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We are leading a team to Puerto Rico!

On By happyreignIn Heather, Joel, Social JusticeLeave a comment

Hey Everyone!

The church we’ve been serving and working in for the past four years has invited us to be a part of leading one of the mission teams for this upcoming spring. In March, Joel and I will be leading a team of 30 adult ministry students to Puerto Rico!

The last time Joel and I were on the island was while doing disaster response work after Hurricane Maria in 2017 before moving to Redding. It will be 4 and a half years since going there and we can’t wait to bring 30 brothers and sisters in Jesus along with us. These adult ministry students are from all over the world and are excited to serve practically while bringing the presence and power of God with them.

We are serving locals on the ground who are committed people with a vision to bring long-term restoration to the island. With natural disasters and other issues persisting, the local people continue to suffer, some without basic needs being met. Carlos desires to restore dignity and bridge that gap by empowering people to rise up and seize their place in God’s kingdom and authority to bring life back to their own neighbors. Having built a network of love over the last four years, Carlos and his family are committed to releasing practical justice alongside tangible love.

If you want to check out a quick two minute video seeing Carlos’ ministry featured on CBS News CLICK HERE

If you want more information about Carlos’ ministry called The Happy Givers NPO CLICK HERE

If you want to financially sow into Joel and I’s ministry trip expenses CLICK HERE


If you have any questions about our trip feel free to email joel.quinones@bethel.com.


Please pray for this team, this trip and for Puerto Rico!

Have a lovely day!

The Sword of Goliath

On By happyreignIn HeatherLeave a comment

This word is about a week late to posting.

Last week, closer to the turn of the new year, I felt like not only had things we had been dealing with over recent months shift and release but almost as if the chapter of the last decade of our life had also turned.

In the bible there is a story from the life of David where, his earlier major victory of rising up to face a giant and defeating him occurred. From there he went on to do other things, minister to the king, made new alliances and gained new best friends. He walked in a new level of exposure and authority for this season. He even married into the kings family. But eventually hardship overcame his new circumstances and he could no longer remain where he was at anymore. David could not control this, despite his calling and anointing.

The very person he had gained favor with by defeating Goliath had grown the desire to eliminate David. David remained the same but the season and circumstances around him changed. This was the Lord’s doing and was a necessary part in David’s growing process. The coming hardships are what forged David’s character to lead in Christ, through Christ, and with him,

Despite his previously achieved positions of influence and authority, David needs to leave this place. David leaves empty handed with nothing and no one into his next season. To the naked eye, one could not see his calling and the fact that he had previously already been anointed King. He visibly carried nothing with him into his next season, but what he DID carry was the only thing that mattered, his history in God, his calling and his anointing for it.

I’m almost to the point in the story I’ve been getting to. David arrived at the temple of the Lord at the time while fleeing (the first place he ran to was God’s dwelling, the place of God’s presence) and while there, God had two things for him. The bread of God’s presence, Christ crucified’s living word to nourish, sustain, and feed David. And secondly, what I’ve been aiming at, it that it seems to me a season where God himself is handing his people back, and placing in their hands again, the sword of authority they gained a decade ago when they slew the giant, that big thing from your past that you gained victory in that’s been wrapped in your mantle and hidden away for some time. You may have wondered even it even really happened or if it even mattered since it feels like it was sitting in an unvisable room in your life. It feels like God is saying, I need you empty handed and with me for this next season. Here, I’ve created circumstance where you are only getting sustenance from my words to you, and in this place I’m bringing out your distant past great victory with me and I’m calling that history and authority to the forefront again to pick up, carry, and walk with into your next season.

David asked the priest do you have any weapons–what can carry in my hands to be useful with now? The priest said I only have one weapon here to give to you, your own sword back, the sword you slew Goliath with. Let me hand your beginning, the thing that started it all, your history of victory in God, back to you, it is the mantle you will walk in again. David–alone, disposed of, and running away from the city toward the wilderness again (his old stomping grounds)–was handed back directly from God’s presence what had always been stored and kept there safely all along.

Scripture Medicine for 2023: Do Not Fray

On By happyreignIn Heather, Reflections & MusingsLeave a comment

“All who love me will do what I say.
Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me.
I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. (John 14:23, 24, 27 NLT partial)
Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” -Jesus (John 14:27 KJV partial)

Let – allow, permit, give admission, authorize, sanction, grant, empower, enable, agree, permit to pass, rent out, let
Not – the negation of, the opposite of a verb
Your – belonging to, possessive, ownership
Heart – the central innermost part of something, the vital essence, the thoughts, the feelings, the mind, center of physical & spiritual wellbeing, seat of understanding, character, the soul, innermost part
Troubled – disturb, worry, anxious, agitate, distress, torment, plague, nag, irritate, gnaw at, prey on someone’s mind, lie heavy on the mind, oppress, weigh down, afflict, burden, bug, bother, fret, agonize, upset oneself, be concerned, hassle, be afflicted with, bedeviled, beset, incapacitated, suffer from, ail, be a martyr to, experiencing distress, anxiety, beset by problems or conflict, a difficult situation or time, a cause of worry, an aspect of something regarded as unsatisfactory or difficulty, cause distress or anxiety to or about
Troubled. Greek 5015. tarassō
1. to agitate, trouble, cause inward commotion, take away calmness of mind, disturb equanimity
2. to disquiet, make restless
3. to strike one’s spirit with fear and dread
4. to render anxious; distressed
5. to perplex the mind by suggesting doubts and scruples

