When we have suffered a significant loss – whether that loss is the death of a loved one, the loss of our home, our job, our health, relationships, our dream – our hearts and souls are deeply wounded. And despite what some would say, the passing of time, by itself, will not bring us healing. Burying our feelings does not work. Neither does keeping busy or finding a “replacement” to fill our emptiness.

 We sometimes wonder if we will ever again feel any joy, energy, or peace. We
wonder if life will ever again be normal. We worry sometimes that we’ve become a little bit crazy, or maybe that we are irreparably broken. The truth is that whether your loss was recent or a long time ago, you can know healing. You can work through your loss, and begin to feel truly alive again. And you can do that best when you are surrounded by the Spirit of God. And finding God in the midst of the pain and the suffering begins with the casket of loss. Finding yourself in that casket, where you’ve been waiting on God, wailing out to God, but rather than turning to false lovers who tame your soul, you turn to your untamed God who captures your soul. You worship God. In the midst of life’s losses, yes you can choose worship.

“Worship” is a common word. But what is worship really? Specifically, in the midst of grief, what does worship look like? In crying, you cry out for God’s help. In worship, you cry out for God. In comfort, you receive God’s strength. In
worship, you receive God. In wailing, you long for heaven because you’re tired of earth. In worship, you long for God because you miss Him. In worship, you glimpse the face of God. Worship is wanting God more than wanting relief. Worship is finding God even when you don’t find answers. Worship is walking with God in the dark and having Him as the light of your soul. The Bible consistently invites us to worship God in the midst of suffering. Worship as the end result of suffering has always been the testimony of God’s people. Job after all the calamity and loss that he experienced, losing his wealth, his children, the bible says this,“Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship.”(Job 1:20). David says his suffering created a God-thirst. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?” (Psalm 42:1-2). Suffering’s ultimate goal is worship: exalting and enjoying God as our Spring of Living Water—our only satisfaction and our greatest joy. Finding God and experiencing His love, we’re nourished and empowered. Think about the difference between the “last best hope” the world offers us in suffering and the “sure hope” which is God’s Word and way promises us. The world can hope for changed circumstances and changed feelings. Maybe they come, maybe they don’t. Either way, our lot in life is to “accept” our lot in life. We move on as best we can, making the most we can out of what’s left of our life after our loss. For those who place their sure hope in Christ and His resurrection power, the casket of loss is never final. Our “lot in life” is not “acceptance.” We have choice; we have choice to choose the newness and healing that Christ offers! And choosing the newness is choosing to worship him despite our circumstances and not giving up or giving in. It is choosing healing; healing that can only be found in God. Satan uses suffering to suck the life out of your soul. God intends to use suffering to enliven your soul. The caskets of our life losses do not have to lead to the death of faith, hope, and love; instead they should lead us to choosing to worship Him. 

Today is the first day in our “40 Days of Healing in The Sanctuary”. We are
doing the work to heal the wounds and hurts and that we have suffered over the year or past years that have caused us not to walk in the fullness and power that God has gifted us. This can mean healing in our mind, body, heart (soul), and finances. Therefore, we are committing to “healing” in the last 40 days of 2012 the areas of lives that has sickened us, weighed us down and has prevented us from walking in authority, power, and purpose. We anticipate after these “40 Days of Healing” we will enter 2013 walking in our God given power and authority as we have done the work to rid ourselves of the baggage and we have been healed, delivered and set free. Therefore on this Worship Wednesday we will be  addressing “Healing in Worship”. 

We are a society that has come to a point of believing only that which we can
see, feel, hear and touch. When there is a physical problem in our bodies, we
are quick to call the doctor and make an appointment. We expect the doctor to
tell us what is wrong and how to cure it. The doctor then gives us a prescription with the recommended dosage. We must be faithful to use the proper amount of medicine for the correct amount of time in order to receive healing. We follow every detail exactly as the doctor prescribes because we are able to see a person and hear his instruction. 

But God is Jehovah Rapha, our healer, and yet we often do not trust His
promise to heal us because we cannot use our senses to recognize Him. Doctors
have degrees and certificates, but God has his Word, which is packed full with
prescriptions and promises for our lives. It has every answer to every problem
we face. We simply have to step into faith in order to receive His promises. 

