IT'S NOT ABOUT ME - Living Selfless in a Self-driven World

The world has freely given us all of the avenues we could possibly ever need to exalt ourselves higher than our own good.

Facebook offers us a little box asking us what is on our minds (dangerous question now a days).

Twitter gives us 140 characters to think of the most clever “tweet” to earn the most “retweets”, and gather as many “followers” as we possibly can (and if your number of followers far exceeds the amount of those YOU follow, well than, you’ve arrived my friend. You’ve arrived).

Instagram has provided us with hours of “entertainment” as we scroll through random pictures of people's coffee, outfits of the day, food choices, endless selfies, and then gives us the option to share OUR photos also (oh, videos too. Can’t forget that wonderful option of filtered fun.)

Snapchat offers us yet another option to remove ourselves even further from enjoying time with others by recording every moment to indirectly share with "friends" (and of course we all know it is used for unmentionable other things. Yet, I must admit, I have never downloaded this app so I am speaking merely from hear-say). 

Ok, so what is my ultimate point to this rant?

Every second of our day proclaims, “Tell the world about, YOU!” 

Our thoughts consume the constant idea that everyone is extremely interested in us, our ideas, our looks, our jobs, and our lives. Now don't get me wrong, I am in no way trying to convince you to hide under a rock and live a simple life away from the world. That would be a waste of what God has created you to be. I am, however, offering you to do what you do without stopping to think about what you can benefit from it. I am expanding on the idea that maybe, just maybe, you can set this world on fire for God without ever taking any of His glory. Because let's just be honest here for a second; the way this world has us thinking is a result of what we have been believing. We are encouraged to bring ourselves up to a higher level while using other people as our staircase to elevate us there. Inevitably, we are our own biggest promoter. We are our own biggest idols…ugh…I  mean "followers".

How incredibly sad. 

We have dumbed ourselves down and robbed our hearts of the pure satisfaction and joy of shifting our attention and focus on the things that truly matter; God and others.

When did we become so disconnected from the Truth?

The fact that we exist upon this Earth has nothing to do with us.

This is quite shocking I know, and I hate to be the one to deliver this mind-blowing news, but someone needs to say it. We have been given talents, abilities, and giftings to make this world a better place. The most precious thing to the heart of God is people. This tells me that we have been entrusted with a big commission. To take care of others, love them unconditionally, and ensure that they make it home to eternity. What an honor. But how can we effectively do this when our eyes are continuously focused on ourselves? It's really very simple. And since we all love lists, I broke it down and squeezed it into 10 little steps.

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10 WAYS TO LIVE SELFLESS IN A SELF-DRIVEN WORLD

1. Be a Giver. Does someone need a coat? Give them yours. Does someone drive long distances every day? Fill up their tank. Pay for someone’s meal at a restaurant, buy someone’s groceries in line at the store. Even more, find a homeless shelter or ministry that specializes in helping the poor and invest your finances and/or your time. Find the need, meet the need.

Proverbs 19:17 - Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.

2. Exhort and uplift others. Every time you feel the need to exalt yourself in any way, shape or form, instead make it a point to compliment and affirm someone else. If you can remind someone of how incredible they are, you can inspire them to be who God has called them to be. Highlighting the gifts and celebrating others over exalting yourself, positions your focus back to where God intended it: love through humility.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Therefore encourage one another and build each other up,  just as in fact you are doing.

3. Bring God the glory. It's all about Him and it will always be about Him. Talk about the blessings of God rather than how much God is just blessing you. There is a wide chasm of difference between the two. It all comes down to motives. Do you boast in what God has done so eyes will look up to Him, or instead fall upon you? Consider Jesus, for example. He relentlessly spoke of the wonderful things His Father had done, yet never turned the finger to point back to Himself. He found the way of testifying to all of the miracles, all the while, never stealing an ounce of credit from the One whom had given Him the power. Yes, God was glorified IN Jesus, but Jesus loved God far too much to try and sit on His rightful thrown. We should live the same.

1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

4. Live to serve. I will tell you this, a servant's heart is precious in the sight of God. Set out on a mission to serve others in a selfless way and in doing so, you will refrain from the appeal of wanting to be noticed and esteemed in the process. Serve at a non-profit, head to your home church and sign up to help on Sunday mornings, sit with someone who needs an ear to listen, give your time out of love without the thought of being reimbursed. The Kingdom you serve is not about how much you gain. It is about how much you pour out.

Mark 9:35 - And He sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, "If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.

5. Ask questions. This is actually very simple. When speaking to others, show sincere interest and ask questions pertaining to them, rather than talking about you, you, you. When you decide that what others have to offer is valuable, you will be more inclined to listen.

Proverbs 5:1 - Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.

6. Pray for someone. Lift a prayer that brings no personal gain. Can you imagine? So many have no knowledge of such a thing! Call up a friend or approach a stranger and ask if you can pray for them. This may easily bring you out from your comfort zone, but remember, no great things have ever been done in comfort zones anyway. Your faith in prayer could bring someone the greatest miracle they have ever encountered. 

Philippians 2:3-4 - Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your personal interests, but also for the interests of others. 

7. Write a thank you note. Tell someone who has impacted your life in an unforgettable way what they have done and how much they mean to you. A friend, mentor, teacher, parent, sibling, pastor, etc. Taking a few moments to show gratitude is a wonderful way to magnify God's love through others.

1 Timothy 2:1 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.

8. Put the phone down. Take a day to refrain from posting anything on any type of social media and instead, enjoy everything and everyone around you without distractions. We miss so many beautiful moments while trying to capture them for everyone else to see. How ironic?

Proverbs 4:25 - Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. 

9. Get into the Word of God. Open up your Bible. Even more specifically, open your Bible to the New Testament and focus your attention on all that Jesus did. This in itself will teach you true humility, love, and how to live life the way God intended.

Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

10. Share the Gospel with someone. I have left the absolute best for last. There is no better gift and no greater privilege than sharing the Truth of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Whether it is a family member or a stranger at the gas station, stir up the boldness and confidence that you think you don’t have, and strike up a conversation that will save their life. The ultimate gift is pointing others to the One whom gives life back. The one whom loves us first and has loved us greatest. 

Mark 16:15 - And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature."

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These are only a few, among many ways, to begin to shut down the idol of “Me” and direct your focus on others and making a difference in this world. I invite you to start today. It’s really never too late, so start a movement and make a difference. Go against the ways of the world! And besides, who knows how many people are watching you and will follow your lead as you follow Christ? Change has to begin somewhere…why not with you?

Amy Basel

There's Power In Staying

We are natural "planners" at heart, aren't we? We decide that we know best for our life, and begin to map out the how the what, the when and the where that God will bring certain things to pass.

Then in the middle of our planning, life begins to unfold differently.

The job you were believing in, never got offered.
The healing you were standing on, didn't manifest.
That relationship you were in, soon fell apart.
The raise you were hoping for, was given to another.

You planned on it.
You prayed.
You confessed scripture.
You had faith.

Yet things turned out differently.

You know, Mary, the Mother of Jesus, can be used as a perfect example.

There she was a young woman engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. Can you imagine the excitement and planning that was taking place?

The date for the wedding was set.
The location was determined.
She was dreaming of their home together.
The children they would have...

Then...right in the middle of her planning...God intervened.

An Angel of the Lord appeared to her, told her of God's plan, then declared that she was "favored of the Lord."

And there Mary stood. Impregnated by the Holy Spirit, and carrying a child that was not conceived of Joseph.

Carrying the Messiah was not apart of her plan.

Yet, she was favored by the Lord.

You know it's funny how when we are favored of the Lord, we seem to attract what we would consider, "trouble". The world points in a mocking fashion because our circumstances have taken a turn that completely contradicts what we have believed and even spoken.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a situation that seemed completely out of your control?

You see, God is interested in your Consistency in the chaos.

Will you still trust Him?
Will you still call upon His name?
Will you still press in?
Will you still have faith?
Even when things seem to take a turn for the worse, and all chaos breaks loose...

Can He trust you?
 

I need you to understand something right now:
There is power in staying.

When God calls you favored, yet your circumstances bring pain, will you still believe that His hand is upon your life?

