21- Day Consecration: Obedience to God

Well, today I start my journey of obedience and not only thatI begin it on a five day fast. Yes, that was sprung on me right before I started but it's all apart of being Obedient. I have to be honest doing a straight 5 day fast, well it's been a minute. I have done one day here and maybe three days there. if I go longer than 3 days it would be a 6 to 6 or midnight to 7. But this is old school for me. I use to fast alot in my twenties. I did a few 21 day fast most many times would do 7-10 tens.

So I start this obedience walk. For those that are going on this walk with me. I am glad to hve you on the journey and I look forward to hearing what the Lord does for you in the midst of this 21 day journey. I believe many things will be birthed in the spirit and you will see a greater and deeper calling on your life.

You may have your own list of things you are doing and wanting from god during this consecration but for me. it's simple. I want to be able to hear and obey God at all times. As a Pastor, when lives assigned to me, i cant take this thing lightly.

So for the next 21 days, This is my vow to you and more importantly to God.

1. Reading the word, not just studying it for sermons and counseling. 
2. Eating right and losing some weight (Fasting the first five days).
3. Forgiving those that have wronged me and seeking forgiveness from those that I have wronged. 
4. Staying faithful to my writing schedule (3 Hours daily except for Sundays)
5. Being more consistent in every area of life. Saying what I mean and meaning what I say.
6. Being faithful to accomplishing daily, weekly and monthly goals.
7. Not watching anything that is contrary to my Christian beliefs.
8. No gossiping/venting.

Yes I added two more things to the six things I already had. who knows by the end of this I may have added more to the list. 

You are Bound No More.

Pastor Linda Hillman
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International
Booklindahillman@gmail.com

Get Your Copy Now
Will You Be Made Whole
In The Meantime

Meet Pastor Linda Hillman

Many of you have read my blogs and maybe have asked yourself... Who is this lady? Well, Let me take the time to introduce myself to some, to present myself to others and to remind yet more of you that I am just a Woman saved by grace. There is nothing special about me but my Love for the Lord and his people. Ministry is truly my life. I pray that this helps you see a part of me that will help you make it through your struggles. I am an open book so that deliverance can be administered.

So here it goes!

Well, I have had my share of ups and downs. My childhood was not perfect and I have since learned that it was not as bad as I thought it to be during my childhood. There were a few things worst than what occurred to me. I grew up in church, but that did not stop the Devil from tempting me with the "Life". At an early age, I was involved in gang violence and if it had not been for a praying mother, I would have been lost to that life. BUT God's purpose for my life was not my own. I thank God I never really got involved in the drug scene and drinking just was not in the cards for me. However, lustful desires would cause this church girl to get involved in something just as addictive as drugs and alcohol. The desire to please my flesh and that I did in every way possible. Let's just say, anything you heard about Church girls being bad, well I might have written the book on it.

At the age of 14, I was tired of running from God and my calling and went to a Catholic Church and asked God to show me what He was really like. I needed to know Him for myself. I was no longer satisfied with the stories in the Bible or the testimonies I had heard from others. I wanted to know God as my Personal Savior. Two weeks later, while visiting some friends in Loomis, CA. I was in a back-slidden state of mind and during a Sunday night worship service, with the power of God all over me, refused to praise God unless I was going to praise Him for real. I did not want to be a hypocrite. That night, I had a dream and I saw Christ clearly. His face was so close to my face that I could have touched Him and He said, "Linda, I died for you, I love you. I have called you to prophesy, preach and teach My word." Those words, as simple as they were, revealed so much to me. God knew MY name and he knew where I was. If God, who created the universe and all that we know to be real, could pay me a visit, then I would acknowledge Him. 

The next day, I completely started a new. I went back to the things I knew as a child. I started getting more involved in our Youth Department, I got on the Bible quizzing team, I studied His word and began to let the hatred and malice go. The word began to wash over me. It was more than words to memorize, it was my lifeline. I began to love the woman I was to become. I have never looked back again. I am not perfect, but I know that I am truly free, forgiven and healed of all past sins. I have learned that releasing things to God allows you to walk out your destiny in Him.

God blessed me to start a ministry called W.H.O.L.E. (Women Healed Of Life's Experience) Ministries in 2005. This ministry is for women who have experienced life in a damaging way and feel that they are broken. They feel no one can love them. It is a ministry for them to become W.H.O.L.E. again. I focused on people in the community and those not of the household of faith. I understand that believers had a balm in Gilead but the unbeliever didn't know nor did they understand God's love for them. They needed someone to show them the way.

