Cinderella's House

What are the things that seem impossible to me?

They are many Lord,
oh so many Lord.

But all your miracles,
I intend to see.
Just because you've promised them to me.

I will receive all your love for me!

You're not a man that you should lie!

One by one, in your time
they will come.
And I will have the victory,

It seems impossible
that I could buy a home.
But in your time Lord,
in your time Lord.

Barbara Weeks

Cinderella's Purse

One of our workers said to me at Christmas time, "Wigglesworth, I never was so near the end of my purse in my life." I replied, "Thank God, you are just at the opening of God's treasures." It is when we are at the end of our own, that we can enter into the riches of God's resources. It is when we possess nothing, that we can possess all things."

Cinderella in the Woods

My Darling Cinderella,
If you only knew how much you truly mean to me? I watch you day by day, sometimes, condemning yourself. It breaks my heart. Don't you know I know the paths you would choose? I have not left you alone in the woods to fight your way back to the place of refreshing. I have actually gone before you to remove every briar and every danger that looks to harm you.

I have chosen and designed you for a specific purpose. You are my "designed" woman. As I do for all my darling daughters I make a way. The forty are passing through the jungle. As mighty warriors carrying my light for others to see that have wandered off the path of My Righteousness to go their own way. They have fallen under the temptations that are along the way and YOU MY BELOVED are called to venture out to rescue them. At these times I lift MY ARMOR and circle of guardian angels to help you in order that you can get close enough to call out to them. Some will listen and come, others will not. But don't think for a moment that you are unprotected. The only danger that will befall you is that which you willingly choose to submit to. But, I will always bring correction and warning before you slip and fall. Even if you fall, I will pick you up and yes, there will be battle scars. All good soldiers get wounded at times. But don't cling to your bed weeping wiping your tears. Arise and go forth in the Name of the Lord.

This is the TIME OF YOUR LIFE. A time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant and a time to harvest, a time to kill those things that hinder you and a time to heal. There is a time to break down and a time to build up. A time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones of unforgiveness and a time to gather stones, living stones together. A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing. A time to get, a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away those things that are rotten. A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silent and a time to speak boldly. A time to love, a time to hate the sin that destroys the world, a time to war and a time of peace. I have made everything beautiful in MY TIME.

I am the beginning and the end and all that is in between. I AM TIME. Use ME WISELY, LOVE ME MUCH, CHERISH and DON'T WASTE TIME.

What happened to the Indian Princess?

Once upon a time there lived an unhappy young girl. Her mother was dead and her father had married a widow with two daughters. Her stepmother didn't like her one little bit. All her kind thoughts and loving touches were for her own daughters. Nothing was too good for them - dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and every home comfort.

But, for the poor unhappy girl, there was nothing at all. No dresses, only her stepsisters’ hand-me-downs. No lovely dishes, nothing but scraps. No rest and no comfort. She had to work hard all day. Only when evening came was she allowed to sit for a while by the fire, near the cinders. That’s why everybody called her Cinderella.

Girl in the orange tree

As a little girl, my faith was so pure an innocent. My nights and days were filled with laughter, love and hope for the future. I loved the outdoors and it was exciting to put my face to the crisp spring wind and listen to the leaves rustle in the trees. I felt light, alive and free of cares or worry. I loved climbing orange trees and talking to God. And God would talk to me. I would ask Him questions and He would answer. He always told me how very special He thought I was.

My conversations with God continued throughout the day while I played with my hero and best friend, my older brother Doug. My affection and adoration often irritated him. Sometimes I talked too loud or too much. Even today as adults, I think sometimes I irritate him when I talk too much. But, oh well I love him and he loves me.

We would play in the hose, arm wrestle or race around the house on our bikes with Sandy and Samson our two German Shepherds.Sometimes Doug just wanted to be alone with the boys in the neighborhood or his best friend Mac. In spite of these times of rejection, I always knew that I could depend on him. He was full of laughter and life. He was my hero and the one I looked up to for help and advice. He would show me how to spit orange seeds better, or make a slingshot shoot farther. We would spend the springtime practicing our shots in preparation for the big potato wars that occurred daily during the summer in the woods in our neighborhood.

One time I remember asking him, “Am I going to die?” He asked me, Why do you think you are going to die?” I proudly told him I had just eaten a huge mud pie.His reply,
"Probably, I’ll tell mom what you did after you are dead. This way you won’t have to get a spankin’.” My brother’s wisdom was so empowering!

Doug still has the best laugh in the world and during these younger years it was these deposits of laughter, love and security that would make my days and nights bearable in the years to come.

My best memories are me running barefoot through the yard imagining that I was an Indian princess or that we had supernatural powers. We could fly and Doug and I would climb up on the garage roof with our towels draped as capes and jump off to the ground below. This was so much fun!

We were invisible to the world around us and our laughter would fill our palace made of sky and trees.

Cinderella's Peril

Cinderella used to spend long hours all alone talking to the cat. The cat said, . Meow. , which really meant, . Cheer up! You have something neither of your stepsisters has and that is beauty..
It was quite true. Cinderella, even dressed in old rags, was a lovely girl. While her stepsisters, no matter how splendid and elegant their clothes, were still clumsy, lumpy and ugly and always would be.

Receiving the Joy of the Lord

It was hard for me to learn how to receive. I’ve been a giver all my life, even when I didn’t have anything left to give. So learning to receive was hard. It takes away your pride and arrogance. But, the freedom and abundant life God’s Word tells you about is really true. I know because I’ve experienced it – through the deepest sins and the darkest hours of oppression and depression. Once you let go, and let God take control, you will find yourself “in the greatest affair of your life. He will supplant all unhealthy attachments and cast them into the sea of forgetfulness.

You might be saying (especially if you are co-dependent like I was); “But, you don’t know what I’ve been through or what I’ve done.” I’m telling you it doesn’t matter what your circumstance was, is or will be, Jesus is the only one who is able to deliver you, so why not risk being “rescued” for a change, instead of being the “rescuer.”

Cinderella Released - from ashes to beauty.

Most self-help books are based on things you need to “do.” However, my story is written as a testimony of what the LORD has done for me and how He has drawn me into a relationship with Him that has provided unconditional love, peace and joy in my life. There was and still is a “little girl or boy within” who needs to know and realize that there is someone who loves them unconditionally and forever.

Jesus will never leave you or forsake you and He is a friend that will stick closer than a brother, sister, mother, father or friend. Once you are released to be “totally you” then you will begin to understand how others are drawn not so much to you, but to Him, your – Prince of Peace.

Added weekly are scriptures, stories, poems, antidotes from me and others in my life that have been instrumental in my “release” from bondage. Their stories are precious. Many have been released themselves from addictions, trauma, abuse and co-dependency. We all have one thing in common, we are on a journey from ashes to beauty and there is a marvelous reward for us at the end of the journey.

Some key ingredients in your journey from ashes to beauty will be learning to recover your joy and entering into rest. It can be difficult at times to discern the voice of the Lord in the midst of life’s battles and this “listening ear” takes time, practice and patience. I promise you though, if you can turn your will over to the Lord and allow Him to help you take the first step, Jesus will do the rest. He just wants us to “rest” in Him. He has the power, the authority and the unconditional love that will move mountains and bring you out of the valleys of despair.

Cinderella Released