Haggai the Prophet & Unexpected Lessons

        

    To say I've been in a very unhappy, tearful, deep funk lately is a HUGE understatement.  There is a lot that I do not understand about my current situation.  There are many days I cry throughout the day wondering what I've done wrong?  Am I missing something?  Am I following Christ or my own selfish desires?  I sometimes cry myself to sleep as well.  Throughout all the trials of the last few months & years, one thing has remained strong...I have a deep desire to hear from the Lord.  Even when I hear from the Lord, others question my choices or decisions based on the word the Lord has laid upon my heart.  It is not easy to follow Christ.  You have to make daily & even sometimes hourly sacrifices to do what is not always the popular thing.

    There are days that I feel the Lord has left my side and left me out to dry.  Can it get any worse?  Can one more thing happen that will frustrate me to no end?  Can it all just fall apart before my eyes?  I often wonder WHY?  Why is it that when I choose to follow Christ are there more trials?  I now see why people have a hard time following Christ.  Making a choice to follow HIM takes a lot of faith and trust.

    God's Holy Bible reminds me that I'm not alone.  Whatever I'm going through is nothing compared to what some of the Prophets of the Bible have gone through, or even what Christ Himself had to endure taking on the sins of man and dying on the cross to save our souls.

    Take the prophet Job, EVERYTHING was taken from him.  Only his life was spared...even though it was spared, it still wasn't pretty, he had sores all over.  His own wife said to him, "Are you still maintaining your integrity?  Curse God and die!"  He replied to her, "You are talking like a foolish woman.  Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"

    Also after all his children had passed away, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship and said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart.  The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised."  In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

    To be quite honest, I wish I could say that I spend time reading God's word daily.  I wish it was more important to me.  I'm learning to love him more and the desire to hear from him is getting stronger every day.  I get sad when I don't hear from him.  I've had a few dreams/visions over the last few months that woke me in wonder and awe of his goodness and faithfulness.  These visions are so deep and strong that I wake up wanting to stay in the moment.  I lay in bed in awe and just don't want to move from his presence.  He speaks to me mostly through my nighttime visions.  On the outside, it seems like not much has changed, but on the inside, I wrestle daily about the meaning of these visions.  What is the takeaway?  What am I to learn from them?  What is next for me?  They have all been very similar to some degree, and are all building up to something great.  I'm always fighting off a "satanic figure" and standing strong against him; not physically, but in word and song - which I find funny because in real life...I don't sing!

    Today as I sit here in the quiet, pondering life once again, I pray before I open up God's word.  He is so spot on with what he is teaching me.  I opened up to where I had thrown in a piece of paper a few Sundays ago.  Literally just stuck it in my bible so it wasn't floating around my car.  Lo and behold...today's teaching from the Lord was the book of Haggai.  Ever read that book of the bible?  Ever even heard of it?  One of those books hidden away at the end of the Old Testament that gets skipped over.  Guess what?!  It's full of wisdom and great things.

    The biggest and hardest things I've been dealt this past few months have been related to Housing.  I got dealt some heartbreaking news about our upcoming move into our new home...however, I have to trust that this news was no surprise to the Lord.  Just this morning I was talking and crying with my best friend and also some family over this very topic.  I sit down to read...and land in Haggai!  Wouldn't you know, it's all about housing and The Call to Build the House of the Lord and The Promise of the Glory of the NEW HOME.

    What I learned/took away from today's reading is that the "building of the House of the Lord" is my own personal walk with HIM.  My Spiritual Journey!  I'm pretty sure that season of learning more about HIM and learning the truly TRUST HIM in EVERYTHING, EVERY DAY, is the "Building of the house of the Lord".  In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, it says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples (house) of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."

    Until the temple/house of the Lord that I'm to honor him with is healthy, the promise of the Glory of the New Home remains in the distance.  This is a hard pill to swallow.  Could it be that some of the choices I've made in my past are keeping us from moving at this time into our new home?   Possibly?  One choice I made in August of last year has certainly had an effect, but I stand firm on my decision that it was the right decision to make based on the amount of prayer, counsel, and months of wrestling with the Lord on when to do it.  He has 100% followed through and provided every need since that decision was made.  As a human, I sometimes fall back into the "what-ifs" and the "should haves" but God is faithful.  This is the long and hard journey I'm on and I pray it makes me stronger and wiser.  