Joseph was going to leave Mary. What was once a beautiful future, turned into a seemingly present nightmare. Why? Because God did things in a very unexpected, unrehearsed, and uncomfortable way. Yet even so, God's protective nature ensured that Mary was taken care of, and Joseph would soon be given understanding without confusion. The new couple both dug in their heels, grabbed one another's hand, and decided that they were going to walk this journey out together. They had faith although their future was uncertain.

Very often when God is working in your life the most, it is during that exact time that it will seem as if He isn't working at all.

The real question is...will you stay?
 

It is about having faith in who God is, rather than what you perceive Him to be doing.

There is power in your consistency.

Don't give up.

I'm in this with you,
Amy Basel

Psalm 119:1-3 - Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the Lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths.

His Name is Jesus

You know, it's amazing to me. We are only one decision away from reaching the world with a message. Whether that message is positive or not, is up to us.

I have been writing through my website, YPHP.org and public speaking for a while and have shared many photos and thoughts on social media. Yet never have I seen something so simple go so incredibly viral within days.

A Nativity scene painted upon a very well-known fast food chain caught my attention. Not just because it's Christmas, but because of the era we are currently living in.

I have been living in Spring Hill, TN with some friends of mine for the last few months as I have been in pursuit of finding my own place. As soon as I moved to Spring Hill, I noticed that this small town had something a little more to it that set it apart from the rest: unified community.

Driving back and forth, visiting the local stores, and chatting up a few residents, I realized very quickly that not only did everyone know one another (which obviously can be expected in a small town), but they also boldly displayed their Christian faith with diligence, pride, and respect. This, sadly enough, is currently very rare. Yet, this is also the reason why you are even reading this article, among many right now

I was driving back from the local Super Target and as I got stopped at the red light, I looked out the window across the street to see a beautiful painting of a nativity scene upon a McDonald’s store front window. Yet what made me do the famous “double take” wasn’t the bright colors of the picture. Instead, it was the words written on opposite sides of the painting. “His Name is Jesus” and “Rejoice”. I sat there for a moment and blinked a few extra times to ensure that I was reading the store-front window correctly. I was then brought back to my reality by the sound of a car horn beeping at me to alert me that the light had turned green. I quickly let off the brake, drove into the turning lane to pass by the McDonald’s again, and that is when I snapped the picture on my iPhone.

I immediately sent it to a few friends of mine with the caption, “You don’t see this every day! Only Down South!” and added the emoji of two hands in the air, worshipping (or at least that’s what I use that emoji for).

The next day I decided to go to that specific McDonald’s to buy a gift card and as soon as I pulled in, I saw that beautiful nativity scene with Jesus’ name and thought, “More of my friends need to see this!” So I grabbed my phone, and began to post it upon my instagram, facebook, and twitter.

 Now, most people have been asking why this was such a big deal to me. Well, I grew up in Michigan (the Mitten State) and in the specific metro Detroit area that I grew up in, you would never see anything like this on a McDonald’s store front window. Don’t get me wrong here, I love my home state of Michigan and I am proud to be a “Metro-Detroiter”, but things are different when you compare the Northern States to the Southern States. Christian beliefs are not celebrated as much in Michigan as they are in the Bible-Belt. So seeing the name of Jesus painted upon the McDonald’s store front window made my day and I wanted others to witness it as well.

 Within a few hours of posting that photo my phone was blowing up with notifications. Thousands of facebook likes, shares, and comments began to flood my screen. I was in total shock.

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And now, thanks to social media, here we are. A few days later, the simple photo that I took has gone completely viral. Local and major news outlets such as Fox News, ABC, Woman’s Day, faithit, Western Journalism, and CBN News have created story after story in regards to this one post.

Yet it all boils down to this simple matter: we are currently living in a world where talking about Jesus is considered offensive and painting a nativity scene upon a McDonald’s is redeemed as dangerous and radical. I beg to differ on those beliefs and instead I want to applaud co-owner Gina Wolfe for being the example of a Christian living out publicly what she believes inwardly.

It's about being bold, in love, for what you believe in, despite what others may say. That's what I stand for and that is why I shared the picture. I'm glad this specific McDonald's is gaining the coverage they deserve, and I am proud that God is receiving the glory for what He offered us through His Son, Jesus…and that is eternal everlasting life. That is what it's all about and that is why we celebrate Christmas.

1 John 5:11 - And this is the record, that God has given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son, (Jesus).

Amy Basel

The Waiting Room

We've all been there. Before every appointment we've ever walked into, we first had to take a seat in the waiting room. I am not sure about you, but I have been in a lot of those. Depending on certain situations in your life, you may have sat in more waiting rooms than you ever would have imagined. Yet there are certain things that I have noticed. 

1. Waiting rooms can be uninteresting and boring.
2. They are filled with material items to help pass the time.
3. Time always seems to go by super slow.
4. They are temporary.

Taking a seat in the waiting room before the actual appointment is not your final destination. You are there, being held, before your appointed time. Then when you are finally called, you enter through the door and now you have stepped into the actual reason why you showed up in the first place. 

Life is kind of like that, isn't it?

There are times in our lives when we know God has called us someplace, He has set that appointment for us, but before we can enter through that new door, we must wait. My question to you is this...

What do you do while you're waiting?

I like to sit in these waiting rooms and watch people. Ok, I know that sounds kind of creepy (haha) but stick with me, I'm going somewhere with this. 

I like to sit in these waiting rooms and I enjoy observing how people choose to use the waiting. You see, I grew up in a generation where we didn't have iPads and iPhones to pass the time. Instead, whatever the waiting room provided, that is what we used to occupy ourselves. Magazines, televisions, puzzles, toys, making conversations with others, etc...whatever you enjoyed, that is what you chose. Now a days, you sit in a waiting room and everyone is glued to their phones and tablets. Who knows what they are looking at, but it has their attention. If you are a people person like me, forget about starting a conversation with a stranger to pass the time, this is a rarity now a days.

Maybe you find yourself in a waiting room right now.

You know the promise God has provided, yet the door hasn't been opened for you to walk through yet. What are you choosing to do to pass the time?

The way you spend your "waiting" says a lot about who you are. 

Choose to spend your time wisely.
Choose to spend your time honoring God.

Psalm 27:14 - Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.

Below I have listed some ideas to help you conquer this season of waiting.

Enjoy, and get ready:
The season of waiting is just that: A Season.

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3 Ways to Conquer Your Season
 

1. Get in the Word: Invest in something that promises an eternal reward. No time spent in the Word of God is ever wasted time. 

2. Start Preparing: What is it that you are waiting for?
    - A Job? - Start your resume!
    - A Spouse? - Pray for them daily!
    - A Pregnancy? - Prepare the nursery!
    - A Financial breakthrough? Sow into the Kingdom!
Start lining things up in your life right now so that when the waiting season is over, you are READY!

3. Pray - This is self explanatory. It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 to pray without ceasing. This means your prayers have no finish line! You keep praying, asking, believing, and calling forth what you know is already yours by faith and by the Word!

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Isaiah 40:31 - But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

We're in this together,

Amy Basel

Echoing Accusations

Have you ever watched a child as they go about their day? Children have the most beautiful confidence. They can gaze into a mirror, dance around wildly, and have the most extravagant faith with absolutely no insecurity.

When did we lose that same brilliance? 

You know, many times when I watch my little 4 year old niece, she is without a care in the world.

It doesn't matter if her clothes are matching and she could care less if her hair is perfectly styled. She also sits down for lunch to eat however much she wants and doesn't think twice about counting calories. As a matter of fact, I am positive she hasn't the slighted clue that calories even exist. Life for my niece is pretty simple.

While watching her, I can't help but internalize and think back to when I had that kind of innocence. My biggest problem at her age was trying to figure out what Disney Sing-a-long tape I would watch for that day.

Then I grew up.

I tried to pin-point when it was that my childhood innocence began to diminish. 

Then I remember the echoing accusations.

You see, the devil likes to start pin-pointing our insecurities at a young age.

