“The Shaping of an Individual”

The bible clearly states,“before the foundation of the world He knew your name and everything you would do. He foresaw it.” (John 17:24). Before God created the heaven and the earth, you were on His mind. He knew the ends and outs of the fabric of your life. He knew you. He knew what you would face. He knew how your life circumstances would shape your life. He knew what you would do. The mistakes you would make. That is mind blowing to me. No-one can fully comprehend the reality of what God was doing before the creation of the universe and earth. He was formulating and calculating His own ideas for us. He didn’t want us to be robots. He chose us because of His great love. He chose to make us and because of the depth of His love, He gave us a free will. A right to choose. He wants us to choose wisely and live forever in peace with Him for eternity. But it is ultimately each person’s responsibility to work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Philippians 2:12.
He knew how you would be effective for the growth in the Kingdom of God! Many people are struggling with their past, with their identity and with many questions about what their purpose is. He knows all about your life. He understands your painful memories. He will use them to shape your future. You will help many others you meet in your path. He saw how these experiences could change the course of the world.

Even as Saul was transformed into the man Paul. Your life can change too, as you surrender your all to Him. God will use you to be a great influencer in your Jerusalem. He has given you all you need. These hardships have a purpose. They will be turned into tools for your tool belt. It will help you achieve and make your life easier and better in time.

The Lord takes great strides and makes opportunities for us to make Him our top priority. This encourages believers to pursue obedience to God. Keeping your heart open means, recognizing God loves you. He is for you and actively works within you to achieve His will and purposes in your life. God shows His grace to each of us. He spends time lovingly connecting with us. How can we not fall in love with Him!?

He spent many years helping me with my own issues. He helped me overcome fear, insecurity, and rejection and more issues that kept me in lack and bondage. He showed me the need to cooperate with Him. I learned to live out my walk of faith with a deep reverence. I respect Him greatly. I give Him honor and praise for His patience with me. After many trials and tribulations, and a long waiting period, I have grown. I have learned how to take authority over the enemy of my soul. I have waged war, and received the overcoming victory that has been won by Christ for me. This is what we should all strive for, walking in victory!

Being pliable in the hands of God is essential! He can’t do anything without your consent. He is a gentleman, He won’t force you. He awaits your invitation!!! We must allow Him access and to let Him be accessible to the inner workings of your life. Inquire of the Lord like David did. Ask Him questions. Pour out your heart and thoughts to Him. The past has shaped your future. It has allowed you to experience what you have been through for a God purpose. He alone will make it for your good. Whatever it was, He can make it beautiful in His time! Someone in your world would love to hear your journey. They want to see what God has done to redeem your life. They need hope and a future. They need to know God has been faithful. What He has done for one He will do for all and will bless them!

When you think of Saul of Tarsus, if he didn’t have the encounter with Jesus, what would be his legacy? A murderer of Christians?! Instead, He became a great leader, who wrote many important books of the Bible. He will be remembered for all the work he did for the Lord!

For many years, Saul was hidden in the wilderness to process and heal from his painful past and sins! He had to find His purpose in the pain that caused innocent people to die from his zealous behavior. We can imagine how much spiritual death he processed to heal and get delivered. Paul also had to prove himself trustworthy among many Christians and the disciples. They were afraid of him, and didn’t trust him. They were eye witnesses and saw his actions in attacking the people and killing innocent civilians. They had to forgive Paul. God used it to shaped the Church and each one by accepting the transformation as well as healing the trauma. It was a deep spiritual awakening and it also moved the church into the miraculous realm. It was a move of the Holy Spirit. People have to get on board with His presence and let go of things that hinder and stunt their growth.

”All my existence, my peace, and my happiness depend on one problem. It is to discover myself in discovering God. If I find myself and if I find my true self I will find Him.” Thomas Merton. That is what you and I are looking for. We want God to reveal our own true identity in Him. Then we can fulfill our true purpose and be committed to serve our Lord.

Paul was formally known as Saul of Tarsus. He was rigorously trained in Hebrew Scriptures. He was educated and taught by the very best in the Pharisaic education. He studied under Gamaliel, a well-respected, and wise Pharisee. Paul was well advised in all the Torah and the law. He was a tent maker. He was on the Damascus roadway, and on his way to do more damage to kill Christ’s followers. Jesus interrupted his journey, with a heavenly light, and blinded him. He heard Jesus speak to him. Saul asked, “Who are you Lord? “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Acts 9:1-9. With his background he was well trained and knew the scripture. The Holy Spirit used him to reach out to the Gentiles, who was grafted in by the Lord.
The Lord knew Saul from the foundation of the world. He took him where he was, with all his gifts, experiences and made Himself real to him. Paul with the work of the Holy Spirit was an effective leader and tool for God. He received a conversion and was slowly and radically transformed into the man who was used to influence many. While he also preached to Jews, his ministry to the Gentiles was a significant part of his work. Paul spread Christianity beyond its Jewish origins via prison mainly and by evangelism.
We have an extraordinary example of a pioneer in the evolution of our human consecration and transformation process.

The Lord desires to do it in and through your life and heart today as well! He wrote many letters to the churches he established while under great personal pressure and persecution. The Lord gave him many revelations to share with the church. His life was poured out for the Lord and forever changed. He was used as a great influencer to many and will continue to influence mankind in the future. The majority of the New Testament was written by Paul under the inspiration from the Holy Spirit. We see him in the light of Jesus and his transformation is our own hope.

