When God calls you to serve Him you do not get to choose what He calls you to do, He lets you know. You just say "yes" and move forward without knowing where, when or what.  I said "YES" 19 years ago, it's a great adventure, a hurtful adventure, a hard adventure however, not one that I regret.  I am so happy God called my name, has He called yours?


 For many years I taught Bible studies, all life applicable and life changing for those who wanted to change ( me included).  Then somewhere along the way people, women, teens, married couples began coming to me asking me for help, most of them were suffering in their relationships. I took necessary training and became a Biblical Counselor.  BA in Christian Studies with a few certificates under my belt for Life Issues, etc.
 There was never a time when someone cried out to the Lord Jesus and studied His word and true heart change didn't take place.  I had no idea what it would take for some people to receive help, but God did. I just read Gods Word with them and prayed before, during and after. 
I depend on Him to convict and correct where need be.  However, when someone is willfully, knowingly going against God's Word and instruction, then come to me for "help" I give them the one and only TRUTH, found in God's Word.
This is not popular at all, it is actually a very dangerous position to be in, nevertheless, it is the ONLY position for those that love God.  I have counted the "cost" and am willing to lose my reputation, money, home, whatever the Lord chooses.  That's when you really see Him and His glory move in and through the lives of others.  It's the most awesome experience ever! 
I see many people, pastors and church denominations water the Bible down, down, down.  They might preach it, teach it and tell others what to do but have a hard time living it out in their own life.  No confrontations, no anger, sometimes no talking at all, a lot of assumptions....almost to the point of being passive and making excuses for the sin.
For about 10 years I have mentored women on purpose (Titus 2 & Galatians 2:20)


A women who has mentored me and many other women internationally, had received negative feedback from another woman.  It can be very hurtful and cause great confusion for those of us who are targets.


I am so glad she shared this with me ( and others) I like her,  have experienced negative comments from 1 woman in particular which the enemy of darkness tried to use to convince me to walk away from God and the ministry of teaching He has called me to, therefore, I post the following, maybe it will help you too;


I feel led to share this quote from an article on Stand True's blog:


But I am more concerned that we take care to examine our own motives when offering negative feedback whether in written letter  to another or in person.   Maybe you are speaking negatively regarding another to another leader.   Here are some questions you might want to ask yourself before speaking to someone about an issue:


1. Is what I am planning to say true in an objective sense or just reflective of my own feelings? (expressing your feelings and speaking the truth are not synonymous. Scripture is the guide here, not your heart)

2. Is the person caught up in a sin or is he/she merely getting on my nerves? (a personality clash is not a reason to “confront” someone)


3. Do I have a past history of strife, jealousy, enmity or anger with this person? (If so, you probably aren’t the person to “restore gently”)


4. Do I genuinely want to help the person…am I willing to invest the time to meet, discuss, share my own struggles, and help this person escape from the sin I’ve observed? (if not, you’re not qualified to speak)


5. Is it something that the person knows about already and is trying to work on? If so, how would it be helpful for you to point out again what he/she already knows?


6. Do I have the ability to speak with gentleness and kindness or am I a battle axe? (if you don’t know, ask your wife, husband or closest friends. If you’re not kind, leave it for someone else)


7. Have I been praying for this person in private regularly? (If not, chances are that your heart is not in the right place)


I pray God, The Captain of the Lord of Hosts, goes before us in all we do!  amen
Deb

Standing Firmly Rooted in Good Soil

from This Day with the Master
by Dennis F. Kinlaw

The Scriptures say that God is the source of all truth.  If we turn away from truth, we will end in illusion or delusion because only truth is reality.  When we walk away from truth, we lose reality and are destroyed by delusion.

I was in my sixties before I ever wondered where the word true comes from.  I pulled down my dictionary and found that the word true comes from an old Indo-European word for tree.  I was intrigued by the idea that the word truth comes from the word for tree.  The more I thought about it, the more it seemed to make perfect sense.  Trees do not move.  We can count on them to be there every morning when we wake up.  Truth is the same way.  We can count on it.  It will not deceive us.  It will not give us one face today and another tomorrow.  The best news of all is that Jesus Christ is true.  He is absolutely, totally reliable and faithful.  And when our lives are ordered by Him, we stay in reality, and we walk in truth.

_________________________

Remembering My First Love

FB asked me what am I REALLY thankful for today?

 

No Fluff......straight from MY HEART is:

 

that my Lord was relentless in my pursuit...that He ran after me....that He never gave up on me when everyone else did. 

