“A Gentle Spirit with a Giant Message, is how I describe Holly Smith. Women are drawn to her message because of her genuine love for Christ and her transparency portrayed in her testimony. The message Holly shares thru ‘The Cracked Pot’ will touch and bring freedom to women of all generations. She shares God’s message with a passionate commitment to change the lives of others in a positive way. She recently spoke at a Powerful Journey Women’s Conference. The evidence of the power in her message was shown as her session quickly filled with standing room only. As God continues to do a great work through Holly, she will be an added bonus to any program.”
— Phyllis Jenkins, Powerful Journey
“I believe God’s ultimate aim is to cause you to conquer your greatest fear. He does this by exposing the lie you believed. One lie is to look to yourself for ability and deliverance. I didn’t need a master’s degree to follow my Master’s decree to my destiny.”
— Holly Smith
Anointing Your Weakness
God wants to anoint your weakness. That way we know it was impossible for us to do and God gets all the glory! My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in our weakness. (2 Cor. 12:9)
Examples: 1. Saul to Paul – “Jesus came to save sinners of whom I am chief,” Paul says about himself (I Tim. 1:15) “I am the least of all saints, yet given grace to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Eph. 3:8)
2. Gideon-threshing wheat in the winepress, hiding from the Midianites. The Angel of the Lord appears to him-“God is with you mighty warrior!” Gideon: “Why has all this happened to us then? Where are the wonders our ancestors told us about? But now we feel abandoned”… Angel of the Lord, “Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian!” (Gideon, still arguing) “But I am the least of my clan!”“I will be with you when you strike down all the Midianites together!” (Judges 6:11-16) God was calling out potential, what He sees! Gideon saw himself as weak and cowardly. Do you ever feel a victim? God calls us more than conquerors, overcomers. You are to tell others the steps you took to get out of your pit, not how hard it was, not self pity, but how to get out!
I was counseling someone this week who had rejection issues, low self esteem, self protection, lack of trust or doubt, and victim mentality. I gave her this idea-God wants to anoint your weakness! “What’s my weakness, she asks?” All those things we just talked about. He thinks you are strong and can help others conquer those areas. She was so sick of the warfare and torment, always replacing the lies with truth all day of who God says we are.
We need every part of the Body as you know. We each have a piece of the puzzle, the manifold wisdom of God. My part was I knew God wanted to use her weakness but another woman (who came to visit and minister from Dallas) put it together and said you are a deliverer! You will have a deliverance ministry and these enemies are afraid of you. They know if you find out your authority, it’s over for them! That’s the reason for the attacks. Ephesians 3:10 says, “Now through the church the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realm which he accomplished in Christ!” (each part of the Body and gifts working together, united to slay the enemy instead of competing. We are to love and build up each part until we reach fullness in Christ and maturity in the faith.
Your valley of Achor will be a door of hope for others; all your mountains will be turned into roads of travel! Right after this session with this young lady, I was asking God for a word for her and how He feels about her? I heard this word and knew it was from God because it was an old word I hadn’t heard in ages! “I love her gumption!” Gumption: Guts; spunk, grit, backbone.
People with gumption are determined and full of courage and overcome adversity —fearless, brave.So that is how God sees her just as He did Gideon, just the opposite of what she felt.
Two points:
- God wants to anoint your weakness. What weakness does He want to anoint in you? How has the manifold wisdom of God helped you? Do you believe He made the foolish to shame the wise? We can all qualify in His kingdom.
- What keeps us from loving our neighbor as ourselves? (competing, jealousy,
needing recognition?) We all have gifts so that the Body of Christ will be built up until we reach unity in the faith. We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. The disciples were known by their love for one another. Have you ever gotten caught up in competing for spiritual gifts!?
Example in my life: A girl called to get my teaching on victim mentality as she was going to teach on that subject in the prison. I gave her the teaching and all the advice I knew. Shortly after she called with great results. They loved her teaching and invited her back! In the past I would’ve thought, “Hey, you stole my teaching and I didn’t get any credit.” That thinking is worldly. When we are a new creation in Christ, our attitude changes! We are all in this together. Hooray for you! I am pleased I helped plant some seeds for a harvest in the prison! God knows!