I can remember back to first grade when I would compare my $10 vinyl Kmart backpack to all the other children's $25 Disney backpacks. Mine had that replica of Cinderella instead of the real one. I loved that backpack until I looked at everyone else's. All of a sudden, mine wasn't all that great anymore. 

Then I grew older. 

Comparing backpacks turned into comparing hair, faces, body types and how much (or little) money your family had compared to others.

The echoing accusations of the devil started off so simple and overtime grew into something so large.

Listen, I am going to be completely honest with you: I still tend to struggle with my self-image. 

For women, I notice we feel inadequate when it comes to appearance, and for men, I notice most feel inadequate when it comes to being a provider. And what do we all have in common with one another when it comes to the echoing accusations of the devil? 

"Not being good enough"

Maybe you have bought into that lie before?

Often without any fight at all, we simply settle to believe that we are living in lack. We automatically assume that when someone has something we don't, God's supply has depleted and we have been robbed.

We must get back to the basics and realize the true war at hand.

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The devil is the accuser of the brethren as it says in Revelation 12:10...

"Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down."

Yet even more so, the devil is also called the father of lies. In a strategic debate between God and man, Jesus paints us the most precise portrait of the enemy found in John 8:44...

"For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies."

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Any thought that does not align with the Word of God is an accusation from the enemy and every accusation from the enemy is a lie.

However, did you know you have the power to determine whether you will entertain an accusation or not? Romans 12:2 is the proof...

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

We have the choice to test every thought to determine it's truth. We must begin to look at ourselves through the lens of God's Word instead of the devil's kaleidoscope of lies.

We must return back to the simplicity of a child. 

And what is that, you ask?

To simply have faith that we are exactly who God says we are.

2 Corinthians 5:17- Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

1 Peter 2:9 - But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Let's not lose sight over what truly matters. Let's not forget about Whose image we are created in.

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I want to pray with you real quick. You are wonderful just the way you are and no accusation brought against you can hinder that. Some of you have been holding onto some words spoken over you for a very long time. Others can pin-point that exact moment when satan started to accuse and lie to you.

It's time to break the echoing sounds of accusations.

“Lord bring us back to the simplicity of being confident and comfortable in our own skin simply because we do not know anything better. Help us to see ourselves through Your eyes again, instead of the distorted and manipulated vision that the world has given us. Bring us back to Your Word when we forget who we are. For way too long we have settled for these lies. Come and teach us how to love us the way that you do. Nothing more, nothing less.

In Jesus Name...”

Love you and praying for you,
Amy Basel

Why God Makes Promises

I have a simple question for you...

Has anyone ever made you a promise before?

I am going to assume your answer was, yes. 

My next question...

Did they keep that promise to you?

Ah...see, this is where we will start to experience some mixed answers.

But what I want to focus on, however, is the whole point to making a promise. 

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The dictionary definition goes as follows:

PROMISE
1. a declaration that something will or will not be done.
2. an express assurance on which expectation is to be based.

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You see, a promise is usually given to a person in regards to a future circumstance/event. Yet, I want you to notice something. A promise is usually given about something that is not obvious to the natural eye.

Follow me here for a second...

What if I promised you that the sun was going light up the entire earth tomorrow?

Or what if I promised you that tomorrow I would remain a female? (Ok side note: I know in this day & age that changing your gender is embraced, but that doesn't mean it is accurate and right. Ok, wisely moving forward...) 

Making these apparent promises would be silly, I know. But why? 

Because it's obvious.

You would probably look at me and say, "Why are you promising something that is easily perceived? You don't have to promise me that the sun will shine tomorrow, because I know it will! You don't have to promise me you will wake up a female tomorrow, God made you that way!"

You see, we never promise things to people that are obvious.

Instead, we make a promise in regards to something that will more than likely be contradicted at some point.

Which brings me to the entire point of this blog post. 

There is a promise that God has given us that I believe we tend to struggle with the most. Here it is...

Hebrews 13:5...“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
 

I want you to realize something today: God does not promise obvious things. Instead, God promises us things that at some point, will be challenged with contradictions! 

He promises us that He will never leave us nor forsake us, because He knew at some point in our lives, it may look like He isn't there! It may look like He has forgotten and left us on our own! 

And so, He made the simple promise to assure us, that no matter what season we are in, no matter what comes our way, He will never leave us, nor will He ever forsake us. Never.

So, for someone, I believe this was the reminder you needed. That what God has promised, He has kept. He is not like man, where He will make a promise and lie. He is not like man to even over promise and under-deliver. NO! He is God; all knowing, all sufficient and omnipotent! His Word goes out and it never returns back to Him as void.

Are you in need of a sure foundation? Stand upon His Word. Stand upon the One who has promised, that you will never be alone. Stand upon Christ. The one, true, Promise of the Father.
 

Psalm 119:49-50 - Remember Your promise to me; it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.

Amy Basel

Responding to the Invitation of Change

Change is a bittersweet yet an inevitable necessity to life.

For some, change is an exciting adventure into the great unknown, but for others, change is a fight against the clock of time. Our flesh desires complacency accompanied by comfort, yet our heart yearns for expansion with the promise of advancement. One produces stagnation, the other requires change. Both in which are left for us to choose.
 

Making decisions requires strength.

It is our present experiences with The Lord that bring us hope for the future things to come. When you invest time into His love, you become enlightened to things you may have never noticed before. In the light of His love, you will soon come to realize the vanity of your former work. So often we become entangled and infatuated with what MAN has entrusted us with, that we neglect what GOD has truly ordained us for. Coming to the realization of this, however, reflects God’s mercy and compassion illuminating through His unmerited grace. His light dispels the darkness that tries to remain in us. The process of revelation of self may be painful at first, but God so graciously uncovers the tough flesh to intimately recover the fragile heart.

If God is providing change, then He is inviting you to grow.

There are walls of religion, pain, the past, and self-defeat that have been erected in your life. This is undeniable because we live in a fallen world. However, those walls do not have to remain. The scaffolding of fear that once supported those walls have now been removed by His love, and all that is left is the demolition of strongholds that can be obtained through His Word. God has created you to live free in His love. He has ordained you to reign with authority through His Word. Yet in order to operate fully in this, we must all endure the process. 

Change is always a prerequisite to transformation.

Spend some time with Jesus right now and allow His presence to unveil the areas in your life that you have diligently ensured to keep hidden. You know, those areas that you have labeled “This is just who I am”. Ask Him to show you those areas that may be hindering you from seeing that transformation in your life, then finally allow yourself to respond.

It's time to let go and let Him lead.

Consider this your invitation…the King is waiting for you…

Amy Basel

I Was Lied To

One lie. That is all it took. The enemy picked up this one lie, pierced it through his arrow, ignited it with his flames of deceit, and shot it straight for my heart. And then the choice was mine.

Believe it, or rebuke it? 

I unfortunately chose to believe it.

And that was how my yesterday began.

This wasn't a profound, specific lie. It wasn't a lie that was delegated and positioned around something intricate in my life. It was actually very simple. It was a lie that he knew would set the entire course of my day straight down to the ground IF I chose to believe it. It was a lie that could have been extinguished by my shield of faith IF I had raised it quick enough.

Maybe you have heard this lie before?

"You're not good enough."

You see, many think that I never battle such thoughts.

"Oh Amy, you are always so positive and encouraging!"

Yes indeed and maybe that is true, but please know that I am no exception to these accusational attacks. If you choose to live your life dedicated to saving souls and encouraging others in their walk with the Lord...you will hear this lie almost every day of your life. As a matter of fact, if you simply have air in your lungs...you will hear that lie almost every day of your life. Count on it.

Alright, I know that isn't the most uplifting news, but spiritual warfare is very real and if I can be transparent with you about my battles, maybe someone will catch on and say those famous 3 words, "I'm not alone!"

And you're not.

We all are tempted daily to fall into wrong thinking.

Yet, it is how we respond that determines the rest. 

But here's the thing, I knew better. I have preached it 100 times over and I have written about it in many blogs. But how easy is it to slip into a lie if you are not properly guarding your heart?

So I want to encourage you with this today...I want to start your day off right before the devil can point his flaming arrow of lies straight to your heart.