Neither – additional negative statement
Afraid – frightened, scared, fearful, nervous, apprehensive, intimidated, uneasy, alarmed, tense, worried, panicky, frightened, beside oneself, frantic, shaking, cowering, cowardly, funk, nervy, fluster, jumpy, jittery, reluctant, unwilling, hesitant, slow, shy, averse, sorry, sad, distressed, regretful, apologetic, unhappy, remorseful afraid of someone or something, worrying that something undesirable will occur or be done, unwilling or reluctant to do something for fear of outcome, anxious about well-bring or safety of, express polite or formal apology or regret
Afraid. Greek 1168. deliliaō
1. to be timid
2. to be of fear
3. to be fearful
From Greek 1167. deilia
a. timidity, fear, cowardice, fearfulness
From Greek 1169. deilos
a. Dread; that is by implication faithless
Afraid derives from the latin word, Affray – Afrayer, disturbing peace.
Afrayer derives from latin word Fray – Disturbance, startle; the unraveling of peace or safety

Jesus’ commandment to his followers restated in different ways:
Do not permit your heart to be faithless.
Do not allow the peace in your heart that I have given you begin to fray by any mental or emotional agitation or threat.
Do not give room to any thoughts that intimidate the safety I have bought for you with my blood.
Under no circumstance allow your spirit to shaken about anything, ever.
Keep the cords of your peace soundly and stoutly entact. Do not tolerate imaginations that fray your stillness and restfulness.
Be still. Give no permission to agitation within yourself.
Make no allowance or space inside of yourself for any expectation of negative outcomes.
Your faith and focus on myself is what pushes out or eliminates room for cowardess, timidity, or hesitation.
The world does not have the ability to restore or keep your peace. You will not be able to look to a change in your circumstance for stillness and soundness in your spirit in mind. What you need for that I have given you freely but it is up to you to defend, maintain, and enforce the entactness of this gift. Thoughts and feelings that result i this gift beginning to fray are lies that do not originate from the Father that need to be refused and refuted.
You have authority over your own heart to refuse participation and agreement with fear.
Unwavering fixation on Christ in our heart and mind enable the broadband defense, restoration, and maintenance of this kingdom of peace in our inmost being. It cannot be shaken. We are either standing on thoughts of sand or the rock of himself.
It is obedience (worship, expressed love unto Jesus) to no longer tolerate, permit fear to have governance in the core of your being.

This general directive is stated 365 times in the bible.
God is trying to tell us humans something from his perspective as we walk through our lives here on earth.
This year is not an exception. Every generation has needed to hear and heed these words.

May this reflection afford you clarity. Blessing and Happy New Year

Invitation to Prayer – Death by a Fence

On By happyreignIn Heather2 Comments

Hey Everyone! It’s been a million years since writing. I had a dream last night that I want to share for the purpose of praying together for the body of Christ.

I was looking down a dirt farm road and there were two large barns off to the left of this road right in front of me. Between these barns was a tall wire fence. This fence was stronger than the strength of a full size dam but it was still just a wire fence. I watched a heard of wild horses running full speed over these hills towards this fence from the left. There was no reduction in speed before they hit. The first died instantly, then the herd kept coming. They did not stop, the horses that hit first piled up dead at the front. The force with which these horses hit literally shook the earth I was standing on. It was a shocking and painful thing to watch.

As I awoke I understood that this fence was picture of running into offense in the heart of many powerful believers resulting in a lot of spiritual death. I do not know if this is offense at God or offense at men. I do not know whether this is happening now, has happened already or will happen. The force of offense resulting in spiritual death was shaking the earth.

Some sobering questions that arose within me from this picture are:
Am I operating out of offense toward another or others? Am I offended at God about something? Am I prepared if God moves in a way entirely against my expectation or understanding right now?

As I shared this dream out-loud, another verse grew in clarity for me. “The love of many will grow cold.” This came to mind not as a pessimistic outlook, but a sobering thermometer gauge of healthiness. This verse doesn’t say suddenly turn cold in an instant, it says “will grow cold.” When things grow in a field, it is a slow occurrence, little by little, over time, beyond the ability of a passing observant eye to even notice the growth. Loving the lord God with all your heart, mind, body, soul; receiving and experiencing the Love he first has for us is our walk of faith. This exchange of love is what everything else lives as an expression of; this is the healthy root of a thing. If we hate our brothers, we will be made into liars.

Thank you for prayers for the body of Christ that her heart would be protected against a great offense affecting many.

Is my love for man/God growing in this season? or growing cold? Return to my first L O V E