Prayer:
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Dear Lord,
Help us work together as one and defeat the enemies that come against us. Thank you that we need the Body of Christ to complete us and stand strong. Thank you that you see all and the things we do in secret your Word tells us you reward openly! Help us to get our affirmation from you alone and give you all the glory! Thank you for your Kingdom which is another system from the world, free from strife, rank and performance. AmenEntering Rest and the Promises of God
One day as Alan and I were walking around the block in our neighborhood we noticed a man from a mowing service mowing a neighbor’s yard. He stopped his mower and pointed at us as we walked by and in a loud voice yelled, “I see the rest of God on you according to Hebrews 4!” We were shocked as we didn’t know this guy from Adam but he announced at last we had quit striving and entered a trust and rest in God. What a wonderful confirmation!
Later that day I was reading Joshua 1 and the following verses struck me for you too!
I will give you every place you set your foot.
No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. I will never leave or forsake you.
Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
Keep the Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
The Lord your God will give you rest and has granted you this land.
You are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. (Joshua 1:3, 5, 6, 8,13-15)
May I pray for you?
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Lord,
Help my sisters and I hear your voice and obey. Thank you that you always know what we need and work things together for our good. Help us to feel refreshed and renewed by these promises. Give us courage to possess the land you are giving us and to help others come into your rest. AmenA Desert Experience
A Desert Experience A story in my life on our journey 15 years previously: Before going on our anniversary trip to Copper Mountain, I had a dream. I was biking through a nice neighborhood and came to a hill with Alan. He was able to get over it but I was struggling and just pedaling in place with no progress. I saw this girl from high school pedal by us. I wanted to find out about she and her husband and told Alan to go ahead and catch her and ask how they were doing. In the meantime, I would try to conquer this hill and hoped to by the time he returned. The couple’s names were Kristi Turner and Dave Journey. When Alan returned, he reported that Turner had divorced Journey. That symbol would prove significant because Turner had “divorced” or given up the journey.
As we drove to Colorado, Alan was looking back and having lots of regrets of not ending up financially successful and providing for his family as he had hoped. He was speaking negative things and his frustration with the call of God on his life. I knew he was thinking of “divorcing the journey” and going back to his secular job. When we got to Copper, God gave me a dream. I was pregnant at 52 years old. I knew Alan wouldn’t want to raise a baby all over again as our sons were older and grown. In the dream I saw Sarah from the bible who was also pregnant in her older age (her hair was almost white). I asked her what would I do about this since my husband wouldn’t want a child at my age? She pointed her finger in my face and said, “Rest! Don’t worry, she continued, because many people would adopt this baby and help raise it up. I know now that dream symbol of being pregnant is often pregnant with a spiritual growth and in my case I was pregnant with a baby of rest. I was to cease from striving and enter His rest as Hebrews 4 mentions and that many would need to do this and trust God to carry them, “adopting rest”.
The next day before leaving for home, I was jogging with the huge mountains beside me and a lake and highway to my left. I was venting a bit to God that I had hung on to His promises and tried to encourage my whole family but unless He gave me a sign to continue in faith, I couldn’t go on! I was exhausted! As I waited in silence, He spoke, “Good! Now I can take over! You see, Holly, I have to carry you your last leg to My promise and your destiny. You can’t accomplish it without Me! Now look up to the highway!” Right as I glanced to my left there was a moving van with the title “Covenant Transport!” There was the sign I asked for. “It’s my promise Holly, I began the call and will carry you to the completion.”
This was the training to come to the end of myself in trying to accomplish my own call and have my Peniel or wrestling with God to let the government of my life be on His shoulders. I learned to trust His way over my own…I had a prophecy later that said you have heard of beauty to ashes but you had ashes to beauty. You had a death to self first then beauty.
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I believe God is giving you the experiences you need right now to back up what you know in the knowledge of the bible.
May I pray for you?