YOU - ARE - GOOD -ENOUGH!

That is it and that is all, my friend.

You are good enough. 

So you want to encourage people but feel like no one will listen? Proclaim it from the rooftops anyway!

So you want to write a book but you don't think anyone will ever read it? Start writing the first chapter anyway!

You dream about starting your own business or ministry but don't think it will succeed? Pray, plan, and start it anyway!

The list could go on, but I mean what I am telling you today.

You are good enough, and this is how I know...

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ...”

— Ephesians 2:4-9

That right there covers it all. Write that scripture down, save it to your phone, memorize it, whatever you have to do, make sure it is rooted deep within your heart. 

Why?

Because the attacks will come. The moments of weakness will arise, and you must know the truth about who you are in Christ Jesus or you will fall for any lie satan aims your way.

I don't know about you or what you have been going through lately, but I am brushing myself off, grabbing my sword, picking up my shield and taking on this day with confidence. Not in who I am, but who He is in me. 

We're doing this together,

Amy Basel

Somewhere Only We Know

How fortunate we are.

God has given us the distinct privilege to step away from the things of this world, and dwell in a place of rest that is hidden from others. He has given us a personal invitation to partake in a journey that not many are willing to accept.

But it’s so much more than a place of rest.

It’s so much more than a hidden getaway. In the depths of His love and affirmation, this is where we find our confidence and identity. He has beckoned us to uncover His glory and in doing so, we inevitably find ourselves.

Wrapped up in all that He is, we find all that we are. 

We discover that we are as no less than perfection in His eyes. Yet this is not because of who we are, for who we are in the flesh resembles a broken arrow destined to miss the mark. Instead, we must shift our focus to a greater vision. To conceive a truth such as this, we need to look to the cross. 

The vision of the Father sees red. 

His eyes are set upon the blood. When He sees us, He sees redemption paid at a price that was far too high for us to ever comprehend. It was out of our reach, so He lifted us upon His shoulders, carried us to the threshold of eternity, and showed us our worth. One look at the cross reminds us of death, but to stare at the marks upon the hands and feet of Jesus provokes us to rejoice in LIFE. 

We have every reason to rejoice.

We have infinite, unmeasurable reasons, to be thankful. We have every reason to love with the extravagant love He has shown to us all. I cannot help but to be so overcome with gratitude in this moment, because not only did He save us with His life, but He fights for us every single day. 

He cares so deeply that we are protected. 

He goes out of His way to allow pain in our lives to be turned into passion. He releases us higher and higher as He makes our enemies as our footstool. He prepares a banquet table in the midst of our foes, and invites us to partake in intimate fellowship with no hindrances. He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father in His authority, and He patiently awaits His reward that was burned into His eyes which led Him to the cross.

He awaits us. 

Let our lips never stop giving Him praise. For He is worthy. 

---

Psalm 91

1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

3 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Amy Basel

When Circumstances Contradict God's Promises

It never looks like what you think it will.

Looking back on the major victories in my life, I never realized they were actually true victories until some time had passed. In the center of what seems like apparent defeat, God’s most profound victories arise.

This leads me to the cross.

To many, the Cross at Calvary looked like the ultimate defeat. Crucifixion was the humiliating end to a life cursed by iniquity and sin. Jesus, however, had an eternity mindset. He knew that no Word from God would ever fail, because He was (and still is) the Word from God that would never fail. He was the promise that would soon be proven as true. He was the blueprint to God’s ultimate redemption plan.

This world's perception is different.

In the natural, death resembles the absence of life. It resembles a determined end to what once had a purpose. What we fail to see though, is that the purpose never dies although the circumstances try to convince us otherwise. Jesus’ body was broken and defeated, but the purpose still remained. God was still bringing to fruition what He had destined from creation. For no Word from God shall ever fail.

Waiting is an integral part of victory.

The time inbetween His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb is left without many words to describe. A detailed description of what transpired during those three days has seemingly been left out. Why? Hungry hearts and longing minds want to know what happened in the waiting. Yet all we know is the keys were obtained from the pit of hell, and satan’s future had been sealed. Victory was ours before we actually knew…before He could even return to tell us.

Think about that for a moment…

What victory is already in your possession that you have not realized yet?

Today I want to encourage you to obtain a Kingdom mindset. To look past your present circumstances, and instead keep your vision focused on what God has already promised. Victories rarely ever look like victories when they are won after a battle. Time and patience are the perfect breeding ground for a testimony that will rightfully glorify God. When you feel tempted to wallow in discouragement and self-defeat, set your eyes upon Jesus. His death appeared to be the end because the purpose was yet to be revealed. The stepping stone to God’s promise will always contradict what the end result will soon bring. The natural will always counterattack the supernatural, but with the Holy Spirit ruling and reigning inside of you, victory is already yours. The battle was fought, the keys were taken, authority has been placed back into your hands.

Choose faith over your feelings.

Do not be intimidated by what your present circumstances are revealing. For what God has purposed and promised in your life, shall come to pass. Set your sights upon the horizon, He is ready to reveal the victory that you have already won.

Luke 1:37 - For no Word from God will ever fail.

Amy Basel - Your Path His Plan

Who The World Says You Are - Who God Says You Are

The world says you are a product of your past.

God says you are product of His future.

The world says you must earn forgiveness.

God simply says..."Forgiven".

The world says success is found within people you know.

God says success is found within Him, the only One worth knowing.

The world says true love must first be earned to be given.

God says true love was given once and now can never be earned.

Do you notice a vast chasm between the words of the world and the Word of the Lord?

---

And this brings me to what God showed me in prayer today...

Jeremiah 29:11 - "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."

The Lord has placed it upon my heart that there is someone who is deeply struggling with finding their true identity and calling in life. So much has been spoken over you, so much has been prayed for, yet you are still feeling deep down inside that there is a void. 

Yet our Father is saying, “Do not listen to the voices of man, but yield your ear and listen for mine.” 

Only the Creator can define the masterpiece. Only the author can truly explain their own handwritten story. Only the Father can truly know His child.

There are times where we feel as if God has closed a door to certain people or opportunities in life. Almost as if we have been “cut off” from something. But I am inviting you to gain a new perspective today. 

Do not look at this as a failure but instead look at it as protection.

Psalm 18:30 - As for God, His way is perfect; the Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him.

We are so easily ready to settle for something that seems “good”, because we do not fully understand the GREAT things God has in store. I don’t believe it’s the fact that we doubt God can do the impossible. For this as believers, we know very well that nothing can hinder the plans of the Lord. I do believe however, we often wonder, “But will He do it for me?” I am here to tell you that yes indeed, He shall.

I cannot begin to describe to you the many times in my life where I stumbled backwards on the top of that mountain of discouragement and unbelief. Yet as I was free-falling off the edge, it was only to find that suddenly I was suspended in mid air in the grasp of two nail-pierced hands.

You see, He never lets us go.

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never forsake you nor leave you. 

The Lord is good to those who wait. When we release our fears, our worries, and our anxieties into His hands, we experience freedom and peace that was always truly ours to begin with. In the waiting, God can do more than you could ever do by your own strength. He invites us to cast our cares upon Him because HE is the One who cares for us. Never does He tell us to go to friends, family, or even foes. No. He opens His arms wide and through His loving kindness, He invites us into His Presence. What an invitation!

We cannot do life alone simply because we never were created to. 

1 Corinthians 1:9 - God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Lord is showing me specifically that someone needs healing of their mind - wrong thinking produced by the past. So right now in this moment, I disarm all accusations and ridicule that has been sown into your life. I speak to all negativity, self-doubt, and discouragement and in the mighty name of Jesus I revoke all damage that has been done to your heart. I plead the blood of Jesus over your present circumstances and all that rests in your future. You have the mind of Christ and greater is He who lives within you then he, the accuser, who lives in this world. Trouble may fester, but power is yours. Defeat may seem evident, but victory has risen. You can and you will, succeed, simply because you are His.

Keep your lamp filled with oil.

Luke 12:35 - Be dressed, ready for service, and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when He comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for Him. 