Later in 2009, I started a subdivision of W.H.O.L.E. Ministries called Living above Hurt Ministries, this subdivision was offered only to the Body of Christ. After hearing horrific stories of people that had been hurt in the Church and spiritually, emotionally, verbally, mentally abused by other saints. I knew that W.H.O.L.E. Ministries was not the place for them and created Living Above Hurt to be a safe haven for my brothers and sisters in Christ.

My passion in life is to be pleasing only to God. Sometimes that means that those around me cannot understand why I do certain things. I am now aware, this happened to Jesus and when people talk about me, I know that I am walking in His footsteps. Right now I am not tired, I am running this race stronger than I have ever ran. I see and feel the passion when I teach, preach and prophesy God's word to the unbeliever and the saint alike.

My favorite saying is God show yourself mighty in this place. I have yet to see him fail when the request is made.


You are Bound No More. 

Pastor Linda Hillman 
(c) 2015 LAH Ministries International 
Booklindahillman@gmail.com 

Get Your Copy Now 
Will You Be Made Whole
In The Meantime 

Meet The Keynote Speakers of Turning Your Past Into Purpose Retreat Cruise 2016: Prophetess LaTonya Powers

Prophetess, Dr. LaTonya Powers is a woman whom God has graced and gifted with many anointings and she moves in them fluently with excellence.  She is the Founder and Pastor of Warriors for Christ Global Outreach Ministries in Austell, Georgia and The Life Center of New Orleans in Gretna, Louisiana.  Prophetess Powers has endured and overcome many struggles, trials, and tribulations at a young age and has experienced and witnessed the power and blessings of God in her personal life.  She is a native of Mobile, Alabama and began preaching at the young age of 16. 

Prophetess Powers is a nationally sought after preacher, lecturer and advisor that is recognized as an intercessor, innovator, organizer, visionary and 21st Century prophetess with superior and uncommon leadership qualities. She is known for her wit and sense of humor; yet noted for her powerful preaching and teaching the Word of God. The ministry is also noted for spiritual gifts in the word of wisdom, the word of knowledge, faith and healing. This woman of God has a compassionate love for people and endeavors to bring fresh illumination to the deeper business, financial and Biblical truths that point the way to a better life in the Spirit so that it enhances the kingdom of God on earth. This is evidenced in her loyal attention to the daily activities and services of the congregation, as well as the pervasive impact of the church on community development initiatives such as homelessness, senior citizen and youth empowerment, cultural awareness and ecumenical outreach. 

Prophetess Powers ministers effectively to the heart of God’s people with power, truth and grace. A “pastor’s pastor”, her unique gifting transcends denominational, cultural, ethnical and generational boundaries. Not only is Prophetess Powers a gifted orator, strategist and entrepreneur, but she is a singer-songwriter and has participated in projects as a studio lead and background vocalist on live recording projects with artists such as Angie Stone. On July 17, 2014, Dr. Powers will release her first book which is available for preorders NOW, entitled "Spiritual DETOX" it is a seven-week guide to breakthrough for the soul.... Her love for Jesus Christ and the people of God have led her to speak and preach in churches, seminars and conferences throughout the country to include: Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) “Praise the Lord” program, Atlanta Live and The 2014 Atlanta's Epic Women's Event. Her ministry accomplishments have been highlighted in several publications including Charisma and Sister Keeper’s magazines. 

Prophetess Powers fervently believes that her mission is to “Rebuild the Broken – One Soul at a Time”, firmly stands on the word of God and is a living testament that God can make “a diamond in the rough”. She received her Doctorate in 2005 and is an alumnus of Bethel Bible Institute. She is a committed mother of three sons, resides in the state of Georgia and hails from a generation of pastors, prophets and bishops in her family lineage.

Meet The Host of Turning Your Past Into Purpose Retreat Cruise 2016: Pastor Linda Hillman

Linda A. Hillman is a faithful servant of the LORD.  Her credentials reads like a Who’s Who in the Bible—she’s been through the school of very hard knocks and has survived and thrived because of her trust in the LORD and her saturation and application of His Word.  Adversity has to take a back seat to Linda because, in her own words, “God can and will do, I am a living witness.”

As a ministry leader, Ms. Hillman’s resume includes but is not all inclusive:

*Founder and President of W.H.O.L.E. Ministries

*Founder and President of Living Above Hurt Ministries

*CEO/Master Coach of Destined 2 B U Empowerment Group

*Currently an Elder and Single Adult Pastor on the Pastoral Staff of Victory in Praise Church, located in Stockton, CA

*Hosts a weekly small group in her home

*Has implemented cell groups in different ministries

*Has worked in home mission churches for 5 years

Three other areas that make up her ministry niches are Evangelism, Christian Education and Music.  Her work as an evangelist is a tribute to her determination to serve God’s children.  She sings and preaches wherever the LORD sends her—she’s even travelled Europe, helping to save the lost and lift up the saved.  As an educator, under the direction of Bishop Rufus K. Turner, Ms. Hillman assists in the development of VIP Bible Institute.  But it’s her music that has brought her to the attention of Christian music lovers with her appearance in the McDonald GospelFest two years in a row. 