Faith works in the supernatural, not in the natural. I Corinthians states
that faith is the substance of things not seen and the evidence of things not
heard. God wants us to have faith and trust Him for our healing. One way to come into that place of trust and faith is through praise and worship. God’s desire for us is that we praise Him at all times. He yearns for His church to praise Him, but so often we are too busy doing our own things. God wants us to praise Him continually. Our primary task in life is to worship God. Deep within everyone there is an urge to worship. It was placed there by God. 

The definition of praise is to express admiration or approval. Praise is the
act of extolling God for what He has done and for what He is doing. As His
children, we offer Him our sacrifices of praise through Jesus. God yearns for us
to praise Him. Praise sets us in an attitude to receive. Through praise, God
allows His children to tap into his presence, where we are able to receive a
multitude of His promises, one of which is His promise of healing.

Worship is praising God for who He is without asking questions or seeking
answers. Worship is submission to God, and submission is required from us in
order to come into the Holy of Holies, where we can find refuge, strength and
healing. William Temple, the great Anglican theologian, said, 'Worship is the
submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by his
holiness; the nourishment of mind with his truth; the purifying of imagination
by his beauty; the opening of the heart to his love; the surrender of will to
his purpose'. 

Praise and worship are demonstrations of our faith, and they also encourage
faith within us, because they require the spirit, soul and body to come into
alignment with God’s Word. Through praise and worship, we step into faith. And through our faith, God’s healing Spirit is able to work within us. 

Remember that our healing starts with our personal time with the Lord. It's
there that we can be free with God alone and after spending time alone with him, we can become freer with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Worship then becomes our whole life, involving all our being and it is essential to know
complete healing.


Enter The Sanctuary ...Healing is here

 As we gather in The Sanctuary on Intercession Tuesday we come ready to offer a prayer of thanksgiving and honor. It is only befitting as we approach Thanksgiving.  Thanksgiving should be a time to look back over the year to remember exactly what God delivered us from,  has brought us through, how he has provided daily and met our every need.  It is time to gather with those you love to express gratitude. In gratitude, we humbly reflect upon all the gifts that fill our lives (family, friends and health). To gather in unity is refreshing and invigorating especially when people come together in celebration of a common purpose. It is a time of reconciliation of differences as well as a time of healing. In sharing our victories as well as our struggles, we find strength and hope. And by “giving-thanks” we choose to extend ourselves and give to others less fortunate. Out of the abundance of our hearts, we are able to offer our resources to help others. But the fundamental meaning of Thanksgiving is to praise to God, the one who provided and delivered. In the Bible, the meaning of thanksgiving reflected adoration, sacrifice, praise, or an offering. Thanksgiving was a grateful language to God as an act of worship. The true meaning of Thanksgiving focuses upon relationship between God and man. Thanksgiving begins with acknowledging God as faithful, earnestly giving Him thanks for His abundant blessings. Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart that reinforces an intimate relationship with God. So as we enter The Sanctuary today let us enter singing praises of thanksgiving to our one true God for his overflowing abundant blessings.

◊Intercession Prayer◊
Father, I come to You in the name of Jesus, my Lord, and my Savior. I come to
you with heart of thanksgiving. I thank you for all the good things in my life, for You are the Creator of all things good. Father, I thank you for your presence. For in your presence is the fullness of my joy and in your presence I
am complete and whole. With you Father I have purpose. Because of your presence, I am glad to be here. Father, I thank you for your plan, that I might have a full life and enjoy it and have it in abundance to overflowing. Father, I thank you for the provision, that all my needs are met according to Your riches in glory. You stated in your word that I may prosper in all areas of my life just
as my soul prospers and Dear Lord your word has shown true in my life. As I reflect over 2012 you have protected, guided and provided for me. No weaponformed against me prospered and with my whole heart I thank you for your protection. Thank you for being shelter and strong tower from the enemy and for being what the word says, my Jehovah Jireh, my provider, as there was not a day that I went hungry. I thank you for the overflowing of blessings. I have no choice but to sing praises unto Your name as for without you there is no me. Oh God, I thank you for your abiding love, grace and mercy as they have kept me and my family.  Now Father, help me to not look so intently on the gifts that you have given that I no longer seek your face. Help me not to cling to my blessings so tightly that I cannot open my hands to give to others or even receive more from you. Help me not to fear that if I give, you won’t be able to replenish what I lack. Help me to continue to trust your sufficiency, your abundance. Heavenly Father, thank you that all of Your blessings will continue to come upon me if I continue to hear and obey your voice.  I bless you and praise your Holy Name for all that you have blessed me with Lord.  I pray Father that your goodness and mercy continue to follow me every day of my life according to Psalms 23:6. I recognize by faith that You are worthy of all
honor, praise and worship as the Creator and Sustainer and end of all things. I
will sing your praises to the ends of the earth.  And to thank you Father for all that you have done for me I commit on this day my total allegiance to You. I commit to doing your work, your will and obeying you. I give my permission, my life and all that is in it, as a living sacrifice, unto You which is my reasonable service for all that you have done for me.  Thank you Lord for all that you have done and I bless You and all your works in my life. In Jesus Name I pray and to God be the glory and honor. Amen.