Because of His relentless pursuit of my heart and life I was saved from my destructive ways.....
without that.....
I would have lost many people and things; no children, grandchildren, loving family & friends and no fellowship with God's family...

most of all I wouldn't have been FORGIVEN, CHAINS WOULD NOT BE GONE, I would not be able To LIVE & BE HEALED a set apart LIFE with JESUS as my very life. 

 

Thank you for the Peace Lord, I know your voice very clearly today, keep me from surrendering to the things of this world. 

You alone are Holy Lord.

Use me to build your Kingdom your way here on earth, thank you for feeding me your TRUTH, Forgive me of my debts and wrong-doings to others.  I do and will freely forgive all others who have done things to hurt me or against me or my family, deliver me daily, I need you daily.

LEAD me in the direction you want me to go, keep me from evil, keep evil from me;

for  You are the True Kingdom, Power & Glory Forever and Ever, amen..

 

Thinking of the song;

OOOOHHHHH Happy Day!

A CULTURE ON THE BRINK –CAN ANYTHING BRING US BACK?

A CULTURE ON THE BRINK –CAN ANYTHING BRING US BACK?

Two battleships assigned to the training squadron had been at sea on maneuvers in heavy weather for several days.  I was serving on the lead battleship and was on watch on the bridge as night fell.  The visibility was poor with patchy fog, so the captain remained on the bridge keeping an eye on all activities.
Shortly after dark, the lookout on the wing of the bridge reported, "Light, bearing on the starboard bow." 
"Is it steady or moving astern?" the captain called out.
Lookout replied, "Steady captain," which meant we were on a dangerous collision course with that ship.
The captain then called to the signalman, "Signal that ship:  We are on a collision course, advise you change course 20 degrees."
Back came a signal, "Advisable for you to change course 20 degrees."
The captain said, "Send, I'm a captain, change course 20 degrees."
"I'm a petty officer second class," came the reply.  "You have better change course 20 degrees."
By that time, the captain was furious.  He spat out, "Send, I'm a battleship.  Change course 20 degrees."
Back came the flashing light, "I'm a lighthouse."

God's truth is like the lighthouse- and we are like that battleship.  In our human arrogance, we chart our own course and demand that the world adjust itself to our wishes.  But God's truth is unchanging, unbending, unyielding.  It is not God's duty to alter His truth.  It is our responsibility to chart our course according to the light of His Word, which is ultimate, objective reality.  If we fail to do so, we risk running our lives aground (excerpt from Spiritual Warfare – How to Stand Firm in Faith by Ray Stedman)

America is a Christian Nation, not because we have more Christian churches or Christians but because our laws and government were founded on the Old and New Testament.  Pastors would preach sermons on morality, appropriate Biblical behavior and social virtue was the standard by which we lived.  We understood we needed to follow God’s Word in order to have a successful nation.

So let us fast forward to the 20^th century where a small group of socialists wanted to shift this Christian nation away from its Biblical roots.  The problem was that God’s Word was constant, unchanging, unbending, unyielding so our laws could not be changed.  The answer:  introduce a new science which would conclude that we were not designed by God and that we are evolving.  Introduce “human sexuality” which states that we are sexual from birth and should not be inhibited or restrained by God’s Law. 

This new science was the foundation to usher in the legalization of sex education, pornography, birth control, abortion, and sodomy in America.  In came no fault divorce, same sex marriage and intergenerational sex (used to be called pedophilia).  So where is the Christian church in all this?

This brings me to 1997 when I received the answer to where is the church?  I had been asked to speak for 15 minutes at a church school where my oldest son, then a Kindergartener was attending.  Someone thought since I had been a sex educator and was now an STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease) clinic nurse; I would be a perfect person to be on the Sex Education Curriculum Review Committee.  As a committee we were looking over the Learning About Sex series which had been taught in this school for over 25 years.  It was one of the first “Christian” sex education programs to be introduced to Christians.

As I got up to speak, I felt a strange choking sensation.  Since I was a public speaker through the Health Dept. I knew that I was not nervous.  I also knew I was not ill.  What I spoke on was “I believe that Dr. Alfred Kinsey’s (father of the Sexual Revolution)” science” was at the foundation of the Learning About Sex series.”  I soon came to realize that this was spiritual warfare and that I needed to press on.  The choking sensation left me about two thirds of the way through my speech and when I was done I sat down physically exhausted.

What struck me during my speech was that all the women gave me eye contact (about 10 of them) and except for the Principal, all the men had their heads bowed (including the head Pastor and male teachers).  My thought at the time was, “Gentlemen look up!  We need you in this battle!”  I had seen that type of response before when my husband confronted the Church Board.  There had been 3 people who had gone behind the Boards back to get rid of my husband.  When my husband confronted the Board, although he never mentioned names, the 3 guilty parties never gave eye contact in the meeting.