Lord,
Thank you that You who have begun a good work in us will carry it to completion. Help us to cease striving to accomplish our own calling and enter into Your rest. Help us to trust You and Your timing for our maturity. Help us to enjoy the journey and gain the wisdom and revelation You intend for us to help all those coming in our path!
In Jesus name,
AmenOutside the Gates
Outside the Gates It is an essential part of the Christian life to lose your reputation of the world. It needs to be on your resume’. I can remember in my life it was hard for me to say “no”. That is a problem-if you want to be pleasing and not rejected sometimes not saying no or anything may wind up in serious trouble (like being dominated by others or not standing for injustice) Even Jesus had righteous anger driving the moneychangers out of the temple.
But back to my struggle with saying “no”. I might be up half the night thinking out how my saying “no” would affect others and how I would experience rejection and they would not understand that I felt led by God to say “no” to this particular invitation.
Finally my husband said, “They aren’t thinking of you, just let them know and that’s it.”
I had come to the place of needing to “let the cards fall where they may”. This is a turning point where I was going to get a lot of painful practice until it would come easy for me. We are taught as women in society (in my day) not to rock the boat and to be pleasing and agreeable, not to lead but follow, especially by those who are our elders. Galatians 1:10 says, Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
So what if the elders you are following have it wrong? What then? You then have to take responsibility for your actions, or inactions…We are to be led by hearing God’s voice and obeying. Heb. 10:16 says, “This is the covenant I will make with them
after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
and I will write them on their minds.”Hearing His voice and being led by His Spirit is our compass.
Sometimes by avoiding rocking the boat, the waves build up so high they become a tsunami and break our boat in two! One thing I learned is no one can bond with a false front. There has to be a cause and conviction to stand for or be known for. Who are you and what do you stand for? Let us become strong and courageous in our convictions to the Truth that every false front and mask of protection be removed and we can know that
as we see in a mirror dimly, we will see him face to face one day and must give an account for our actions or inactions. Help us to know He is bringing us to a higher place and marking out the trail before us to be a strong voice on His behalf.I Cor. 13:11 says, When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.
We will no longer struggle with saying no or setting boundaries as He has set them internally in us! Thank you, Holy Spirit, that You won’t be satisfied until we are made in God’s image as we go from glory to glory. The only One we are to follow blindly is You and Your leading.
Are you willing to go “outside the camp” and bear the shame and disgrace He bore for us? For here we do not have an enduring city but we are looking for the one to come.
Help us to represent you unashamedly as you did us and bore our sins on the cross. Let us go outside the camp and participate in your sufferings so that we may participate in your glory when it is revealed. May Your kingdom be the one we are concerned with and stand for not our reputations in the world. Free us all of pretense that we may be identified with the Truth! Help us Lord be a rebel for Your kingdom and go against the ways of the world.Is. 50:7-8 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near.
Continue reading →The Red Umbrella
The Red Umbrella I love this quote which was from a book study recently:
The reality of naked trust is the life of a pilgrim who leaves what is nailed down and secure and walks into the unknown without any explanation to justify the decision or guarantee for the future. Why? Because God has signaled the movement and offered His presence and promise.And Ps. 107:6-7 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble and he delivered them from their distress. He led them to a city where they could settle.
Shortly after Mom died September 7th, 2020, my husband and I felt called to Kansas City to be involved with a church there. We had been there for a short 18 months 30 years earlier and felt like God was saying, “Go and finish the work”.
God had been showing me in dreams that despite our hand to mouth living at this time that he was taking us to a land where we could stand and thrive. My mom had left us a stipend to invest in a house as we had been leasing for 34 years.
As we arrived in Kansas City, housing was at the top of the market and yet we had sold most everything to come and find a house. We first got familiar with the area and outlying areas close to the church and began looking. It was a frustrating time for buyers as there were usually multiple bids and they were paying about 8% higher than the buyer was even asking. After being bandied about in air bnbs, where someone had a reservation coming in behind us constantly, we were exhausted and scattered everywhere. We would have to pack up clothes, groceries and necessities and move again in a week or two. We were literally homeless and doubt crept in. Are we sure we were called to be here? It was much more comfortable with friends and family and familiar territory. Wouldn’t God help us find a house easily if He called us here?