As in her favorite worship song, Welcome into This Place, Linda welcomes the call God has placed on her life to minister to His hurting people.  God has trusted Linda to establish His work in the world and she continues to “study and show herself approved” by pursuing a Master of Divinity in Theology.  Linda Hillman is certainly an exemplary example of loving, dedicated servanthood…and the world is a much better place because of the Spirit of God in her.

Residue Part 2 - Who We are After Becoming New!

So in my last post I talked about residue and why it is important that we acknowledge it's existence and we actively work to become new and remove all residue from our lives. Residue is a contaminate and thus we need to make sure that it does not effect everything else that we do or become.

Well let's take a closer look at how we should get rid of it.

I Peter 2:9 – “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”

Most of us never think twice about this passage and the demands that it places on us. We just quickly and glibly pass over it with thoughts of white clerical collars or Praise & Worship songs roll over in our head, but no real consideration that these titles place on us very specific responsibilities. Responsibilities that can not he done with residue in us.

I want us to journey back into the Old Testament and examine the daily jobs or duties of the priesthood, those that were set  apart for God, because I think they still translate and speak to us today. I want us to remember that there an be no residue in us if we want to operate correctly. We have ministry that we are required to do on a daily basis as priest of the Kingdom! 

1. The first duty that the priest was responsible for was to diagnose sickness. Their job was to examine the folks around them and be aware and sensitive enough to see sickness for what it was. They were to determine how severe the sickness was. They were to prescribe remedy for the sickness. They were to act as physician to the sick. God’s go between. God’s means of brining diagnosis and healing. And didn’t Jesus reiterate that for his followers and for us? 

1. The second duty of the priest was to transport glory! The assignment of carrying the Ark of the Covenant which was the place of the manifest presence of God fell to the priests. 

I would declare to you today that the reason we are inept at transporting glory because we are inept at living holy! we are inept at living holy because we carry in our heart the residue of what we have been through. The priests that were called to transport glory had to be holy. They had to live pure. They had to be consecrated and set apart. It wasn't enough to just hang out in the glory, worship in the glory, they had to apply the glory to their lives.

In my next post we will take this a bit further and will talk about each of the two steps separately and in depth so we can start to remove the residue and Live as God intended us to live. 

You are Bound No More. 

Pastor Linda Hillman 

(c) 2014 Living Above Hurt Ministries

Pastorlindahillman@hotmail.com

Bound No More

The one thing we need but many of us struggle to get is respect. In life, we will go through some hard times and if we are lucky, we will be able to come out on the winning side. However, what about the one that are caught in the cracks. Is there hope for the woman whose been abused (emotionally, mentally, physically or socially)? Who is there to let that woman know there is hope in her hopeless situation?

We hear so much about sisterhood yet we are set apart. We gossip about one another steal each other men and if we get the chance, we will ruin another’s reputation so we look good. Now does this sound like sisterhood? More importantly how are we being good examples for the girls and women to come after us? Are we allowing them to find hope for their situations? Let me share my story and may be, someone will see there is hope and make a change for the better.

As a teenager, I suffered being molested, verbally abused and lived in a house raging with domestic violence. I grew up with anger issues and never tried to deal with them. I had relationship after relationship fail. One day I came to the realization that the life I was living was just a shadow of what could be. I did not have to live with the pain, frustration and depression. I could rise above it. I could be free. However, I knew that it would take some restoration of my inner emotions. I would have to learn how to look at life differently, not using my own reasoning because it was skewed and fragile.

I sought help from counselors and coaches that help my see past the hurt, habits and hang-ups. I was able to start a relationship on a healthy note and those negative friends – well I was able to influence them to be more positive. This did not happen over night it only started with a single step.

The first step can be the hardest however, if you are truly ready for healing to occur in your life then you will allow this step to take place, including removing all negative and unhealthy influences in your life. Many times, it is what we allow in our lives that hinder us the most. I had to deal with the past in order to maintain my present and secure my future.

We learned in history that if we do not learn from history it is bound to repeat itself. Well, this is true even in our lives. If we are not willing to learn from bad decisions, our fears, our failure and, even more importantly, our successes then we are bound to repeat them. Dr. Susan Jeffers says, “Life is not a struggle but an opportunity”. Additionally, you only get a single opportunity to make it count. Do not live with regret and remorse. Not to make light of the experiences you have been through, Nevertheless, if I can learn to let go of the pain and anger, then why not you?