I love the story in the Old Testament where God takes Ezekiel to a valley full of dry bones.  This was an army that had been slaughtered and was now wasted away.  God then asked Ezekiel if he believed that these dry bones could live again and Ezekiel, knowing full well what God could do, answered yes.  So God had Ezekiel say unto the bones:  “O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:4b)  Wouldn’t you have loved to have been there to see what happened as the bones came together and then flesh and skin covered those bones.

The last thing that had to be done is these warriors needed life again so God had Ezekiel prophesy the following words:  “Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” (vs. 9b)  Then Ezekiel reported:  “breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.” (vs. 10)

When I looked into the origins of not just the Lutheran sex education series, but all sex education, I found the plan behind the Sexual Revolution.  Part of the plan included neutralizing the Christian Church,” slaying it” as one might say, making it ineffective in influencing the culture, allowing “progressives” to usher in their agendas.  The down cast eyes of the male leaders in my son’s church and school let me know that the progressive’s mission had been accomplished.

How many of us have been slayed by sexual sin?  Fornication, adultery, pornography, trashy romance novels, R rated movies, sodomy, and abortion both surgical and now chemical (ie birth control) lead the lambs to slaughter.  I contend that there are three things that the Christian Church can do to turn the tide around.  Ray Stedman in his book Spiritual Warfare – How to Stand Firm in the Faith shares the following words:

“We can be of no help in solving the moral, social, and spiritual problems of the world as long as we remain part of the problem (pg. 70)”

Although I have concluded that Dr. Alfred Kinsey’s “science” is in all denominations, I will use the Lutheran Church and its books as an example. 

Here are THREE THINGS THE CHURCH CAN DO TO SAVE AMERICA:

1.        Protect the moral innocence of children.  We are to protect children, not put them in harm’s way. In Matthew 18:6 Jesus shares that if anyone leads a little one to sin, it is better to have a milestone around your neck and be thrown into the depths of the sea. 

Sex education was developed based on the fraud science of Dr. Kinsey.  He used data from pedophiles who raped children and then he declared that children were sexual from birth and needed sex information.  At the heart of the Lutheran sex education series, I found Kinsey’s “science” quoted along with his friends, Dr. Mary Calderone (past President of Planned Parenthood) and Lester Kirkendall (past President of the American Humanist Association).

We need to get back to God’s Word and parents are to instruct their children in chastity, purity, modesty, and self-control.  The goal of sex education is take away all modesty a child may have and this then opens them up to sexual sin.  All sex education needs to be recalled, especially in the Church!

2.       Value life, all life again.  When we look to history, the Population Control (Birth Control) Movement came just before the Sexual Revolution.  Is it no surprise then that they have many of the same players involved?  All Christian Churches were against the use of birth control, it was against the law which was based on God’s Word.  “Be fruitful and multiply” as mentioned in the Bible was the foundation for the law.  Children were looked upon as blessings from the Lord prior to the Industrial Revolution.  Procreation was never separated from pleasure in marriage; they went hand in hand.

When I looked into why the Lutheran Church changed its stance on birth control, I found the influence of Kinsey and Margaret Sanger.  The reason we use birth control are the same reasons men and women abort babies.  The challenge isn’t abortion but are we really willing to be open to life whenever God brings it?  We cannot win the abortion fight if we stand as a Church and say we can chemically abort our babies (which can happen using the pill and the IUD) but you people over there cannot surgically abort your baby because that is wrong!

3.       God desires the marriage bed to be pure and undefiled.  Since the Sexual Revolution, Pastors have bought into the lies and now advise couples:  “whatever you do behind closed doors as long as it is consensual is alright to do.”  Whatever?  With a society saturated with pornography, what is right and what is wrong?

One dear friend wrote a Supreme Court brief arguing to keep sodomy illegal in this country in the 2004 Lawrence v. Texas sodomy case.  He told me we lost that case not because the gay couple was arguing to commit sodomy but the Christian couple was saying that we can commit sodomy behind closed doors in our marriage bed, but you gay people cannot.  You see it had been illegal for Christian couples to engage in sodomy in the marriage bed based on God’s Word, yet there are/were a few Christian books out there that endorse it, including in the Lutheran Church.