Finally we bid on a house that had 3 acres. My husband wanted to be away from the city and have at least an acre. The only problem about a country place was that unless you were paying high dollar most needed major updating. The one request I had was to have a vanity area and modern bathroom. After losing that house by a bid over us of $35,000, we were disappointed and frustrated.
I went to the ladies ministry night and the ladies around the table were praying for me to find a house as our realtor sat with us. One older woman, Claire, spoke up confidently, “The house you are going to buy is not even on the market yet and it won’t be a totally money deal either.” Well if that were true God, how could you let us go around in circles and not land us yet?
Losing the first house served to make us more flexible. Alan had not been open to look at a two story house until now. There were many two stories in Kansas. We were about to rent an apartment and give up the search when we spotted three houses to look at for a final attempt to buy. I had a dream that night. One of the houses we would be looking at the next day would be ours! In fact the dream seemed to reveal it was already accomplished. We owned the house and I was having my neighbor over for tea in a beautiful backyard covered in trees. We sat outside on an outdoor table with a red umbrella. I also recalled a prophetic word I had received long ago that spoke of my being misunderstood and rejected which had left scars but that a time was coming when I would be restored. And it would be a Christmas in July for me…
After touring two homes the next morning, we came to the third and just felt it was the one as we walked in the door. Sure enough the trees were solid in the back and the outdoor table set on the deck held a red umbrella just as it was pictured in the dream!
We had a day or two to think about our offer since the other agent was out of town and Alan came up with the bid. Since I thought it was God’s choice I really desired the house and was afraid of losing another and being destined to homelessness…Alan said we must lean and trust in God about this decision and not win it in our own strength. I wrestled in the night. Was my dream true or just my hopes? Could I rely on this message in the night? I heard God whisper, “You will be alright.” I knew that meant we would be alright with the bid we were submitting. I had also submitted a letter to the owners stating our desire to be the owners and to host missionaries and visiting leaders of our church as well as lead groups and do some writing. The setting was definitely inspirational and satisfied the country feel my husband desired being in the culdesac with trees and twenty five acres beside us. The owner of the land had no plans to ever build beside us!
The woman’s prophetic impression at ministry night had been accurate. The house had been in pre-MLS and not out officially on the market at the time. Our realtor had sent it to us and we had access the day it came on the market and it had not been all about money. We got the house for $10,000 under what we expected to pay!
In the next few days the story got even more interesting. A red umbrella was sent to my forwarding address. However, I didn’t recall telling anyone the story yet about locating our house by the red umbrella or my temporary address. I first asked my realtor and sister if they sent it. They might be the only ones with the knowledge and address but they did not do it.
Ammsun was written on the case which held the umbrella. Under the company name was written in capital letters, I AM HERE!!! What? A sign and wonder to show me the great I AM is planting me in this location? I wonder who this special neighbor is that I will have over for tea.
Was this a mistake by Amazon or a divine confirmation? I choose to believe the latter! We closed on the house July 30th which proved true that I certainly had a Christmas in July!
God works in mysterious ways! When you know it is His choice that is all that matters. We surrendered every preconceived personal desire and felt a peace that He has a plan and knows the exact place you should live!
“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. “– Acts 17:26 (NIV)
Continue reading →Word in Due Season for 2021
1-1-21 New Year ImpressionIs. 49:11 “I will turn all my mountains into roads and my highways will be raised up.”
Redemption is My word for you for 2021. My redemption draws near. You have been through the pangs of birth for many whom I will redeem. Your testimony, My story in your life will save many who have lost their compass.
I have truly made you a covenant for My people and how have I done it? Your lives are an illustration of My promise for others. When they see the result of their trials turning into blessings they will rejoice. The cowering prisoners will soon be set free; they will not die in their dungeon, nor will they lack bread. (Is. 51:14) This has always been My plan to use your difficulties on your journey to give strength and resolve to overcome the enemy and pave the way for others.