    This particular verse in Haggai hit me really hard this morning..."How is it that it's the right time for you to live in your fine new homes while the Home, God's Temple, is in ruins?" - Haggai 1:4.  There is still much growth of my character and development that needs to happen during the last quarter of 2023.  I'm much more certain of this today.  BUT...THERE IS HOPE!  In Chapter 2 of Haggai, verse 6 it tells us "This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea, and the dry land.  I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty.'  Verse 9 goes on to say, 'The glory of this present house will be GREATER than the glory of the former house.  This is the hope I cling to that the current housing situation which is less than ideal leads to a GREATER GLORY IN OUR NEW HOME.  'And in this place, I will grant peace, declares the Lord Almighty."

These verses actually tie directly in with the visions I've had as well with the shaking of the heavens and the earth and the sea and land.  I hope to share those with you all some other time.  In true fashion, the Lord is asking me to do some things out of my comfort zone, so you may see or hear my voice on many different platforms...that is very scary to say, but when the Lord speaks, I try to follow.  EEEKKK!!!  You will probably hear me before you see me...at least right now.

Have a great week!  As always, hit me up with questions or comments that you might have.

Misty Dupree

Job worshiped the Lord...

So, about these books I’ve been writing, they are no way near ready for publication, but I need to share a little bit of my heart with you today because it’s so cool how the Lord uses things like this to remind me of his faithfulness.

Book 1 is called “Walk On - A Story of Fear, Faith, & Freedom in Christ.”  Today I’ve been hit with some of the hardest news I could possibly imagine.  I will stand strong and grow from the pain and tears.  And from today forward, I’ve been charged to “Now Run – Grab the Baton and RUN to Christ.”  (Book 2).

Aug 12^th, 2022.  That was the last day at my part-time job, working outside the home.  I had quit my job with COMPLETE faith and put my FULL trust in the Lord.  I began working from home as a Real Estate Agent and also working more diligently on my Medical Bag Tag launch.

I didn’t just wake up one day and decide this, I prayed and prayed; sought counsel; wrestled; prayed more, and ultimately chose the path less traveled.  I took the leap of faith and put my FULL TRUST IN THE LORD. 

The Lord had begun stirring in my heart in March of last year that my trust, although good, wasn’t FULLY IN HIM.  That was probably one of the hardest things to do as a human, but also the easiest to do as a child of God.  To be able to put my whole reliance on HIM as my provider brings so much peace during trials. 

In human terms, you might say I’ve had a year from hell.  I lost my Food Stamps 3 times and ultimately the final time, Medicaid at least once, and the delay of child support payments getting to me between two states has set me back numerous times resulting in nearly $1000 in late fees and banking overdraft fees.  Every month I cry and struggle and my faith is tested.  BUT GOD.  He is so good and always HIS TIMING IS PERFECT.  I will always believe that.  NO MATTER WHAT…GOD’S TIMING IS PERFECT.  He knows our heart's desires, needs, wants, and even the things that we don’t see.  He sees our tears, our longings, etc.  He is ULTIMATLY in control and I WILL SUBMIT to HIM in everything.  Even when it is hard.

I was reading Job Chapters 1-5 this morning.  In Chapter 1:20, even after losing his worldly possessions and then all his children, “Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.  Then he fell to the ground in worship.”  Job worshiped the Lord after losing everything.

Little did I know that the very act of following God and quitting my job in August 2022 would come back full circle and “bite me in the butt” as the world would say almost exactly 1 year later.  I’ve been hit with some of the hardest news I could possibly imagine.  But I will not sway.  I will stand strong and grow from the pain and tears from this morning’s news.  Choosing Self-Employment over working outside the home has been such a blessing for our family.  I’m not saying it’s easy at all but it does come with some perks.  However, when getting a mortgage on a home, self-employment income can only be counted if it is on a Tax Return. So, now we wait…until December when I file my taxes.  Self-employment income MUST be on a Tax Return.  Even if I made all the $ in the world and could make over and above all the required house payments, getting a loan still requires that.  The expectations of moving into our brand new home have been delayed until the beginning of next year.