God loves the sinner and not the sin. It is the sexual sin of sodomy that God hates and considers an abomination (Romans 1), not the one who commits the sin.  Historically sodomy was considered crimes against nature or an unnatural act.  One would never put their mouth on a sewer pipe.  Sodomy was normalized by the pornography movement.  The Christian Church cannot promote abominations and expect to influence the culture. 

So here we are today, the bride of Christ unable to turn the tide of Sexual Immorality.  Can this nation be saved?  Can this culture on the brink be brought back?  I believe yes, we can!

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  II Chronicles 7:14

Written by Audrey F. Werner RN, B.S.N.     

Founder and President of The Matthew XVIII Group

Professor at Master’s International School of Divinity

For more information you can go to www.matthew18.org

Totally........................

Once again I have been asked, are you totally "pro-life" deb?

hmmm...I had to think exactly what does that mean......totally prolife?  my thoughts are...... yes, I am.

which led me to define "pro-life"  and get to the heart of the matter.


AT ONE TIME I WAS:
Secretive, ambitious, a perfectionist, driven, competitive, financially goal oriented, seeking acknowledgement from people who held titles & A woman who loved and had a broken heart and ultimately a heart that had become hardened to life & love,  a woman who had tried everything from the mystical to the medical to the psychological to change the way I felt and lived, all the while professing "Christianity" through a religious pattern.

I AM:
A woman who has been healed and restored from the effects of 3 abortions, leading corporate in competitiveness, divorce, broken relationships & a broken heart by listening & then answering a still small voice that called my name.

my belief :

"pro-life"  begins in the heart and mind of a person when once they receive a new heart and thus a true new life which comes from God the Father through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.  Then, that which you have received comes out in your daily decisions and words, relationships, etc.: it must happen from the inside out. 
once received: mercy & forgiveness personally, begs you to look at other human beings that are created by God and wanting for them that true "life". 
that same mercy begs & pleads with mankind to be saved.
that mercy begs & pleads with the living humans to save ALL life! those in and out of
the womb.

That IS "pro-life".

Being "pro-life" doesn't come by joining;   RTL, volunteering  at a Pregnancy Resource Center, obtaining college & knowledge, being a part of 40 Days For Life, Silent No More Awareness Campaign, purity programs, abstinence programs, church or by joining any other group, politically or otherwise. 

It comes only ONE way.  Don't be deceived and don't waste your time, less your house will fall as it's being built on sinking sand.

"YES" I AM PRO-LIFE, my life is a journey to be lived, not a problem to be solved.

God Bless you,
Deb


John 20:31

"...but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."

===================================================
 Deb Ives is a woman of strong Christian faith and knows the personal grief, heart break and sadness that abortion and pregnancy loss bring.

Heartfelt Family Services truly began in 1996, as its founder began her own personal journey to finding all God had for her as a Christian woman, wife and mother.

After years of Biblical Education and Leadership Development classes that God used along with Christian women and Bible teachers who mentored her, her secrets were confronted, forcing her to make a decision to be honest with God or to continue to harbor her secrets. She chose to be honest with God about all the deep places in her heart leading her to turn over her past, present and future completely to Him.

That decision resulted in finding the real peace and joy she craved, and the intimacy with her Savior, whose love and forgiveness continues to transform her life.
Deb Ives has served faithfully in her local church, also as a volunteer for various Abortion Recovery Ministries as a Group and One to One Facilitator; Volunteer counselor at Pregnancy Resource Centers; Speaker & Michigan Coordinator for Silent No More Awareness Campaign, Speaker for 40 Days for Life and Is Founder of Heartfelt Family Services in Michigan.

Deb Ives is currently the President/Executive Director Heartfelt Family Services. She is a certified Biblical Counselor for Life Issues as well as Abortion Recovery through Masters International School of Divinity. Deb is a Community Bible Teacher and is the current ARIN Ambassador to Michigan. She is also a Life Affirming Specialist through International Institute of Education Standards. Deb is a member of many organizations such as Abortion Recovery InterNational, Heartbeat International, Macomb County Domestic Violence Peer Counselor and Michigan Rescue & Restoration Coalition. She is a board member for an organization called “The Matthew 18 Group.”