Speak to your soul and demand that it may not be deceived. For those who wait upon the Lord shall never grow weary. Those who wait upon the Lord are fulfilled abundantly. Your identity is love and in that love you find the Father. Your image reflects and portrays the very image of God. No one else. Just God. The reason we often feel desolate is because we look to others to find our identity. We look to other callings, other voices, other jobs, other addictions, other people, and we expect to somehow find our calling and our purpose wrapped up in them. This type of deception is meant to distract you from the ultimate truth.

Who you are is wrapped up tightly in your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

All that He is, is all that you are. No more and most definitely no less.

Standing with you today & always,

Amy

I Have Seen The Lord!

Miracles always seem to transpire when it is most impossible and when you least expect it.

Mary came to the tomb to find that it was empty.

This was a "weeping may endure for the night but joy comes in the morning", moment. 

Without immediate recognition, Jesus stood before her and she was none the wiser to His appearance. 

He was different.

Yet, (with goosebumps I type this), the moment Jesus spoke her name...Mary's heart recognized Him instantly. 

Something just happens when He calls us by name. I can't explain it, but the creation always responds to the Creator, and in that moment, our eyes are opened to Him. 

"My Sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me." - Jesus (John 10:27)

Her reaction is what I love.

She clung to Him.

Oh, to cling to the risen body of Jesus the Messiah!

I don't blame her, I don't blame her one bit! 

To lose Him once was far too much, she wanted to make sure this time that she would never let Him go.

He, however, had not gone to the Father yet, so instructed her to instead go and tell the disciples of the good news.

Once again, He was still on a mission to complete His Father's will.

Can you imagine the excitement stirring in the heart of Mary Magdalene as she ran back to the disciples after having a one-on-one conversation with her risen Savior right outside of the empty tomb?

Can you conjure up the conversations she probably had within herself as she tried to plan out just exactly what she would say the moment they would open the door to her?

Jesus had told His disciples that on the third day, He would rise. Yet the devastation of losing their Lord, Rabbi, Leader and friend left His disciples distraught, confused, frightened, and indignant. 

I'm sure Mary tried to collect herself and her thoughts before entering upon the place where the disciples were hiding out. I'm sure she expected them to consider her mad and absolutely bewildered for claiming to have seen Jesus alive.

But you see, when you have an encounter with Jesus...you get radical. 

You don't need all the how's and why's answered.

You don't require proof to believe. 

And you certainly lose the right to care about what others are going to think of you. 

Mary pounded on that door and as soon as it opened from the other side, all plans of staying calm were forgotten, 

"I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!!!!!!"

And I am sure that with tears streaming down her face, she made her way past Peter, moved alongside John, and began to testify to all that Jesus had said to her at the empty tomb.

From that day on, we too hold the same testimony as Mary.

No matter what you have gone through or what you have endured, once you encounter Jesus, you are never the same.

Once you truly realize all that Jesus saved you from, you too will run to the world, tears in your eyes, to proclaim with boldness,

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD!!!

He is risen, my friend. 

Just like He said.

We cannot be silent.

The world needs to know.

Our King, our Yeshua, our Messiah is alive!

And we will sing His praises forever,

Amy Basel

OVER / UNDER - Where Faith & Fear Collide

Imagine what Peter was thinking when he climbed over the soaked, wooden railings to release himself onto the water.

Imagine his closest friends as they desperately beckoned him back into the security and comfort of the boat.  

Yet, Peter had an invitation to respond to. An invitation that separated him from the others. An invitation to step out onto the unknown. With his eyes fixated on Jesus and his vision locked on Truth, he answered yes to the Lord’s call, and by faith, he began to walk.

Looking back on the moments in my life where I had to cross over the great waters of fear on a small, crumbling bridge of faith, the world watched closely and immediately discounted me as “crazy”.

Why?

Great faith never makes sense to those who are not walking in it.

You see, faith doesn’t ask questions. Faith believes the call is superior to the answers. Our faith in God has to be greater than our fear of the outcome, because sometimes the outcome isn’t the focal point of the call. Instead, it is what happens in the process that fulfills what God had intended all along-- to strengthen our faith in Him.

With wide eyes on Jesus and an eager heart, Peter walked on water. He didn’t require detailed instructions or a blueprint explaining how it would all unfold. Instead, Jesus beckoned him to come, and so he walked. With each step that Peter took, he was demanding the sea to bow to the authority of his faith. With each step he took, he was displaying the incredible example of impossibilities being demolished by having faith in the One who had called him.

Then, all of a sudden, a storm erupted. Dark, thick waves hurled themselves violently against Peter’s drenched body. A tornado of strong winds swirled around the sea, demanding his attention. And in that moment, Peter was overcome by fear. He unfastened his eyes from the Lord’s, looked upon the storm that was surrounding him, and he plunged into the deep sea below.

Let me ask you...

What do you do when you find yourself sinking beneath what you once were standing upon?

I am talking to those of you right now who have become overwhelmed in the process. I am reaching out to you, the ones who have found themselves overtaken by fear, discouragement, and no motivation to move forward. How do you regain the confidence and faith that moved you to say yes in the beginning? In order for me to reveal the answer, let’s go back to the story.

With fear as an anchor, Peter began to sink in the very water he just walking on moments before. Yet it’s what happens next that transformed his incredible test into a victorious testimony.

In Matthew 14:30, the moment Peter began to sink, he cried out for Jesus to save him! 

We are not told that he kicked and screamed and tried to save himself. Instead, we are told that he instantly placed his faith back into Jesus, having just lost it to fear moments before! Jesus then immediately reached down and pulled Peter from the water…He pulled Peter from the finale of his fear. You see, in that water, although fallen, he was not defeated.

How is this possible?

Because The One who calls you onto the water is faithful to save when you sink into the water.

So, take heart today. If you find yourself surrounded by fear, doubt or discouragement, close your eyes and go back to the beginning. Travel back to the moment where your faith was stronger than the impossibilities. Remember why you stepped out in the first place; He called you.

Amy Basel 

Beneficial Brokenness

Psalm 147:3 - He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

When we open our bibles to the New Testament and we learn of all the miraculous healings that Jesus displayed for the world to see, I notice a pattern in each and every single one of them; although He healed the body, He was really after their heart.

Jesus is attracted to brokenness.

He constantly has an inclined ear to the silent cries of a heart once whole, yet now remains dismembered. He sees the pieces of a shattered life and He runs. The difference, however, between man and Jesus is; man runs FROM the mess, but Jesus intentionally runs not only TO it, but right directly in the CENTER of it. He isn’t put off by our struggles. He doesn’t shy away when He sees open, bleeding wounds that still linger from our past. Instead, He is so moved with compassion by our pain and brokenness, that He sees Himself as the only One fit to heal us and make us whole.

He unveils what we try to conceal.

It’s in the broken heart and the wounds from our past that God displays His best miracles. So often we try to hide areas that we know would seem ugly to the world. Embarrassment sets in as we realize that although we are “saved”, we are still struggling with deep-rooted issues. “How could this be possible?”, we wonder. “If anyone sees this thing that I struggle with, what would they possibly think of me?” This is a burden that many of us are carrying, yet we were never required to. 

I want to share something with you today that the Lord spoke to my heart very recently in regards to brokenness…

The 2 Loaves and 5 Fish.

When Jesus was about to feed the 5000 men (not even counting the women and children), He was provided with 2 loaves of bread and 5 fish from a young boy who gave Him all that he had. What was given to Jesus clearly was not enough to satisfy the masses of people at hand, but Jesus never looked at what He had in the natural, He always looked ahead to what His Father had in store for Him in the supernatural. Jesus had stunning faith. He took with Him all that He had in His possession, and He went over to a quiet place to meet with God. It says in the New Testament that He raised the bread to Heaven, blessed it, then He broke it. This is when the miracle took place. God provided enough bread and fish to not only satisfy the hunger of His followers, but He also made sure that more would be left over to always remind them that He is the God of MORE than enough. He meets our needs, then He exceeds them. 

The revelation to this story, however, begins to illuminate the power of brokenness. As I was in prayer, the Lord began to take me on a journey to show me that there is a process to His purpose…

What God blesses must also be broken so the purpose is fulfilled. 

