in it?
can you try and reconnect with just what you have left?
be restored today with so much taken away?
and the answer my sister is Yes!

you must acknowledge the sin, the pain
that lies within.
you must stand up and shout
i’m turning my life around.
you must believe in your heart and receive
His grace and His pardon.

and then soon, you’ll sing it too,
for God’s Agape Love
what I wouldn’t do.
for God’s Agape Love
what I wouldn’t do.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Free from the spirit of Offense!


The Hidden Wound of Offense

Colossians 3:12-14 (The Message Bible)

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.


It’s OK, it’s alright, and I’m fine. That was my mantra; those were very common statements you would hear me say when someone had said or done something that angered me, offended me or hurt me. It was my way, of being forgiving and “letting it go.” I was a non-confrontational, non-conflict person; which in some ways does have its virtues, but in other ways this non-confronting behavior really set me up to become one who walked in a spirit of offense and unforgiveness. You see, it wasn’t always Alright! I discovered I was not being honest with God, with myself, or with the other person, and lacking the genuineness of heart in making those statements, I began to tuck certain incidents and situations away. The result? I began to harbor a spirit of offense and unforgiveness.

Here are our definitions for this week.

Offend
1. to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in.
2. to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
3. to hurt or cause pain to.

Bitterness
1. having or denoting an unpalatable harsh taste, as the peel of an orange or coffee dregs.
2. showing or caused by strong unrelenting hostility or resentment.
3. difficult or unpleasant to accept or admit.
4. cutting; sarcastic.

Unforgiving
1. not disposed to forgive or show mercy; unrelenting.
2. not allowing for mistakes, carelessness, or weakness.

There are times when we really need to talk things out. In denying hurtful situations in my life, I in essence denied myself of the opportunity to have the conversations that I needed to have to really "clear the air."  Interestingly enough, while I may not have had the conversation with the person, I still had the conversation in my mind. That’s right. I replayed the events over and over in my mind. What I could have said, what I would have said, what I wished I had said. This kept the incident as fresh as something happening the same day, even when it had been several months or perhaps a year ago.

How did this all begin to surface for me? Let me give you an illustration. If I sweep an entire room, and instead of picking up the trash, I sweep it into a pile under the carpet, for the first few weeks you may never notice. However, that pile will begin to grow, and continue to grow, and shortly you will begin to notice a lump under the carpet. Soon, there will be no way to hide it. This is how offense and unforgiveness can be. Unaddressed, the weight of this grows and grows, and soon the manifestation of the consequences of that spirit on our lives is undeniable. Along with Worry, Anxiety, and Restlessness, here are some other major consequences you will experience in this situation.

1. Prevents God From Forgiving Us. Matthew 18:35

2. Prevents us from Coming into God’s Presence. Matthew 5:24

3. There is also medical evidence of sickness and disease, as a result of unforgiveness. (http://cslr.law.emory.edu/fileadmin/media/book_covers/Witvliet.Forgiveness__Health_and_Well_Being.pdf)

I want to encourage you this week to meditate on the definitions given above, and ask the Lord to reveal people and situations in your life that you need to forgive and let go. God may direct you to speak to that person, or maybe not. The most important thing is that you deal with it before Him in your heart.

Here are some very practical steps I have taken to address this in my life.

1. On a sheet of paper, make a list of the persons God reveals during your quiet time, and what/why you need to forgive and release them. Done this before? Well I believe if God led you to this word, it’s time for you to do this again. Be encouraged, Forgiveness is an ongoing act!

2. You might want to write a letter to each of them, sharing your heart and releasing them.

3. Then make the decision that once and for all, you are letting it go. It is between you and God what you do with the letter.

4. Decide that you are going to be honest with yourself and others. Learn to speak the truth in Love!

People of God we must know that unforgiveness is one of the tools the enemy uses to destroy relationships, especially in families. If you do not deal with these situations, this will turn into Bitterness. Here is what the Bible says about Bitterness.

Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Bitterness causes trouble, and in the midst of bitterness, many are defiled (made dishonest or corrupted).  This week, make the decision to come out of the spirit of Offense.  Expose this Hidden Wound, and allow God to wash your Heart, cleanse you, and release you from this bondage.