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Worship is a tool that we can use to be able to hear the voice of God, our Shepard. Psalm 95:7 says “For he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.” And because we are the people of His pasture the flock under His care. Worship is the appropriate response to God’s care for us. It’s the way we recognize Him as our God, it’s the way we respond to His care for us. And for us to respond to his care we need to be able to hear his voice. Worship is the appointed way to come into that attitude and relationship where we really hear God’s voice. Being in worship puts you in a place where you can hear his voice. We come into God’s presence through our praise and thanksgiving. When we are in his presence, it would not be surprising if he has something to say to us! In worship, we position ourselves in front of God in such a way that understands that he is God and we are not – that he is the ruler of the universe and we are not. This is the type of fear that we are to have – not terror, but awe and respect. This puts us on the path to hearing his wisdom and understanding. Worship attunes us to God. Our praise and thanksgiving opens us up to receive all that God has for us. Worship is about enjoying him and living in his presence. When you go into worship, consciously enter into God’s presence and be open to hearing him.  

Enter into The Sanctuary to meet God…He is here!

We are in the last few months of 2012 and The Sanctuary is in a period seeking God’s direction and guidance. In our society we become so distracted by the business of being busy. We are so busy that we never take a moment to really hear what God has to say about the direction of our lives. We obtain and listen to the advice of so many and with all the voices we often miss the voice of the one who breathed life into us and created this plan for our lives. Do we really ever ask and then wait to hear his voice as to what decision to make or which road to take? In John 10:27 Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me”. He has stated he is our Shepard. And a Good Shepard knows his sheep and his sheep know him by his Voice. And when the Shepard speaks, he is speaking to instruct, protect, bring correction, and teach his sheep in the way that they must go.  

Have you been tired, frustrated, and weary or have been seeking more out life? You have been seeking deliverance from toxic relationships but don’t know how? Have been trying to figure out just what you were purposed do? You want 2013 to be better than 2012. Today open your heart and mind to hear from your Shepard. He is not a respecter of persons. I believe that if you want to hear God’s voice, if you pray, he will honor and teach you how to hear from him. And all that you seek from our Good Shepard He will provide. I remember the first time I heard the voice of God…it changed my life forever. 

If you have a prayer request you may submit your prayer request via inbox on Facebook or our Connect Form via our website or call/text it to 678.383.2885. It will be placed on our Prayer Wall.

 
◊INTERCESSION PRAYER◊

Heavenly Father, I come to You now in the name of my Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Holy Spirit I pray that You will quicken me to hear my Heavenly Father’s Voce and lead me in prayer. Heavenly Father, I bow and worship before You. I come to You with with praise and thanksgiving.  I come to you in
humility, in fear and in trembling and seeking truth. I come to you in gratitude
and love as you are the Lord and Shepard over my life. It is written in your
word according to John chapter 10 that Your sheep know Your Voice. Dear Shepard, I am one of your sheep. I ask You to teach me to her Your Voice distinctly and clearly according to John chapter 10. I ask you increase Your anointing on me to clearly hear and know Your Voice and not that of a stranger. Today, I repent for not listening to your Voice and turning a deaf ear.  No longer will I stray from your voice. Dear Shepard I declare on this day that
when you speak, I will listen. I surrender my heart and mind to your Voice. I
ask that You do this in the name of Jesus Christ. Give me the ability my Good
Shepard to hear your Voice , I ask this according to your word that says that
whatsoever I ask for in your name you will give it to me. In the mighty name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!

Today is a very special day in The Sanctuary. Today is our Anniversary. One year ago, on November 11, 2011 we hosted the “Putting on a new you. A time to Reflect, Renew, Redo” Retreat. And that Retreat was the spark that created The Sanctuary Ministries.