Forgotten Fathers

THE FORGOTTEN FATHERS

the man that married your mom and gave up his "right to do what I want to" life to make sure you had your daily needs met :  food, sleep, shampoo,  a new hair dryer, a ride to your friends house in terrible weather, money for the new dress for homecoming or prom every year,  money for a new skateboard; he told you that you HAD to work you thought he was being mean he was teaching you moral values and integrity; he checked on you to make sure that you did your homework when your mom told him that she couldn't do it;
he served as the "go- between" with you and your mom when you became a teenager and the little rebel in you came out:  he listened to endless stories of how "unfair" people & the world is; sat up for hours with you after working for hours making a mathematical board as a visual education tool to help you "get math"; 
the man who encouraged you to be different & welcome adventure through looking and living in God's will and creation; taught you not to be afraid of the dark;   the one who said, let's make the drive a part of the vacation!;  the one who got mad when life didn't go the way he planned for all of you because he only wanted the best for you and he told you so; 
the one who helped or sometimes did your laundry to make sure you felt prepared for the next day; 
the one who loves your mom and therefore loved you and stuck it out through thick and thin, insults and injuries, money and no money;

He's the one who sits in the background and doesn't fight for front row title of "Dad" in your life; 

you may not ever see it, however,  you need to know,  he cries when you are hurting and prays for you everyday;
he waits for your call on his birthday and each and every Fathers Day.
The world calls him "stepfather" :
God calls him "mine"

God sent him into your life to be your blessing.

If you have a man in your life that the world may title as Step Father, I pray he is a man of God like the one described above,if so,
know the plans God has for you are Good & go beyond your greatest imagination.  Although your life may not have been what you thought it should be, don't waste your days blaming others and living life with regrets,  live first looking above to your Heavenly Father with a heart of thankfulness, that will make it easier to look forward with happiness & hope and live knowing you are loved.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for the Godly Stepfathers, bless them.  I also ask that you Bless all the children who have experienced divorce or death of a parent.  Open their eyes and hearts to see you & Fill them with your love, hope & joy. 
I love you Lord, Deborah

Live it, Preach it, Teach it

My Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ get your cup of coffee;

I attached below something I received  from a friend and mentor. Knowledge is power. 

I pray you read it and allow God to prick your heart with the truth & your eyes will be opened.

It's never to late to make up your mind to live, preach & teach a pure life for God and not man.

Do you want a revival?  True, God given revival will happen in your own heart.  It begins with your faithfulness to God & His Word.

Live it, preach it, teach it...... remember....it's not you, it's the Holy Spirit, because of Jesus Christ, who forgives, heals, fills and gives power to those who are "willing". 
 
I believe what God says in His Word, do you?  You say "yeah sure I do", but, do you believe it.... really?   

As the leaders , true leaders called by God, through Jesus Christ, begin to Live, Preach & Teach truth is when you will see our homes, marriages, communities & churches transform before our very eyes!

Stop building churches and parking lots and start rebuilding lives  with love, kindness, concern and begin healing hearts with compassion, truth and mercy.

Acts 17:30-31 New Living Translation (NLT)

³⁰ “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. ³¹ For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”

amen!
  

1 Corinthians 2:4-5   New Living Translation (NLT)

^"4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. ⁵ I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. "

Sending much love, 
Deb Ives

.       May the Lord fill our churches with faithful mothers.

THE MAGNIFYING GLASS

I was honored with the love and support of so many of you that attended the "Dinner For Life & Song For Your Heart” the Annual Benefit Dinner for HFS on Thursday night.

10-11-12.  Great team work done by the volunteers and board.

 I'm always amazed at what God does,  let alone that He let’s us witness it.

 We witnessed the Spirit move powerfully.  He pricked hearts.   

 He brought new friends as well as those that continue to be faithful to this ministry. I am excited to get to know everyone better.

 I believe God was honored and thus we are blessed.  

Thank you again for making the commitment with us as we look to God and His Spirit to enable us to Isaiah 61:3-4 through Heartfelt Family Services.   It's exciting to move forward!

I pray you experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life today.

We love you Lord and praise you today for who You are....amen.....deborah

I would like to share this with you:

FASTING & THE MAGNIFYING GLASS:

When I held the magnifying glass up to an object, I could see details that I couldn’t possibly see with the normal vision. For me, one of the benefits of fasting is it allows you to see God in a much closer way. It doesn’t make Him any bigger than He already is, but it enlarges your view, allowing you to see things about Him that you might not normally see.

After participating in a multiple of fasts, I believe these are the most compelling reasons for fasting:

1.    Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition.

2.    Fasting helps form a separation between what you want and what you need.

3.    Fasting stirs a hunger in your spirit that goes deeper than temporary hunger for food.

4.    Assignments are revealed through fasting.

5.    Fasting prepares you for what is ahead.

6.    Fasting requires faith.

7.    There is usually a spiritual objective to be accomplished.

8.    Fasting can restore the loss of the “first love” and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.

9.    Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God.

10.  Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your life.

