What’s that in Your Hand?”

In Exodus 4:2, God asked Moses a crucial question. This question came about during the time when God was calling Moses into his purpose of delivering the Children of Israel out of bondage. (See also Exodus chapter 3). Because Moses was afraid, he began to make excuses.

The question God asked Moses was “What is that you have in your hand?”  We know the story. Moses answered, “a rod.”  God went on to assure Moses that He would be with him and also prophetically revealed how the Egyptians would be spoiled or defeated by the Children of Israel. What God wanted me to realize was that sometimes we do not realize the gifts that we already possess.

For the next 30 days I will be posting a challenge on social media in order to encourage us all to use what we have. Our God has invested treasures within us. Its time to stir and shake up every gift in this season. Are you up for the challenge? If so, I will gift you a free e-book but you will need to complete a 3 question survey and provide your email address.  The survey is in the link below.  Blessings to you…

SURVEY LINK BELOW:

https://forms.gle/BfDL1zb1zsRQWe8GA

 

Min Denise

 

The Big Escape!

Let’s face it…all of us have experienced those times when we felt overwhelmed with life’s stuff!  The cares of this life and the suffering that our Nation has undergone with the pandemic alone has been both shocking and draining. The death, the suffering, the fear, the panic, you name it. Even for those who are intimately acquainted with our Lord can testify that we are in times when we want to do as the Psalmist cried out to “take the wings of a dove, fly away, and be at rest.

You see, David who was an extravagant worshipper, was in distress many times in his life. Lets look at a few key verses in Psalm 55 and we will see that David wanted to escape the pain of life, but he overcame by remembering who God is and holding on to what he Knew about his Lord.

Listen to my prayer, O God, and hide not Yourself from my supplication!

Attend to me and answer me; I am restless and distraught in my complaint and must moan

[And I am distracted] at the noise of the enemy, because of the oppression and threats of the wicked; for they would cast trouble upon me, and in wrath they persecute me.

My heart is grievously pained within me, and the terrors of death have fallen upon me.

Fear and trembling have come upon me; horror and fright have overwhelmed me.

And I say, Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.

Yes, I would wander far away, I would lodge in the wilderness. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

I would hasten to escape and to find a shelter from the stormy wind and tempest.

I love the Amplified version of this chapter. In a nutshell, David was depressed, felt hopeless and distracted from everyday life. If you are feeling this way, take heart. Know that you are not alone. Others feel the same way. Even the man after God’s own heart felt like he was drifting away!  What can be done? I believe that verses 16-18 of this chapter 55 gives us an answer.

16 As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord will save me.

17 Evening and morning and at noon will I utter my complaint and moan and sigh, and He will hear my voice.

18 He has redeemed my life in peace from the battle that was against me [so that none came near me], for they were many who strove with me.

Find time in the morning, at noon, and in the evening to PRAY! It does not have to be long prayers. Complain, cry, and voice your heart to God. He will hear. He will answer. He will deliver your soul in peace so that you can face you today and your tomorrow.

This has been Denise Cook-Godfrey, and I am praying for  you…Stay established firmly in the Word of God and you will make it through whatever noisy wind storm that is blowing your way.

 

How’s Your Prayer Life?

How’s Your Prayer Life?

Hello! I pray that you are well and in the peace of God as we have started a new calendar year. I have started mine with prayer and fasting but also with one of the most challenging trials that I have had to face in a while. Nevertheless I encourage myself in the Lord daily.

During our weekly prayer broadcast, I have been challenging the viewers to examine their prayer lives. I would also like to do that for you. How fervent is your prayer life? How often are you hearing from God?  Are you consistently hearing that still small voice directing your paths?

“Shael” is an ancient Hebrew word that has the meaning of drawing out something hidden. Here’s the thing:  It displeases God when we seek and inquire with the world before inquiring with Him when we need direction, wisdom, and counsel. (See James 1:3, Isaiah 30:1-3, & II Chronicles 16:12)

Take some time to take inventory on your prayer life today. We need communion with God now more than ever.