If you read the About Us page, it describes how I had hosted Retreat/Spa Weekends for my friends and family, but how it begin to take a life of its own. This particular Retreat was birthed from a desire to share what I had learned the previous two years. You see I had experienced some major life and health challenges and I saw the mighty hand of God move, provide, heal and restore me. I not only experienced a physical transformation but a spiritual transformation as well. With my mortality staring me in my face I ran to the only place I knew…the place I ran to when my Father died….my Sanctuary. And in that Sanctuary my relationship with God grew to a new and different level. I saw God through a new lens and felt closer to him that I ever had in my life. And I felt led to share my knowledge with those I loved.  I also felt led to invest in the God given Vision. I wanted the majority of the cost of that weekend to be my responsibility; it was to be my seed offering. I know the power of investing not only your time but your finances into a vision. But what I was investing in, I really wasn’t sure of that but I knew God was saying that I was to make a sacrificial offering. And I was obedient.  I asked for minimum monies to attend, and some were gifted the Retreat. I obtained very specific instructions from the Holy Spirit as to how I should prepare for the Retreat and what should be presented. I was instructed to write the vision for the weekend and as RSVP’s came in I was to place that name on my prayer wall and I was to intercede each day until 11/11/11 for the Retreat and all participants. I was also instructed as the purpose of each day and the sessions and theme. It was not to be just a get away from life but we were there to be done over! And God did just that.

Friday the 11th, Reflect, we became acquainted and revealed some of our challenges and discussed areas needing improvement.  Saturday the 12th, Renew,  was a full day of pampering (massages, manicures, pedicures) in the comfort of our villas by my personal masseuse and friend Antoinette Chapman, owner of Sanctuary at your Door. Her along with her team brought relaxation and relief on another level. And while some were being serviced we had sessions on “Getting to know me” and “Writing the Vision. In these sessions we took a personality test to see our strengths and weaknesses and how we could improve and how we should deal with others not like us. And we created vision plans for our lives. By that evening we were surely renewed with a plan. Once the massages and the visions were completed we enjoyed Food for your Soul. We feasted on some down home soul food prepared by my mother. She laid that table out for us, baked chicken, macaroni and cheese, greens, candied yams, dressing just a name a few of the menu items. Once we fed our natural (wo)man we were than fed spiritually with “You don’t know my story”. Two young women shared their stories of being delivered from difficult life changing situations and they shared the process. I can’t begin to tell you what happened after this session. All I know is that the atmosphere shifted quickly as we were convening. Some went to bed but the majority sat around the table and God entered the room and spread a table for us and lives were changed including mine. I knew that night that I could not continue to work in the capacity that I was currently working in. I knew that my life was changed forever. On Sunday the 13th we awakened Redone. We enjoyed the brunch in the Versailles at Chateau Elan and we reminisced over the weekend. The women bonded over the experience and I basked in being a vessel used by God. God accomplished just what he sat out to do. What they experienced is exactly what I experienced in The Sanctuary. A renewal that drugs, sex, alcohol, a man or woman could not give you. Only a touch and an experience with Him could do what was done that weekend. Those in attendance felt the same way as well. They encouraged me to do the Retreats more often, they offered their assistance. It was like a fire had been set in all of us. That weekend was the day that I said to God that I was surrendering my life and my will to Him. I wanted to be used by Him to establish a Sanctuary for those who seek healing, restoration, encouragement, inspiration and freedom and practical information. And when they entered, The Sanctuary, they would not find a (wo)man with human wisdom but they would find God in all his glory waiting in a transparent, authentic refuge ready to heal, deliver and set free. It was official that I had kept this to myself long enough and on 11/11/11 God asked me to do his work and I said, “I will”.

On that weekend The Sanctuary Ministries was birthed. And I begin to make life changes and decisions to align with my declaration. In the blog, “Leap of Faith”, I recount the journey of how God, to the year, worked miraculously in our life once we said "I will". Now I had a clear understanding when I took that leap of faith that the vision that God had given for The Sanctuary was not traditional as I had been told three years prior of what was to come. The Sanctuary would challenge and stretch those who enter it to go beyond what we are use to and new things frighten and scare people. So I knew it would not be an easy journey as everyone would not be receptive of the message or the messenger. But to see his hand and how he has lead, guided, covered, opened doors and protected me made me think of the children of Israel. How he lead them with a cloud by day and fire by night on their journey. That is exactly how I can liken this journey.