I love you all with the love of Christ. Be Blessed!

Copyright 2012 - Victoria L. Burse, Queens of the Kingdom  www.queensofthekingdom.org
Purchase your copy of Sabbath Songs today  http://queensofthekingdom.org/Online_Store.html  or get the e-book at  http://tinyurl.com/sabbathsongse-book 


Friday, June 8, 2012

Fear, or the spirit of Fear. How can I know the difference?


The Wound of Fear
 

Deuteronomy 31:6 (The Message)
6 "Be strong. Take courage. Don't be intimidated. Don't give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you.He's right there with you. He won't let you down; he won't leave you."

2 Timothy 1:7 (Amplified Bible)
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.

This week, we will address the Hidden Wound of Fear.  Let me begin by saying that there is Fear, and then there is the "spirit of Fear."  As you study the scripture and definitions provided below and read today's message, you will find that there is a reverential Fear, and that some Fear can be healthy.  However, it is the "spirit of Fear" that comes to immobilize us, and since our goal is to get "unstuck, and move forward"  the spirit of fear is what we are coming against in today's lesson.  Don't be afraid of Exposure people of God, Exposure breeds Authenticity and what we don't acknowledge, generally does not get addressed.

In addition to Fear, I've provided the definition of a few other terms.  Worry, Anxiety, Dread, and Apprehension...because we often see these in operation together. Meditate on these, and with God, search your heart and mind; reviewing some of your personal habits/behaviors and determine where any of these may be present in your life and whether or not you are addressing them.

Fear
1.  A distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm.

or

1. reverential (worshipful) awe, especially toward God: the fear of God.

Worry
1.  to torment oneself with or suffer from disturbing thoughts; fret.
2.  to torment with cares, anxieties, etc.; trouble; plague.
3.  a cause of uneasiness or anxiety; trouble.

Anxiety
1.  intense desire; eagerness
2.  A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.

Dread
1.  to be reluctant to do, meet, or experience.
2.  terror or apprehension as to something in the future; great fear.

Apprehension
1.  anticipation of adversity or misfortune; suspicion or fear of future trouble or evil.
2.  acceptance of or receptivity to information without passing judgment on its validity, often without complete comprehension.

Let me ask this.  What exactly are you afraid of?  Being alone or feeling rejected?  Authority, truth, exposure, competition or confrontation?  What makes you, back up, turn around, or bow down? 

Everyone experiences fear.  Actually, fear is not all bad.  Some of the emotions attached to fear are meant to serve as a “warning” when you are embarking on dangerous territory.  But what I am addressing now, is that fear that causes us to quit, or to be quiet when we should speak out, even the fear of success.  If you do not put fear in “check” with the truth of the word of God, it becomes an immobilizing force, stopping you dead in your tracks, causing you to take unnecessary detours. 

You must examine your fears. I found that many of my greatest fears were imagined.  It’s like the story of the ferocious barking dog that scared a young schoolgirl every day, causing her to detour from the shortest route home.  One day, she got tired of going around that dog, and decided to meet it face to face. Well, upon approaching the dog, looking it dead in its face,  she discovered the dog had no teeth.

Except you take hold of the truths of God, your mind is a playground for the devil.  Don’t allow any fear, real or imagined to keep you from experiencing the life that God has promised you, for there is nothing like the feeling of having accomplished something you did not think you could do, or that others told you, you would never do.  Take it from me, a schoolgirl at heart!

(as taken from Victoria's first book, "Sabbath Songs:  A Spiritual Coming of Age in the Transforming Presence of Jesus Christ"  purchase your copy today at www.queensofthekingdom.org)

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Yes! You are Worthy.


1 John 2:20  The Message (MSG)

 20-21But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies. 

Today we begin our 8-week study on “Healing Hidden Wounds”, and I would like to talk just briefly about the Wound of Unworthiness…or shall I say a spirit of Unworthiness.

Is your answer YES, to any of these questions?

1. Do you find yourself consistently turning down opportunities because you do not feel that you are ready, and then afterword’s regret that you did not take advantage of them?