Jesus took the bread, He blessed it, He broke it, then it was distributed to fulfill the purpose. So it is the same in our lives. Often God blesses us, He breaks us to fully receive the blessing, and then with a humble and contrite heart, we are able to fulfill His purpose. But why the brokenness? Couldn’t God fulfill His purpose without the painful process of breaking us? I believe He could, but allow me to ask you this one question... 

When do you find yourself clinging to God the most in your life; in your abundant season, or in your brokenness?

Brokenness is designed to bring us closer to God, so HE can heal us and use us to fulfill His purpose. There are some areas in our lives that He breaks open, just so He can shine His glorious light to reveal to us His healing power. It’s in our weakness that His strength is shown at it’s greatest. It’s in our limitations where God receives His glory. 

I want to encourage you and leave you with something that the Lord has specifically spoken to my heart…

" I am not going anywhere, my child. I cannot be moved by your circumstances, and I cannot be shaken by your struggles. I meet you in your weakness. Before you can even lift yourself from the dirt, I come down to show you that I am not ashamed of where you are. You are never too broken for my love. You are never to weak for my compassion. You are never to lost for my leadership. I shall never deny you, my beloved. I shall never turn my head in shame. You are one that I have placed upon my arm for the world to see. You are one that I have given my light to shine to the nations. There has never been a moment that has ever existed where my eyes have been lifted from your face. I am very intentional with you and through all the pain and sorrow, I have been precisely healing your broken heart and binding every wound from your past. You shall know my love greater through this. For I have said, ‘Blessed are those who are poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.’ I tell you as truth my Child, to be broken and shunned by the world, means to be healed and welcomed by Me. Receive my love and keep your eyes on me. I am making all things new."

Your Heavenly Father, God Almighty

Amy Basel

A Diamond In The Rough

Rare things hold incredible value.

As a matter of fact, some of the most valuable things upon this earth such as Pearls, Gold, and Diamonds first start off completely buried and entirely hidden where their existence hasn’t been made known to man…yet. 

Think about the life of a Pearl and how it is obtained. It starts off hidden in a process of refinement within an Oyster and ends up in a showcase to be sought after by the world. Divers not only have to go to great depths to find the right Oysters, but they also have to go through the incredible process of extracting the Pearl. Yet, the value is great so the work is worth every moment.

What about the process of Gold? Miners have to dig into the depths of the earth and shuffle past large amounts of dirt to find gold among dust and clay. Gold can also be found within large rocks. Fine chiseling must be done at precise angles to ensure the Gold can be extracted out of the rock at the proper time without any harm being inflicted. Then, because there are still many impurities, the Gold must be cleaned and sent through fire in order to be purified.

I left the example of the diamond for last because it is most dear to my heart. The process of a Diamond has always demanded my attention. It has always provoked my interest. You see, in the beginning, a diamond is merely carbon but is also known as the hardest mineral on earth. However, like all things, a process is attached to determine the beautiful outcome. When the diamond goes through the process of extreme temperatures, diligent mining, precise cutting, and then firm polishing, it becomes the most precious and sought after gemstone in the all the world. It’s beauty and value far exceeds it's originality before the process it had to endure to become what it is the day that it is placed in that display case. It has a remarkable story to tell. Its journey is breathtaking.

 You know, that diamond is a lot like you.

There was a time where you didn’t feel like you were much of anything. Unnoticed by the crowd, if you had to place all your chips on one determination you could have sworn you were invisible to everyone around you. The world hardened your heart, and your hope for a future to come was bleak.

Yet, God saw more and when God sees more, that is enough.

 And so through the furnace of affliction and fire, He began to purify you in the secret and hidden place. Old traits, wrong mindsets, and all insecurities began to swiftly melt away from your true form. Yet, still hidden, you were covered from the sight of all things seen to the natural eye. You felt as though you were as normal as they come, but deep inside you were unaware of the treasure soon to be found.

Soon, the process of extraction came.

Very Slowly, God began to pull you out. He pursued you with specific intention and radical determination. You had never known such love! No human being had ever attempted to win your heart in such an extravagant way. God invested in you. He pulled up His sleeves of righteousness and wasn’t put off by your location. Instead, He began to dig. Layers and layers of unaccounted for years were being pressed aside. Layers and layers of disappointments, discouragement and pain were being uprooted. Just like His perfect love, the Hands of God fiercely began to cast aside every diameter of fear faster than it had ever been planted. You were completely uncovered. Light illuminated your face for the very first time. Cradled within the hands of your Creator, God lifted you out of the depths of an old life, and brought you into His glorious light. Through all the lonely years of being hidden, you had now been found.

The process of cutting and polishing soon transpired.

This was a season of great affliction, yet powerful transformation. You prayed to be blessed; yet in return you were pressed. You tried to walk fierce, yet crumbled when you were pierced. God became the Great Physician to you in a personal and intimate way. Before the healing could transpire, the incision needed to be made. Sometimes the pain was numbed; other times He allowed the sting of removal to grip your heart. “Must it be so painful, Lord?” You couldn’t understand why He would allow such a thing. He never appeared to be more silent than during the surgery. It wasn’t that He was neglecting your comfort; He just had His eye on the finished masterpiece. He knew that through the cutting away of all that didn’t reflect Him, you would transform into the child He created you to be. He knew that through the intense pressure of polishing every dimension of your character, you would soon shine brighter for His glory. The cutting and polishing was painful, but the cutting and polishing was necessary to grow.

 And so, it is here now you stand.

Purged from the world, Pierced by His Word, and Pressed for His glory. You are now positioned for greatness. I want you to take a moment to reflect and count the cost. He found you, He loved you as you were, yet loved you enough not to keep you that way. The story you carry and the journey you have made is one not to be taken lightly. You suffered much loss along the way, but inherited much gain through the riches of His love. It was worth every moment, wasn’t it? You can truly say that, “to live is Christ and to die is gain” all the while your heart reflects every word of it. God can trust you and He knows you are faithful. He can now set you directly in the center of this broken and fragile world, knowing that you will radiate His love by leading others into His arms. Yet this time, you won’t blend in with the crowd, you’ll come out from among them and lead the crowd. 

 You see, He is calling you by a new name.

 He has stood to declare of who you are,

 Listen as He proclaims,

 “Precision by my hand has caused you to shine. Many facets have been added to your heart that is of mine. Ah, yes! Beautiful in my sight, only purified eyes can recognize your worth! You are the prize of my suffering. You are my Pearl of Great Price and your value surpasses that of gold. Treasures of deep wisdom adorn your inner most thoughts. I tell you as truth, for I see what the world has yet to see.

 You are my Diamond in the rough!”

Amy Basel 

The Great Gardener

The Preparation through planting & God's heart through the process.

It's incredible to me that in the middle of a mundane and ordinary day, God sees it fit to show up when you least expect Him to. Last summer, I was working at a church, and during one of those mundane and ordinary days, the Lord did just that. Almost like the story of the Samaritan woman at the well found in John 4, I found myself in the center of an appointment with Eternity Himself that I had no idea I was attending until He walked in. I was simply being obedient and faithful in the seemingly small thing God had given me for that day. 

You see, when God speaks, He uncovers. When God uncovers, He reveals.

Things that may not have been apparent to you, will suddenly be unveiled in His presence.

That is exactly what happened to me on this particular day that I had a date with destiny. I was in the middle of watering some flowers, and that is when I received a revelation that absolutely stunned me.

God spoke...

In one of the small plastic pots, there were 3 hyacinths. These particular flowers have a very large bulb attached to the bottom of them in which holds in all of the nutrients, and this is also where the roots originate and spring forth. Well, being that these flowers had not been watered in almost a week, the soil was incredibly dry with many cracks, and the hyacinths began to uproot themselves out of this neglected soil. The further these flowers pushed themselves out of the soil, the more they began to fall almost completely over and separate themselves entirely from the soil and the pot itself. I tried to place the flower back into its designated spot, but because the soil was so dry, it just crumbled all around the flower and could not hold it up. These flowers were in desperate need of water! I filled up a cup of water and began to pour it into the dry soil. In just seconds, every particle of soil was completely saturated. I gently picked the hyacinth back up and placed it in it’s designated spot, but it still wouldn’t stay. That is when I realized I needed to apply some pressure to it so that it could sink in deep to where it once was originally placed. I gently pressed the bulb back into the soil and applied pressure to it so the roots could began to grow deep once again. I packed down the wet soil all around the once exposed bulb, and within seconds, the flower was tightly packed back in place and standing tall.