For I have taken out of your hand the cup that made you stagger; from that cup, the goblet of My wrath, you will never drink again. I will put it into the hands of the tormentors, who said to you, ‘Fall prostrate that we may walk over you, and you made your back like the ground.’ (Is. 51:22-23) Yes, I allowed the cup that made you stagger so that you could become strong, stand and thrive against your enemies of shame, poverty, fear, and rejection because I never intended you for man’s approval but for My approval. Now you can give proof that you did not lack bread as you went through this process of being set free. For My arm is not too short to save and My refining fire draws near for others now. I want to see all the dross come to the surface to be cast off in this hour-for I am a redemptive God and want to regather you to My shelter but you need to be cleansed and repentant.
I want to be your guide and rule and govern your lives so fall on Me, Your rock, and derive strength and dependence from Me. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God and in due time I will raise you up. (I Peter 5:6) You are not able to accomplish this yourselves. I am rebuilding you in My image as you surrender all striving. So persevere in following my directions and you will see what I produce in you! For I have made you upright men and women and you will be My plumb line for others to look up to and measure their growth and standards to live by.
Redemptive suffering is always redeemed for another, for those coming in your path. You are making a highway for travel, for hope, for joy, removing the obstacles to freedom-
“And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Is. 51:11)Holly Smith
Continue reading →Get Ready for Expansion
I believe God is going to do great things in the area of women’s ministry this year and expand their territories in every way:Daughter, I am making you a place of rest for My people. I am coming to inhabit you in a remarkable way you cannot imagine. Everything you have studied or meditated on, your cause, your prayers will be used in your library of wisdom as I speak fresh revelation through you. You will model the picture of peace even in a storm; you will be a lighthouse, a rescue signal for those who are looking for their way home. All you have been through will be used for those coming in your path.
Is. 50:7-8 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near.See, I have known from the beginning how I planned to use you. I knew the zigs and zags and distractions you would take but now you are My Bride-you are committed and surrendered to Me and part of My Royal Priesthood that will bring those who were once darkness into My beautiful light. You will praise and worship in advance before you see the victories. Your blood is precious in My sight and I will protect you from the evil one. Stay strong and have faith in the Lord and in His mighty power. I love you daughter and I plan to use you mightily to help bring My spotless Bride to Me and in the coming harvest!
I see a silver star which is a reminder of the Eastern star the wise men used to find Jesus. Silver stands for redemption as I am redeeming the years the locusts have eaten in your life and your Valley of Achor will become your door of hope in this next season!
Continue reading →What Did You Go Out in the Desert to See?
What did you go out in the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind? (Luke 7:24 NIV) As a child John the Baptist grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the desert until he appeared publicly in Israel. (Luke 1:80 NIV) Solitude with God in the desert was his school. He gained the lessons and experiences needed to verify his beliefs, listened to God’s voice, and became forthright to resist an unbelieving world and shun popularity for the cause of the kingdom. No, you didn’t go out to see a flimsy reed tossed and turned with every wind but a prophet who would prepare the way for the Lord who was coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire. What do you need to do to firm up your reed and prepare the way?May I pray for you?
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Lord make us strong! Help us to keep a tender heart but toughen our skin in the times coming that we will stand boldly for your truth. Help us to lean on you and not our own understanding-in all our ways to acknowledge you and you will make our paths straight. AmenA “Joseph” in Every Family
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Praying for the Josephs in all the families and countries-there is someone who has been misunderstood, thrown in the pit but brought out at this time to help their families and their nation at this time of need. The rest of the family will then have eyes to see the reason for the journey they have had. There will be a great reconciliation. They will be able to save their family in difficult times such as these and bring peace and security through their faith.Word for Dreamers-if it fits claim it!
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Things that used to plague you from the past have gone away-you see yourself in a new light. In fact you have become very transparent! (II Cor. 3:18) And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
God is watching over you with great love and protection. He tells me you are a dreamer. He is sending dreams in the night and you will learn to value them and learn the dream language to interpret them for others. He’s helping you to see through the eyes and mind of Christ. You have the word to sustain the weary! God is using your knowledge of His word, your experience, and dreams to express His heart in this season. His favor is on you!!