Each step of the way he has provided instruction and I had no choice but to die to myself and be obedient. And when I was instructed to conclude it for the year it was very clear. The last few months of this year, personally and professionally I will undergo some major transition and He wants me to finish strong. So on November 9, 2012 was our last Friday Fellowship Meeting for 2012. As I reflect on this past Friday meeting, I stated it has been quite the journey but it has surely been rewarding. The Sanctuary made an impact for the kingdom and that it has been worth everything invested as that is exactly what it is purposed to do! However, it was not done without a fight. We have had some serious battles. Some we lost and had many casualties and some we won and had an awesome time rejoicing over those lives that were saved. But ultimately God won the war as he received all the glory in every situation. He has shown his mighty and victorious hand over this year. Just when I thought it was over or that things were not going to work out he brought confirmation, provision or encouragement and it was always on time.

So as we closed out the first year of “The Sanctuary Ministries” God gave us a message of “Finishing Strong”. We were provided the hindrances and the keys to a strong finish. We were instructed that the last months of 2012 were important. We briefly reviewed all the lessons and the teachings. And in these last few months we are tasked with:

1.       Assessing ourselves, decisions, failures and success.
2.       Make necessary adjustments and life changes per assessment.
3.       Get in the presence of the King to get instruction.
4.       Prepare for 2013 and write the vision (plan).
5.       Walk into 2013 with a spirit of expectation.

As one attendee said, “That word was needed”. We also shared what God have done in our lives over the year and what The Sanctuary has meant for us. It was a time of tears and joy as we reflected over 2012 and all we had been through together and the growth in each of us. We saw how God fed us at the brook like Elijah in our wilderness experiences. And The Sanctuary, our refuge, was the place that He filled our cups and brought ravens to feed us so that we face those challenges, situations and difficult circumstances prepared. We filled up on his divinely inspired revelation word to continue on this road called purpose. And we could do nothing but give Him all the praises, glory and honor that He was due.

I want to personally close this with first a sincere thanks to those of you that have supported The Sanctuary. The emails, the texts, the comments and likes on Facebook, the likes and comments on the Daily Doses and Inner Courts post, the re-tweets on Twitter are reflective of your support. And to those of you who have ever attended the meetings either in person, conference bridge, Skype we are grateful to you. We always state if he wasn’t for you there will be no us. And that is a very true and sincere statement. Without you we could not spread this Gospel of the Good News and we are filled with genuine gratitude to you for believing and trusting us with your soul. The love that you have shown has been overwhelming and cherished. We never take it for granted that you take time read and share. Please make note that during this season of preperation and rest that the website, Facebook, Twitter will still be feeding your soul!! They will be updated frequently. As I said Friday, we aren’t going anywhere…so stay tuned for the next.

Secondly, I want to thank my husband, Monte. He has sacrificed just as much as I have doing this process if not more. In all the valley and mountain top experiences he has listened, encouraged and surely supported with resources. This year has surely been a strain on our home and marriage but he did not allow the strain to pull us apart however he allowed it to bring us closer together. I am thankful and value him as my covering, as he allowed me to come out of my role as his wife many times so that I could be a vessel  unto God to do what he always says to me, “what I am purposed to do". I want to publicly thank him for being my Boaz, my cheerleading section, for seeing the greatness in me when many times I could not see if for the tears, for talking me off the ledge and for being real enough with me to let me know, with love, when I am wrong. He surely keeps me humble. I value him and the role he has in my life because not every man would allow his wife to make the decisions and choices I have and be supportive as he has. When God brought Monte Douthit into my life he surely did bring me my good thing.

Lastly, I want to thank my Heavenly Father. Without you there is truly no Sanctuary. I want to say that I am honored that you have allowed a wretched, unworthy soul like mine be a source that you live in and live through. I don't deserve all that you have bestowed upon me. God you have shown just how great and awesome you are over and over again. And You continue to bless us over and over again. I love you God with every fiber of my being. Words cannot express how much I really love you. You have been consistent, faithful even when I was not. You looked past my faults and mistakes accepting my repentance and in your grace forgave, restored and healed me. And despite of me you still used me as a vessel for your glory. You God are my source and my life. I look only to you as I continue on this journey to purpose. And my purpose is not for my glory but for your glory. After all you have done and shown me in the past year, I have no choice but to serve you for the rest of my life. You have shown me that everything that you allowed me to go through, to experience, and be freed from and victorious over was surely not for my good but was for your good. My faith and love for you has grown exponentially.  I will never be the same. I am so thankful that on 11/11/11 I surrendered to you and said I will……Happy Anniversary!!

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