As I did this, God began to show me something:

• The Flower represents: Us
• The Soil: Our Heart
• The Pot: Preparation (Where God has placed us for a season)
• The Water: Jesus (The Word, The Living Water)

You see, we first need to realize the nature of the plant. These specific flowers are not meant to stay in the pot for their entire lives. The pot only allows the flower a limited place to grow, thus the pot’s purpose is to hold the flower so it can began to grow and produce roots. The pot serves the purpose of preparation. Yet after its intended purpose is completed, the flower is then uprooted from the pot and it is then planted into a garden where there is unlimited space to grow. The flower never asks the Gardner WHY it is in the pot and for how long it will stay, the flower simply does only what it is meant to do; grow.

Are you seeing the similarity in this to your own life? I sure did. 

The Lord began to speak to my heart as I was taking care of this flower and this is what He said…

“I have started you off in this place in your life and during this season so you can learn and began to produce and strengthen your roots. My child, this is your foundational preparation. You are in need of two things to grow; the Sun (My Son, Jesus), and Water (The Word, The Living Water). If you are not in contact and close relationship with what I have provided for you, certain things begin to take place. 

You will become dry. The saturation of my Word is what keeps you sturdy and standing tall. The living Water is what quenches your thirst. You see, it would be of no use to an actual plant to be watered with anything but water itself. Would a Gardner saturate their flowers with, dare I say juice? I should say not! The flowers need only Water; anything that tries to replace this water will only harm the plant. So it is with my people. Without my Word, without my teachings, my people are left dry and desolate. If they try to strengthen themselves with anything else, it will only end up harming them. So often, the Word is not considered an option to help them grow. They refrain from the Water completely. In doing so, they begin to prematurely uproot themselves from where I have placed them. Their heart becomes dry, cracked, and hardened. Their once pliable heart was saturated with my Word, therefore they did not move. Yet now, they fall away. They fall to their own destruction. I have given them Water but they would not receive it. They think they know better than I! How foolish for the creation to tell the Creator “NO” when a helping and nurturing hand is extended! Just as a plant begins to wilt and lose its color, so do my people slump down into depression and lose their vibrancy of life! 

Yet I wait. I wait with diligent patience. Then when I am invited back in, I water them with the Word and life begins to enter into their once dry and desolate hearts. It is then that their hearts have been made pliable again. I gently press them back into their preparation, and I apply pressure onto them to ensure their foundation is sturdy. This is not to hurt them, but to strengthen them. And so their roots begin to grow and my plans begin to come to fruition. 

Yet only I know the desired time of uprooting. Where I have placed you to grow, I also have not declared that this is where you will permanently stay. In the appointed time of uprooting, a Gardner digs away and begins to separate the flower from the soil. So it is with my people; I gently begin to remove things out of their life, I separate them from what once held them. I separate them from relationships, friendships, daily patterns, and even locations. I then remove them from preparation and I plant them into their calling. I do nothing out of order, nor do I remove too soon. I know the precise timing for all things, and in all things this is for the good of my people. I am a God of love, thus I lavish love. Never mistake my preparation for you as negligence to your feelings. It is much better for you to withstand the waiting of preparation, than to push your way through without the foundation you would have received if you had waited on my timing. Do you see my heart in this? I hold no good thing from you, instead, I hold onto you for the good thing. My preparation is in love. I always handle you with my everlasting love. For I AM the Great Gardener; through Me all has been created and it is through me that all shall be sustained.”

I pray today that you are encouraged in this simple Truth: the One whom has planted you, knows exactly what you need in order to grow. The One whom is providing all you need to grow, is faithful to make sure you are taken care of in the process.

Be patient, be steadfast. 

He who began a good work in you, is faithful to complete it.

Amy Basel

EL ROI - The God who Sees Me

Search the scriptures, and you will find that God has many descriptive names. Search the scriptures and you will see that to each person, in every season, God has become something to them that they never would have experienced if they had not go through that victory, hardship, crises, or trial. He is the GREAT I AM, yes indeed. However, He is also a God of many attributes.

Have you ever prayed the prayer, "Lord, I want to know You more?" 

I know I have. Many times I have cried out in desperation to know God more. With this plea, you need to also realize, it is an invitation. When you tell God that you want to know Him more, you also need to prepare yourself for how He will answer. And just to give you a sneak-peak to the upcoming answer; He almost always answers through personal experience. 

So, recently I prayed that prayer, and today He answered. Yet the answer given wasn't delivered in the way that I had originally expected, and you know what? It never usually is. I love that so much about God. He could have pointed me to scripture, led me to the right book to read, or He even could have spoken through a friend. Instead, He chose to reveal Himself to me through experience. I had to go through something to experience a side of Him that I had, until today, only heard of. 

EL ROI (el raw-EE) - The God who sees me

There is only one place in the bible where you hear of God being called this name, and I want to take you there right now to give you better understanding.

Abram and Sarai (soon to be Abraham and Sarah), were promised a child by God in their old age and Abram was to be the Father of Many Nations.  Although this was absolutely impossible in the natural, God was ready to prove Himself strong through the supernatural. And so, Abram and Sarai waited. Year after year the promise seemed more far off than the year before, yet they continued to wait upon the Lord. Well, there came a time where Sarai decided to take matters into her own hands. 

Sarai decided to give her Egyptian slave, Hagar to her husband Abram to conceive this child that God had promised. And so, Abram slept with Hagar and Hagar became pregnant with a son. Not the son that God had promised, but a son produced through the plans of man. Because of this incident, Hagar was treated badly by Sarai so Hagar decided to run away into the desert. Distressed, depressed, and without hope, Hagar laid in the desert by a stream, and an Angel of the Lord come to her and encouraged her to go back to Sarai and Abram. He then revealed to her that she was in fact pregnant with a son to which she would name Ishmael

Restored in spirit, Hagar then responded, and her response is the foundation of what I am speaking to you about today, 

Genesis 16:13 - She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."

Take a moment and think about that. 

It is not just the fact that God is all-knowing and sees all things. It goes deeper. It zones in on the simple truth that God sees us in our despair, our quiet desperation, and in our present struggle. Through this, He reveals to us a new facet of His love...

He sees us.

Yet, not only does He see us, He then shows us that because He sees us, He will also reach out His hand of comfort and compassion to rescue us. Why is it so important to God that we know He sees us? Because it is just one of the many facets that proves His great love for us. It is just one of the ways that He has confirmed to us that we are truly never alone. 

I am not sure where you find yourself today, but for some, this may be the moment that everything "clicks" for you. Maybe you are all too familiar with the sting of rejection. Or maybe you have been rattled one too many times with the feelings of being lonely, forgotten, overlooked, or even misplaced. For some of you, maybe all you've ever known was a life of hidden secrets, abuse, and the overwhelming fact that no one understands or even cares. I get that, and I am fully aware that knowing God as The God who sees me can be incredibly difficult to comprehend.

But let me open your eyes to something; you are in a very intricate position to truly experience Him in this profound way. You have the opportunity to believe with all of your heart that God is, El Roi, the God who always sees you, always knows you and always understands you, even in your suffering. 

I invite you today to take a moment, close your eyes, and ask God to reveal Himself to you as El Roi, the God who sees you.

Because sometimes...just knowing that God sees you...is more than enough.

Here are a few words the Lord placed upon my heart for you today,

"I am not far off as you have assumed. I am not silent as you have believed me to be. I am everywhere and in all places, beloved. I am in your suffering, your impatience, your hopelessness, and your pain. I am your present peace, I am your eternal comforter, I am your faithful companion, your constant Friend. Yet even more, I am your protecting Father. Nothing escapes my sight. You have never wandered too far, you have never disappointed me to leave. Instead, I am. I AM because I AM here...even now. Do not look back, for I do not dwell in your past. Do not run ahead, for I am not living in your future. I cannot be confined to time, nor can my presence be measured by your days. Rest that I am with you now, for I am the God who sees you, who knows you, who hears you, who understands you, and who loves you.