2. Has your list of “ideas” remained confined to a sheet of paper for more than a year with no movement to them at all? Or do you start, then stop, start, then stop?

3. Do you spend more time trying to get the opinion or justification, or stamp of approval from people about something that is on your heart to do, than praying to God about it?

4. When is the last time you can truly say you took a “leap of Faith”? Has it been more than 6 months? More than a year?

I’ve experienced all of the above in my life, and for me it has played out in many ways. Coupled with fear, I found myself hesitating, or holding back…when I should have been moving forward. I’ve missed GOD opportunities. I’ve questioned myself, and God, over and over and over again…thus making me slow, lethargic even…in moving when He speaks. In the end, of course, I questioned myself as to knowing the voice of God in my life. Thus, there was a season when I was slack in my assignments in the Kingdom, in my personal growth, and in seeing the manifested blessings of God in my life, but the trick of the enemy had me “excusing” these things saying over and over again in my holiest voice “it must not be my season yet!”

Let me go a bit further. Alongside Unworthiness are often Guilt and Condemnation. Review the definitions of these terms, and I think you will quickly see how the devil uses this to throw a “wrench” if you will, into the Destiny of the Believer.

Unworthy

1. Not worthy lacking worth or excellence.
2. Beneath the dignity.
3. Not of adequate merit or character.
4. Not commendable or creditable.

Guilt

1. The fact or state of having done wrong or committed an offense.
2. Remorse or self-reproach caused by feeling that one is responsible for a wrong or offense.

Condemnation
1. To express strong disapproval of; censure
2. To pronounce judicial sentence on.
3. To judge or pronounce unfit for use.

These self-thoughts, these feelings can originate from numerous places. From people, certain experiences, even generational curses. This list could go on and on. As we take time this week and ponder on this, I'm sure God will reveal some things to us. Know that Healing is often a process and rest assured, God would not reveal anything to you that He is not going to walk through with you. Be encouraged and allow Him to minister to you regarding the above definitions.

I feel it important to speak on these things, because as I talk with and walk alongside women of God on their Destiny Journey, they are often “stuck” and don’t quite know why. You see, the personal and professional things, the ministry or entrepreneurial projects God has give you to complete, will suffer, or not get done at all, when certain things are out of order in your life. Here, what is mainly out of order is our Thought Life. We must get our “Thought Life In Order.” Our mind is the Battlefield of the enemy and he will have us using our own tongue against ourselves in condemnation.

Others hear your words and see your actions, but they don’t have access to your thought life. We can have all of the outer trappings. A great job, a great husband or wife, a nice home and all the things that come with, but on the inside, where it really counts, we are fractured. For a season, we are able to well hide all these feelings and insecurities. But there is a time in which they are sure to surface, and our goal in this study, is to CANCEL THAT PLAN OF THE ENEMY IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Romans 12:2 says this
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Now, I leave you with the Truth of God’s word on this subject. If in fact you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and your Lord, and you have submitted your life; your will and your ways, unto Him…then hear what He says about you as it relates to whether or not your are qualified, or deserving, or even forgiven…and therefore Worthy, to serve Him in whatever capacity HE has called you to. Together this day; We bind up the spirits of Unworthiness, Guilt, and Condemnation. In the name of Jesus, go BACK to where you came from!

Ephesians 1:3-14 The Message Bible
PLEASE READ THIS OUT LOUD! (first person emphasis is mine, trying reading this using those words. It makes it personal)

The God of Glory
3-6How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us (me) to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us (me) in mind, had settled on us (me) as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us (me) into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us (me) to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.

7-10Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're (I am) a free people (person)—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our (my) misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we (I) could possibly need, letting us (me) in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us (me) in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

11-12 It's in Christ that we (I) find out who we (I) are (am) and what we (I) are (am) living for. Long before we (I) first heard of Christ and got our (my) hopes up, he had his eye on us (me), had designs on us (me) for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.

13-14It's in Christ that you (I), once you (I) heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves (myself) home free—signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit. This signet from God is the first installment on what's coming, a reminder that we'll (I’ll) get everything God has planned for us (me), a praising and glorious life.