In Matthew 6, Jesus says, “When you fast, don’t put on a sad face like the hypocrites. They make their faces look sad to show people they are fasting. I tell you the truth, those hypocrites already have their full reward. So when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then people will not know that you are fasting, but your Father, whom you cannot see, will see you. Your Father sees what is done in secret, and he will reward you.”

Fasting possesses great power. If practiced with the right intention, it creates an intimacy with God and definitely allows you to see Him in a closer way.

I would love to hear your thoughts on fasting.

RIGHTEOUS HATRED

I want to share this with you today: Righteous Hatred   “The righteous hate what is false, but the wicked bring shame and disgrace” (Proverbs 13:5). There is a righteous hatred that rejects what is false. It might be false words, bogus behavior, a counterfeit countenance, a phony friendship, or deceptive dealings. The discernment of the spirit-filled believer rises up to defend integrity. You can’t sit still to shenanigans when you know an agreed-upon code of ethics has been violated. So, how are we to respond to lies and liars? We first look in the mirror, making sure we are honest in our dealings and accurate with our words. Jesus said, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?” (Matthew 7:4). I am required to remove all self-deception before I can clearly see sin in my brother. Self-evaluation precedes confronting false conduct. Furthermore, our heavenly Father expresses holy hatred over what is false. “There are six things the LORD hates…haughty eyes, a lying tongue…a heart that devises wicked schemes” (Proverbs 6:16-18). Because the Almighty abhors artificial acts, we must ask ourselves:  “Do I take sin seriously, or do I casually flirt with it?” Loose lips and sometimes closed lips lead to lies and deceit that bring shame and embarrassment. Avoid lies and liars, and you will live in peaceful content. “But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Lastly, in your business, ministry, and testimony remove all appearance of fraud and falsehood. Free yourself from image management with full disclosure and transparency. Create a culture that exposes any hint of conflict of interest. Lies examined under light melt away. Hate dishonesty; reward honesty. Honesty is the only policy for the people of God. “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body” (Ephesians 4:25). Prayer:  Dear Lord, what areas of my life, work & ministry need to grow in honesty and forthrightness?    I love you....... Deborah Related Readings: Judges 16:11; Psalm 119:163; Colossians 3:9; Revelation 21:8

September 28, 2012  Deborah Ives

James 4:1-3  Amplified Bible (AMP)

4 "What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?

² You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so] you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.

³ [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures."

"Oh my Lord God, I praise you this morning Father, it's because of you that I do not have to be like anyone else or like any other ministry.  You have and are growing and developing this minsitry to model after your desires and not mans.  It's tough sometimes Lord, because many men don't think that women hear from you, but in your word you clearly have told me personally & tell us (women) who believe in you and your ressurection, to go tell that YOU are ALIVE and have Risen!  I thank you, because you have healed me for your glory!  I thank you because You have told me who I am and I believe you Lord, not man.   I believe you have gone before me and what You have called me to do this very day you ordained long ago.  Thank you for Bill, for his love and support in these trying times.  Thank you that he answered you when you called him, thank you for filing him with your Spirit.  We praise you all day long for your provisions.  If you see fit, I will continue to move forward in this battle with no fear. I believe you will take care of the enemy.   
I love you Lord....Deborah ...amen"
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

September 27, 2012  Deborah Ives

Through this outreach, Heartfelt Family Services, I have been privileged to see God change people and their households. 

I believe, He even wants to change the hearts of His people who are in the church buildings.

When rain falls on dirt it turns into mud, you are then walking in the mud, if you don't take the steps to come in and wash the mud off of your feet or shoes, it hardens. Yes, it can still come off, but it crumbles off, in broken pieces and it takes longer to come clean. Who knows whose carpet you have dirtied by walking through their house with the hardened mud on you falling off everywhere you go.
I'm allowing the Lord to wash my feet. If I have to walk through a mud puddle to get where He is leading me, I believe He will always be there to cleanse my feet quickly, before it hardens. He wouldn't want my broken peices of mud, that I've allowed to harden, to fall on anyones clean carpet. amen..Deb Ives

I received this this morning and I agree with it:
When you are part of a well-functioning team, you are working with people who share your goals and mission. You recognize the importance of everyone's role. You also make personal sacrifices, but they are worth it. You know the team's results can be bigger than anything you could tackle on your own.

"Praising you my Lord God, for all blessings and all trials. Todays Freedom feels great! thank you Lord, just thank you.  I love you, your daughter........ deborah"

 

 

"Fruition"

As the End of summer is near I look forward to September, crisp fresh air to breath, beautiful colors to behold,  new opportunities, new Bible Studies & new changes in our lives that God has in store.