Be still...know that I AM."

Amy Basel

When Your Purpose & Calling Seem Unclear

I believe there comes a time where God brings us right to the threshold of our destiny and then stops us suddenly before we cross over into our appointed calling. It’s not an abrupt halt to where He has suddenly changed His mind and contemplates to turn back. Instead, I see it as a way for Him to grasp our attention before we step into the ultimate answer of our prayers. The freewill God has granted unto us has ultimately and faithfully given us an intersection...a choice; Our plans and desires, or His.

When we come to the true revelation that we are indeed the beloved of God, our next desire is to fully come to the understanding of what our calling is...what God designed us for. I have met many people in the past few years who have shown extravagant love for Jesus, but yet still hold the heart-wrenching void of not fully knowing what God has called them to do while traveling this short time on earth. The Word of God reminds us that life is but a vapor in comparison to eternity, and with age, we learn that our clock on the wall is merely a measurement of that reality. Many have considered and accepted the fact that when they finally figure out their calling, then they will have a purpose. This couldn’t be further from the truth. As a matter of fact, it is the other way around; because you have a purpose, you do in fact have a calling.

The problem is our perspective. 

This world has continuously drilled it into our minds that we must BECOME someone that fits the social standard in order to finally obtain some sort of "worth". Adoration is gathered through empty compliments, love is generated through lustful desires, pain can be numbed by the help of man-made prescriptions, wealth can replace faith and inevitably move mountains if you have enough of it, the list of backward ideologies could go on forever but I’m sure you are aware of the point I am trying to make. We have countless opportunities to find our worth, our destiny, and our purpose in things that will one day fade away.

As humans, we ache for the unconditional in a limited and conditional world.

We want so badly to fit into something that we really were never created to ever fit into. We were meant to add to this world by holding supreme authority and existing in it, not blending in and becoming apart of it. 

I can’t help but think of John 15:16 when I reflect on the purpose & calling of God. Do you want to know what your calling is? Listen to what Jesus said…

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you."

Wow! His purpose for us is to simply abide in Him as He is the vine and us being the branches, and He has appointed us to bear fruit. Why has He appointed us to bear fruit? So that WHATEVER we ask for from the Father in His precious name, shall be given to us. Our main goal, besides loving Jesus extravagantly, should be to bear fruit. If we bypass this critical calling, how do we honestly expect to go to the Father in prayer for other things that we may need upon this earth? If we do not realize that the fruit of the spirit is a “need” rather than a “want”, then our misplacement of that first priority will determine the outcome of the rest of our lives and what we end up doing on this earth. 

Our first calling is to love the Lord our God with everything that we have.

Along with that comes abiding in Jesus and continuously producing fruit so that in all things He may be glorified not only to the world, but in our personal lives and in our prayers to obtain things in the future. After this comes the actual earthly calling God has placed upon each and everyone of us. But we must realize that without the first two already in order in our lives, finding our earthly calling will be difficult to obtain and impossible to hold onto. 

A blessing is truly not a blessing if you are not ready to receive it.

God will not place something upon you that He knows will end up destroying you. He first prepares you before He positions you. He does His good work IN you before He sets you on fire for the world to bring that good work THROUGH you. He loves you far too much than to catapulte you into your calling unprepared. Don’t curse this process on the way to your blessing, it’s your attitude that God wants to perfect. He desires for you to obtain and produce all of the fruit of the spirit. Why? Because without them, you will never be able to successfully walk and operate in the calling He has placed upon your life. 

My advice to you is very simple: Take one day at a time and be patient with yourself.

I hate to break it to you, but YOU are the one surprised by your weakness, not God. He knew exactly what He was getting into when He called you forth and still He called you anyways.  He isn’t surprised and put off by your struggles. No, not in the least. He rejoices in them for that is when He can become your perfect strength.

So before you decide to stop believing, before you allow yourself to become weary, realize that you may be closer to the revealing of your calling than you naturally think. God sometimes takes a “pause” right before the big breakthrough. He likes to stand you up, brush you off, and square your shoulders back before He has you walk through that door to blow this world away with what He has placed inside of you. Enjoy this moment and be glad, for God is at work.

You are closer than you think. 

Galations 5:22-23 - But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Amy Basel

The Ultimate Transaction

It almost seems impossible to think of a time where we could forgive or be forgiven, in a flawless nature. “You can surely forgive, but don’t you dare forget”, the world screams so violently at us. With all of the strings that have been attached, and all of the fine print that has been notated, forgiveness seems to exist, but most definitely not without a price. Yet before you start rummaging through your belongings to figure out the exact change for this debt, I want to invite you take a closer look at the price tag that the world has attached to your forgiveness.

You see, 2000 years ago, a flawless man by the name of Jesus walked upon this earth. How was He flawless? He was fully man, fully God, and fully capable of coming to fulfill His divine purpose without ever being riddled with sin. What was His supreme purpose? To set you free. His redemption plan was to exemplify a divine transaction.

The purchase: Your life.

The price: His death.

The currency: His blood.

The calculation of the transaction: Your Forgiveness.

Perfection Himself, died upon the Cross at Calvary so that your forgiveness through His blood, can never be returned, exchanged, or rendered as void. You can fully experience freedom not only in knowing that you are forgiven, but also in the ability to forgive others. How? You have a flawless example in Jesus...and your Bible, (otherwise known as your “receipt”) is full proof of the entire transaction. I want you to look a little bit closer to that price tag that is dangling from your forgiveness. Yes there is a price, but there is also something stamped on top of that price. I’m not sure about you, but I think it says, “Paid in Full.”

Have you received the perfect forgiveness of God? If so, thank Him for it – and if not, invite Christ into your heart to begin the flawless transaction today. 

Amy Basel

When Your Present Circumstances Contradict God’s Promises

Looking back on the major victories in my life, I never realized they were actually true victories until some time had passed. In the center of what seems like apparent defeat, God’s most profound victories arise. This leads me to the cross…

To many, the Cross at Calvary looked like the ultimate defeat. Crucifixion was the humiliating end to a life cursed by iniquity and sin. Jesus, however, had an eternity mindset. He knew that no Word from God would ever fail, because He was the Word from God that would never fail. He was the promise that would soon be proven as true. He was the blueprint to God’s ultimate redemption plan.

In the natural, however, death resembles the absence of life. It resembles a determined end to what once had a purpose. What we fail to see though, is that the purpose never dies although the circumstances try to convince us otherwise. Jesus’ body was broken and defeated, but the purpose still remained. God was still bringing to fruition what He had destined from creation. For no Word from God shall ever fail.

Waiting is an integral part of victory. The time inbetween His death on the cross and resurrection from the tomb is left without many words to describe. A detailed description of what transpired during those three days has seemingly been left out. Why? Hungry hearts and longing minds want to know what happened in the waiting. Yet all we know is the keys were obtained and satan’s future had been sealed. Victory was ours before we actually knew…before He could even return to tell us.

Think about that for a moment…

What victory is already in your possession that you have not realized yet?

Today I want to encourage you to obtain a Kingdom mindset. To look past your present circumstances, and instead keep your vision focused on what God has already promised. Victories rarely ever look like victories when they are won after a battle. Time and patience are the perfect breeding ground for a testimony that will rightfully glorify God. When you feel tempted to wallow in discouragement and self-defeat, set your eyes upon Jesus. His death appeared to be the end because the purpose was yet to be revealed. The stepping stone to God’s promise will always contradict what the end result will soon bring. The natural will always counterattack the supernatural, but with the Holy Spirit ruling and reigning inside of you, victory is already yours. The battle was fought, the keys were taken, authority has been placed back into your hands.

Do not be intimidated by what your present circumstances are revealing. For what God has purposed and promised in your life, shall come to pass. Set your sights upon the horizon, He is ready to reveal the victory that you have already won.

Luke 1:37 - For no Word from God will ever fail.

Amy Basel