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Change is Here to Stay | Balancing the Scales of Justice

Nov 11, 2020 Creative Arts, Dream, Encouraging Word, MeganJoyChapman, Mixed Media Art, Worship Intercession

I’ve heard it said that change is the currency of heaven and that constant change is here to stay. The Greek word for repentance, metanoeó, means to change one’s mind or purpose as the result of after knowledge—a transformative change of heart regarding spiritual conversion. We are living in a time where significant change, good and evil, is taking place rapidly. We must be anchored in the right spirit to discern the godly change God is calling forth, so that we can inherit the peace and prosperity He desires for us.

Balancing the Scales of Justice

On May 20, 2020 I had a dream where I saw the nations of the world, like a map, hanging on a balance. A trash bag filled with money hung over the nations and tipped the scale. Whenever the “dirty money” moved to a particular place on the map (beginning on the east coast of the United States) another location on the map would somehow be balanced. I saw red laser beams pinpointing every area where the trash bag of money would land and each time it did, it continued to balance the scale.

The Bible says that the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Money isn’t evil but greed is. Greed is self-seeking and never satisfied. So, if the love of money opens doors to evil, then the desire for riches (for personal gain and power) must be behind the corruptions and atrocities of the world. Although there are many, here are just two that weigh heavy on my heart:

Human Trafficking: According to facts listed on AbbaHouseFoundation.org “Trafficking in human beings is now the third-largest money making venture in the world, after illegal weapons and drugs. In fact, the United Nations estimates that the trade nets organized crime more than $12 billion a year” (Victor Malarek The Natashas: Inside the New Global Sex Trade). According to a CIA report, 700,000 to 2 million women and children worldwide are victimized by traffickers each year. The UN estimates that around 4 million people a year are now traded against their will to work in some form of slavery. As many as 50,000 women and children from Asia, Latin America, and Eastern Europe are brought to the U.S. under false pretenses each year and forced to work as prostitutes, abused laborers or servants (Joel Brinkley NYT citing CIA report). *Children, no more than 7-years-old, are sold for sex.

Abortion: Planned Parenthood reports getting more than 600 million dollars a year from the federal government. According to LifeNews.com in a 2019 report- “In America, just under 1 million babies are aborted every year and remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Every 30 seconds in America, an innocent preborn child loses his or her life to abortion. Planned Parenthood leaders admit under oath to harvesting body parts from babies born alive. Advanced Bioscience Resources (ABR) admits to selling aborted baby body parts to researchers whose projects are funded by U.S. taxpayers.”

According to TheHill.com “Planned Parenthood will spend $45 million on the 2020 elections, the nonprofit’s biggest electoral expenditure in its history, according to CBS News. The money will go toward the presidential election as well as congressional and state House races, according to Planned Parenthood Votes Executive Director Jenny Lawson, who told CBS, “The stakes have never been higher.”

Friends, according to these facts alone, our world needs a massive heart change. We cannot turn a blind eye.

A Call to Persevere and Pray

Believers, don’t give up! Our world is literally hanging on a balance. We were created for this time in history to be God’s vessels of hope and change—lights to the world. This is what we’ve been training for, so lift up your prayers of faith and be courageous! As we pray heaven down to earth, hearts and minds will awaken and godly change will manifest. Truth and transparency is coming to our nation and ultimately the nations of the world. Let’s activate our weapons of prayer and pray that deep roots of corruption are exposed and justice will prevail to the glory of God the Father.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

 “For in just a little while,
    the Coming One will come and not delay.
And my righteous ones will live by faith.
    But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. –HEBREWS 10:35-39

What Must I Do to Be Forgiven and Spend Eternity in Heaven?

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!” –MARK 1:15

If you’ve never placed your faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of sins, and would like to know what it means to have personal relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit, consider praying this simple prayer:

Father God, I admit I’ve sinned against You. I’m sorry for the things I’ve done wrong and want to change. I believe that when Your Son Jesus died on the cross, He took the punishment for my sin. But He didn’t stay dead. He rose from the dead and is now seated in glory at Your right hand. Jesus, please come into my heart and be Lord of my life. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can receive this free gift of salvation and spend eternity with You in Heaven. Amen!