I am completely humbled and weep with gratitude to witness  how mighty our Lord is. 
He has brought dreams, visions & passions, that He gave to me years ago to fruition.
( I like to think it's a special mission he has called me to do so others will see him)...... perhaps others doubted things I spoke of were truly from God, I hold no offense to them, as I realize I am no woman of any spiritual means or education, no big credentials here,  to speak of.   I just love Jesus, that's all.  I believe He loves me, because His Word, The Bible tells me so. I believe He loves you.  Simple.  I long for simplicity, don't you?  I love the honest truth. Not a mans perspective or thoughts,  but Gods Honest truth spoken, unafraid. I actually search for places that are simple,  filled with honest truth, with no hidden motives, secrets or projections.  The Holy Spirit gives discernment to those who belong to him. For that I am grateful.  I'm sure you probably already know that. 
So, back to "fruition".

Definition:

FRUITION:  noun

1. a pleasure obtained from using or possessing something; enjoyment
2. the bearing of fruit
3. a coming to fulfillment; realization: a book that is the fruition of years of research

This season at HFS God continued to bring many women and families to us who are looking for direction, help and sometimes just a friend.  I don't get to choose who comes or how many come to HFS.  I just know we have to be ready in and out of season.  Actually, that lesson for me, or that beginning of the ministry began in 1996 in the New River area of Michigan, (that's near Grindstone and Port Austin) A couple of years later the Lord lead me to Pigeon/Elkton, Michigan.  That's where I learned about the true power of prayer and how it comes through personal surrender and then revival comes.  (yes, men and women) That was through Pastor Reggie at Elkton Missionary Church and a faithful servant of the Lord, Sherry Helmuth.  My confusion from previous false teachings and offenses diminished, and ultimately disappeared. The power of the Holy Spirit revealed.  Amazement and passion to follow Jesus hit me hard and has never left me.   My eyes were opened and understanding came, yes, change was possible for everyone and we had the instruction book all along, wow!  Let's read it, apply it and by the way, can we go while we are doing that?   Let's go unafraid...God said, "yes".

The vision, or as I like to say "mission" given to me 16 years ago is now producing fruit and that fruit is reproducing fruit! amen!
One of those ways is with continuing Discipleship & Mentoring with "You-niquely Woman".
The kick-off retreat on the beautiful shores of Lake Huron  2 weeks ago, were more than satisfying. I must share this with you, do you remember the old song... "Bind us Together Lord, Bind us Together..." that was the theme song, most unexpected and yet each woman so deeply blessed.  Only the Lord could have done it.
I had been looking and waiting on the Lord since 2005 for the appropriate time to begin this teaching.  Where and how,  I thought I would bring this teaching to the "city"... was not His way, but the time is now, His timing is here.  It went beautifully and God is raising women to lead and head ministries through Heartfelt Family Services.  We are ready.

What is "You-niquely Woman"? It is a 12 month Journey to Developing Spiritual Effectiveness for Women. They are Leading Ladies. God is equipping women to serve Him through His Word and Holy Spirit for all of life's issues. Strong enough for a man but made for a woman. 
These women have made a heart commitment to live and lead where they are.... God's Way. 
They have New Life as described in
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new"  

We are women of faith: some of us work out of home as professionals and some serve in church, schools, ministries, communities and some are stay at home moms, however, we are all homemakers.   The Lord has called, and 7 women answered to this divine appointment.
We meet monthly for 1 year with in depth teaching and relationship requirements.
We know God has called us to love the lost, hurting and lonely.
Thank you for keeping us in prayer as we journey this training.

Pre-requisite: You must have completed & finished well, "To The Heart of the Matter" through HFS.


MORE THOUGHTS FROM DEB.....................With that being said, August 2012 marks the 7th year of living in the "city" as The Lord lead my husband and I back to the Detroit area.  We came "without knowing", only willing through obedience to the Lord calling us.  Obedience sometimes causes suffering in our lives, not just for us but for those around us, for His sake.  Then, at His special time, He reveals to us that He wants those around us to grow and learn and sometimes to leave us and to go & serve Him without knowing. 
Sometimes we push them out of the boat, close our eyes and then pray.
Sometimes they jump out of the boat and realize they can't swim, so they look for someone else to throw them a life ring.
Sometimes they leave too early with sweet kisses, and the Lord gently leads them back.
Sometimes the timing is perfect, and they leave and multiply and are fruitful!