Blessings to you in this new calendar year!

*Note…Have you read my novel series?  The “Unequally Yoked” series is available on both the website and the author site. If you like Christian Inspiration from drama, then you will be ministered to by both books. I promise. Check them out!

Unequally Yoked: The Pleasures of Sin lasts for a Season: Godfrey, Denise Cook: 9781482649451: Amazon.com: Books

Unequally Yoked: Reaping the Harvest: Cook-Godfrey, Denise: 9781699512470: Amazon.com: Books

Min Denise

Denise with Praying Hands-Backyard

He is Willing as well as Able

Focus on the willingness of Christ…

In Matthew 8:1-3, we read about the account of a leper, who sought Jesus for the impossible. This poor leper did not the doubt the power of Christ, he only wondered if Jesus was willing to heal him by a miracle. You see, in the ancient world, the disease of leprosy was like being dead while still alive. it was a disease where the nerves disconnected from other parts of the body and the victim would lose fingers, toes, etc. and eventually the entire body part. It was progressive and highly contagious. Researchers indicate that people were required to stay at least six feet distance from a leper! (hummm, same as CDC guidelines). Most religious folks looked upon a leper as being under the divine judgment of God and the victim was rendered hopeless.

Let’s look at the passage: Matthew 8:1-3

1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

What situations are you in that appear to be hopeless? Will you take the same stand as the leper and worship Christ in the midst of it?  Looking at my own life, I see that the anxiety of sickness and family responsibilities has been crouching at my door for some time. The Lord even prompted a Woman of God whom I know walks in faith to send me a message the other day to NOT DOUBT.  I most definitely received the word as a loving reminder from my Father to keep my focus on what HE is willing to do for me in any kind of hopeless situation. See, here’s the thing…I never lost faith in my God but I sure had become weary and frustrated along the way. The spirit of doubt was reaching and grabbing at my soul because I’ve been in the storm too long, but God…I’m telling you…one day I will share my testimony of what my family and I have gone through and overcome over the past three months. I thank God for loving me enough to remind me in His word that not only does He have the power to supernaturally do the impossible, but He is also WILLING..

I challenge you to place special focus on God’s willingness to heal, deliver, set free, transform, and any other thing that you stand in need of. Most of all, don’t forget to get up and bathe in His love each day. He loves you with an everlasting love. Never forget it.

Enjoy this clip from a couple of  years back with my myself and youth dance ministry:

 

Minister Denise Cook-Godfrey

 

Quiet Down

God says in His Word for us to “be still and know that He is God” (Psalms 46:10). This is a favorite verse for so many, but do we really know how to do this?  The other morning as I led intercessory prayer I had a woman to ask for prayer for guidance…she cried out that she did not understand how she could pray so hard but with “closed ears”.  Wow! I lost it, This broke my heart. I could not contain myself and tears began to fall from my eyes right there! We prayed for her and gave some encouraging words but I could not help but feel that somewhere and somehow, this woman has been let down by those in ministry. We must mentor and train people how to hear the voice of God.

I have always been fascinated by the voice of God. Each and every time I hear from heaven I weep as if it is my first experience. One thing I want to encourage us with in this short article is that we’ve got to learn the art of stillness. Its not that God is NOT speaking. He speaks all the time in various ways. Sometimes the noise of life is just too loud. Life is literally drowning out the voice of God.  We are His sheep, we know Him, He knows us, and we are not supposed to be following after strange voices.