If you prayed that prayer, congratulations! You’ve been adopted into the family of God. You are no longer under any condemnation. Your life is now sealed in Christ and you have an inheritance that will last forever.

If you would like prayer please contact me. If you are pregnant (in Kona, Hawaii) and unsure what to do, or need abortion recovery counseling, contact The Pregnancy Center.

Related Posts

Spiritual Pruning-The Tree of Life

Divine Turnaround

Scriptures

Mark 1:15, 1 Timothy 6:3-15, Hebrews 10:35-39, Psalm 1, Psalm 37, Psalm 139, Romans 8:1, Romans 12:2, 19-21, Luke 6:38, Philippians 1:9-11, Isaiah 40:29-31

Tags: Dream, Encouraging word, Faith, Intercession, Mixed Media Art, Overcoming

Overcoming Discouragement. The Walls Have Come Down Easter Blessing Poem

Apr 19, 2014 Encouraging Word, MeganJoyChapman

The Walls Have Come Down

Happy Easter, Lovelies!

I wanted to share an encouraging word the Lord gave me after Sunday’s sermon at Living Stones Church on overcoming discouragement. After receiving prayer, I was inspired to write down what the Holy Spirit spoke. I hope it blesses you as it did me.

The Walls Have Come Down

I am at home in your body and it’s a good place to be. You are a temple of My Spirit—the walls have come down. I delight in you. You are right where I want you to be, so rest in Me. We are one.

You are seated with Me in heavenly places, and when I look at you, I see a masterpiece. What once was a frayed swatch has been carefully and respectfully embroidered and grafted into My glorious design.

You are not finished yet. But the work of My hands brings Me great pleasure. I AM the Master Craftsman and you, My daughter/My son, are a work of art.

Do not run ahead of Me or lag behind. Stay the course and follow alongside Me. Trust Me so I can lead you to where I have promised. Then you will find peace and rest in this race.

Be strengthened My daughter/My son for My words are life to your body—an ever flowing spring overflowing with blessings.

The walls have come down.

I delight in you.

By Megan Joy Chapman xo

Tags: Encouraging word, Faith

Goût de France: Provencal Chicken Sausage

Feb 15, 2013 Goûts-de-France, MeganJoyChapman

Our first three days in France were spent indulging in foods we don’t normally eat on a regular basis—like French sausage and cured meats, fresh from the Farmers Market. The varieties of sausage displayed at the open markets were unbelievable, offering a huge selection of flavors like herb, garlic, fennel, and pepper— just to name a few.

Having our larger meal for lunch, like true Frenchies, we’d usually have a smaller market day meal at night. This usually consisted of cheese, sausage, cured meat, bread, olives, and whatever else looked good to us that day. But after three days of eating this way, my fingers swelled and I wondered if I’d have to have my rings cut off.

I guess the French have cast-iron stomachs or maybe they’re born with a special salt filter. One night my husband had heartburn so bad, we thought he might be having a heart attack! So after a few days of stress and discomfort, we took a break and tried eating a bit lighter for the next few days. Americans.

Although I love the taste of salty cured fresh meats, they’ve become an occasional indulgence. But my Provençal Chicken Sausage is a healthy alternative which eliminates the hard-to-digest sausage casing. I use this recipe all the time in a variety of dishes. It especially works well added as a topping to my Rustic Provencal Pizza, tossed in my Roasted Provencal Tomato Sauce, or in my Market Day Stuffed Mushrooms. No more swollen fingers or fake heart attacks for this crew. Bon Appetit!