Copyright 2012 - Victoria L. Burse, Queens of the Kingdom  www.queensofthekingdom.org
Purchase your copy of Sabbath Songs today  http://queensofthekingdom.org/Online_Store.html 
or get the e-book at  http://tinyurl.com/sabbathsongse-book 

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Healing Hidden Wounds!

Greetings Men and Women of God!

As we come upon the summer months, I pray that each of you take some needed time of vacation and rest, and enjoy the opportunities you will have to spend additional time with family.  I also hope that the “lazy” days of summer afford you extra time to quiet yourselves before the Lord, and allow Him to pour into you and to fill every empty place. As always, you are all in my thoughts and prayers, and I ask you to continue to keep me, as well as Queens of the Kingdom Ministries in your thoughts and prayers as well.

For the next 8 weeks, I invite you to come with me on a journey of Inner Healing, a time set aside to deal with “hidden wounds.”  I believe God to touch each and every one of us during this period, and for complete healing to occur.  I believe God that we will all come out completely restored, and ready to run the race He has set before us.

During this series, I will take many thoughts from my first book, Sabbath Songs: A Spiritual Transformation through the Healing Presence of Jesus Christ.  You see,  there was just such a season in my life several years ago… and I know the power of the Testimony, as stated in Revelation 12:11.  As we press into these areas a bit, I invite you to purchase a copy of Sabbath Songs if you don't have one, so that you may keep these messages as a reference or perhaps you might share it with someone else as a special gift.

I invite your responses; questions or testimonies,  to these messages, and I pray that you experience the change that is available to each and every one of us…as we spend time in His Presence.  For today, I’ll just briefly share why this healing is so important and then on next week, we will take off with the first place of healing in our series…the Wound of Unworthiness!


Psalm 34:4-8 (The Message Bible)
God met me more than halfway,  he freed me from my anxious fears.  Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.  When I was desperate, I called out,  and God got me out of a tight spot. God's angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray. Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see— how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to him.

There is a place in each of us that no one else really has access to, except for God and ourselves.  It is that place deep on the inside where we learn to hide things, to stash them away if you will.  This place has so many pockets and crevices, that it is easy for things to hide there.  Truth be told, as we stash our “stuff” there, I think our real hope is that it will get lost or just disappear.  But, it does not, and I find that this “stuff” comes to the surface just when we are on the brink of promotion and breakthrough in our lives.

I ponder this often as I ask God, “Well – is this the devil bringing this stuff up to try and hold me hostage?  To try and keep me immobile?  Or God is this you. Is this you saying stop, stop now, and deal with this because if you don’t, you are setting up key areas which the enemy can use to bring you down, and others that are with you.”  You see, the enemy can attempt to stop us before we even get started, or, he can wait and let us go along our merry way…and achieving some of those things that God has for us, and just when we think we are in place, in our rightful position.  BAM!  Out of the blue, this hidden wound is opened back up,  the secretion of which is poisonous to our entire being and the risk is even greater of being brought to a low place, and not only us, but those coming along behind us; watching us and learning from us.

Either way, the point is that healing is available to us as children of God, and not just healing from physical sickness and disease, but the healing that is needed when we have been hurt or misused, or even rejected.  The healing for our souls.  That's right, we don't have to live continually with all those "anxious fears."  They can be put away once and for all as we draw closer to God - learning to cast our burdens completely to Him in Prayer.


This is the healing I am speaking of, and the healing that I believe God wants to lavish out upon His people so that they can really become effective for the Kingdom of God.

Copyright 2012 - Victoria L. Burse, Queens of the Kingdom  www.queensofthekingdom.org
Purchase your copy of Sabbath Songs today  http://queensofthekingdom.org/Online_Store.html 
or get the e-book at  http://tinyurl.com/sabbathsongse-book 

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

You may Own it, but are you Possessing it?



Numbers 13:30  Amplified Bible (AMP)

30 Caleb quieted the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and possess it; we are well able to conquer it.


We often use the terms Ownership and Possession interchangeably, but they really have two different meanings.  I'll begin by defining both of these terms.

Ownership:  Legal right of possession; proprietorship.
Possession:  The actual holding or occupancy, either with or without rights of ownership.