As much as it hurts, I’m not blaming myself, or anyone else.  I simply followed my GOD.  HE IS BIGGER.  HE IS STILL FAITHFUL.  I STILL FULLY TRUST HIM.  GOD IS STILL GOOD.  This is not the news I was hoping to hear, but HIS TIMING IS PERFECT.  Maybe there is more learning and growing I need to endure.  Maybe He wants us to rid of more stuff weighing down our lives and our family.  Maybe there are more people I need to share my story with.  More lives to touch.  More experiences with trials and pain allow me to be a better friend to others going through similar experiences.  Or maybe I’ll never know this side of heaven and that’s okay.  I will hold my head high, take deep breaths, and Walk On.  But during the next 6 months, you might find me in the season of Now Run.

Please remember to pray for our family as we RUN TO CHRIST during this next season.  If you want to pray for specifics… then by all means:

In 6 months I will still have to pay $9000 in rent, need to pay off about $7000 in debt, need to buy a 2^nd car (or somehow fix two non-running ones), and still show a net income of $3153.17 per month oh yeah, and also feed, clothe, and pay for electricity for our family too! 

When I’ve been in a very long season of walking and now, I’m being required to run, please pray that I remember to run to Christ when I’m weary and want to give up.

As far as any financial gifts you have given towards our new home build/purchase via GoFundMe, they will be set aside in a special savings account to be held for closing at the beginning of next year.

My prayer and scripture for the next 6 months is found in Ephesians 3:14-21

“For this reason, I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.  I pray that out of his glorious riches, he may strengthen US with power through his Spirit in OUR inner beings so that Christ may dwell in OUR hearts through faith.  And I pray that I, being rooted and established in love, may have power together with the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and how long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that WE may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.

“Now to HIM who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to HIS power that is at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen!”

"The Final Chapter" and "A New Beginning"

     

    Today my intent was to blog about how God has been rocking my world through the months of June and July.  But guess what?  God had other ideas for how my time would be spent this afternoon.  

    Today I will be sharing with you a big win in my book!

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    As many of you may have heard by now, I'm working on writing a book and looking to produce a movie in the near future!  I've had a title, sub-title, and front cover image for many years (nearly 16 years now).  The crazy thing about having only a smidgen of the info for as long as I have is that I've often felt it would cover many different topics.  Once it was going to be about mothering through the years of toddlerhood, missionary stories out of the Caribbean Mission Field, or any number of other subjects along the way.

    As I began to experience years of uncertainty, restlessness, pain, heartbreak, and even captivity, I hung to the CROSS OF CHRIST.  I tried my hardest to "Consider it pure joy...when I faced these trials of many kinds because I knew that the testing of my faith would produce perseverance and I was to let that perseverance finish its work so that I could become mature and complete...lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-3; Paraphrased).

    The more the Lord began teaching me about HIS forgiveness and receptiveness it became ever so clear what my book was to contain.  It is as follows:

Walk On

Stories of Fear, Faith, & Freedom in Christ

(through the Eyes of Domestic Violence Survivors) 

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And the movie, similar to the book, but slightly different will be:

Walk On

A documentary on the secret world of Domestic Violence in the Church

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     It's funny how things work out, having had these visions for so many years now.  I've been spot-writing through probably the last 5 years now.  It wasn't until the months of June & July that I knew what would be included in the beginning and final chapters.

    Just a few days ago I began speaking with a published author about many of the questions I have had and I'm sure will continue to have.  The biggest one...how do you know when to stop when you love to write but want to share the life stories of so many people.  I guess as I suspected I would just know.  Today I was awakened by the Lord telling me what my ending subject would be about.  I'd like to say the end is near, however, I still need to fill in the middle!  So...who really knows?  I am looking at going on a "Writer's Retreat" to somewhere beautifully inspiring and quiet.  I want to sit with the Lord and write and write and write.  I know without a doubt that it is one of my top priorities now.

    If you guys happen to have any leads for a movie production crew or know someone famous, I have an audio manuscript ready for sending.  I hope to get it transcribed into a paper manuscript as well.

Misty Dupree

He said, "Rest and Trust."

Often times I find myself, overwhelmed with all the responsibilities of life as a Single Mom.  Living life with a lot of little people brings me days full of joy, pain, exhaustion, gratitude, inability, tears, and laughter.  I'm going to be honest.  It's SO SO SO HARD.  I wish there where more days of joy and laughter.  

In March of 2022, just one year ago, God began a quiet whisper in my soul.  Rest & Trust...You need to Rest and just trust  me.  