Provencal Chicken Sausage Ingredients

1 lb. chicken breasts (about 2 large boneless breasts cut in chunks)

1 lb. chicken thighs (about 4 cut in chunks)

1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped

3 large cloves garlic, chopped

½ -1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 heaping tablespoon Herbs de Provence

1 ½ teaspoons salt

½ teaspoon pepper

1 tablespoon freshly ground nutmeg

2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

1 tablespoon fresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)

1 tablespoon fresh sage leaves, chopped

¼ cup chopped shallot (about 1 shallot)

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (plus 2 tablespoons for sautéing)

Parchment paper for freezing

Provencal Chicken Sausage Directions

Grind chicken chunks in a food processor. Add rest of ingredients and blend until well incorporated, scraping the sides of bowl as needed. Mixture will be sticky.

I prefer making this a day ahead and then storing it in the fridge to allow the flavors to marry. You can also store in the freezer to use at a later date.  Just divide the mixture in half, scoop each onto parchment, and then roll into a log. Twist ends of parchment to seal and label the logs. Place logs in a Ziploc and Freeze until needed. Each log should be about 1 lb.

When you’re ready to cook your sausage, add 2 tablespoons of EVOO to a heated skillet and sauté sausage by breaking it up with a spatula.  If you’re taking the sausage from the freezer, make sure it’s fully defrosted. Cook till lightly browned and heated through.

Related Links

Rustic Provencal Pizza 

Provencal Tomato Sauce

Goût de France: Thanks, Mom!

Click here to check out Megan’s educational adventure book for kids ages 8-12!

Tags: Faith, Food, France, travel

How I Scored a Free Dinner and a Castle in France casino

Apr 12, 2012 MeganJoyChapman

Ever since sixth grade geography class, I’ve dreamed about going to France—maybe because I’m a diehard romantic-foodie-art-lover that has always been fascinated by the avant-garde Parisian fashion. Even the language intrigues me—everything always sounds plus chic in French.

Over the past twenty years that I’ve known my husband and within our fourteen years of marriage, he’s endured my French fetish and endless whining about how I must experience a steamy latte and fresh baked croissant in a quaint café, strolling down the Champs-Elysées.  And shop in a real boutique. And marvel at the Mona Lisa in the Louvre. And strike a pose in front of the Eiffel Tower.

Knowing I’d never let my dream die, Chap promised that he’d get me to Paris before I turned forty. Well— I turn forty this year, so his plan looks glib. But then a miracle happened on the day my book, Lion Heart and Alessio: The Victory Ride, arrived at my front door. It was the first time I’d held my book in my hands and seen it in print.

To celebrate, we had dinner plans with another couple at La Bourgogne restaurant—yep— French.

As we’re digging into our Chevre and Tomato Galette, our friends tell us that they’ve booked a castle in Provence, expenses paid, and would like us to join them.

Could this day get any better? Yes, it can. And it does. After we’ve indulged in our five-course succulent meals, and have planned and gushed over the infinite possibilities of our trip, we realize we’re the last ones in the restaurant. As the hostess approaches the table, our husbands pull out their wallets to pay. But she says, “The bill has already been paid.” Ends up, it was paid for by “Anonymous.” True story.

The Castles Private Pool

So, pretty much a no-brainer. WE’RE GOING TO FRANCE! We spend two weeks in our expenses paid castle in Provence and will spend the last week in Paris. To prepare for our trip we’ve been taking French lessons. So far, I’ve learned to say with big eyes, chin down, “Desole. Je ne parle pas Francais (Sorry, I don’t speak French). But I’m still plugging away at it.

Our Private Garden!

Tennis anyone?

I’m beside myself cheerleader-kick-EXCITED! My hubby’s stoked, too, because he’s finally off the hook. He keeps saying to me, “See. I told you I’d get you to France before you turned forty.”

This is our Paris apartment living area with a view! So we can people watch. Only a 5 minute walk to the Louvre Museum!

Our Paris Apartment Dining Room. 

I could go on forever on how God has exceeded my expectations for this trip. Instead, I’ll just say this. Keep dreaming big and don’t give up! Your greatest desire may happen when you least expect it . . . and better than you ever imagined!

May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed. PSALM 20:4

Click here to check out Megan’s educational adventure book for kids ages 8-12!

Tags: Faith, Fashion, Food, France, travel