We know from the word of God in Jeremiah 29:11, that God has a plan for us.  It states,

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Recall that part of God's plan for us was first spoken to our forefather Abraham.  We are his seed and the same inheritance and promises  (God's plan) made to him, were also to the children of Israel and are ours today.  Yes, there is a promised land that God has for us.  And you know what?  You are already the Owner.  The question is, are you in Possession of it?

Are you walking in the destiny God has for you.  Are you experiencing the "milk and honey" of your promised land?  Have you even laid eyes on your promised land? If not, why not?

Lets look further at the children of Israel; their ownership of the Promised Land was unconditional.  It was God's gift to them through the promise of God to Abraham.  However, their possession of the land was conditional, upon faith and obedience to God.

Why, because someone else had taken up residence in their promised land, they would have to FIGHT in order to take Possession, and the only way to certain Victory, was through following the direction and plans of the God who gave them the land in the first place.  In Numbers 13:32-33 we get a description of those inhabitants.

"And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight."  

That's right.  These Giants had Possession of this land, even though they were not the owners. 

Understand; taking Possession is often through conflict, and just as the children of Israel had to fight, we must also fight our own "ittes"  (Perrizuites, Jebusities, canaanites, amorites, hivites and hittites) in order to take Possession of what we already Own. Remember, the only way that Victory is guaranteed, is if we follow the plan that God's has for us. Even when we can't quite understand how or why certain things are happening, we must have Faith knowing that God's grace is here to strengthen us and to help us endure every challenge.  We must know that He has already declared us Victorious through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

Great Faith produces Great Blessings.  So I charge you again Men and Women of God.  Move forward with Faith and Obedience, and with a focus on taking Possession of your Destiny - all for the Glory of God and His Kingdom.

Blessings!

Copyright 2012 - Victoria L. Burse, Queens of the Kingdom
Purchase a copy of my new book Destination Destiny at victoriaburse.com

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Loose Ends

2 Corinthians 8:10-11
The Message (MSG)



10-11  So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale. Your heart's been in the right place all along. You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it. Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't. The heart regulates the hands.

We often think of November and December as the time to tie up loose ends, before we enter the new year. However, we are well aware that there are various seasons of our lives, and I believe it is just as important to designate a time for tying up the loose ends as we transition from one season to another.  Graduation season is upon us, and while you may not be experiencing a graduation in the natural, perhaps you are at the point of a spiritual graduation, in other words, transitioning into a new season of your life.

If this is you, I encourage you to take some time over the next 30 days to tie up the Loose Ends.  What are Loose Ends?  Loose ends are those tasks or projects you started on, but for no apparent reason, other than procrastination, have not completed.  Loose ends may be personal, such as home organization tasks or personal finance tasks, or it may also involve items that are related to your career, business, or ministry.   Loose ends are not necessarily time consuming tasks, thus we find them easy to overlook.  However, when we don't address them, they can grow into some larger task or issue, which will require much more to complete.  Loose ends may be something that we simply do not want to address, because we are unsure how, or because we fear the outcome of "opening a can of worms" we have conveniently put on a shelf, out of sight, out of mind.

My goal this week, and my challenge to each of you as well, is to identify the "Loose Ends" in your life, and then further, make it a priority to address those that you can honestly do something about.  There is a joy in completing something, and I do not believe that God has need of a people who continually start things, but never finish them.  So here we go!  Here is the process for addressing your LOOSE ENDS!

1.  Make a list of those loose ends.



2.  Prioritize the list, considering urgency (what may have a negative consequence if left undone) and resources (which of these can I tackle quickly because I have the resources to address them.)


3.  Estimate a reasonable time frame for completing each task, and record that information next to the task on the list.


4.  Now, start at the top of your list.  Ask for help if necessary.  Help may be someone to physically assist you with the task, or it may simply be someone who you can share you goal with and have him or her hold you accountable to complete it.


5.  Stay focused.  Don't attempt too much at once, focus on finishing one task before moving on to the next.


6.  Celebrate Completion, with whatever Celebration is to you.

Copyright 2012 - Victoria L. Burse

Purchase a copy of my latest releases  Sabbath Songs or Destination Destiny at victoriaburse.com
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