Peter struggled with his own personality. He experienced impulsive behaviors, outbursts and mood swings. He was ambitious, zealous,and passionate about everything. He was all over the place, a all or nothing guy. He walked on water, was a close friend and disciple to Jesus. He observed the transformation of Jesus, and interrupted the entire scene by asking to build an altar. His life was messy, which makes him an example for each of us in our own humanity. Jesus transformed him from his brokenness, and his disloyalty in his betrayal. Jesus told him, I am praying for you. The devil desired to sift him as wheat, and bring him to ruin and destroy his destiny. The Lord saw Peter as an effective, bold witness for Him. Peter had to process his own spiritual death. He applied the cross to kill his fleshy soul. This soul was constantly controlling his mind. In the end, he was used mightily to yield much fruit for God’s Kingdom. In his brokenness, he found what he needed. He kept his heart on his Savior. This allowed Jesus to live through him. 1 John 4:9 God sending His Son so believers may live through Him. Their decision, their choice! The Lord had Peter on His potters wheel making him into a pure vessel, one worthy, with character and integrity.

The Lord used this situation as a construction zone in Peter’s life. Jesus wrecked and exposed the old foundations of the fallen nature. The process of brokenness and hitting rock bottom tore down the walls of his life. This addressed the false identity, behaviors, attitudes, and wrong ideologies. This allowed the Lord to built a new and better foundation and life for Peter. He dealt with his motives, by asking Peter do you love me 3 times. It was said, the three times was to restore the three denials of Jesus. He had to confront the sinful nature in Peter. Peter had to deal with the pain and reminder of his fallen self. This also reveals his deep love and devotion for Jesus. Jesus restored him back to fellowship. This time was well spent. The Lord gave him a new beginning. He was anointed to be a true leader in the church. Jesus used Peter greatly for the new movement that the disciples were led into. Many were converted to Jesus in Acts, in the upper room experience. He also experienced many miracles and signs that produced much fruit for God’s Kingdom. He also is a strong witness of the spiritual transformation that he experienced during a difficult period in his life. Do you see any similarities in your own life experiences? Do you see your suffering and trials in a new light? Does this give you hope? Invite Jesus in your shortcomings to do a great work. Give God the time- to do the work in your heart and do not run interference with Him.

Abraham, Moses, Job, David, and Joseph, and many others have their stories to tell. We can read and see how the Lord worked in their lives. Each one has a special place for each of us. We can relate to them in ways that are personal to us as individuals. Even with all the years since ancient history, they’re personal accounts are still relevant and relatable in modern society.

There only a few individuals who were called and set apart, that were able too escape death. The ones we all know is Enoch and Elijah. I am sure you will find it hard to wrap yourself around Enoch’s relationship with God. How I love to be a fly on the wall to witness his life with the Lord! He was very close and near the Lord. I often wondered since there were only six generations from Adam to Enoch. Perhaps, he knew personally some inside info. about the fall of Adam and situation of Cain? He had a strong conviction and connection to God, to please the Lord. It seems most of us struggle within our hearts with rebellion and disobedience from the fallen nature. I wonder, how did he process that, to move beyond the struggle in his flesh. How wonderful that he walked so close to the Lord.
One day, we will know all the truth about many unknown things that happened to individuals in the past. I want to know His story.

For me, it is awesome to know a few people truly cared deeply to please and honor God. They sacrificed their lives, died to their flesh. The Lord is worthy of our praise and respect. We all should pray to have hearts and lives like Enoch and Elijah. We all learn obedience from our mistakes and disobedience. Elijah as well, followed diligently after the Lord. He was used greatly and a powerful force in the midst of evil. God set him apart for a great work dealing with root causes in the heart of mankind, which is idolatry. He was a voice in that era. His message remains a very important lesson for mankind today.

God’s NEW MOVE

In the early 90’s, Jesus showed me His construction site and wrecking ball coming into my own life. He began by putting up a yellow tape barrier. He placed caution signs and blocked off certain areas. He was dealing mainly with my foundation. A renovation was needed, to remove the old, to lay a new foundation. I had a lot of work to be established and interior healing to be done. I felt the effects, it was messy, uncomfortable and I certainly felt undone for a long time. Little by little, trial after trial, testing and trials occurred. The shaking, the floods, and the fires challenged me. The Lord stretched and strengthened me through these experiences. I was on God’s path and on His potter’s wheel. He was shaping and fashioning my life. The path became narrower and felt like I had no control over my life. This move of God is about the control. God needs you to scoot over and let Him drive. We never walked this way before. Giving up your rights.

I surrendered and gave myself to the Lord, as best as I understood. He gave me so many profound revelations, to help me to understand what He was doing. He also explained what I should tell His people. This was for the days ahead when perilous times would be upon us all. He went in and begin to unearth all the hidden things below radar in my heart’s, thoughts, attitudes etc. I was finding myself repenting about many things I didn’t know about. I recall feeling very somber and the Lord told me I was in the garden of Gethsamene. He explained that I was dying to self, and embracing the cross and would experience a death to self. And also I would have a glorious resurrection. That it would repeat itself, and I would experience many deaths and burials and resurrections.

living waters

journey to fruit copyright June 29,2025