"Um, excuse me. Did you say rest?  How in the world am I able to rest?  You do realize that I have 8 kids and I do EVERYTHING on my own and all the responsibilities of keeping these humans alive lies in my hands."   No matter how much I tried to get Him to understand (foolish of me, I know right?), He continued the soft whisper.  Rest and Trust.  I wrested with that for a very long time.  "I do trust you Lord!  I trust that next year when we are in our new house, I will have time to Rest and Trust."  I continued on with my stubbornness.  That small whisper...Rest & Trust never let up.  Little did I know, the Lord was about to do some mighty things and teach me some MAJOR lessons.  Let me be the first to say that when the Lord says Rest & Trust, you do it...NOW.  Not on your own time, but HIS time.

One Sunday morning, that March, the Lord asked me, "Why won't you trust me?  You need to trust and believe that you need to Rest & Trust in me.  I understand that you want to Rest and Trust next year, but I need you to Rest and Trust NOW"  I finally got the message, threw up my hands and said, "Ok, I will Rest and Trust you now."  I call that time in my life my "My March Madness".  

Opening up my hands and surrendering was one of the hardest things I've ever done.  Shortly after that time, I learned that rest was in my near future.  I ended up having surgery and was put on strict bed rest for 6-8 weeks.  The Lord also began a stirring, yet again, in my heart.  This time it was "Girl, I want you to quit your job." Um...are you crazy Lord, you do remember that I'm a single mom whose child support barely makes a dent in our needs and that I have to do every thing I can to provide over and above that support to make ends meet."  As the weeks carried on, after surgery, while I was resting in His presence, I began praying for wisdom to continue to trust Him.  FOR HIS TIMING.  

"Yes, Lord.  I will quit my job.  But when?"

He said, "Rest in me and I will tell you when the time is right."

Fast forward a few months and my day started with the intent to talk to my boss about reducing my hours...yet again.  I was so tired from trying to do things on my own.  Trying to provide. Trying to work outside the home, run a business from home, transport kids to and from school, afterschool activities, doctor, dentist, orthodontist, physical therapy, church, concerts, school field trips and more.  I felt 100% sure that I needed to be home with my babies and spend less time packing my days doing things MY WAY.  That beautiful day, I walked in my office and quit my job.  I gave my two week notice and began to Trust the Lord...for TODAY.  Trust Him NOW.

Wow...what a long year it has been.  So many ups and downs and spirals, and tears and prayers, and requests, etc.  I still don't have it completely figured out. I still struggle with Rest and Trust.  I'm happy to say, however, that seeing how the Lord has carried us through the past year has been nothing but absolutely breathtakingly beautiful and so rewarding.  I pray that I never forget His faithfulness and goodness to our family.

A new chapter is on the horizon for us.  We will soon be moving into our very own home.  We were blessed to be a recipient family of a brand new Habitat House.  It is being built with love and care by amazing volunteers in community, local real estate agents, and we got to help as well.  One amazing blessing about this home is that we will have two dishwashers, two washers, and two dryers.  Those of you who have more than a couple of kids can probably understand my excitement about these things.  

As the weeks march on, closer and closer to our move in date, the joy and excitement in me is rising.  This has been one of the longest, and hardest years of my life.  I'm not saying that a new house will protect us from hard years, but that the Lord has found it in His grace and kindness to bless us with a fresh start in a new home.  Something I've never had ever imagined.

I have so many amazing stories of God's provision.  I'm here to say, as hard as it may seem, and as hard as it ACTUALLY IS...I beg and plead for you to Rest & Trust in Jesus.  Trust HIM for TODAY, not for SOMEDAY!  I can't fathom how much harder and more difficult this past year could have been had I not had Christ to help carry me through those dark months.

I woke up to a message from a dear friend who prayed for me over the phone.  Lord her words were a gift this morning. You timing is EPIC!

"Lord, I give everyone and everything to you God.  Fill me Lord with more of you.  So, Lord, that really does cover everything and all of the things that are weighing on us, and we are thinking about.  But we can't let that stay in us because we were not meant to carry it.  It's not up to us.  We are not God, we are not Holy Spirit Jr. You are in control, you do not need us to handle the things. You need us to lay them at your feet.  Be in a place of PEACE.  In a place of REST."

Here I am Lord, listening, listening for your voice.

Misty Dupree