Here are just a few disciplines that I believe we need to be reminded of in order to progress in hearing from God. By no means am I saying these are the only disciplines, but these are the ones that come to mind and that is working in my life and others have also testified that these work in their lives as well.  (See Exodus 33:14, Psalms 16:11, Psalms 27:8 for starters…so many others)

  1. Be relationship conscience. Know that you must prioritize your life where you are spending quality quiet time in the presence of God. Practice the presence of God as A LIFESTYLE and not a tradition. Where there is no presence of the Lord…there will be no voice of God.
  2. Devour the Word of God…You absolutely have to be a student of the word. Study and meditate on the Word of God because your life depends on it. The word of God is not just ink on paper. The Word of God is Spirit and life. The Word is active, living, sharper than a two-edged sword. The Word will commune with you upon awakening, during the day, and in the night seasons.
  3. Be sure you are meditating on the word that seems to jump out at you during your times of study. Pray before, during, and after you read and study the Word of God. There are times when God will allow what is written (logos) to become rhema (alive) and when this happens, God is speaking something specific to you.
  4. Pay close attention to stray thoughts that appear to come out of nowhere. Pay close attention to circumstances, dreams, visions, prophetic words and teachings, etc. Familiarize with the ways that God speaks.
  5. Be sure that you have a spiritual covering…don’t walk around bald and naked. Don’t hold on to the lone ranger mentality. Remember, the one sheep that is out on its own is more susceptible to be devoured by the wolf. Your spiritual leaders should also be able to teach you disciplines concerning hearing the voice of God and at times, they will become the voice of God for you!  This is important and should not be taken lightly.
  6. Finally, take care of your mind…fill your mind with God’s Word on a daily basis by rejecting thoughts of fear, worry, anxiety, etc. Certain patterns of thinking will block the voice of God.

There is so much more to be said; however, I will stop here. Remember, I am praying for you. Please stay encouraged in the Lord. We are going to make it to our next dimension together!

By the way, I hope that you enjoy the ministry clip below. I plan to share more ministry clips in the future.

Love,

Denise

Change it Up!

A little change is good every now and then right? Whether we’re changing our wardrobe or hair styles to changing the appearance of a room in our homes, it’s natural to feel great about positive changes.

But what about spiritual changes? How do we handle drastic changes that occur without notice? I’m talking about COVID-19 positive results for yourself and several family members, lingering symptoms months after recovery from COVID including hair loss, bereavement due to not one family member but three in a three week timespan, and a health diagnosis regarding two major areas that will call forth challenging lifestyle changes! Life is what I like to refer to as “raw” and as Christians we must be able to adapt to the changing climates and seasons in our path. The list i explain above is not a complaint, but an observation. We all are going through tough times but I believe we must acknowledge our pain and embrace suffering for Christ’s sake as a part of the will of God.

So how do we handle change? There are, I’m sure, multiple answers to this question but what comes to mind for me is this: “and be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind…”

Above is a snippet of verse two of Romans chapter twelve. I just want to encourage you from that portion. When sudden and overwhelming changes hit tour life, the result is sudden actions that you must take. So, why not follow after the snippet! We must be sure our minds are being renewed by God’s Word each day so that our pattern of thinking and mindsets are healthy enough to weather each storm in our path. This is not always easy but when we intentionally meditate on God and His Word, we can expect change to occur within all stormy and fierce changes are taking place around us. May I pause here to say that in the midst of all that we personally suffer from season to season, I testify that God has been and always is so recklessly good to me!

Blessings to you and enjoy your week!

Living from the Inside Out

Rumble…Rumble!!!  That is what was heard late this afternoon during a thunderstorm here in the city where I live. The thunder was so loud and powerful until it could be felt throughout the house. It was indeed a rough thunderstorm. Life is like that as well. I am reminded at how loud things are right now in our nation. Not only in the nation as a whole, but in my personal life there are some pretty loud voices resounding forth in my ears.

But just as the thunder and lightening finally calmed itself and faded away after a while, I am believing that the noise in my life will do the same. That is, until the next storm. In the meanwhile, God has designed for us to continue to exercise a supernatural quietness from within our souls when the noise of life seems to drown out the still small voice of the Lord. The word says that when we keep our minds stayed on Jehovah, that we would experience perfect peace. What does this really look like anyway? It looks like a baby bird tucked under the feathers of its mother, hiding under those wings until the calamity of what can be heard passes on. It looks like Jesus Christ, sleeping on a pillar at the bottom of a ship while the disciples were startled with so much fear during a dangerous storm. And lastly for me, it looks like me, choosing to sit under the shade tree of God’s sweet presence praying, singing, declaring His word over my circumstances until my peace returns and is dominating my every moment.