Thank you Lord, You are always right on time. 
I would like to say, it's all worth it.  Thank you for showing me just enough to keep me, thank you for growing my faith in you.  Where you are is where I want to be.  Where you go, I'll go.  I love you Lord, thank you for loving me and providing all our needs as we serve.  In the name of sweet Jesus....amen.......deborah

Revelation 1:1-3 (NKJV)

1" The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John, ² who bore witness to the word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. ³ Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."

WWW.HEARTFELTFAMILYSERVICES.COM

Monday

Heartfelt Family Services counsels and mentors women for various reasons, one of those reasons is for those who have experienced abortion.  I want to talk to you a little bit about that today.

I am the one who receives those calls from women who are scared, confused, angry and devasted.  Some want to just "TALK" , but they need so much more.  They pour out their hearts over the phone and never want to meet for fear of something or another.  Those have made a mark on my heart,  while I have no face to connect to that tone, that attitude, that fearful voice that I spent so much time with on
the phone. I take them to the Father in Heaven, God.
 ......while others have a pulling inside of them that has drawn them to me or the phone number of HFS with statements like "I'm not sure why...but....somethings not right inside of me..I'm so sad" also I've heard many times "I know I'm supposed to talk to you how soon can I come to your office?"

You might think that I get used to all of those calls and all of those crying for some direction, but the truth is I never do.  My heart crys with them and I am grateful that the Holy Spirit reminds me to come to Him.  He has given me the greatest blessings I could ever imagine, His waiting for me to come to Him, to cry out to Him, to tell Him about each and every woman and child that is searching, yes, the Lord waits for me and I stop many activities and business in life to spend with Him.  It's the greatest love story, I am loved.

HFS is listed on Option Line:  National Helpline and many other "lines".  I received this and wanted to share it with you.  This is daily business for those of us on the front lines of  Heartfelt Family Services Aftercare.
***
A recent caller, crying, had taken the RU-486 abortion drug and was holding her baby in her hands. She didn’t want to throw the baby in the trash can so she had her sister hold it for awhile. Our phone consultant prayed with her and asked her to give her baby back to God, then encouraged her to give her baby a proper burial. The caller said, “They didn’t tell me it was a baby.”

This madness must end.

Nehemiah 1:4-6  "Then the King said to me, "What do you request?"  So I prayed to the God of Heaven.   And I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, I ask that you send me to Judah, to the city of my father's tombs, that I may rebuild it."

Will you partner with us? There is little time for fundraising,  however, the Lord conitnues to bring those who need help.  Please DONATE ONLINE: www.heartfeltfamilyservices.com

National Helpline reports:  In the last 3 months, 21 callers have taken the RU-486 abortion drug. Jan-March 352 callers, Shared Gospel 112 times, 41 abortion minded, 14 babies saved from abortion!

Heartfelt Family Services Reports: Over the last 3 months, 136 phone calls.....6 callers have taken the RU-486 abortion drug.  WE shared our PURITY Program with one young man and woman.
7 women are registered and are actively in the To The Heart of the Matter;Mentoring Program to change their lives. 
8 have come to HFS for "aftercare" from an abortion. 
We now have a waiting list for September for Mentoring Programs.   Some are registered for leadership training, some for aftercare and some are looking for clear or new direction in their life.  We share the Gospel with EACH person.
We are honored and a privileged people that God uses us.

Thank you for listening.  I pray you are blessed as you keep your eyes o Jesus.

Deborah

April

April.....Spring...New Life.....How do I change?

then I hear the words......

Deborah, think on this........"Whatever is true....." Phil 4:8. 

That causes me to ask myself, are my thoughts, true, pure, lovely...etc?
Then... there it is, I need to change.

Lord, thank you that I have hope from your Word that I can change...thank you that I don't have to stay the way I am today.  I want to change,  I want to grow-up & be closer to you.  I want to feel better, you are my hope.....
I love you Lord, Deborah

Here We Go!

Good Morning, today is St Patricks Day.  Today I will begin to write in my blog. 
Are you Irish? 
I'm Irish, I would like to visit Ireland someday, but then doesn't everybody say that? 
My reasons may be a bit different from others.  My reason for wanting to go to Ireland is because abortion is illegal there.  Why does that interest me?  Think about it, women leave their home place & go to England, (or elsewhere) to have an abortion.  Then.... they return to their home place..... who can they talk to about what they have experienced?  I'm wondering, since abortion is illegal,  more than likely there are not "open" signs saying..."Do you want someone to talk to after your abortion"...I pray for the women and men in Ireland Lord, I pray for those that are suffering silently, secretly, won't you bring someone by their paths that can help them to the pathway of healing?  I love you Lord, you alone are worthy....deb