Lets remember that we can live from the inside out…no matter what is going on in our world…God has ordained peace for us. We can’t be taught how to live in this divine peace, but it’s something that we have to experience by faith.  Lets work this peace out in our walk each and everyday. After all, it is impossible to please our Lord without FAITH…

Enjoy an older clip of a dance that speaks to living in a divine place of peace..

Blessings,

Denise

 

I Have Not Divorced You

Life as we know it right now is off the chain! Our nation is in chaos. We do not know from day to day what is literally going to happen when it comes to the pandemic, the health of the economy, and so on. We cannot even meet for church as we need to. Some of us are in the fight of our lives and it is NOT surprising that many are falling away and have given up.

Well, as I am reading and preparing for a short sermonette, I realize that I am not exempt from being totally overwhelmed right now myself. I thank God for the Word in Isaiah 50:1—

50 :1—-This is what the Lord says:

“Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce
    with which I sent her away?
Or to which of my creditors
    did I sell you?
Because of your sins you were sold;
    because of your transgressions your mother was sent away.

In this verse, the prophet is continuing from a point in the previous chapter where the people of God questioned God’s love for them because of what they were suffering. (See Isaiah 49:13-18).  Just as God spoke through the prophet at that point to ensure the people that He had not forgotten them, He now was asking a rhetorical question…”where is the paperwork that shows I have divorced you?”  There was no paper work. God did not change HIS love or alter His attitude about the future of His people. It was because of their disobedience that they were suffering.

It is the same way with us. We suffer because of the consequences of our choices. Or, sometimes God will allow suffering when we are in His will for a purpose. Regardless, We must set our faces like a hard flint rock and continue on our path during these dark days. God has not forgotten us and He still has a future plan for us. This is not easy, but we must trust the process.

I believe God will always find a way to confront the soul that harbors a feeling of “Where are You God?”, or “God does not care about what I’m going through”.  Is that you today? Do you feel that God is ignoring your pain or that He is hard to reach right now because of what you are suffering? Well, if it is, go ahead and acknowledge it. Let God comfort you the way He did for the Israelites long ago. You will never be put to shame when you trust your bewildered emotions to God. He’s waiting to comfort your soul. Let Him.

Has God Cancelled on Me?

Have you ever been really excited about plans made with someone and out of nowhere those plans got cancelled? Something like this can be really disappointing. Well, there are some among us right now who are feeling disappointed because they feel as if their purpose, destiny, and promises from the Lord has been cancelled! I did a teaching on our local radio broadcast this past Sunday morning where I taught on the true context of Jeremiah 29:11. This scripture verse is popular and most do not ever take the time to receive the essence of the meaning of the verse because of the failure to dig deeper into the context of the scripture verse:

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

First of all, this word was given to a people who were in captivity in the form of a letter from the prophet (29:1). What is captivity?  Captivity is confinement, imprisonment, enslavement, bondage, restraint, etc. God’s intentions was to encourage the people while in this condition. Even though the people disobeyed and rebelled against the Lord and He caused them to be carried away captive, He wanted them to know that His attitude about their future was still the same. He wanted them to know that He would visit them in the future and cause HIS promises to come to past for them.

10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

Even though God, in His righteous judgment allowed the captivity, He assured His people that His thoughts toward them were only peaceful and beautiful and that they still had hope for the future. He instructed the people to “get comfortable” in that place so to speak because they would not be able to escape the situation until their season of judgment was over.

My encouragement to us today is that we must trust God in every season, even the reaping seasons where we are going through chaos and fire because of our own choices. Not all sufferings are the result of sin; however, some are. Nevertheless, God has not cancelled our destiny. We still have hope as long as there is breath in our lungs.

Blessings,

Minister Denise

Denise with Praying Hands-Backyard